Another Step Forward; One Huge Step Ahead

It's still hard for us to believe...in less than a year we plan to be moving to Zambia to serve with SIM as Coordinators of Short-Term Associates. When we started this process a little over a year ago, that seemed like some distant reality. With each step in the process however, it has become more and more real. Last month we took a big step toward that reality when we spent two weeks in training and orientation at SIM USA. It was an awesome time of meeting other folks who are of the same heart, going through the same things as we are. (This includes our new friends Randy and Mary Anna, who will be serving in Lusaka with us, and Missy who is a Doctor who will be serving at Mukinge Hospital in Zambia. See the picture) The experience, training, and wisdom of the staff there was great and we learned a lot about working in a multi-cultural environment, field safety, how SIM cares for its missionaries, and how the whole shebang works. It was a lot to absorb, but we came away feeling well prepared for the HUGE steps that lie ahead.
 So, what are these huge steps? We are glad you asked. You see God has called us to the most awesome ministry. We will  help people come to Zambia from all around the world to serve anywhere from a few weeks up to two years. Doctors, nurses, pilots, aviation mechanics, teachers, construction teams, evangelism, youth outreach, HIV/AIDS education and ministry, Bible college teachers, orphans and at risk children ministry, discipleship, and so much more...coming to make and impact in countless lives and we get to be a part of all of it. Is that cool or what? As if that were not enough...building relationships with the people of Zambia, encouraging those on the field, working in the local church, and handling all the required administration of getting a short-term missionary to the field. (Whew, I just realized how busy we are going to be.)
When we get on that plane and takeoff for Zambia, that is going to be a big step . However, we have a HUGE step to take before we can do that. While we were at training and orientation last month, one of the things we received were our support requirements. You see SIM is what is historically known as a "faith mission". What does that mean? Here is the description we like:  “The Mission looks to the Lord for the provision of its needs. Each missionary acknowledges that his or her dependence is upon God and not upon the Mission. Recognizing the biblical principle of stewardship, the Mission and its missionaries make such needs known to God’s people so He may guide them in their giving. Whatever is received toward an approved need is accepted as a provision from the Lord.” Thus, as missionaries sent by SIM, we are looking to God to meet our needs through His moving in people’s hearts to give.
So what are those needs? We have two major kinds: Monthly Support and One Time Needs.
Our monthly support requirement is $4675. That includes the following;

* Salary–This is the amount of money we can spend on living expenses each month.  These expenses include food, clothing, toiletries,  and household items from cleansers to bug spray (very important!)

* Insurance–This includes medical emergency evacuation insurance in the event that we need to be evacuated to a country with better medical care in an emergency. Co-pays and deductibles are paid out of our salary.

* Retirement–This is a small amount to be contributed to a 403b.  This is something the mission encourages as retirement savings become necessary in the U.S. 

* Taxes–Missionaries pay something equivalent to FICA, called the SECA tax.

* Travel–This portion of our monthly support is set aside month by month, accumulating until we need to buy plane tickets and make travel arrangements for our home assignment in the U.S.

  * Administration & Services–This includes many things, like help in navigating the world of visas, passports, and other legal aspects of international travel and living, team training and consulting on the field, operating expenses for seven international sending bases and an international headquarters office, resources to help us share our vision and the vision of SIM, and attention to our emotional and spiritual needs in the event of a political or medical evacuation…to give you just a sampling! 

  * Housing–This amount is for our rent, both for a home on the field, and provide for renting a place to stay during assignments in the States.  Utilities and repairs are paid out of our salary.  

Our one time need is $42,000. That includes language school and language acquisition course, our first months salary, airline tickets to the field, purchase of a 4-wheel drive vehicle so we can travel to all the various places of ministry, and setup of our home as we have sold  everything we own and will have to purchase furniture, household items, linens, appliances etc. It's more economical to purchase the items there as opposed to shipping them over from here. (It's like starting from scratch)

Well there it is.One HUGE step for us, but the smallest of things to our ENORMOUS GOD. We have a target date of June 2013 for getting on that plane, but that doesn't happen until we have faith promises from people that total $4675 a month and have met the one time need of $42,000.

So how do you get involved? How do you join in what God is doing and the impact we can have serving together? We are extremely glad you asked! First and foremost PRAY! We need at least 400 people committed to pray for us regularly. You can sign up for our prayer letter and updates at 

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We also ask that you prayerfully consider being a financial partner as well. You can make a faith promise of whatever God lays upon your heart and be a part of our monthly support. We would love to hear of your commitment at paul.rikel@sim.org. Better yet, we would love for you to start that commitment now. By starting now, your gifts go to meet our one time need until we leave for the field and then it switches to monthly support. You do all this by clicking here.
Maybe you want to help meet those one time needs, you can do that by clicking here
Thank you for praying, thank you for giving, thank you for helping us respond to needs, proclaim the gospel, and equip the church in Zambia to fulfill the Great Commission.
Radically Dependent,
Paul and Velda
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