WE'RE HAVING A PARTY

SEGAAR-KING OPEN HOUSE

COME JOIN US ON SATURDAY,

JANUARY 21, 2012

FROM 11 AM TO 2 PM

AT FULLER AVENUE

CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH

1239 FULLER AVENUE,

GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49506

A LIGHT LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED

"First the Gospel Must Be Preached to the Nations"

In Mark 13:10, Jesus speaks of the signs that will come before the end--before Jesus returns to earth as a triumphant king instead of the humble baby of Christmas. Jesus says, "And the gospel must first be preached to the nations," giving purpose to the time between his ascension and his second coming. You could actually say, from a Christian perspective, the last 2,000 years of history have been granted to us by God for the purpose of mission--sharing the Gospel with those who have not heard it. Recently, Zach received permission from CRWM to begin a Ph.d. dissertation at the Free University of Amsterdam (see picture above of a street in the old city of Amsterdam). His goal will be to trace the development of mission in the New Testament as an explanation for the delay of Christ's second coming in several parables found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Undertaking this study has been an act of faith and obedience for us. The responsibilities of family and ministry have been very heavy the last six years and there honestly don't seem leave a lot of time for study. Also, there are no libraries for Zach to use in Haiti, which means that he will have to scan material and search for electronic resources before returning to Haiti in February. It will take at least three years (and several week-long trips to Amsterdam) to complete this study and we hope that it will better equip us to develop theological education programs for Haitian church leaders.

Good News for Villa de Woz

This year Christmas brought good news for the people of Villa de Woz (trans: Villa of the Rose) church near Cayes Jacmel, Haiti. SON-BEAM International, the West Michigan non-profit that has supported many of our church reconstruction projects, decided to fund and design a construction project to put a roof on the church. The Villa de Woz church has had a long and difficult history. The current building (consisting of a foundation and four half-constructed walls) was started with funds from a group of Haitian expatriates living overseas. However, a local community member gained control over these funds and embezzled most of the money intended for the church and an adjacent school before making a quick exit from the community. The congregation itself has struggled. For the last half-decade, the members have worshipped under a tarp. The current pastor of Villa de Woz lives forty miles away and visits only once or twice per month. Meanwhile, the church has been led by two hardy deaconesses who have literally pulled the church along by its bootstraps and the power of the Spirit. Please pray for the congregation as it will have to exert itself immensely to provide volunteer labor to build the roof. We are hoping to build a truss roof out of steel girders with sheet-metal roofing. Pray also for Edouarnis Estivil who will be overseeing the construction with SON-BEAM for the first time (Zach is trying to take a step back from church construction projects in the future).

Segaar-King November Update

Dear Friends and Family:

As we enter the season of Advent, our thoughts turn to the miracle and the meaning of Christmas. Joseph, Mary’s betrothed husband, was instructed in a vision to name the baby Jesus (Greek) or Joshua (Hebrew). Jesus means “to save” and the salvation of his people would be the life-work of Mary’s baby. Please pray this Advent that the saving power of Jesus will be evident in Haiti and around the world.

Please join us in giving thanks for:
-A safe trip to Minnesota to visit a supporting church and also many of Sharon’s extended family members (Sharon’s paternal grandfather will be celebrating his 100th birthday on December 6).
-Our colleagues’ opportunity for a spiritual retreat in the Dominican Republic over the American Thanksgiving weekend.
-Progress in Sharon’s healing as she receives physical therapy for her injuries after a September vehicle accident in which she was rear-ended.

Please join us in praying for:
-Safety and success for a visiting team from Ontario in Haiti currently.
-Continued healing for Sharon as she recovers from a vehicle accident.
-Pray that resources can be made available for construction at Viladewoz, a church near the city of Les Cayes in southern Haiti.
-Good opportunities to visit churches and personal supporters who are necessary for our ministry.

Please see our attached December Newsletter.

SAVE THE DATE: SEGAAR-KING FAMILY OPEN HOUSE ON JANUARY 21, 2012 FROM 11 AM TO 2 PM. A LIGHT LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED AT:

FULLER AVENUE CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
1239 FULLER AVE. SE
GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49506 (USA)

We’d love to see you at our open house!
Questions? Call 616-247-6718 or write at segaarking@yahoo.com

FOR MORE PICTURES, STORIES, AND INFORMATION ABOUT OUR MINISTRY AND FAMILY, PLEASE SEE OUR BLOG AT segaarking.blogspot.com

Thanks for your prayers and support,

Zachary, Sharon, Hannah, Isaiah, Vivian and Esther Segaar-King
Missionaries to Haiti
Christian Reformed World Missions

Glory to God in the Highest!!

According to Luke (2:8-20), angels proclaimed the birth of Jesus to shepherds tending their flocks outside Bethlehem with the words, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” During our recent trip to Israel and the West Bank, we had the opportunity to visit the hills outside of Bethlehem where the shepherds received this announcement (see picture above). We were surprised to see how much these hills resembled the rocky topography of Haiti. On the night when the shepherds visited Mary and Jesus, the angels proclaimed peace on earth. This is the peace we proclaim in Christ’s name in Haiti. Outside of Bethlehem, this peace is hard to see as a twenty-foot high concrete barrier is being built to separate Israelis and Palestinians. In Haiti, this peace can be difficult to see as well as the squares and streets are still full of tents and shelters for displaced people since the earthquake in 2010. Nevertheless, this Christmas we are called to work and pray for the peace proclaimed on the hills of Bethlehem so long ago. The baby born on Christmas is the “Prince of Peace!”

Focus on the Sous Espwa Team

Sous Espwa means “Source of Hope” in Haitian Kreyòl. God’s hope must touch the hearts, minds and bodies of all people. In order to realize this goal, we need a team with gifts in each of these domains. For example, we spend much of our time teaching and encouraging Christian leaders to be more effective in ministry (i.e., hearts and minds). However, we rely on our colleagues to help us develop programs in the other domains as well. For example, our new colleague from Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC), Lunise Cerin-Jules has much experience in micro-loans and other community development projects. Our colleagues, Howard and Ruth Van Dam have experience working with Christian schools to develop balanced curriculum and programs. Our colleague Jennifer LeMaheiu has been working Haitian youth leaders to develop the next generation of Christian disciples. And our colleagues working with Back to God Ministries (BTGMI), like Lesley Millar-Toussaint, assist us in using media like radio and mp3 files to reach out to masses with the Gospel message. Please see the link to the Fall Sous Espwa Newsletter for more information about Sous Espwa and its ministries.

