A Permanent Water Crisis

Because of El-Nino related shifts in precipitation, Haiti is currently suffering from a multi-year drought.  This reservoir should be 150 feet higher now.

Wells can be dug in the valleys of Haiti where there are many natural springs and the water table is nearer to the surface.  However, in Haiti's high deforested mountains, it can be very difficult to find water despite drilling deeply in the substrata. 

The water crisis situation in Flint, MI, that has garnered national attention is certainly one of the most lamentable human-made disasters to affect the US in the last several years.  The worst part, of course, is that the damage wrought by high concentrations of lead in Flint's water supply cannot be undone.  As discouraging as this situation is, it draws attention to another permanent water crisis which continues to go completely unpublicized--the water crisis in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.  Port-au-Prince, a city of 2.5 million residents (as opposed to Flint which has less than 100,000), has NO municipal water supply.  Note that I did not write no potable water supply.  The majority of Port-au-Prince residents actually have no access to a municipal water supply at all.  There are no water treatment plants, no pumping stations, no desalination plants, no sewers, etc.   How then do its people live?  The vast majority of water consumed comes from wells that are used to fill water trucks (holding about 5000 gallons each), which in turn empty their cargoes into the underground reservoirs of resident-clients.  Such reservoirs are also supplemented by rainwater collection from roofs and other exposed surfaces, which was probably one of the ways Jesus got his water 2,000 years ago.  However, rainwater collection means that filth, dust, and cockroaches find a home in reservoirs as well.   Since reservoir water cannot be drank, those who have resources purchase commercially-available purified drinking water at a substantial cost (a few dollars per five gallons).  Others, such as ourselves, pump reservoir water through sediment and UV water filters at a substantial savings since the $400-$500 USD purification systems more than pay for themselves in the long-run.  But what about the average Haitian?  Every year untold millions of Haitians are infected by water-borne parasitic and bacterial illnesses (giardia, dysentery, worms, flukes, schistosomiasis, and every other manner of parasite and bateria).  Many of these, especially children, never receive anti-parasitical treatments because their parents cannot afford them or are unaware of the need.  Many Haitians contract cholera which in some cases can lead to death in 48 hours or less.    Since no one tests drinking water, the existence of chemical pollutants like lead is assumed but unknown.  Perhaps what is more scary is that because of its dependency on water trucks, Port-au-Prince's water supply also depends on the availability of diesel fuel, which is often in short supply.

On the Other Side of the Tracks

Jean-Philippe in front of a local boutique in Souray.

Only inches above sea-level, Souray is a very dangerous place to live in an area where frequent flash-flooding can kill and destroy without warning.

Jean-Philippe is an average looking Haitian man living in a very extraordinary place called Souray.  Souray means "on the rails" since it was built over the site of Haiti's former railroad line used to transport sugarcane.  When the sugar business soured, squatters began to build their homes across the rails in Port-au-Prince's densely populated Carrefour municipality.  Souray is only inches above sea-level and is made up of everything from one-room masonry houses to shelters made from plywood and tin.  Instead of roads, paths run through Souray and water comes from several hand-dug open-air wells.  Despite being in the middle of the capital city of Haiti, Souray has no electricity, no sewage, and no potable water.  Souray's residents are vulnerable to floods and gang activity.  Several years ago Jean-Philippe attended a deacons' training program we funded through our ministry partner, the Program for Diaconal Formation (PWOFOD).  After three years in the program, Jean Philippe and his community "graduated," meaning that they successfully completed training in micro-credit, literacy, and poverty-awareness.  Despite our best efforts, many participants in training programs forget the lessons they learned and return to "business-as-usual."  This, however, was not to be the case with  Jean-Philippe.  He was convinced that God had called him to make a difference in Souray.  Jean-Philippe responded to the call by moving his family out of their small home and turning it into a school for the disadvantaged in his community.  Today his wife and children teach in and administer the school, while living and sleeping in what Jean-Philippe characterizes as "yon ti kwen" or "a small corner."  Jean-Philippe has been working tirelessly to find sediment water filters for the residents of Souray since they are afflicted by numerous water-borne ailments.  Jean-Philippe led Zach and a group of visitors from Lakeside CRC through Souray last week.  We wouldn't be surprised if we are some of the only foreigners ever to see this community.  Despite Souray's physical poverty, we saw evidence of God's grace in the smiles of the residents, in the joy of the children playing in the alleys, and the efforts of seamstresses and merchants in the to provide for their families.  Most obviously, we see God's grace in Jean-Philippe's passion for his neighbors.  However, the question still haunts us--"How can we as foreigners show God's love to the people of Souray?"  This is a question which bears much prayer and consideration in a context where good-intentions are not enough.

What's Going on In Haiti?

The vast majority of Haitians have been turned off on voting because of instability and allegations of voting fraud during the last few months.  Now the political partisans are organizing pro and anti-government rallies until a decision is taken about the future of Haiti's government.

Meanwhile, life goes on in Haiti--children go to school, parents sell their wares on street-corners, and the beautiful Caribbean sun shines.

