We have this Hope.

What an amazing week!!

We just finished our second camp week. This week we partnered with the Zlin youth group and the American team from CFC in Evansville, Indiana. I am so impressed with how camp turned out - it was a great time for students and leaders. I so badly want to communicate the success and joy of the camp, and I believe that pictures can really help me out here. So here are just a few...

Everyday we had played "sports" on the field/hill. Filip and Michael from the Czech team were super creative and this time was always really fun. Here we are playing Human Bumper Cars - Don't touch your engine or you'll blow up!

The main meeting area: all meals, evening programs and morning announcements were held here. It was also a great place for games; students could be found here during free time and around meal-time.

David (Zlin youth group leader and one of my students!!!) gave his testimony during the Evening Program. Notice there are two speakers - everything must be translated!!!

 Many testimonies were shared throughout the week. The students heard the gospel very early on and several responded not even half-way through camp! - both believers and nonbelievers! It was so great to be able to speak freely about Jesus only a couple days into the week. The students knew what we are about and why we have this hope and joy!!

TALENT SHOW!! The students were soooo creative! Here Sarah Burge and Amy Hartman's class is performing the 2012 Olympic Ceremony. Their swimming routine (with music from Pirates of the Carribean) was incredible. Be impressed.

Our intern leaders - Matt and Amy Hartman - on their 15th wedding anniversary! (July 27; also Ben's birthday). Amy's mom, Sylvia was able to join us for the camp and surprised her children with loads of pastries for the entire camp!

A few of the girls during the concert on Friday night.

The Band. Even though all the songs were in Czech, the music was certainly enjoyable that final Friday evening.

Saturday morning, the Americans (and a Canadian) were given signed Czech flags as a thank you!!!

And here is a video!!! Friday, the final day of classes, was Ben's birthday; my class came down to visit Ben's class to sing a Czech birthday song.

What a joy this week has been. The message of the camp was woven throughout the week: like both sons in the parable of the prodigal son, we try our best to reach the "good life." We might go after fun and excitement or just stick to the rules to get ahead; either way, we come out feeling empty. Run to your heavenly father through Jesus Christ - He is Greater Than the 'good life,' "freedom," chaos, rules... He will not leave us empty; those who hope in the Lord will not be put to shame!! I know that God has used this week-long message to change lives - including mine. 
Thanks again for joining our journey.

Rejoice in the Lord always,

Esther.

Part II Begins!

Hello!

How are you? I hope you are doing well and that you are experiencing encouragement throughout the body of Christ.

As American-team Training Part II is coming to a close, I know that many of us here have been encouraged. Most of our English-speaking team is here together; Sherri, Rachel and Melissa have come from CFC in Evansville, Indiana and we will greet three more Americans later today.  For this second camp, Matt Hartman will be leading our intern team (Esther, Sarah, Ben and Chelsie); we have come to know the Hartman’s (Matt and Amy, Hannah, Kaden, Asher and Hayes) very well and we are excited to be doing camp with this family.

Our first night here at team training, Dave Patty, President and founder of Josiah Venture, shared Josiah Venture’s history with us. I apologize, I do not have the words to describe the encouragement this was to me and I think many others. God has given Dave Patty a contagious vision, the mission and the means to carry it out. Young people of Eastern and Central Europe are being equipped to spread the gospel and there will be revival.

We are stepping into work that God has already begun.

Listening to Jenda's testimony Thursday night. 

Yesterday, Ben and I (Esther) were able to share the purpose and practical tools for English classes. I consider this an honour – to encourage the American teams to “invite students into valuable conversations with kingdom dwellers!” A goal of English class is to increase the confidence of these teens in their English conversations. However, our kingdom goal is to be witnesses of Jesus Christ – in the way we speak, what we speak, the way we love and the way we teach!

“Come and see what life is like in God’s kingdom!”

Please continue to pray for our English camp and the many other camps that are going on throughout Eastern and Central Europe this week. Thank you for taking part in this, we can do our part without your support!! Praise Jesus for His working body!

Rejoice in the Lord, always!

Esther.

Bringing the Good News

"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”...
"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ."
Romans 10:14-15,17


Thank you so very much for your support - for sending us to lay a foundation where one has not been laid, for sending us to bring the good news!


This has been an amazing week. We have loved building relationships with the students - as teachers, coaches, leaders and friends. I know that the students have experienced the love we have because of the love God has for us; I know that we have been witnesses of the truth, that we have glorified God and that we have brought the word of Christ to their ears. I am so thankful. I have surely been blessed, and I hope that you are blessed as well. 


