TheHarvest

IsPlentifulBut The

HarvestersAre Few

Excerpts of a fax from Dan and Chris Hawkinsreceived from Costa Rica on April 20,1992.

We have safely arrived in Costa Rica. Our new phone number is 011-506-27-47-28;that includes all international codes. Our address is:

Dan and Chris Hawkins

Institute de Lengua EspanolaApartado 1002350 San Francisco de dos RiosSan Jose, COSTA RICA

The week in Mexico City was very good for all of us. Our family spent a couple ofdays at each of the team members' homes. It was very good getting to spend time witheach of them. All of the kids had a very good time and will now have positive things tolook forward to.

Mexico City was much different than we had expected. We had heard many negativethings about pollution and crowded conditions, and we were expecting the worst.There is definitely a major pollution problem, but they are working on it. What struckme the most was how underdeveloped the city is. The condition here is definitely thatof a Third World country, and there are many, many people. It is a very big place.

Chris was sick on Sunday, but the rest of us were able to go to the Sunday worshipservice. It was very upbeat and led completely by Mexican leaders. One of theMexican elders preached. From what we could understand, it seemed very positive.

Monday I started getting sick, and by aftemoon I had a 104 temperature. After a trip tothe emergency room and some medicine, I started feeling better and am feeling finenow, although I have several more days' worth of medicine to take. I suppose Chris andI ate something that we shouldn't have.

Our traveling went really well. When we got to Mexico City, our trunks and boxeswere held in customs. At departure time for Costa Rica there was a problem however,at getting things cleared and onto the airplane. It took almost two hours for Phil Bantaand I to run from one end of the airport to the other (and it is not a tiny airport) andwork with six different people who kept sending us back to the place we just camefrom. Finally, a gentleman from the airline went with us to the different people andeven walked the luggage directly out to the plane. Amazingly enough, everything madeit through in great condition.

We are working on getting settled. Our friends here had an apartment all ready for us,including food. That was a great help. Now we are looking forward to getting startedwith school. We want to thank everyone for their prayers; we can tell the difference.Please pray that we will be open to all the learning opportunities.

In Christ,

Dan, Chris, Mindy, David, Katie

DAN & CHRIS HAWKINSInstitute de Lenguas Espanola, Apartado 100,

2350 San Francisco de dos Rios, San Jose, COSTA RICA

CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY FELLOWSHIP P.O. Box 501020 Indianapolis, IN 46250-6020 317/542-9256

DAN & CHRIS

HAWKINS

Instituto de Lengua EspanolaApartado100

2350 San Francisco de Das RiosSan ]ose; Costa Rica

Central America

Dan &Chris, David, Mindy, &Katie

CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY FELLOWSHIP PrayerNezvsktter

August 1992

Dear Friends,

Greetings from beautiful CostaRica, known as "The Garden ofthe Americas." Both thecountry and the people are veryconducive to learning. It issaid that Costa Rica has moreteachers than policemen; thattells some of the attitude of thepeople here.

Along with the beauty, we'refinding things are somewhatdifferent here. We have hotwater in the shower only.

We celebrated the Fourth ofJuly at thehome in San Jose.

There are no frozen foods as allthe vegetables and fruits arefresh, and there are manynew-to-us types. We walkeverywhere, usually in thepouring rain since it is nowwinter. And we have theopportunity to buy all ourfhiits, vegetables, and meatsfresh in the open air market.

Believe it or not, we are alsomaking progress incommunicating in anotherlanguage. At times this can bevery trying, as both Englishand Spanish are attempting tobe dominant in our minds.Someone warned us that wewould become illiterate in bothlanguages ... they were right!There are times when we can'tremember a word in English orSpanish. But we are having alot of fun trying. The Ticos -

a name Costa Ricans callthemselves - are very helpfuland friendly.

We came across a rather funnytranslation the other day on anadvertisement in English for aNintendo game: "A newconcurrence ofyour families! Akaleidoscope ofyour familylives! A fashion pet ofyourmodern children! You and yourfamilies will entertain what younever did before with them!"

As we were having a chuckleabout that, wealso wondered ifthis is what wesound like when

Besides the

biggest barrier we

' doingfine now.U.S. Ambassador's David, ofcourse,had to get his setof stitches for this

stay; he cut his finger whilecarving. Dan and Mindy havehad head colds and sore throatproblems. Then Katie got somekind of food poisoning and hada 24-hour hospital stay.We seem to be doingprettywell rightnow, but this is one area in Mpwhich Satan has beenattacking. Please keepour health inyour Hprayers. I \

Mindy, David, and Katie Ihave been handling the Iadjustment to the new Iculture verywell. The \_zLord has certainlyanswered prayer in thisarea. The school thatthe kids attend has beenvery positive for them; theteachers are very supportiveand encouraging. Our kids

Alberto,

have made some good friendswho are facing the same fearsand whose families are strivingfor the same goals. The mainobjective for this trimester ofschool for the kids is learningSpanish. Most of the teacherswho are teaching Spanishcannot speak English, so thishelps the kids along.

They are doing fairly well atlearning both the culture andthe language. A few weeksback a man came to our houseasldng for help. First Daninvited him in, then Chris did.This was, of course, in Spanish.But the man wouldn't come in.Katie came and asked why wehad not invited him in. Shewent to talk with him. He saidsomething to her, sheresponded in the culturallyappropriate manner, and hecame in.

There is much that we havebeen learning while herebesides just language andculture. One area is theimportance ofprayer. We havefound very quickly thatskipping our time with God inprayer has major repercussionsin our ability to proceed withthe task God has given us. The"I'm too busy not to pray" isbeing learned well.

a university student, helps Dan withlearning Spanish.

Another thing that God hasbeen reinforcing in our learningis our complete reliance upon

Him. These are two areas that

we will probably continue tolearn for many more years.

Praise God with us in thefollowing areas:

The church and team inMexico City are experiencingvery good growth; there havebeen 12 baptisms already thisyear.

That we are here and settledin Costa Rica, making goodprogress in our languagelearning, and that the kids areadjusting well.

Pray with us in thefollowing areas:

The team and leadership atIglesia Cristiana del Sur inMexico City, as the Mexicanleadership takes over more ofthe responsibilities in thechurch. Direction as the teamconsiders areas for planting anew church in the northernpart of Mexico City. Pray forguidance in where the bestlocation to begin this work.

For our healthand safety whilein Costa Rica. For a continuedgrowth in our lovefor the Spanishlanguage andpeople, andcontinuedacceptance andunderstanding oftheir culture. That we would

be encouraged onthose difficultdays when we arestruggling withour learning ormissing familyand friends.

In His Kingdomwork with you,

Dan, Chris,Mindy, David,and KatieHawkins

Christian missionary fellowshipP.O. BOX 501020

INDIANAPOUS, IN 462506020

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

mission serviceseditorial deptp 0 BOX 2427

Dan's classmates at language schooL

Chris' language school class.

Nonprofit Organization

U.S. Postage

Permit No. 2875

Indianapolis, Indiana

knoxville TN 37901