snapshot into my time here...

Hey everybody!

So I thought for this post I would take the time to upload some photos: give you a snapshot into just some of the stuff that goes on here, in Haiti!

So, without further ado:

Church!  This is the first Haitian church I went to and I can assure you it was a very different experience than church in Canada.  Even with all its differences, it was great to be in a room full of believers worshiping together.  I even met two North Americans that morning, one being a young lady who is here for almost the exact time period that I am here (late January to late April).  She is spending 3 months with her sister who, with Haitian husband and children do ministry here.

Carneval!  In late February, everyone piles into the streets at night with music and dance all around the neighbourhoods.  Some people dress up, flags are waved and whips are cracked.

We did not participate just because it can be very dangerous (and there is also a lot of voodoo incorporated into the celebration) - but we still had a great time!  The energy of Carneval is contagious!

Some of our neighbourhood friends!

The Citadel

The Citadel, located in Milot, is a huge fortified structure that was built 2 hundred years ago right after Haiti's independence.  The self-proclaimed King of that time was extremely fearful of another attack from Europe, so he spent decades and countless lives to build this huge fortress.

It is so high up in the mountains, we were in the clouds!  From the top you can see for miles; to the ocean and beyond.

The Citadel was never finished because this "King" committed suicide.  The French never did return for a fight, and so now the Citadel sits at the top of the mountain, a reminder of the needless sacrifice endured to build it. 

Let me take this time to introduce you to some people:

Ladies and gentlemen, if you have been following this blog, this is a familiar face!  This is Candy, the wonderful lady I am learning form here!

I love this photo!

This is Candy in her element: with the people.  She is mobilized on the ground, always looking for opportunities for relationship so we can share God's love and improve the quality of people's lives.

…she also happens to be a lot of fun ;)

God bless her!

We do a lot of house visits to the elderly and marginalized - the people who are often neglected.

These are some old folks that we visited just this last trip.  I love this photo!  Candy is beginning ministry in a new part of town, so currently we are developing relationships with people and finding out their needs.  Back here in the DR we create profiles of the people, brainstorm ideas, determine the greatest need, then we head back to Haiti to partner with the locals to figure out how to meet these needs.  We always try to solve the problem from within whenever possible.  Often, external funds do play a role in these advancements but it is the locals who make it happen.  Empowerment of the people!!

For example, the latrines that are being built are funded primarily by brother and sisters (different church communities) in North America (Bethany now included!), BUT it is the Haitians that build them - all without pay.  Neighbour helping neighbour.  Brother helping brother.

This unity is very uncommon in Haiti, and it is a true testimony to the life changing impact of the Word of God in our lives.

This is Wakson!  The dynamic youngest son of the people we stay with while in Haiti, Bito and Nelta Floreal. 

Ruth is the youngest daughter of Bito and Nelta.  She is strong, kind, and loves to laugh!  She serves her family with joy :)

This is the young man Volmi!  He just turned 18!  This is Nelta and Bito's eldest son.

Fredlyne Floreal is a wonderful, bubbly young woman with ambition!  She is becoming a good friend.

Nelta in her element!  Nelta is always working hard and humbly serving her family.

And that is Bito, and Candy, in Bito's element: his farm.  Bito has a plot of land where he makes a small income from his produce.  A lot of the farming that he does is sustenance farming.  All of his work is down by hand.

This is Candy and my bedroom.  It's cozy, isn't it?

Onzy, enjoying a leisurely morning.

A special breakfast! Boiled plantains with vegetable stew, hard boiled eggs, and freshly squeezed grapefruit juice.  This is luxury… seriously.

the dining room

the shower/washroom

the morning dishes

morning quiet time

and the work begins!

house visits, latrine updates, construction, and much more!

talking with some friends...

…and goofing around!

There is no electricity, so at night the lamps and candles are out!  Typically, we all end up around the table or outside on the porch telling stories, talking about faith, trials, joys, problems.  Family :)

A view from the back door, can you see the kitchen?

Well folks, there is a little bit of a peek into our lives here.

As you can see I am healthy, and so well looked after.  God provides!

Before I sign off, I would just like to make a few prayer requests:

1)  Pray for me as I begin to brainstorm and put together a few lesson plans to teach in a local school in Haiti!  I feel ready and confident to do what I intended to come here to do which was to teach the Truth of God to kids through art and music.  The main theme of the lessons will be about how we are loved, accepted, and significant.  If you have any ideas; songs, activities, stories, crafts; feel free to shoot me an e-mail!  I would love to get as many ideas as possible!  haleigh.pickett@gmail.com

2)  Pray that my Spanish would improve, por favor.