Segaar-King October Update

Dear Friends and Family:

The last few months we have had the opportunity to participate in many “missions and outreach Sundays” in which congregations are mobilized to share the life-changing message of the Gospel with people outside the church. It is a privilege to encourage the church to be faithful in sharing God’s love with his world. Please pray that God will use us in this important task.

Please join us in giving thanks for:
-Healing for Sharon and Vivian after their September car accident. Sharon continues physical therapy for a sore back and neck.
-A successful Timothy Leadership Training event held in Haiti in October. Our ministry colleagues trained over twenty new participants in addition leaders already in the process.
-The Jacquet CRC of Haiti congregation has finally completed the purchase of a property near its current location. It has taken five years to find and purchase property.
-Haiti has avoided a major hurricane as the storm season winds down.

Please join us in praying for:
-Continued healing for Sharon as she recovers from her car accident.
-Resources can be made available for a church construction project in Viladewoz, a church near city of Les Cayes in southern Haiti.
-Good opportunities to visit churches and personal supporters who are necessary for our ministry.
-Plans and budgets which are being prepared in November for ministry in our 2012-13 fiscal year. Pray that we would have wisdom to assigning resources to ministry projects.


FOR MORE PICTURES, STORIES, AND INFORMATION ABOUT OUR MINISTRY AND FAMILY, PLEASE SEE OUR BLOG AT segaarking.blogspot.com

Thanks for your prayers and support,

Zachary, Sharon, Hannah, Isaiah, Vivian and Esther Segaar-King
Missionaries to Haiti
Christian Reformed World Missions

Thanks For Your Support in 2010-11

We give thanks to God for your prayers and support in 2010-11. In order to live and work in Haiti, we depend on your prayers and financial support. In our last fiscal year (ending June 30, 2011), you provided $97,402.08 for our support, which is $25,237 above our minimum fund raising goal of $72,165 (the total needed amount is $120,275). THANK YOU! We are encouraged and humbled by your support of our ministry in Haiti. In addition, you funded a number of other ministry projects including the Reformed Bible Training Institute ($6,200), the purchase of a new inverter for our home ($2,900), Timothy Leadership Training ($4,363.26), and the CRC of Haiti Library ($2,163). Through SON-BEAM International, $41,164 was given for the reconstruction of two churches. In addition, donated construction funds given by individuals and visiting service teams completed the first phase of the Ministry for Christian Development Center and built a service building (see picture on the top right). We also appreciate all the funds given for the purchase of a mission vehicle when we were visiting the back in 2008-09 (see lower right picture). In 2011-12, we have a number of projects for which we are seeking funding. Please see the link in the upper left portion of our blog page which will explain some of those projects or click here https://docs.google.com/a/crcna.org/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B_UDAfU6Nj3fYzkwNTdkNDktYTBmZS00NjE5LThmNWEtNzRmZDZlZTYwZGVk&hl=en_US. Thanks!

The Finishing Touches

It took only 35 seconds to destroy the Cayes Jacmel church (the duration of the 2010 earthquake), but it took about three months to rebuild it. We give thanks for the partnership with SONBEAM International that allowed the Christian Reformed Church of Haiti to rebuild this church building. The Cayes Jacmel church construction project was fairly complex because it was the first roof we have built with pressure-treated wood trusses (until now, the roofs have been poured cement). When we first looked at the truss plans drawn up by SONBEAM, Zach and the two project foreman were a little concerned. These plans called for over 8,500 self-drilling wood screws to assemble the trusses and several thousand more to install the sheet metal roofing on the trusses. These screws arrived in Haiti in about six fifty-pound suitcases carried as checked luggage by a team from Calvary CRC of Holland. For those of you who are builders, 8,500 screws might not seem like much. But with no one in the congregation who was familiar with electric drills and no electricity on site, this was a significant challenge. In one of Zach's trips to the work-site, he taught a few of the church members how to use the drills. Assembling the trusses was slow at first, but it time the church volunteers got the hang of it with the help of the two foreman. Today, the Cayes Jacmel church can worship in a safe structure which will give their congregation space to grow for years to come. What makes this project even more exciting is that in addition to a new church building, the community of Cayes Jacmel around the church has received grants from the CRC of Haiti (funded by CRWRC Disaster Response) to repair many of the houses which were damaged in the 2010 earthquake. This whole process of construction has been an excellent witness of the Gospel to the community which sees not only the "household of faith" being rebuilt, but also community members unaffiliated with the church receiving benefits. Please pray that more community members will begin a relationship with the Cayes Jacmel church and that Christ would be praised through these rebuilding projects.

On the Road Again

Many people often wonder what we are up to when we are in the United States for our "home service." One of the biggest things we do is "get caught up." We "catch up" with churches and individuals that support us by sharing with them what God is doing in Haiti. We "catch up" on our continuing education by taking classes and working on projects. Sharon is taking a class on Old Testament at Calvin Seminary and Zach is working on a study project in the theology of missions in the New Testament. Finally, we "catch up" on many years worth of medical appointments for us and our children. This is what Sharon and Vivian were doing when they were rear-ended at the end of September. Vivian was returning home with Sharon from a doctor's visit for an ear infection. By God's grace, Sharon and Vivian were not seriously hurt. But, both Sharon and Vivian have needed physical therapy to deal with some pain from whiplash. Please pray for Sharon as she has a painful neck and some numbness in her arms and face from muscle strains and a pinched nerve. We give thanks to God that from the insurance settlement on our totaled blue van, we were able to by the same model of van, only in "titanium." Also, pray for safety as we have a lot of travel in the next few months. Here is our schedule for church visits:

