The Familiar Third Ward

The Third Ward has a surprising but gritty beauty much like Haiti, which is also a place where freed African slaves for forced to inhabit by colonial powers.

The stained glass windows of a church in the Third Ward recount the emancipation of  Houston's slaves.  A union general appeared in Houston (pictured above) after the fall of the Confederacy in 1865 to proclaim release for all slaves.  Houston's African Americans were soon forced into ghettos like the Third Ward by Jim Crow and other Segregationist laws.

The future home of Square Inch ministries, a property in the neglected portion of the Third Ward.

John Eigege stands in front of a "Shotgun House"--a small house built by the Third Ward's African American population during the era of Segregation.  The "shotgun house" was so small that a shotgun could be shot through it (hence the name).  Today, the houses are museums to Houston's racial and socio-economic legacy.

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of spending the day with some amazing missionaries working in Houston, Texas.  It was uplifting to see a local CRC pastor, Andy Sytsema, who by God's grace has encouraged a movement of church planting among Hispanic and African pastors working in Houston.  I spent the afternoon in Houston's historic Third Ward, where under post-Civil War Segregation and Jim Crow, the African American population was relocated by Houston's white population.  Today's Third Ward, like a certain Caribbean country where I spent twelve years living, is an example of extremes.  On the side closest to downtown Houston, the Third Ward is "gentrifying" as residences are being torn down and/or rehabilitated for upwardly mobile urbanites wanting to live closer to their downtown jobs and avoid traffic.  The other side of the Third Ward has been completely and utterly neglected and the still predominantly African-American population has almost no infrastructure including sidewalks, streetlights, and basic services.  While human suffering is easy to see in the Third Ward, so is tangible evidence of God's grace.  For example, John Eigege, a Nigerian who moved into the Third Ward as a "community chaplain" (affiliated with Resonate), has built a robust mission network.  He hopes to build a ministry house where he and others can mentor, teach and serve the youth of the Third Ward.  John is convinced that every square inch of the Third Ward belongs to Jesus Christ (hence, he has named his ministry "Square Inch").  Pray for John, Andy, and others who are working in the challenging places of Houston to concretely share the love of Jesus.

Zach's New Reality

There are times when we have a nostalgic longing for the past.  During my last trip to Ontario to consult with our mission staff, I was enveloped by a horrifying band of lake-effect snow streaming off of Lake Huron on what was the coldest day of the season (the high temperature was three degrees F that day).  The police closed the highway between London and Sarnia, sending me onto two-lane country roads where I experienced white-outs and huge drifts blocking my way.  During this whole trip the only thing I could think of was, "I wish I was in Haiti!"

Haiti in the News

Beautiful shoreline near Jean Rabel in Haiti

Some of the wonderful Haitian people that we've served beside.

Dear Friends and Family,

Haiti has been in the news the last few days.  Yesterday was the eighth anniversary of Haiti's 2010 earthquake.  It feels very different to remember Douz Janvye (Haitian Kreyol for January 12, the unofficial name given by the Haitian people to the 2010 earthquake).  We remember the faces and personalities of cherished friends lost, but also the amazing way in which God protected and provided for our family and others.  Douz Janvye is an experience that has defined a generation and has redefined the life values for those who survived it.

Haiti was also in the news lately because of President Trump's comments regarding Haitian (and African) immigrants.  The President's injudicious characterization is nothing new--many have tended to focus on the material poverty and political dysfunction of Haiti.  However, there is much to appreciate about Haiti, especially the resilient, industrious and passionate Haitian people, some of whom have been among the hardest working immigrants in the United States and Canada, saving and sending hundreds of millions dollars of their hard-earned dollars back to family in Haiti.  We personally know Haitians in the US who work three jobs to build a life here and save for family in Haiti.  Our hope and prayer is that despite contentious politics, Christ-follows will encourage appreciation for God's image in all kinds of people, especially the beautiful people of Haiti.

Below is a statement from the Christian Reformed Church:

"The Christian Reformed Church is Haitian, Latin American, Asian, European, North American, and African.  The CRCNA believes that all people are image-bearers of God, full of dignity.  The CRCNA is against racism.  The CRCNA is pro-immigrant.  The CRCNA declares that our whole world belongs to God, and is worthy of respect.  We condemn actions and words that say otherwise."