3)  Pray that God would continue to speak to me through his word and that I would continue to be drawn closer to him.  He is doing amazing things here, truly.

4)  Pray that I would continue to be enriched by my experiences as to grow my testimony for Christ's glory.

I am so blessed to have this opportunity to be here and to be learning!  I cannot wait to share with you in person all that has gone on here these past one and a half months!  I have another one and a half to go and there is still so much to be done!  I will surely not return home the same…. 

Thank you for your continued support,  I love you so much,

Haleigh

A Much Needed Update

Hi there family and friends!

Life is good here in sunny Dajabon!  Much has happened since the last post, so there is much to fill you in on...

Firstly, things in Haiti are really beginning to take form.  For the last couple of weeks I have been adjusting to and learning about Haitian customs, language, and culture.  It is quite the adventure!
My Creole is really improving!  I am now able to have conversations, read, and even write a little!  French has been such a blessing in this process of learning.  I am truly grateful for all the help I am receiving from those around me - in fact, it has become a great tool in building relationships.  Nothing quite breaks the ice like a game of charades…
I have also found a real niche in the kitchen.  I love hanging out with the Mamas and learning how to make Haitian food (which is nothing short of delicious).  Even just doing simple chores with them like fetching water, washing dishes, or going to the market.
One of my favourite memories so far was when I went to the market with the Ruth, the youngest daughter of the family we stay with (Nelta and Bito Floreal) while in Haiti.  In the middle of the chaos, I actually felt like a Haitian.  I was dressed like a Haitian, I was sitting like a Haitian, I was speaking their language, I even smelled like a Haitian!  It was an unforgettable experience, and one that caught me completely off guard.  In the middle of the chaos I found myself thinking: God, if you really wanted me to do this, I could.  I could live here.  I could be a Haitian. 
I do not know what the future holds in store for me, and I certainly do not know if God is calling me back to Haiti as a missionary, but I do know that with God, I truly can do anything.  With God, we can do all things through him who gives us strength.
Even through the rough times, God is here, working through the pain.  It is imperative that we trust him, and that we persevere and know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel - always.
"…We must glory in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance character; and character hope."
~Romans 5:3-4


Candy has really great friends in Haiti and they have made me feel completely welcome and part of the family.  I now consider Nelta and Bito my Haitian parents, and their home is beginning to feel like my home.  During our last trip into Haiti, Candy brought me to the famous Citadel.  It was a truly incredible experience!  The climb up it is steep and treacherous, but the reward is breathtaking!  There, we stayed with some friends and visited some homes of some elderly people.  The poverty of these brothers and sisters is overwhelming and truly heart wrenching, but nothing abnormal for the average Haitian.  It is  baffling to see such wealth and power located at the summit of a mountain and at its base to see such need.  When we turned the corner onto his street, returning from the Citadel, I actually felt a wave of relief for I knew we were headed home.  I am so happy that my heart is becoming comfortable here.

Just to update you on the work that Candy I are doing in Haiti…
As of late, Candy has been quite involved in building latrines and improving hygiene in several rural communities just south of Cap Haitian where her friends live.  The quality of life for so many of these people could be improved greatly just by having proper sanitation!  Most of these people do not have access to clean water or a toilet, so they are constantly sick and getting sicker.  Having met these people, I have felt compelled to use some of the funds entrusted to me to build a latrine (toilet) for a group of five families that live just down the street from Bito and Nelta.
The living conditions of these families are truly atrocious.  Living on a small plot of land, these families of at least 10 people in each house hold (that makes over FIFTY people) have NO toilet!  In result, they go everywhere and anywhere.  Their children, animals, clothing, homes - they're all covered in filth, and they do not know how to help it.
I think that this money is going to incredible use.  This will change their lives.

A lot of what Candy does is community development.  Because of her relationships and understanding of the culture she is able to redistribute funds of the wealthy to the poor without creating dependancy but rather establishing self-sustainability.  Much of what we have done together during my time here has been visiting people, especially the elderly.  By getting to know them we get to know their needs.  We pray for them, bring them encouragement, evangelize if prompted by the Spirit to do so, and then we brainstorm to figure out how to meet their needs within the community.  This is such an important biblical principle that we come together as a community and support the needs of others.  It's unity, and unity is strength.  And unity is in Christ.  In Acts chapter 2 and 4 the believers are so unified they actually end poverty.  No one claimed ownership over any possession and they accommodated everyone's needs this way.  It is remarkable!  This can happen for the Haitians!  This is the calling of the church, and this is one way Candy disciples and serves her community here.  With her ties in the States  (and now Canada) she also enables an opportunity for the wealthy church in North America to support their brothers and sisters in Haiti (and the Dominican) in a way that encourages self-sustainability and not dependance.  I truly admire the work she does and am so honoured to be able to learn from her.