Fall 2011 and Winter 2012
Church Visit Schedule

9/25 (a.m.) Fuller Ave CRC, Grand Rapids, MI
10/2 (a.m.) Jamestown CRC, Hudsonville, MI and (p.m.) 2nd CRC of Allendale, MI
10/9 (a.m.) 1st CRC of Muskegon, MI and (p.m.) Calvin CRC of Grand Rapids, MI
10/16 (a.m.) 12th Ave. CRC of Jenison, MI
10/23 (a.m.) Brookside CRC of Grand Rapids, MI
10/30 (a.m.) Eastern Avenue CRC of Grand Rapids, MI
11/6 (a.m.) First CRC of Fremont, MI
11/13 (a.m.) Ferrysberg Comm. Church, MI
11/20 (a.m.) Lakeside CRC of Alto, MI
11/27 (a.m.) Brooten Comm. Church of Brooten, MN
12/4 (a.m.) Bethany CRC of Muskegon, MI
12/11 (a.m.) Three Rivers CRC of Three Rivers, MI
12/18 (a.m.) Elm Grove UMC, IL
1/8/12 (a.m.) Faith CRC of Holland
1/15 (a.m.) Calvary Assem. of God, Lansing, MI
1/22 (a.m.) Calvin CRC, Holland, MI.
1/29 (a.m.) Peace Comm. Church, Frankfort, Il.

Thanks for your prayers, encouragement and financial support of our ministry!

God's Faithfulness in Haiti and in Michigan

Last week God demonstrated his love and protection for our family in a serious car accident. Sharon and Vivian were rear-ended by an SUV in front of a stop-light at major intersection in Grand Rapids, MI. The force of the collision launched our minivan across the intersection into cross-traffic, which, providentially, was very light for 9 a.m. The front bumper of the impacting vehicle literally came to rest inches from Vivian, who was riding in the third row seat. We give thanks to God for proving himself faithful both in Haiti and in Michigan!

Let Them All Be One

ccording to John, Jesus’ final prayer before his arrest was for the unity of believers. Jesus prays that “all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.” The president of the CRC of Haiti, Pastor Eli Metallus, shares this vision for the unity of God’s people. That’s why we contacted Eli when we heard that Pastor Bruce Adema, the CRCNA’s officer in charge of inter-denominational relations, wanted to come to Haiti and explore the possibility of building a relationship directly between the CRCNA and the CRC of Haiti. Eli was excited about hosting Bruce and so we planned a week for the two pastors to meet. Zach, Bruce and Pastor Eli spent a weekend at Eli’s hometown of Jacmel to discuss the possibilities for such a relationship. In subsequent months, we drafted and translated an agreement outlining the details of that relationship including the possibilities of mutual visitation by pastors, prayer, and reflection on shared ministry challenges, etc. The agreement was ratified by the CRCNA’s Synod in June. It was accepted with applause by the CRC of Haiti’s General Assembly in July (see above). We give thanks to God that we have had a small part in making these two churches one in Christ.

Where Jesus and the Prophets Lived

In September we had the unique opportunity to visit Israel and Palestine, the land where Jesus and the Prophets lived thousands of years ago. For us, this was a chance to broaden our understanding of Scripture and get a break from the pressures of ministry and our family. Both sets of our parents stayed with our children for the eight days we were gone. What can we say about our visit? For all of our lives we have studied Scripture without seeing its context with our own eyes. For example, thoughout the Old and New Testament, the Biblical authors speak of "going up" to Jerusalem. Jerusalem is actually 3,800 feet above the Jordan River valley (1,300 feet below sea level) although it is only ten miles as the crow flies. That means to walk the 10 miles between Jerusalem and Jericho, as the Jewish pilgrims of the Biblical era often did, you must go up nearly 4,000 feet. It was amazing to walk into the Church of the Nativity (see top right), one of the oldest Christian churches in the world, and built over the supposed rocky grotto where Jesus was was born. Most of the "holy sites" of Israel and the West Bank have large and ornate Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox churches built over them, like the Church of the Nativity, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (built over Jesus' supposed site of crucifixion and burial), etc. However, there are some interesting locations which look much as they have for millenia. A good example is the Wailing or Western Wall (see second picture from top), one of the holiest locations for practicing Jews. The Western Wall is a large stone retaining wall that once supported Herod's great temple, one of the ancient marvels of the world, and the temple where Jesus himself once worshiped. According to a placard as you enter the Western Wall compound, the "presence of God hovers above the wall" as it did when the Ark of the Covenant was lodged in Holy of Holies of Solomon's temple (the "first temple" destroyed in 586 BC). It was a moving experience to pray at the Wall and leave our prayers written in wadded up pieces of paper in between the great stones. It was also amazing to ascend onto the Temple Mount, called Mount Moriah by Jews and Muslims where currently the great mosque, the "Dome of the Rock," occupies the central platform. According to Muslims, the Prophet Mohammed ascended into heaven on the Temple Mount, which was considered the holiest site to Muslims until the construction of the massive mosque at Mecca. For both Jews and Muslims, Mount Moriah is where Abraham was told to sacrifice Isaac. According to the Old Testiment, it is also where David build an altar to the Lord to stay the hand of a destroying angel God had sent to punish David and Israel for its pride. For this reason, David gave the mount to Solomon for the construction of the beautiful first temple, of which nothing remains today. Later, a small temple was rebuilt by the exiles (recorded in Ezra-Nehemiah) and then majestically rebuilt by King Herod in the decades before Jesus' birth (we learned that Herod's temple was not officially completed until a few years before it was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. after a Jewish revolt). The Temple Mount is the most valuable religious real estate in the world, heavily fortified by Israeli soldiers and closely watched by Islamic clerics. For Protestant Christians such as ourselves, some of the most prayerful and spiritual experiences can be found at the sites that are much less "built up" and "heavily defended." At the Garden of Gethsemane (see fourth picture from top), you can still pray before the ancient olive trees which witnessed Jesus' last moments of pleading with his Father to "remove the cup" of his coming suffering. Another powerful experience is the Garden Tomb and the Rock of Golgotha. Although not recognized by the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches (which built the massive Church of the Holy Sepulchre inside the Jerusalem's city walls to mark the place of Jesus' death and resurrection) as the place of Jesus' crucifixion, many biblical scholars today believe that this site is much more likely the place of Jesus' crucifixion, burial and resurrection. Many Christians easily see the "skull" in the hillside (see bottom picture) resembling the Gospel accounts. Not far away, there is a unoccupied tomb resembling that which Joseph of Aramithea interred Jesus' body, complete with a ramp for the large stone that sealed the tomb's entrance (the stone is gone). Inside this small and unassuming tomb you will find a small but ancient cross carved into the wall. It was amazing to take communion in this place where Jesus likely took his last agonizing breath nailed to the cross. We give thanks to God for the opportunity to visit these sites where Jesus and the Prophets walked. We do not regard them as any more "holy" that anywhere else on this earth because Christ has died to make all places and people holy. Nevertheless, our visit has brought our faith and Scripture alive in our minds. We hope that this experience will renew us and encourage us as we teach Haitian leaders about Scripture written in Israel and Palestine so long ago.

