UPCI Foreign Missions Division Interview

[Barb]

Originally Posted by izzyschwartz

Why would you not believe Brother Abernathy when he just stated in this article what the amount is? What do you mean by "what is the real amount"?

If you have been lurking for any length of time, you KNOW that Mother Alvear doesn't ask questions like this without a real concern.

There is not an untoward bone in her body...

[Sister Alvear]

It is ok Barb...I just have heard so many things just wondered out loud...maybe I should not have asked. I wondered because UPC missionaries have said things to me over the years (not just one case) howwever maybe I should not have asked...

I am not trying to cause trouble that is not my nature...the question just popped in my head....however I am sure we would get many answers but most would not want their names involved...you just wonder when you hear complaints.

In no place have I ever lifted a finger against the UPC in fact I admire them and have said so in many threads where people attacked them.

Anyway...

[izzyschwartz]

Originally Posted by Barb

If you have been lurking for any length of time, you KNOW that Mother Alvear doesn't ask questions like this without a real concern.

There is not an untoward bone in her body...

Hey, take it easy. I am not accusing anyone of being untoward. Sister Alvear I am sure we have all wondered- and I suppose the whole idea with this form is to think out loud, so don't feel you need to apologize. From what I have observed, you always come across as being of an excellent spirit, so do not take offense, please.

I suppose I just felt like we should take the Brother at his word and realize that administration costs a lot of money. Most Missionaries I have spoken to feel that the bureaucracy is a necessary "evil" so to speak, and worth the cost of being part of a great organization. After all, they would not have the support at all without the backing and infrastructure of the UPCI. Let them go independent if they don't like it...

[AmazingGrace]

My sons principle was a missionary to Maroco (sp) and they were well taken care of... I have talked with her many times about this and she said that they DO get the majority of the pledges that are sent... the amount she told me is about the same as what is stated here. The UPC does want their missionaries to succeed and therefore they do good by them yes.... I do not feel they would lie about an amount going to the missionaries.

[AmazingGrace]

Originally Posted by Barb

If you have been lurking for any length of time, you KNOW that Mother Alvear doesn't ask questions like this without a real concern.

There is not an untoward bone in her body...

Amen... I do understand what Izzy was saying tho and I dont think she meant any harm at all either

[Barb]

Originally Posted by izzyschwartz

Hey, take it easy. I am not accusing anyone of being untoward. Sister Alvear I am sure we have all wondered- and I suppose the whole idea with this form is to think out loud, so don't feel you need to apologize. From what I have observed, you always come across as being of an excellent spirit, so do not take offense, please.

I suppose I just felt like we should take the Brother at his word and realize that administration costs a lot of money. Most Missionaries I have spoken to feel that the bureaucracy is a necessary "evil" so to speak, and worth the cost of being part of a great organization. After all, they would not have the support at all without the backing and infrastructure of the UPCI. Let them go independent if they don't like it...

Originally Posted by AmazingGrace

Amen... I do understand what Izzy was saying tho and I dont think she meant any harm at all either

You may be right, AG, and I jumped the gun, but my respect and appreciation for all that Mother Alvear is and does for Kingdom sake...well...

izzy, I apologize for misunderstanding your post...

[AmazingGrace]

Originally Posted by Barb

You may be right, AG, and I jumped the gun, but my respect and appreciation for all that Mother Alvear is and does for Kingdom sake...well...

izzy, I apologize for misunderstanding your post...

ur good Sis Barb

[izzyschwartz]

Originally Posted by Barb

You may be right, AG, and I jumped the gun, but my respect and appreciation for all that Mother Alvear is and does for Kingdom sake...well...

izzy, I apologize for misunderstanding your post...

Thanks for the vindication, I was worried I had attacked an ICON (which I would never want to even appear as doing..!)---and I do admire your respect and appreciation for Sister Alvear.-- We should all strive to be worthy of such deserved admiration!!!

[Barb]

Originally Posted by izzyschwartz

Thanks for the vindication, I was worried I had attacked an ICON (which I would never want to even appear as doing..!)---and I do admire your respect and appreciation for Sister Alvear.-- We should all strive to be worthy of such deserved admiration!!!

To many of us, Mother A is a spiritual giant. She and her family, as well as many others here, have sacrificed ALL for the sake of the call of ministry and souls.

I have never met her face to face, but would know her anywhere...she is the woman of prayer and power that I strive to be when I grow up.

[Sister Alvear]

Dear Ones:

As a lifetime missionary I have only respect for the many, many UPC missionaries I know. I agree it is a necessary evil and yes the UPC missionaries are well taken care of. I am grateful that they can have the many things in life that to Americans are needful and of course it makes life easier to have a good car, washer and dryers and whatever is needed. It makes working such a joy to know you do not have to pray about the next meal for it will be there. However a few of us feel called to a different drumbeat. Does that make us inferior or superior? Neither...has a thousand times no. God has many ways to get His work done.

Some years ago without telling anything that would reveal anyone...a missionary returning for good to the states called me...I knew them quite well. In her goodbye words to me she said, "Sister Alvear, I could not live like you do never knowing what I will cook the next meal, I could not live with those uncertainties however before we left the field I just wanted you to know that you are a real Bible missionary." I thanked her and hung up the phone in amazement. It was them not us that seemed to have it altogether…nice cars, nice home, new churches, good furniture…and so many times as an American I had thought that maybe I had chosen the wrong path to follow…Life was very hard back then raising 11 kids by faith…building churches by faith and most of the time our kids scraping sand from the roads in little buckets because we could not afford to buy a truckload of sand…Calling construction sites to see if they had any left over materials that we could come and pick up for free…
Years have passed and the little ones are grown…some of them had opportunities to join organizations and we have never told them not to however they have followed our footprints. Does that make the UPC evil because of their programs to help missionaries? Of course not. Some people would have never come to the field and never did the great works that they have done had it not been for a vehicle called the UPC.
I have many dear friends in the UPC…Sister LaJoyce Martin preached our ladies conference Sister Sarah Jackson preached another ladies conference for us…many card carry pastors have preached our conventions and supported us as friends. So please do not think I would ever do anything or say anything to tarnish the image of a great organization.
My only concern is would there be a way to get more money to the missionaries…however that is really none of my business…just something that came to my mind.