However, the process of her work is loooong.  To build trusting relationships takes time.  One thing I am learning here is that relationships are not about efficiency.  So often as North Americans we want things to happen quickly; efficiently.  But that is just impossible with relationships!  Hard work, and time.  Trust takes time to build - however I can say with confidence it happens much more quickly when Jesus is the centre of the relationship!  Praise be to GOD!

So as you can see things are really happening here!  Slowly, but surely God is working and transforming so many lives.

Before I sign off, let me tell you about Ginny. This little, bright eyed 5 month year old girl needs our prayers.  I have never seen a human being like Ginny before in my life.  Ginny is so poorly malnourished and sick that her skin is pealing off in sheets.  She looks as if she has been boiled and then put into a deep fryer.  Candy is currently in Haiti right now helping the family by bringing Ginny to the hospital in Cap Haitian to try and save Ginny's life.
(Unfortunately, I could not go to Haiti this time because of some tummy troubles I experienced the morning we were supposed to leave.  No worries now; I seemed to have recovered after several doses of antibiotics and lots of water!  For some reason I was not supposed to go to Haiti this last trip, and I trust God that there is good reason behind it.  I trust him!)
Please keep Ginny in your prayers.  She needs a lot of it.

Also, as a little aside to our work in Haiti, this past week Candy and I travelled to the North Coast of the Dominican to visit some missionary friends of hers there.  Candy is trying to take me around and show me as much as possible during my short three months here (can you believe that I have already been here for half of my stay?- only 6 more weeks before I am in Canada again!).  I am so thankful that she is taking the time and effort to expose me to all the possibilities that exist on the mission field.
It was a lovely visit and I was able to meet so many new people who speak beautiful, wonderful English!  It just so happened that the day we went to visit was their weekly group home schooling session.  On this day many missionary families come together from all over the North Coast and host a group class for their kids.  It just so happened that their geography lesson for that day was on Canada, and I was asked if I could teach the lesson.  Of course, I jumped on the opportunity and we had a blast!  I love my country so much and any chance I get to share how beautiful my home is I take full advantage of!  I am so grateful for that time of fellowship and hope to make another trip to Sosua before I leave - I will keep you posted!
 
So as you can see, we are doing very well here.  Things are starting to take off in Haiti, and I am really beginning to settle in.  Prayers are being answered.

Thank you for being there for me.  Again and again I am brought to tears by the blessing that you are in my life.  I thank God continually for the beautiful community I have!  God bless you all!
So, just a quick up date, but I hope it satisfies your curiosity for now.  Hopefully the next one will not be so delayed.
With much love,
Haleigh

I LOVE YOU!

first trip into Haiti

Hello friends and family!

Well, in the last two weeks we have learned a lot, Onzy and I.

Our first trip to Haiti was from February 2nd to the 5th.  We saw a lot there, from people living in luxury to slums.  It never ceases to amaze me that wherever there is great wealth, right beside it exists great poverty.

For the last week or so we have been back in Dajabon.

**As you may know, Candy and I do not live in Haiti.  We live on a border town in Haiti's only neighbouring country, the Dominican Republic.  You can click the link below to see where Dajabon is located on a map:

Dajabon, DR

It is a really nice little town.  Very Dominican, very loud, and not much going on.  

Life.  There is so much going on in my heart and my mind… how can I fill you all in on it?

Let me tell you where I am at right now:

Today was miraculous.  Earlier today I had a true heart to heart with God - and myself.  I am struggling to give everything to him; to have faith in him.  I let out all of the emotion that has been in my heart these last (almost) 3 weeks of being here.  I confessed my feelings of pointlessness, inadequacy, and about my loneliness.  Nothing was held back, I let it all out.  Crying, I reaffirmed my commitment to him and I KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is where I am supposed to be - and God reaffirmed ME today by reminding me that I may be here for different reasons than I thought…

I know I haven't been here very long, but there have been no kid's programs yet.  In all honesty, now that I am here, I do not feel that is what God is wanting me to do.  As I am learning about the field here, I feel like God is calling me to a different mission field: teenagers and young adults.  I am so grateful to God that he has put opportunities during my time in Haiti and the Dominican to spend with people my age.  They are very different from Canadians but I really feel like I have something to offer to them.  Please pray for me on this one.  Feelings of failure are trying to creep up into my Spirit, but I know these are not from God.  He will prompt me in what I need to do by love, not by feelings of worthlessness - yahoo for good doctrinal teaching, thanks church!! 