Now that the American election cycle is fully underway, many people are experiencing fatigue from political commercials and ubiquitous coverage on the TV and Internet.  As much as politics puts us off, Americans and Canadians can be thankful that they do not have to endure politics in Haiti.  The final run-off presidential election in Haiti was scheduled for Dec. 27,....then Jan. 17,...and finally Jan. 24.  Under pressure from the opposition and because of attacks on voting centers, on Jan. 24 Haiti's electoral committee indefinitely postponed the final election.  Since the current president's term expires on February 6 according to the Haitian Constitution, the country is facing a full-fledged political crisis.  The reasons for this crisis are many and varied and do not make good public blog material for a missionary trying to keep his head down in his host country.  In summary, however, neither the president nor the opposition parties were able to organize an election in the last five years.  The result was that no official had a mandate to govern since early 2014 except the President.  Now that the President's five-year term is expiring, Haiti will no longer have a legitimate executive branch.  Haiti's politicians are now in eleventh-hour negotiations with the international community about the shape of a transitionary government whose mandate will be to hold elections.  In addition, many Haitians (especially the government opposition) see last fall's elections for the parliament as tainted, meaning that there will have to be a negotiation as to whether the entire election cycle will need to be redone or whether some results will be allowed to stand. In the midst of all this uncertainty, partisan political demonstrators have been marching en-masse up and down Haiti's main streets, blocking traffic and commerce.  Starting to get a headache?  You're not alone!  Please pray for a compromise so that Haiti can enjoy peace and stability.

Being the Worship Leader God Wants You to Be

We had about 120 participants in our fourth annual Worship and Music Conference held at the Bellvue Salem Baptist Church

The worship team from Quisqueya Chapel lead several of the worship services during the Conference.

Most of the presenters in the Conference were Haitian, but a small team from RJB Ministries assisted in presenting several sessions and singing/playing during the worship services.

Have you ever taken a few moments to talk to the worship leaders at your church about the joys and challenges that they face?  While it is a great privilege to lead worship, it also can be very tiring to manage all the details that have to come together for a worship service.  This year we set aside funds and time to put on the fourth annual Music and Worship Conference in partnership with Perspectives Reformees in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.  The Conference’s theme was “Being the Worship Leader God Wants You to Be.”  The first day we spent reflecting on the spiritual care and encouragement worship leaders need and often do not get.  We could tell by the faces of the participants that this was a timely subject.  During the second day, we discussed some practical issues of worship leadership like song selection, teaching a congregation to sing new songs, organization of the service, and other important topics.  We could tell that even in Haiti, there is a lot of conflict between worship leaders, church boards, and pastors with regard to worship service planning and execution.  Next time you have a chance, take a moment to thank and listen to your worship leaders.  It is a rewarding but very difficult task.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, 2016

Segaar-King December Update

Dear Friends and Family:

Greetings from Haiti.  God has been good to us in 2015, protecting and providing for our life and work in Haiti.  One of the biggest answers to prayer has been renewal after a painful conflict within the Christian Reformed Church of Haiti, a Haitian denomination with which we have worked since 2005.  It is great to be able to work with the churches and Haitian leaders of this denomination again.  A second answer to prayer is the recruitment of new missionaries to serve in Haiti.  Finally, we are thankful for your continued prayer and financial support of our ministry, two things which we will continue to need in 2016.

Please join us in giving thanks for:

1.   Our new missionaries, Cory and Lynn Grimm and family.  They will officially be starting with Christian Reformed World Missions in January, 2016.  It will take at least six months for support-raising before they can arrive on the field.

2.   A successful Worship and Music Conference in December.  Our theme was “Be the worship leader God has called you to be.”  We trained over 120 Haitian church leaders in practical and theological principles to help them become better worship leaders.

3.   A great visit from Larry and Faith Segaar, who spent about 10 days with us.

Please join us in prayer for:

1.   Visiting teams in January from Second CRC of Allendale and Lakeside CRC.  For the service component, the teams this winter will be helping us put an addition on our mission office to house Perspectives Reformees, the CRC media ministry.

2.   Stability in Haiti.  The Dec. 27 presidential election was cancelled.  The new date will most likely be in January.

3.   Zach’s final push to finish his Ph.d.  The final draft is due on February 15.

4.   That we would receive the metal trusses for a church we want to build.  The vendor is over three months late after receiving full payment and construction is delayed.

Please see the attached New Year’s greeting.

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, Vivian, Isaiah and Esther Segaar-King

Missionaries to Haiti through Christian Reformed World Missions 

Segaar-King November Ministry Report

Dear Friends and Family:

Greetings from Haiti.  Now that the Advent or Christmas season has begun, we can reflect on the meaning of Jesus’ birth from the Haitian perspective.  First, Advent reminds us that God loves poor, working people.  Jesus, the Son of God, was born not to royalty, but to a carpenter and his peasant fiancé.  Like Mary and Joseph, the vast majority of Haitians work hard with their hands to survive.  Second, Advent reminds us that God keeps his promises, especially his promise to provide for his people.  North Americans, for whom food, security, and medical care are but a phone call or credit card swipe away, struggle to understand what it means to trust God for “daily bread.”  But Haitians, many of whom wake up without a crumb in the cupboard, know about radical dependence on God’s promises.  

Please join us in giving thanks for:

1.   God’s provision for a new missionary family to come to Haiti.  We will be sharing the name of the new family with you in coming months.

2.   A safe trip for Zach to Guatemala.  He had a great time getting acquainted with several models of urban ministry.

3.   Progress made on a new material in November for Christian worldview training in the Timothy Leadership Training style.

Please join us in prayer for:

1.   Increased stability for Port-au-Prince in December and January.  Though the 25 October vote was a success, many candidates are accusing the ruling party of tampering with the vote counts.  As a result, there are nearly daily anti-government demonstrations in Port-au-Prince.

2.   The Worship and Music Conference on 11-12 December.  We will be reflecting on how to become a more God-honoring worship leader with nearly 100 participants in a local church.

3.   Our winter Service and Learning teams.  The first team, Second CRC of Allendale, arrives in Haiti in January.

4.   A safe trip to Haiti for Sharon’s parents in December.

Thanks for your prayers and support,

Zachary, Sharon, Hannah, Vivian, Isaiah and Esther Segaar-King

Missionaries to Haiti through Christian Reformed World Missions