Segaar-King August Update

Dear Friends and Family:

In the Old Testament, the Lord instructed the people of Israel to give their lands “rest” on every seventh year, “Six years you shall sow your field…but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land (Lev. 25:3-4).” While this was never practiced faithfully by God’s people, the principle of “rest in the Lord” can be found throughout Scripture. While we will be very busy over the next six months of our home service as we visit with churches, supporters and family, we pray that God would give his rest so that we can return to Haiti refreshed for ministry. We hope too that you have had an opportunity this summer to “rest in the Lord” if you haven’t already.

Please join us in giving thanks for:
-Our safe and timely arrival in Grand Rapids, MI. We give thanks to God that we were able to get everything packed up!
-A successful week of being the speakers at the Christian Reformed Conference Grounds in August. Our presentation was entitled, “Four Steps to Help Your Church Do Good in Her Community.” We had good attendance and interest for the whole week.
-The beginning of the school year for our three oldest children who are enrolled at Grand Rapids Christian Elementary School.

Please join us in praying for:
-Preparations for our church visits this fall. Visiting with churches and supporters provides the moral, prayer and financial resources for our ministry to happen.
-Pray for safety for our upcoming visit to Israel where we will be touring biblical sites for eight days with a group of pastors.
-Pray for rest, renewal, and opportunities to learn and grow in ministry. We plan to attend conferences, take some courses and do some independent study.

Thanks for your prayers and support,

Zachary, Sharon, Hannah, Isaiah, Vivian and Esther Segaar-King
Missionaries to Haiti
Christian Reformed World Missions

Camping for Christ

Our first work assignment since arriving in Michigan has been a pleasant one. We were scheduled to serve as the week's preachers and bible study leaders at the Christian Reformed Conference Grounds in Grand Haven, MI. Honestly, the assignment was a little intimidating. We were made aware that many of the campers at the Conference Grounds had been treated to some of the best Christian speakers that West Michigan has to offer. For our week at the Conference Grounds, we chose to speak on a topic that we considered very timely and important for the local church: "How Your Church Can Do Good to Those Outside Her Doors." Community outreach is increasingly seen as necessary for local churches that want to remain relevant to their communities and compellingly preach the message of grace to a hurting world. Despite our anxieties, the campers received our bible studies and sermons well. There was a surprising amount of interest in Haiti too. Our accommodations were opulent: we had a new three bedroom "cottage" (read: "chalet") with all the amenities. Our kids got to go to the Lake Michigan beach every day and even participated in a children's program (see picture above). Although we spent the previous week of vacation preparing our presentation and stayed up late into the night practicing and adjusting our material, it was a wonderful week. While at the Conference Grounds, we had a final opportunity to say goodbye to Ad and Coby de Blaeij, our former colleagues in Haiti who spend their summers camping there. If you are looking for a vacation that is great for the kids and will even give them a chance to learn about God, you should take a look at the Christian Reformed Conference Grounds!

Accomodating Adjustment

People often ask us what it is like to be a cross-cultural missionary. It is many things. But above all, it is about adjusting to constant change. There is the change of leaving one's normal surroundings, friends and family, and moving to a new culture with new friends and customs. Then there is the constant change of demands on the field: one day a sermon must be written, the next day a car repaired, and on the following day a malfunctioning computer must be mended. In countries where many goods and services are unavailable or prohibitively expensive, missionaries must learn to do everything. Many people don't realize it but one of the most disconcerting changes happens when missionaries leave their host cultures and return to their country of origin. In two or three years a lot of changes occur. We will never forget a flight to Grand Rapids a few years ago when we noticed everyone in the airplane was glued to small rectangular devices, poking and prodding them with their fingers. It was only a few months ago that Blackberries arrived in Haiti--we are still waiting for touchscreen smart phones to become popular! One of the greatest changes is borne by children--they are dragged from their homes, friends and schools, put into new homes, forced to make new friends and to get accustomed to new schools. Please pray for our school-aged children, Hannah, Isaiah, and Vivian, as they spend six months in a new school (see picture of Hannah, Isaiah, and Vivian in front of their new school, Grand Rapids Christian Elementary) before returning to Haiti in the middle of a semester.

A Thorny Issue

Perhaps the most difficult challenge Haiti has faced since the January 12, 2010 earthquake is what to do with the hundreds of thousands of people living in tents and makeshift shelters on public and private property. We were reminded of this issue as we camped last week among double-axle trailers with pop-outs and air conditioning at a local campground. The problem is complex. While many among the approximate 300,000 people camping on the streets of Haiti today actually lost their homes in the earthquake, many more have chosen to live as displaced persons or squat on private property to obtain certain advantages. It is recognized that the more aid given in a particular camp, the more people will set up shelters to take advantage of the aid being distributed. The international relief community also puts a great amount of pressure on the government of Haiti to avoid forced evictions in camps as this is considered an affront to the rights of refugees. Nevertheless, many private land owners have evicted squatters by force. Others have resorted to payouts to squatters to remove their shelters, including mayors trying to clean up public parks and plazas. The discussion about what to do with displaced persons is not academic for us as the cul-de-sac outside our office in Port-au-Prince is actually a displaced person camp (see the picture above taken a week after the earthquake). Because the camp is on public property, there is no way to make sure that the spots vacated by displaced persons are not reinhabited by someone else. In recent months, inhabitants of our camp have become confrontational, often demanding aid and sometimes defacing and damaging cars and other property in the area to register their dissatisfaction. As a team, we are doing some research into how we can encourage displaced persons to leave the camp in front of our office. Please pray that God will provide wisdom as we try to help the residents of our cul-de-sac without creating more dependence and problems.