I should let you know that while I was in Haiti, for that first visit, I knew that God was using me.  I felt  purpose!  I could communicate, and I was learning about their life and problems.  Haiti is good for me.  

My feelings of loneliness creep up when I am in the Dominican Republic.  It is here that I have found myself confined to Candy's home with nothing to do but study, read, pray, and meditate - for several days at a time.  Granted, those activities listed above are all wonderful things, but when I thought I was coming here to live in community with Haitians… it's been quite the boat rocker.

Oh, but I have been learning so much here - almost everything through hard lessons (or at least it seems).

Contentedness.  Contentment is something that I used to equate with happiness, but after having experienced some serious homesickness I truly believe that contentment has nothing to do with one's happiness.  Contentment is a choice.  An attitude.  It is one of the hardest lessons I have ever had to learn in my life, and I know that I am not done learning… While I am here in the DR, not doing much, I can be content even though I am not in "paradise".  I can be content even though I am not being "radical for the Lord, living on nothing with the Haitians and beating the consumerist out of me!!".   I still think all of that is taking place, I just don't think it is happening in the adventure-full way I was imagining.  The book of Philippians has been a huge encouragement to me.  I ask myself, how can Paul be so joyful while being in prison?!  Contentment, and that is because he has the hope of Jesus Christ.  Paul knows he is living in God's will.  I know that I am living in God's will and yet I have the nerve to complain because I am not happy?!  Just because there are unexpected challenges that have appeared does not mean I should lose faith in God.  So I am learning contentedness, which I believe is truly rooted in hope, the hope of Christ, and faith that God is active and alive through us.  Faith.

Faith that I am not alone.  That I am not worthless.  That God is living through me right as I am typing this to you.  My life means something here, just as much as it does in Canada.  And these are not only realities for me, but they are realities for you, too!  They are, in fact, promises from the Creator of this universe, himself.  "For God so loved the world…" It all began in LOVE.  Because he LOVES!!

So in my loneliness I am learning that I am not alone.  I knew this before, theoretically, and now I am having to put it into practice.  It's much more difficult done than said - because I want to physically see that I have purpose among those that surround me!  I want to be validated as a human being by a community that needs me - something I experience daily in Canada.  Here, I am learning to have faith in God that I am necessary.  That I matter.  There is no community to validate me, only Him.  Only him to give me worth.  Besides, it is very selfish to love a community for what they give you or make you feel.  God is teaching me here to rely fully on him and to only be concerned with how I am serving him. Tough, tough, tough lessons for me to learn far away from my mummy's arms.  But, beautifully, through this God is also showing me that I have a genuine love for my community at home.  I have so much to be thankful for!

I will wrap this update up by letting you know why today was such a good day.  I made friends here in the DR!  Friends!  Teenagers, my age, who have vision for their city and speak beautiful english!  They are helping me with my spanish, and are excited to see me tomorrow!  PRAISE GOD!!  I told him this morning that I would give up on trying to do something, and that I would have faith in him to show me what to do - to do whatever I could that was in my face in that moment.  He is so good to respond so quickly to my prayer.  PRAISE GOD!!!  Also, I met some wonderful missionaries who live close to Dajabon.  Candy has not met them yet, so we are going to go visit.  Hopefully some good will come out of this!  PRAISE GOD!!!  Relationships!!  All blessings from him!  

So that made my day.

Such a long post, so much more to share - I haven't even cracked into Haiti, but I know that you need to be kept up to date with my heart just as much as with my activities.

I truly love you.  I miss you dearly.  I am so excited for when we will see each other face to face again and share with you first hand the love that has been shared with me.

Take care, my family, and friends.  I will write to you soon!

In Love,

Haleigh

And so it continues...

Wow.  What a whirlwind of a week and a half.  

I am so sorry for the lack of updates:  my first week here I had no access to internet except for the kindness of my missionary teacher and friend, Candy.  Thank you for letting me send some much needed e-mail!

Finally, the internet is working (however slow it may be… remember, we are on Dominican time here). 

Where do I begin?  Ah, well; Onzy. 

