The Selfish or Selfless missionary... does either really exist?

Dear friends,

FACTS (as I see them from here):

• Missionaries do jobs in places where the people they actually work for cannot pay them for what they do.
• Missionaries sometimes have jobs that can earn a "regular" salary.
• Missionaries often are paid according to what they need to cover expenses in the country where they work.
• Missionaries are vulnerable to international economic fluctuation.
• Missionaries can get a "pay raise" if the local economy fails or the home economy surges.
• Missionaries are viewed as poor and dependent from one side, but ss rich and responsible for everyone around them on the other side.
• Missionaries have to pay taxes... sometimes, somewhere. Social Security in USA,for example.
• Missionaries can drive cool cars and live in exotic locations.
• Missionaries have house-help... maids or gardeners or watchmen; often they contribute jobs to the local economy and avoid looking "stingy".
• Missionaries often cover all medical expenses and education expenses for their "house-help" and their families... sort of like being an "insurance program" for those close to them.
• Missionaries don't always love their jobs every day.
• Missionaries don't always love the culture they are working in though they begin to call it home.
• Missionaries don't always love going to church... it is hard to fit into a church in the field and it is hard to fit into a church at home. They end up being "special" in church, and that's not really fun.
• Missionaries referring to "our language" or "our people" are described by some as "paternalistic". 
• Missionaries referring to "our language" or "our people" are described by others as identifying with local culture and fitting in to a community. 
• Missionaries are referred to as "our missionaries" by home churches who care deeply for them, provide lots of money, and pray earnestly for the missionaries and the people they are serving. 
• Missionaries are referred to as "our missionaries" by the people they serve who care deeply for them, give generously of their patience with these strangers, pray earnestly for their well-being.
• Missionaries use international finance, human resource management, program development, PR and fundraising, and journalistic skills almost as much as the jobs they are actually trained for. 
• Missionaries try lots of things to reach out and make a difference.
• Missionaries fail lots of the time because "tried and true" methods don't work in every context. 
• Missionaries love their home countries and sending churches, but hardly feel at home there ever again. 

These are some of the feelings I have as a missionary. Not all of them are true at the same time. I'm not resentful of how we are viewed. There is some truth in all of this. We chose to "go" and to "teach" and to be a part of a life that isn't "normal" for anyone. We aren't "suffering for the Lord" and we aren't 'living it up at the expense of others". We are depending on "you" to help us to help "them". Thanks for being patient with us as we navigate a tricky balance in changing reality.