Segaar-King July Update

Dear Friends and Family:

Greetings from Haiti. In just two days we will be departing Port-au-Prince, bound for Grand Rapids, MI, for our six month home service. Life has passed at a frantic pace the last two weeks as we work hard to finish ministry projects and organize our home for its new residents. We look forward to seeing you all this fall!

Please join us in giving thanks for:
-A successful General Assembly for the CRC of Haiti. Significant events include a formal recognition signed between the CRCNA and the CRC of Haiti.
-A successful week of theological training. We taught a course on interpretation of the Gospels and a course on the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible) for 28 young church leaders.
-A family to stay in our home during the six months that we are in the USA. There names are Cornelius and Mandy and they are going to begin a ministry with the Canadian Reformed Church in Port-au-Prince.

Please join us in praying for:
-Patience and strength to finish pressing projects. Both Sharon and Zach are pretty worn out and a little sick. Pray also for a safe and uneventful trip to Michigan.
-Pray that no tropical cyclones will affect Haiti in August through October.
-Pray that our colleagues and Haitian partners will continue our work profitably this fall. Pray especially for the successful completion of the Cayes Jacmel church the first week of August.
Don’t forget to arrange a visit to your church during our upcoming home-service from Aug 3, 2011 to Feb. 10, 2012. We will put you in contact with our scheduler!

Thanks for your prayers and support,

Zachary, Sharon, Hannah, Isaiah, Vivian and Esther Segaar-King
Missionaries to Haiti
Christian Reformed World Missions

Esther Turns Two

Some call the twos “terrible” and some called them “terrific.” A few weeks ago we celebrated Esther’s (our youngest) second birthday. Esther enjoyed chocolate cake, time with family, and also a few birthday presents. Unfortunately, Esther’s other two-year-old friends could not come as many of them were traveling on summer vacation. Esther is keeping us especially busy these days as we are trying to pack up to return to Michigan for our six month “home service” (a time set aside for us to visit churches and supporters to report on our work). One of Esther’s favorite two-year-old activities is to get into boxes that we are packing and scatter their contents. While we are back in the US during our home service, we have arranged for another family to live in our home. Please pray for strength and endurance as struggle to finish ministry projects and pack up our home before the plane leaves on August 3.

Twelve Thousand Five Hundred Screws

Twelve thousand five hundred screws. This is a number that we will never forget because it is the number of screws that need to be drilled into the roof of the Cayes Jacmel church. Perhaps for those in the construction trades, that may not seem like a lot, but people unaccustomed to using a drill, it represents a massive challenge. The church construction project, financed by SUN-BEAM International, is the rebuilding is our final rebuilding project in the Jacmel area, an area slammed by the 2010 earthquake. The members of the church were not interested in the concrete slab roof which we normally construct as they are still afraid of another earthquake bringing down the building on their heads. However, when the members and Pastor Andrenord saw the building methods utilized by the building team, they were convinced that they had nothing to worry about. It took an entire week alone to construct the trusses and place the sill-plate (what enables the trusses to be fastened to the wall). Lord willing, the trusses will be bolted on and the tin roof nailed down during the first week of August. Please pray for the safety and efficiency of the Haitian work team during this week.

An Experience to Remember

After literally years of planning, we had the pleasure of receiving a visit from our home church, Fuller Avenue CRC of Grand Rapids, MI. Fuller is a special church for us. Sharon was born and raised in the congregation. Both Zach and Sharon were called and ordained by Fuller in 2005. Sharon's parents still attend the congregation. For Fuller's week-long visit we had prepared a busy itenerary. We were going to visit the Belladere area were Zach and Sharon have worked with the CRC of Haiti on church development projects. We were going to visit Leogane, the site of CRWRC's massive home-construction project. And we were going to do a work project at the Ministry Center. However, a certain gastro-intestinal bug had other plans. One by one, almost all seventeen of the group's members fell ill with a full-blown case of the Haitian quick-weight loss program. Despite the frustration of spending a good portion of its visit sick, the team from Fuller was able to assist with the construction project (building the second story of the Ministry Center's water tower) and a beautification project (planting trees and plants near the entrance of the center). A team member, John Straatsma, remained an extra week to assist with other projects as well. We give thanks to God for protecting the team through this challenging experience. It will certainly be an experience to remember!

Meat and Potatoes

It has been a long time in coming, but the end is finally in sight—the end of our part in the reconstruction effort. Since the January 12, 2010 earthquake, much of our time and focus has been on projects and programs to rebuild and reconstitute the churches and communities that we assist. As you read this, the roof on the final church that we plan to rebuild (Cayes Jacmel—see above) is being assembled. Of course, there still is rebuilding to be done. A vast amount of rubble lays untouched and hundreds of thousands still live on the streets of Port-au-Prince. So why not continue indefinitely in reconstruction? After only six years in Haiti, we understand the that natural disasters will come and go. But the long-term work of building up churches and communities in Haiti must go forward. The Apostle Paul writes in Eph. 4:11-12: “It was he [God] who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” The biblical model of development is to build up people who themselves (with the Spirit’s guidance) rebuild their own churches and communities. In contrast, many believe that the liberal distribution of material aid is the best way to reconstitute communities. But, like a chocolaty sugar-high, distributed material aid is quickly absorbed leaving the community in the same impoverished circumstance. However, when community and church leaders are trained and empowered, there is no limit to what can be accomplished. The difficulty, however, is that building up leaders is like cooking “meat and potatoes.” It is time-consuming, tedious, and unglamorous. The result, however, however, is a balanced diet that can support long-term growth and prosperity. Pray for patience and solid encouragement from our network of supporters as we try to get back to the “meat and potatoes” of ministry.

