Half Way

As the cliche first sentence of blogs go - "The time here is flying". Not too much has changed since the last update as far as details go. We're still working away on the ESL classes and the websites.

Two weeks of the ESL classes have now completed, and it's been very encouraging. The first day we had about 20 kids show up, with only 6 or 7 of them from the church and the remaining from the neighbourhood. That got us pretty pumped. Rebecca's been teaching up multiple storms (n > 1), and the kids have been really responsive. One of the church ladies even commented how Rebecca wasn't boring. I guess that means she's enthusiastic, but I'll double check with you. The format of the classes starts off with Ree teaching for about 45 minutes, with songs, whiteboard, and powerpoint included - what a deal! Following that, the kiddies break up into groups and go to different stations to practice what they've learned with games, pronunciation practice, and a bible story. The kids are coming back every week too, so I guess they must like it.

I've been continuing to do computer work, and I've been really enjoying it. As I dropped out of the art stream of academics at the young age of 12, it's refreshing to see that I can be creative given a mouse, computer, and inspiration from other websites. My grade 7 art teacher should feel redeemed that I at least have a good attitude now. Despite my enthusiasm, however, this week was a week of troubleshooting, with a whopping 100% of my completed websites crashing.

Outside of our projects, Rebecca has been keeping tabs of our extracurricular activities, which you can read up on at www.reejoys.blogspot.com.

As for things that you can keep with us in prayer:

That more kids would come out to ESL classes - the initial group of kids is fantastic, but we're expecting more kids to come as the classes move on, as we've heard of people inviting their neighbours.

Continue to pray for Gabby, a member of the congregation who is handicap and is at home on bed rest from the hospital. The family is very tired, and are not sure how Gabby will do at home.

Thanks for your continued support.

Love,

The Harskamps

Three Weeks In

It’s hard to believe that over three weeks have passed since we’ve landed here in Ecuador. This past week a pastor from Costa Rica (originally from Minnesota) has been staying with the Jonkman’s to help teach a course at the seminary campuses as well as preach at the Jonkman’s church. One night when we were talking about their lives as missionaries, Nick (the pastor) said that after a little while, missions becomes just like a normal job, and can become mundane at times, just like it can when in North America. While we haven’t felt like that (and probably won’t in only a three month stay), I’ve felt that “normal work” vibe pushing in through the excitement. The novelty of Spanish being spoken around you all the time has worn off as the mental sweat of listening intently trying to pick up words occurs in our brains. While Rebecca can pick up far more than I can, she is still trying to keep up with all the new vocab by having a written list of words she doesn't know for later research and practice. We both find we’re mentally tired after hearing a full day of Spanish, though the most intense day is Sunday where it’s all around you.

Some of the local scenery/doing dumbbell curls with Jesse

Our projects have been going well. The ESL classes through the church start up on Tuesday, and last week saw us lesson planning and tweaking. While one of the goals of the class it to improve the participants English (especially pronunciation), the main goal is for locals around the church to be brought in. The lessons will incorporate bible stories, and hopefully some lives can be changed with the Gospel. A back up plan is to just have Jesse sit outside the main door the church and draw foot traffic in with his blue eyes – people can’t get enough of them.

The web design is going well, with 1 ½ of 4 websites currently built. While a good portion content still needs to be tweaked, and the bugs with Internet Explorer irradicated, the San Lucas Mission website is practically done. For a better idea of what the mission is about, visit www.misionsanlucas.org, or better yet, keep visiting it as its content is fleshed out. It’s an impressive ministry which we will have the opportunity to visit later this month.

And, although our work here is going well, we were able to squeak in some tourist time this past week. Holidays in Ecuador work a little different than back home. In the months coming up to a national holiday (such as the one this past week), the citizens don’t know exactly how much time they’ll get off. They know for sure they’ll get 2 days (or whatever the stat holidays are), but the president here usually ups the ante as he sees fit, and true to his nature, last week from Tuesday to Saturday was official holidays. The Jonkman’s took advantage of this, resting from their busy schedules, and took Rebecca, Nick, Jesse, and myself to see a few of Ecuador’s gems. We were able to see a couple craters from ancient volcanic eruptions, an indigenous market, and squeezed in a football game. Overall, some very cool experiences.

Hanging with the locals...

As we hope to do with all these updates, here are a few items we ask you to keep in your prayers over the next week:

That the launch of the ESL course would go smoothly, and continue to draw in members of the community over the next two months.

That the websites would draw more attention from the locals in the upcoming months/years to the ministries (Mision San Lucas and the Reformed Seminary), so that these ministries can continue to grow and touch more lives.

That healing would come to Gabby, a handicap daughter of a seminary professor, who has been in the hospital for the last three weeks with intestine problems. This family is very dear to the Jonkman’s, and they would covet your prayers.

Thank you for your love and support,

The Harskamps

Underway

Things are going quickly.

Rebecca and I are both underway with our projects, and the time is racing. Rebecca started by helping design a logo for one of the child sponsor missions that the Jonkman's are involved in. While she was working on that, I was revising some old forms for the same mission to streamline the paperwork, so that the workers can spend more time with the chi

ldren and less time with data entr

y.

The progression of the logo...

Rebecca has also been planning the first few ESL lessons for the classes that she will be leading. The schedule is for a start in early November, with two classes a week at the church, focusing on improving pronunciation.