Coming into this camp, 3 out 41 students were known believers. On Thursday night we shared the gospel; that number increased to 8!!!!!!!! and many more are interested and/or have questions concerning a life with Jesus! Friday night, the gospel was presented again. Today, students will be connected to the local church, as almost all will reunite for "Sunday follow-up."  


"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9


Praise the Lord!!
Rejoice in Him always!


Esther.

Pictures from camp!!

Volleyball workshop

Jason sharing his testimony during evening program.

American Team Training at Malenovice: learning the camp dance!!

This here is team Seychelly, my team, kicking butt during afternoon sports.

Rejoice in the Lord, always!

Esther Haveman

Welcome to Camp English Part I, 2012

Hello from English Camp!!!


We have been running around since... well, for quite some time. Camp officially began last Saturday morning.
Thank you all so much for your prayers! Things have been going very well. During the day, we have English classes, workshops and sports. Many of the English teachers are 'first-timers' and we are quickly learning how best to teach our individual classes - thank You LORD! The workshops are a great idea; both Americans and Czechs are discipling the students in the skills they have been equipped with. Shelly is a wonder at the sporting events! We have an 'English Camp Olympics 2012' theme going; it is obvious that Shelly has put a lot of time and creativity into these events. 
Durning the evening program, there are games, dancing, singing, skits, and a teaching; afterward we have small group discussions. The teachings follow the parable of the Prodigal Son, a skeleton has been provided by Josiah Venture and each speaker is putting their own flare to the 'flesh' of the talks. So far each night, the evening program ends with a cliff-hanger; the students are very engaged and eager to know how the story ends. During small groups, leaders are guided by questions that have been prepared to go along with the evening talks. Magda is my Czech-speaking small group leader and she does a wonderful job leading the girls. They like her so much. Tonight, I will be sharing my testimony with the small group (Magda will translate). The teaching will introduce the older brother... someone I can relate to very well. For a good portion of my life, and somewhat still today, I was bound by laws; God is so gracious in leading me back into the freedom I have in Christ. 
Slowly, we are building up to the good news of Jesus Christ... the anticipation is AWESOME!! 


Please continue to pray for us!! Thank you!

Rejoice in the Lord, always!


Esther. 

Pray, Pray, Pray!

We've met our American team! Mike and Mary Alice, Vonni, Lisa, Steve and Jason were brought in by full-time missionary Lauree Austin (who will also be doing camp with us). The team has been sent by Lauree's homechurch in Hensen, Oregon, and Lauree's sister, Anna, will also be joining us on Sunday! Adam, Michael and Monika have also joined us here from Ostrava. It has been great getting to know their stories and encouraging to see their excitement for camp. 
Camp is finally here; we're really doing it! Sorry, rephrase: God is doing it and He's brought us on to be a part of His victory!!! He's brought YOU into this victory! Through your prayer and  financial support, we  the body of Christ are functioning in our parts to advance the kingdom. Please, please pray this week especially. 
Pray that we would be courageous, humble, flexible and that we would persevere; that we would indeed rest in Jesus and rely on Him for strength, energy, wisdom and creativity. PRAY PRAY PRAY for the victory of the salvation of the young people coming to camp! Pray for open eyes, for soften hearts! Fight for us in your prayers. We are more than conquerors; 
Jesus said, 

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to release the oppressed,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor."

Luke 4:18-19

 “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Luke 4:21

we have been promised a land of rest in Jesus!!!
"Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest...

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow" - Hebrews 4:11...12)

I am so grateful and so excited about your support! Thank you for praying. We will overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony!!

Rejoice in the Lord, always!

Esther.

And so it Begins... !!!!

Today is Day 1 of the camp cycle; we have begun a new era. At noon today, Team Hartczech (that’s our new team name) and four other Czech teams will reunite at Hotel Malenovice to begin “American team training.” !! It’s finally HERE!!

These past few days we have been reviewing, sharing and refining our English classes and have been preparing for these next three days of training.

Camp leaders consist of the Czech leaders from the local church, the J.V. intern team and a short(er) mission team from an American church. (Fellow Canadians, we need to talk about getting a Canadian team over here in the coming years, yes?)

During the training, Sarah and Chelsie will be leading the Camp Dance Workshop and Ben and I will lead English Teaching – presenting the heart and practicality of English classes. I am super excited to be working with Ben on this; he is jam-packed with creativity and energy. I am looking forward to presenting what we have developed.

Camp #1 begins on Saturday, July 7.

Please continue to pray for us! We are Christ’s body, and we cannot do this without our Him, our Head.

‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. Zech 4:6

Rejoice in the Lord, always!

Esther.