Friday, December 30, 2005
Reflection on Sponsorship Process
The following entry was written in July. It is a reflection on raising funds for my mission experience in Brasil:
Over the past few weeks, sponsorship forms from family, friends and local churches supporting my lay missionary ministry in Uberlandia, Brazil have rolled in to the F.M.S. home base, Casa San Salvador. Upon receiving word of the financial commitment people are making, gratitude arises within me that is beyond words. The following, however, is an attempt at articulating the stirrings within me to which this support gives rise.
I have never been one who has liked asking for money. I think a lot (if not all) of us are like this. It seems to make one vulnerable, weak and dependent; states we usually do not value. For me, at the heart of this discomfort lies my obstinate pride to not want to owe anything to anyone. In this case, however, I do believe in the reason for asking family and friends for financial backing.
By establishing ties with people willing and able to fund one’s missionary ministry, a support system arises that goes beyond the financial. Although I had to fight against my pride, I looked forward to being connected with those taking an interest in my overseas ministry, believing that God works through people to help us lift one another up. With these ties established, I hope to share how I see God working in Brazil with those back home that carry me in prayer. And I hope that this sharing encourages their faith life, too, receiving word of God’s passion and love.
Each time I receive notice that someone is sponsoring me, my spirit leaps with encouragement, but not without a bit of fear and trembling. Along with a profound joy I am marked with an urgent sense of responsibility and accountability towards those who are a part of the web of mission (doctrinally everyone). This intertwining of joy and accountability heightens in a magnificent way when I think of and pray for those who are keeping me in their thoughts and prayers and supporting my mission work.
As I anticipate the good times and hardships that are sure to follow in Brazil, what allows me to brave the difficulties and the physical distance between me and loved ones here is God’s grace and love that binds us together in a spiritually edifying way. It has been a humbling process asking for financial support, but one that has also-and paradoxically-been uplifting. I’ve learned to become weak, to beg for funds that assist my missionary work. It is through this relinquishing of control and pride that enables me to depend on others’ help and allows me to recognize more deeply my responsibility and accountability towards everyone involved in mission (doctrinally the entire human race) and our interconnectedness.
-Rhegan Hyypio (July, 2005)
Over the past few weeks, sponsorship forms from family, friends and local churches supporting my lay missionary ministry in Uberlandia, Brazil have rolled in to the F.M.S. home base, Casa San Salvador. Upon receiving word of the financial commitment people are making, gratitude arises within me that is beyond words. The following, however, is an attempt at articulating the stirrings within me to which this support gives rise.
I have never been one who has liked asking for money. I think a lot (if not all) of us are like this. It seems to make one vulnerable, weak and dependent; states we usually do not value. For me, at the heart of this discomfort lies my obstinate pride to not want to owe anything to anyone. In this case, however, I do believe in the reason for asking family and friends for financial backing.
By establishing ties with people willing and able to fund one’s missionary ministry, a support system arises that goes beyond the financial. Although I had to fight against my pride, I looked forward to being connected with those taking an interest in my overseas ministry, believing that God works through people to help us lift one another up. With these ties established, I hope to share how I see God working in Brazil with those back home that carry me in prayer. And I hope that this sharing encourages their faith life, too, receiving word of God’s passion and love.
Each time I receive notice that someone is sponsoring me, my spirit leaps with encouragement, but not without a bit of fear and trembling. Along with a profound joy I am marked with an urgent sense of responsibility and accountability towards those who are a part of the web of mission (doctrinally everyone). This intertwining of joy and accountability heightens in a magnificent way when I think of and pray for those who are keeping me in their thoughts and prayers and supporting my mission work.
As I anticipate the good times and hardships that are sure to follow in Brazil, what allows me to brave the difficulties and the physical distance between me and loved ones here is God’s grace and love that binds us together in a spiritually edifying way. It has been a humbling process asking for financial support, but one that has also-and paradoxically-been uplifting. I’ve learned to become weak, to beg for funds that assist my missionary work. It is through this relinquishing of control and pride that enables me to depend on others’ help and allows me to recognize more deeply my responsibility and accountability towards everyone involved in mission (doctrinally the entire human race) and our interconnectedness.
-Rhegan Hyypio (July, 2005)
# posted by Rhegan Hyypio @ 7:43 AM 
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Querida Hope, saudades! Não sei muito sobre sua vida aí Na Bolívia,mas gostaria de deixar registrado em seu Blogg que ter conhecido você foi muito especial e espero que um dia eu possa fazer parte de alguma página do seu blogg, afinal de contas nós fizemos ums história bonita, de amizade e muito afeto.
Eu tenho certeza que nunca foi esquecer nossos momentos juntos, com muita conversa inteligente sobre cinema,religião e a famosa cachaça;
M preocupo com você aí na Bolívia, mas sei que você é esperta e sempre tira lições da sdiversas situações que acontecem com você, sendo elas boas ou ruins.
Ainda tenho esperança de nosreencontrarmos outra vez, quem sabe se não será nos EUA.
Eu desejo que você seja muito feliz e que caso vôcê queira, que você encontre uma pessoa boa pra te amar de verdade, como eu fiz um dia.
Beijos em você na sua família.
Se você quiser me envia para o meu email o telefone da Bolívia para eu falar com você.
Bye
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Eu tenho certeza que nunca foi esquecer nossos momentos juntos, com muita conversa inteligente sobre cinema,religião e a famosa cachaça;
M preocupo com você aí na Bolívia, mas sei que você é esperta e sempre tira lições da sdiversas situações que acontecem com você, sendo elas boas ou ruins.
Ainda tenho esperança de nosreencontrarmos outra vez, quem sabe se não será nos EUA.
Eu desejo que você seja muito feliz e que caso vôcê queira, que você encontre uma pessoa boa pra te amar de verdade, como eu fiz um dia.
Beijos em você na sua família.
Se você quiser me envia para o meu email o telefone da Bolívia para eu falar com você.
Bye
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