I've also been assigned to help build three websites, and I'm sure each mission will get a full blog in the future. The first site will be for the San Lucas Mission. This project is focused on improving the living conditions for children living in a poor area approximately four hours from Quito. Because of the prevalence of broken families, these children are often relied upon by their families to work and bring in an income. Expenses in Ecuador aren't too much lower than what we're used to in Canada, and considering minimum wage here is $240 a month, there is little opportunity for children in poorer areas to have proper nutrition and education. That's where San Lucas Mission comes in, where individuals can sponsor children to have nutritious meals, medical care, and increased emphasis on education. Rebecca and I will be visiting this ministry in late November to see first hand the influence this program is having in the community.

In other news, Jesse is sleeping through the night, Ecuador is beautiful, and we're thoroughly enjoying being here.

We would also ask you to pray for us:

Pray that our health would return to us - Rebecca and I were both feeling ill due to the different food here.

Pray that the ESL classes would draw in unchurched people from the neighbourhood - we've sent out flyers to advertise, and now we need to trust that God will bring in people who need to hear the Gospel

Pray for the workers helping with the San Lucas Mission - there are very tough family situations and heart breaking stories with the children involved in this ministry, and the workers are the hands and feet of Christ to these families. Pray for strength for them, that they may bring hope to the hopeless.

More updates coming soon.

Love,

The Harskamps

Arrived and Adjusting

We have safely arrived in Quito, landing a little past midnight on Friday after about an hour delay with our flight from Huston. The Jonkman's have been extremely hospitable to us, making us feel at home right away in their house. I (James) have been feeling a little under the weather, firstly with a headache due to the altitude, and finally culminating into a 15 hour trek in bed which saw me hot, chilled, sweating, and most of all sleeping. This morning? Feeling great. An important thing too, as church starts at 9:30 and goes until around 1, unless there's elder and deacon nominations - then it goes to about 1:30. The church starts with an hour bible study, followed by fellowship, and finishing with a worship service. The ladies kiss you on the cheek, the men firmly shake your hand, and everyone is extremely welcoming. Rebecca has done quite well with communicating with the congregation, while I've mastered the nod-smile, followed by "no habla Espanol", brutally pronounced. Some of the people speak English, and they've been gracious enough to talk to me. I've already been recruited to join the 9 am - 3 pm worship practice on Saturday because somebody sniffed out my guitar talent.

Arelene and Rebecca walking through the neighbourhood

Our first day here (Friday) was pretty relaxed. Jesse was a bit squirrely, and I had some pretty bad headaches due to the high altitude. Fred took us through parts of Quito on our way to play some basketball at the seminary. The city is beautiful, and just like John Denver said, it's in the mountains. The roads curve with the rolling landscape, and the drivers seems to follow the gravity. As our short drive revealed, there is no right of way or official lanes that the locals abide by. However, with Fred at the helm, we felt safe, despite being able to reach out the window and touch a car next to us for most of the drive.

First South American bath time

We arrived at the basketball court, and found a mix of church people and seminary students dressed in the finest athletic gear. Not intending to play (the altitude would be too much for me, right?), I was dressed in a slick pair of khakis, beautifully accented by a pair of black dress shoes. Needless to say, I was probably the best dressed MVP that day. Kidding aside, playing was a lot of fun, and a good way to get acquainted with some of the church.

Almost watching daddy play basketball

The Jonkman's have booked our first two days to just relax and adjust, which we appreciate. When we start with our projects, we promise to give more exciting updates.

Love,

James, Rebecca, and Jesse

Mission Trip Information

This October, our family will be joining Fred and Arlene Jonkman in their missionary work in Quito, Ecuador. The Jonkman’s are from the Grace Free Reformed Church in Brantford, and have been a part of Ecuador Missions for the past thirteen years.

This opportunity arose unexpectedly, but has certainly been an answer to prayer. After a job opportunity for James fell through, we began to prayerfully consider what our plans might be for the fall.  Within weeks our attention was drawn to Ecuador, and it was at a nearby church in Brantford (a church we happened to be visiting) that we became acquainted with the Jonkman’s and their mission. We were able to meet with them to discuss their work and if we might be able to assist them in their mission. It was an exciting meeting, calling to mind Ephesians 2:10, which says we were “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them”.

In Ecuador, we hope to use the gifts that God has given us to strengthen the Church. Although Rebecca’s primary mission will be looking after our son Jesse, she will also be teaching an ESL course and helping Arlene with her involvement in the women’s ministry for the local members of their church in Quito. James will be helping with some web work for their mission, helping with small construction projects, as well as assisting Fred with his teaching at the Reformed Study Centre.  

We covet your prayers during this time. We ask you to pray for the transition of our family into a new culture, that Rebecca will be able to continue to care for Jesse while taking on additional responsibilities, and that we may humbly use our gifts to serve the people and Church in Ecuador. There is also a financial element of the trip, where the cost of living in Quito will be $1500 dollars a month in addition to flights. Our desire is to stay and assist the Jonkmans until the end of December. If you feel the Lord leading you to give, you can make cheques payable to "Vision 2020 Canada", writing “James and Rebecca Harskamp” on the comment line. All donations will be tax deductible. Donations may be given to us to pass on, or mailed directly to the New City Church donation office:

Vision 2020 Canada
c/o Arlene VandeKamp
45 Goodridge Drive, St. Albert, AB
T8N 2A9.

We thank you for support in Christ, in whom we seek to serve. If you would like to contact us while we are down south, you may reach us by email (jharska21@gmail.com) or by Skype (username: james.harskamp).

In Christ,

James, Rebecca and Jesse

Update: We've booked our flights and will be leaving for Ecuador on October 13, and returning to Vancouver on December 29 in time for James' brother's wedding.