Onzy seems to have adapted very well to Caribbean life.  With temperatures consistently in the balmy 20s, he has been getting his tan on.  I have never seen my bear so bronzed.

He has been a great companion for me to snuggle with during my first few days here.  For those of you who were in touch with me during the first 3 or 4 days in the DR, thank you so much for your support and kind encouragement.  Homesickness is tough, but God truly got me through it.  You should know that he used each and every one of you as an answer to prayer.  I have never appreciated my community so much.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

I want to let Carmen and Rev. Rick know that I have not forgotten about you!  I found these two kind Christians in the Miami airport.  I overheard them discussing the missions trip they have just been on to Colombia, and was waiting for them to comment on my having both the Bible and Bruxy Cavey's The End of Religion at my place setting.  We have a great conversation, and again, I thank God for the encouragement and companionship that God provided to me through them.  I am praying for your ministry in Minnesota!

So, where do I live?

My permanent address is in the border town of Dajabon, Dominican Republic.  About a ten minute walk east, and I am in Haiti.  This is a photo of the drive way leading back into Candy's (and my) apartment.  It is a little haven!  Peaceful, quiet, simple (other than the constant noise from motor bikes and neighbours - Dominicans are L-O-U-D).

This is Candy.  She is the missionary that I am working with and learning from.  God has blessed me beyond belief, because - well, I mean, look at her! - she is awesome.  Could he have chosen anyone else so ideal?

Market Day

This land is incredible fertile.  The produce is remarkable!!  It's just a shame that you have to soak everything in Clorox before you eat it…  

Casava Bread

I am learning to enjoy this Caribbean delicacy….

Donya Colma! 

(ny = enya, you know what I mean)

  She is the lovely lady who owns the mini-market down the street from our home.  She is a lovely lady whom I can trust.  She is even helping me learn my numbers!

(baby mangos!)

(bigger mangos!!)

This is the Haitian and DR border on market day.  This is THE craziest day to try and get in and out of either countries.  Haitians come in the hundreds to buy products for resell in Haiti.  You see, all imports and exports go through Port au Prince, the nations capital (and epicentre of the earthquake).  However, the nation has terrible infrastructure, and even if they had quality roads, there is little to no organized transportation system. This poses as a problem for the North, the place where we work and live.  How do people in the North have access to products and food?  DR import.  The Dominican makes a killing off of Haitians who come and buy products for resell in Haiti.

Good for the DR economy,

  bad for Haitian economy.

And that's not even all of it…

People load up these HUGE make-shift wagons - LOAD up!  They are so dangerous and often people are injured and even killed by these ginormous wagons.  What happens when they go down a hill and there are people in the way?  There are no breaks, and people do get hurt.

I just thought this place looked cool…  Dominican lumber yard.

Me, chilly.  There was a breeze… 

School kids slide their hands underneath the school gates with a coin in their hand, and street food artists trade their coins for fresh empanadas or some other deep fried dough stuffed with something.  It's hilarious because you see all of these little brown hands fluttering at the bottom of the gate!   

This is my bedroom.  I keep the prayer quilt on my bed (even though it's flannel), so I am covered in prayer while I dream.  Again, I cannot thank my community enough for all that you are.  God has truly blessed me.

A view from the hallway,

my closet, and bathroom entry,

view from my ensuite from my bed… mission work, so daunting...

my shower

As you can see, I am well tacked care of here.  Although it may seem like luxury, there is no water pressure and NO hot water.  April 22 = shower.

A kiss for Canada before I left for Haiti!  Feb. 5 I got back from my first visit in Haiti.  Thursday I am planning to post all the photos and stories from that unforgettable experience.  

(SO MUCH CULTURE SHOCK ALL THE TIME!)

These are some photos of Onzy preparing for Haiti...

…he was careful to make sure I had everything that I needed.

So all, I am great.  

This is where God needs me.  I am learning more than I ever imagined.  I am experiencing more than ever expected.  I am being humbled more every experience.  I am growing more everyday moment.

What a beautiful thing.

Thank you for supporting me to get here.  I know this is where God needs me, and I will stay the course.

This is a project I have begun on my bedroom wall.  It's a quote from my favourite book, from one of my favourite chapters.

"Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honouring each other.  Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically." 

- Romans 12:10-11

I will be sure to keep you posted on all projects.

I love you all so much, but more importantly, God loves us!!

Please keep in touch, and ask questions.  I am a little overwhelmed with experiences, so ask away and the stories may come flooding out.   There is so much to share!  

Until Thursday?

In Love,

Haleigh