Segaar-King March Update

Dear Friends and Family:

In times of transition, people often quote Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you . . . ”  This declaration, recorded to encourage the exiles of Judah living in Babylon, reminds us that God watches, cares for and plans to bless his people in whatever circumstances they find themselves.  In June our circumstances will be changing drastically.  Zach has been appointed as the Director of the yet-unnamed New Missions Agency (NMA) of the Christian Reformed Church, pending the approval of the Synod of the CRC in June.  Among other things, this means twelve challenging but rewarding years of service in Christ’s name with the Haitian people are coming to an end.  Living and serving in Haiti is full of irony.  At the end of many days, packing up and going home sounds really good.  On the other hand, some of our most rewarding experiences of walking in faith with the Spirit have happened in Haiti.  Strangely, in God’s Kingdom what we suffer for most dearly is often what we come to treasure the best.  Though it will be hard to leave this struggling but endearing country, we are confident that the next step is God’s will for our family.    

As Please join us in giving thanks for:

-Safe travel to, from, and within Haiti for our many visiting teams in February and March.  Teams from Alto (MI), Grand Rapids (MI), Rochester (NY), and Brampton (ON) enjoyed serving and learning in Haiti.

-Safe travel for Zach to various interviews and team meetings in the US, Canada and Latin America.

-Gregory Paultre’s two-and-a-half years of service to Sous Espwa as Constituency Bridger.  Gregory is leaving our team on March 31 for another job.  Pray that we can find Greg’s successor.

-The Consortium for the Reinforcement of Christian Education (CRECH), our Haitian partner in developing Christian schools, has finally found a piece of property for their office.  Pray that God will make it possible for the organization to make a permanent home for their ministry.

Please join us in praying for:

-The Zuiderveens (our new missionary family) and their transition to CRWM’s work in Haiti.  The Zuiderveens signed-on expecting that we would be in Haiti.  Now that we are leaving to serve in the leadership of the CRC’s NMA, the Zuiderveens are going to have a very steep learning curve.

-The Segaar-King family’s transition to Grand Rapids, MI.  Our children’s view on leaving Haiti oscillates between excitement and anxiety.  Pray that we will transition well and that we can surmount logistic hurdles like finding a house, a car, furniture, etc.

-Our Sous Espwa Spiritual Retreat in April.  Team building and renewal depend on an encounter with God’s grace during this important weekend activity.