Every conscientious church must ponder the question, “What does God want for our ministry?” This question is especially difficult for Haitian churches as there is a constant tension between the spiritual and physical needs of their communities. Pastor Andrenord of the Cayes Jacmel Church is facing this very challenge. A recent report from the United Nations singled out Cayes Jacmel as the recipient of the least aid of any Haitian community affected by the earthquake. For this reason, members of Andrenord’s church have applied for and received grants from several CRC agencies to rebuild homes, recapitalize small businesswomen (see picture below), and to rebuild the destroyed Cayes Jacmel church (through a partnership with SON-BEAM International). But what about worship and the church’s verbal witness to Jesus Christ? Andrenord says it is tough to keep everything in balance, but the church’s physical assistance to the community has provided many opportunities to verbally witness of God’s love.

Here Come the Graduates!

There are two kinds of graduates in the world: those that stuff their diplomas in the drawer and those that frame their diplomas and hang them in their office. Haitians generally fall into the latter category. Haitians love diplomas. In our training programs, we believe that what training you have completed is not as important as how you can use the training you have. For example, after three years of Timothy Leadership Training (TLT), we recently graduated our first four participants (normally TLT participants should graduate every year). Why? Because only these four demonstrated the ability to use Timothy Training in their ministries. We hope that our choice will encourage the other TLT participants to use the training in their ministries as well. In June we graduated the first fifteen students from the Reformed Bible Training Institute (out of a group of 21). These fifteen students were required to demonstrate ability to train other church leaders before they could graduate. In the Parable of the Talents (Matt. 25) Jesus congratulates the servants who invested their master’s principle and received interest. We hope that the Master will receive interest from the investment we make in Haitian church leaders!

Segaar-King May Update

Dear Friends:

On Saturday we will celebrate three years of efforts invested in fifteen Haitian church leaders. These leaders will be the first graduating class of the Reformed Bible Training Institute, a bible school created by the Christian Reformed Church of Haiti to train local church leaders around Haiti. For the last three years, these students have attended four three-day-long seminars and completed numerous assignments from their homes. During the seminars, the students learned everything from leading marriage ceremonies to the different covenants in the Old Testament. What is truly amazing is that these seminars took place in spite of hurricanes, earthquakes and political instability. Take a look at the picture of some of the key leaders that we have been training for the last three years.

Please join us in giving thanks for:
-A successful Timothy Leadership Training conference in May. Over forty leaders who had been successfully using this training in their ministry were further trained in the materials.
-A successful visit of Lakeside CRC of Alto, MI. Lakeside is interested in developing a project in the Thomassique area of Haiti.
-a successful completion of the school year for our three oldest children, Hannah, Vivian and Isaiah.
-Our eleventh wedding anniversary on May 20.

Please join us in praying for:
-The completion of the Kay Jakmel church. We have hit a hitch in finding the appropriate materials for the church’s roof. Pray that the project can be finished soon.
-The upcoming visit of two churches to Haiti: Calvary CRC of Holland, MI and Fuller Avenue CRC of Grand Rapids, MI. Pray for safety and profitable projects.
-Success for the Women’s Spiritual Retreat being planned for June 23-26 in Thomassique, Haiti. Sharon, along with the pastor of Fuller Ave. CRC, will participate. Don’t forget to arrange a visit to your church during our upcoming home-service from Aug 3, 2011 to Feb. 10, 2012. We will put you in contact with our scheduler!

Thanks for your prayers and support,

Zachary, Sharon, Hannah, Isaiah, Vivian and Esther Segaar-King
Missionaries to Haiti
Christian Reformed World Missions

Who Said Haiti Was a Crater?

Quite often those who are not familiar with

Haiti have the impression that Haiti is nothing more than a hurricane and earthquake-plagued disaster zone. But in reality Haiti is actually quite a beautiful country. Back in the seventies and early eighties, Haiti was a regular destination for cruise liners and resort-goers. In fact, Haiti was long called the "Pearl of the Antilles" for its beautiful beaches, forests, and friendly population. In the 1700s and 1800s, Haiti was actually the most prosperous of all the Caribbean colonies. The mid-eighties saw the beginning of thirty years of political instability and economic decline capped by the disastrous earthquake in 2010. But, here and there, the old Haiti, the Pearl of Antilles, shows its colors. One such place is the seasonal lake called "Twou Kayiman" or "Crocodile Hole." While the Crocodile Hole no longer has crocs, it does have migratory birds including a colony of beautiful pink flamingos. We made our second trip to see the flamingos a few weeks ago in very old and very leaky boat. In fact, each boat needs a staff of two: one to push the boat with a pole and another to bail out the leaking water. Those willing to risk getting wet are rewarded with a extraordinary view of the surrounding mountains and the gently waving reeds of the lake. We hope to be able to take some smaller visiting teams to Twou Kayiman. Maybe if you visit, you will be one of the lucky ones!

Why Do We Insist on Building Up Haitian Leaders?

Public speakers are routinely roasted for speaking in cliches--old worn out phrases so overused that they cease to have meaning. Well, we have a cliche of our own and it has something to do with "building up Haitian church leaders." Well, perhaps we do use this phrase a little too much. But we do so because building leaders is the most strategically important job anyone who is committed to seeing systematic change in a society can do. Leadership is about helping people to develop and own a vision for their existence. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, there is literally no limit to what a motivated, prayerful and humble leader can do both inside the church and outside. Leaders don't mobilize material resources (budgets, equipment, etc.), they mobilize the people who mobilize those resources. So, one competent and compelling leader can bring massive resources to bear on a problem. Maybe this is what Jesus meant when he said that if the seed of the Gospel lands on fertile soil it can produce a crop "one-hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown (Matt. 13:8)." The Timothy Leadership Training Institute (TLTI) is just such a program that seeks to grow leaders. We provided certificates to the first four leaders to graduate from the TLTI program (see above). Why only four? We insist that leaders demonstrate the ability to prayerfully discern a vision for change with their colleagues, implement it with the Spirit's help, and report their progress to the people of God. Of the hundreds who have participated in this program over the last two years, only these four have demonstrated mastery of such skills. Four is not a lot. But four motivated leaders who are passionate for the Kingdom of God can mobilize more resources than we can imagine. So, cliche or not, we will go on talking about "building up Haitian church leaders." Through them, the Holy Spirit will change this country!

Saying Goodbye to Friends

We have mentioned on a few occassions that our colleagues Ad and Coby de Blaeij will be departing Haiti in June. Ad and Coby are Dutch nationals and have been living in Haiti for over 29 years. We often joke that Ad and Coby have been living in Haiti longer than most Haitians (since the average age in Haiti is 17 or 18). Ad has worked as CRWRC's Country Coordinator and Coby has taught our children in Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten at Quisqueya Christian School. Ad is an agronomist by trade (i.e., an agriculture specialist). Ad really enjoyed agriculture programs like the ones in Batist (pictured above) where he and Sharon visited some years ago. Besides being handy with plants, Ad and Coby have a wealth of information and contacts here in Haiti. Ad spent most of his career working for a Dutch NGO, "Word and Deed." He joined CRWRC when Word and Deed was turned over to Haitian nationals. Lunise Cerin Jules will be taking over for Ad in June. Lunise is a Haitian woman who has many years of experience working in the micro-credit and education fields. Most recently she was consulting for the Haitian government on an education project. Please pray for our team as we make this transition. Pray also that God will provide for all of Ad and Coby's needs.

Pulled in a Hundred Directions

It seems like life is pretty much defined by the experience of being pulled in at least two different directions at once. As children, we want to grow up quickly and yet we have a sentimental desire to retain our youth. As adults we are pulled between the need to make a living and to provide care and nurture for loved ones. In Haiti churches are constantly pulled between the poles of proclaiming the Gospel and providing for the physical needs poor and suffering. The Cayes Jacmel Christian Reformed church is a textbook example. In the midst of the reconstruction of the church building destroyed by the earthquake (above right), the church undertook a project to rebuild damaged houses in the neighborhood by giving grants of building materials to affected persons. Recently, the church has begun a project to provide micro-loans (small loans designed to recapitalize small businesses which buy and sell in the local market) at a favorable interest rate for needy businesspeople in the community. Andrenord, the pastor of the Cayes Jacmel church, was forced to take leave from his work of ship-building a few weeks ago to participate with the gathering of micro-loan beneficiaries (above left). In the midst of all of this activity, the church must still proclaim the Gospel, do evangelism, educate its youth, and carve out space for prayer and worship. Talk about being pulled in a hundred different directions! Please pray that the church construction project (funded through SON-BEAM International) could be brought to completion. Pray also for the microcredit project (funded by CRWRC Disaster Response). Pray also that church leaders won't get too tired to faithfully proclaim the Gospel by actions...and words when necessary!

Segaar-King Update

Dear Friends and Family:

Greetings from Haiti. Yesterday we traveled to an area on the south coast of Haiti called Kay Jakmel. According to a recent report, Kay Jacmel has seen the least amount of reconstruction of any area in Haiti affected by the January 12, 2010 earthquake. Through funds provided SONBEAM International, Sous Espwa has been helping Kay Jakmel CRC to rebuild its church building. At the same time, the Kay Jakmel church members are assisting neighbors to rebuild their damaged homes through funds provided by CRWRC Disaster Response. It is exciting to see a group of Christians putting their faith in practice in their community!

Please join us in giving thanks for:
-A good kick off for a relief project being done by the CRC of Haiti in three communities in and around Jakmel. The project includes home reconstruction, trauma counseling, and loans to merchants who lost their business after the earthquake.
-Dedication of the Siloye CRC (Jakmel) building on April 10. It was amazing to see the congregation’s witness to the community and thankfulness to God.
-Plans that are being made for our upcoming home service. We will leave Haiti on August 3 and return on Feb. 10, 2012. CRWM will be contacting our partner churches soon to arrange a visit.

Please join us in praying for:
-The upcoming Timothy Leadership Training conference May 4-6. We are expecting sixty leaders who are training fellow Christians in practical ministry skills.
-A visit from Lakeside CRC of Alto, MI. We are taking the delegation to an area called Thomassique (see picture above) to explore a possible partnership with local churches in a community and church development program.
-A visit from an “Open Team” who will be taking part in the building of a water tower for the Ministry Center property.
-The Kay Jakmel church reconstruction project. Pray that the local church volunteers will be able to carry the project to completion.

FOR MORE PICTURES, STORIES, AND INFORMATION ABOUT OUR MINISTRY AND FAMILY, PLEASE SEE OUR BLOG AT segaarking.blogspot.com

Thanks for your prayers and support,

Zachary, Sharon, Hannah, Isaiah, Vivian and Esther Segaar-King
Missionaries to Haiti
Christian Reformed World Missions

Women's Conference 2011!!

Every year Sharon works with the CRC of Haiti to organize a national spiritual retreat with the women of the denomination. This is one of the most exciting and rewarding things we do all year. When people set aside a few days to give God praise and hear his Word for their lives, good things always happen. Unfortunately, it is very challenging for the participants to find the needed funds to cover the conference. Often the women do not have enough money for transport to the conference and end up walking many miles with food and bedding on their heads. Almost always, the money provided by the participants is not enough to purchase the kind and quantity of food people like, so it is necessary to make do with "bread and water" for the duration of the conference. Thankfully, God's Word says that we "do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." (Deut. 8:3). We pray that this kind of bread will be found in abundance at the upcoming CRC of Haiti women's conference at the end of June. Pray for Madame Solange (pictured above), the national women's coordinator for the CRC of Haiti, and Pastor Bellizaire (pictured above), pastor of the church where the conference will be held, as they work together to plan the event.

Fun for the Whole Family

We often neglect the importance of the ceremony in our culture. Processions, formal wear, and lofty language don't resonate with us anymore. Haitians, on the other hand, love ceremony and formality. It made an impression on Zach. On April 10 Zach attended the dedication of the new Siloye Christian Reformed Church building. The Siloye church was destroyed in the earthquake while its pastor (Eli Mettalus) was putting the finishing touches on the new building of another CRC of Haiti congregation being constructed in central Haiti. When SONBEAM International, the West Michigan charity that has funded the construction of five churches in the CRC of Haiti, heard about the loss of the Siloye church, it immediately wanted to fund its rebuilding. The new church was completed in January, 2011.

When Zach arrived at the church, he realized that although sporting a dress shirt and tie, he was quite under dressed for the occasion. All the pastors and attenders were in their full regalia. All the formality was quite appropriate, however. It was a time to formally recognize the grace God had given the congregation which had endured so much since the earthquake. Zach preached a message on the final chapter of Ecclesiastes where the author states that respect for God and obedience to his commandments is the whole duty of human kind. At the end of the service, the congregation treated all in attendance to a meal of rice, beans and chicken (considered to be a very rich meal in Haitian culture). Please see a picture of some ladies and their children who attended the dedication service.

Segaar-King March Update

Dear Friends and Family:

The Prophet Isaiah writes: “But now, this is what the Lord says, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel; ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name and you are mine’” (Is. 43:1). We often we feel anonymous in this large and complex world. It is easy to forget that we serve a God who knows us and cares for us personally, who, in the words of Jesus, has even counted the very hairs on our head (Matt. 10:30). We hope that you will take comfort in these promises which give such great encouragement to our Haitian colleagues who struggle with so much.

Please join us in giving thanks for:

1. The hiring off two new staff members to fill empty spaces: Lunise Cerin-Jules to replace Ad de Blaeij as Country Coordinator for CRWRC-Haiti and Anna Ribiero-Noelsaint as our new Constituency Bridger. Also, Lesley Millar-Toussaint is returning from maternity leave to work again with Pespectives Reformees.
2. Zach’s continued recovery from hernia surgery. We give thanks that the abdominal pain is gone.
3. The purchase of church property for the Jacquet church is finally going forward after four years of delays and frustrations. Praise God!

Please join us in prayer for:

1. Rampant inflation of food prices in Haiti. The price of a sack of rice has risen 50% in four months, leaving the poor and vulnerable with few options to survive.
2. The announcement of the run-off election results on April 4. Pray for peace in streets of Haiti.
3. The beginning of a new church construction project in Cayes Jacmel. The Cayes Jacmel church is the last church damaged in the earthquake that we will reconstruct.
4. Visits from Lakeside CRC of Alto, MI and an “Open Team” (a visiting group unaffiliated with any particular church) in April. If you would like to be part of the “Open Team” coming to Haiti April 30-May 7, please contact us or Mary Dykstra (mdykstra@crwrc.org) ASAP.

FOR MORE PICTURES, STORIES, AND INFORMATION ABOUT OUR MINISTRY AND FAMILY, PLEASE SEE OUR BLOG AT segaarking.blogspot.com

Thanks for your prayers and support,

Zachary, Sharon, Hannah, Isaiah, Vivian and Esther Segaar-King
Missionaries to Haiti
Christian Reformed World Missions

Pray for Peace

When you are in the bottom of a trough in the waves, its hard to see the horizon. This is very true in Haiti. After five months of anticipation, concern, and outright fear, the results of the second round of Haiti’s presidential and run-off elections (held March 20) are expected to be announced on Monday (see picture of the voting tabulation center on the right). What most concerns Haitians is the presidential election. Last December, the preliminary announcement of the elections sent enraged supporters of former music star and presidential candidate Michel Martelly in the streets where they blocked roads, burned cars, looted buildings. Many expect Martelly to be declared the winner on Monday. If he is not, there is a good possibility that his supporters, who have already shown their violent tendencies, could come out in force again. Thankfully, the run-off election, held on March 20, was calm. Unfortunately, because of irregularities, 60% of the vote tally sheets needed to be examined for fraud. Please pray for peace in Haiti. Pray also that God would guide Haiti’s next president to establish a government that is transparent and interested in the plight of its people.

March of the Exiles

Yesterday morning the second exiled Haitian president in three months returned to Port-au-Prince. This time it was the twice-exiled Jean Bertrand Aristide who returned in a charted jet from South Africa. Like Jean Claude Duvalier, an ex-president who returned in January, Aristide was driven out of Haiti by a popular insurrection. Also like Duvalier, Aristide is accused of embezzlement of state funds and political violence against opponents. Love him or hate him, it is recognized that Aristide is the most divisive modern political figures in Haiti in recent memory. Both of his presidential terms ended prematurely with his forced flight from Haiti. The question that everyone is asking is, "Why now?" The international community made a concerted effort to keep Aristide out of the country until after Sunday's presidential election. However, the host government of South Africa decided it could not hinder Aristide's return. After debarking from the plane, Aristide delivered a speech in at least five languages which decried the exclusion of his political party from the election by the current President Preval's electoral committee. He ended by claiming to bring love and hope for the Haitian people. We will see.

Cay Jacmel Church: The Last One!

One of the projects that we have been occupied with since the earthquake of January 12, 2010 is repairing damaged and destroyed churches. The final church that we have plans to repair is the Cay Jacmel church. The Cay Jacmel church is located only a stone's throw from the beach, ten miles east of Jacmel (on the southern coast of Haiti). During the quake, the front and back of the church collapsed and side walls began slumping outward. When we shared this problem with SON-BEAM International, a West Michigan charity, it immediately decided to fund the reconstruction of the church. The plans are to completely demolish the existing structure and build a new 30' x 50' building. The congregation, led by Pastor Andrenord, who lives only a few feet from the building, has been meeting in this unstable facility since the earthquake. In addition, many homes in the Cay Jacmel area were destroyed in the quake as well because the building techniques used were particularly susceptible to quake damage. Such homes were built on a wood frame supported by walls in-filled with rocks and mortar. After the quake, only the wood frames of these houses remained standing. For this reason, the Christian Reformed Church of Haiti has received a grant from CRWRC International Disaster Relief to help Cay Jacmel residents with home repairs. In a recent United Nations report, it was noted that of all the areas damaged by the earthquake, the Cay Jacmel area has seen the least reconstruction activity. With God's grace, we are hoping to change that. Please pray that we can overcome planning and logistic hurdles along with the impending rains which will begin in late April or early May.