Day 7 | Allie Ramsey

I can’t believe our final day has come and go. It doesn’t feel like we’ve been here for a week, but within this past week I know personally that I have been impacted so much! We come to foreign countries with the thought that we are going to impact their lives, but in all reality they are the ones impacting our lives. Over the past week I have made so many memories of Haiti and the people that they are no words to explain how I feel about this place. I would love the opportunity to come back here and serve in the country of Haiti! Today I got to meet my sponsor child for the second time, and wow was that humbling. With the gifts that I brought her, you would’ve thought I gave her a million dollars. While I watched her play on the Ark today, she was smiling from ear to ear and that’s the best thing. No matter what she may or may not have, she is so happy with life! It’s so easy to say that you’ve come to a foreign country for a mission trip, but we have to take back what we have encountered here to our own lives. I’m not ready to leave honestly, I’ll just be counting down the days until I can come back!!

Day 6 | Allie Ramsey

Wow, today was our last day of work. This week has flown by and I’m not ready to leave. Today I was at the church, which meant that I also got to do VBS. I had an absolute blast today and I loved getting to play duck duck goose “conna, conna, goose” with little girls for about an hour. Even though this game is so simple to us, they laughed and yelled and ran all around while having a smile on their face at all times. 6 little girls were saved today on top of the seven that were saved yesterday!! Leaving them today was heartbreaking as I will probably never see them again. It’s amazing that they have so little but are so happy with their life! This trip has honestly changed my perspective so much, even though it had been changed already two years ago. We are blessed beyond measures with materialistic things, but one thing will always remain the same between us and the Haitians; our love for God!

Day 5 | Allie Ramsey

Today was of course another amazing day! I was back at the church, and as soon as we pulled in our truck was swarmed with excited little kids that are so happy to see us. It’s amazing to see how excited they get just to see us; they smile from ear to ear and just want to play. Today was the second day of VBS, and man were those kids excited; some even wore their crafts from Saturday around their necks! It’s so hard to see some of them turned away. Tomorrow is our last work day and we have a lot ahead of us, but I can’t wait to see what God will do!

Day 4 | Allie Ramsey

Today was our slower day. We started out today by attending church here on the compound at 6:30am and it lasted until about 9am. It was truly amazing to see so many Haitians in one place worshipping the same God that I worship. Although there was a language barrier, you could truly see that they loved the Lord! There were many more people there than the last time we were here, and it’s great to see their church growing. We had a translator that sat with us to interrupt the message, and the pastor shared about restoration and the three steps that we all must have to be restored. Later in the afternoon, I got to sit down at the playground that we built 2 years ago and just watch kids play. It really brings joy to me to see them having so much fun! When we were here last time, I got the privilege to bring a slide that I played on as a kid to Haiti for them to play on. I wrote a bible verse down the slide and today a father pointed to each word on the slide and read it to his son. This proves that each thing that we do here in Haiti really is important and makes a difference in some way in their life. I can’t wait to see what the next few days have in store!

Day 3 | Allie Ramsey

It was an exhausting day. I spent today at the house site sifting sand, and that was definitely exhausting. We sifted sand for about 7 hours, and got so bored that we sang songs about sifting. I only got the chance to work on the house a few times and that was to put mortar in between the cinder blocks and to stucco the walls. The family that we are building the house for has been around helping out, and it’s great to see them helping. Although this was a long day that consisted of a lot of the same thing, God is still being glorified in everything that we do!

Day 2 | Allie Ramsey

I just want to start off by saying how amazing God is! Although I have been to Haiti before, it never fails to amaze me the happiness that they have. Today I got to work alongside Philip, a Haitian worker, and he taught me how to lay block. It’s just so cool to work with them and have them teach you something new the way that they do it. He is so precise and wants everything done exactly right, and he’s not afraid to tell you when it’s wrong. While we were at the church, we got to experience a thunderstorm in the clouds. While we were so grateful for them to get the rain, we knew that would make our ride out complicated, as most of it was a steep downhill ride in the back of a dump truck. We began the ride home and eventually had to walk more than two miles because our truck couldn’t make it up the steep hills. Thankfully about three hours later we arrived back at camp exhausted and ready for dinner. It just makes me happy to see the kids jump, scream, and wave as we drive past them. Their happiness is simply amazing, and that is something to be grateful for! God is doing amazing things here in Haiti, and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the week has in store!

Day 1 | Allie Ramsey

Wow, what an incredible last few days it has been, but finally we have arrived in Haiti! I have been waiting for this day for quite a while and I’m so excited to be here! It’s amazing to see how much Haiti has improved in just two years. My favorite part so far is being able to see the Ark, and the kids playing. It really touches my heart to see the slide that I played on as a kid be used by these little kids. The Ark is in amazing shape, and I love getting to see everyone on it! Tomorrow we begin working, and I will be at the church. I really can’t wait to see how God will touch each of our lives over the next week, and I pray that we can share God with the Haitians!

Day 14 | Allie

This has been an amazing week! It definitely made me appreciative of everything I have at home! Today was a very touching day and probably the best day for two reasons! One of them was the Ark was completely finished today and ready to be used as a mission tool for Baptist Haiti Missions to attract kids to their campus! It’s so cool to see all of the kids playing and smiling as they play on something they’ve never seen before! They are just so happy! The second reason is one that I will never forget as long as I live! I decided to sponsor a little girl to help her get an education and encourage her to stay in school! Her name is Datchka Joseph! She is three years old and in pre-school at a school not too far away from BHM. Today the children and their families that all of us sponsored came to the park so that we could meet them. After everybody else had met theirs, Trey, a staff member here, had told me that Datchka’s mother was eight months pregnant so it might take them a while to get here. A few minutes later he said that if I wanted we could go to their house so I could meet her. So Trey, Eric, my dad and I went to go find her. Eventually we passed her along side the road so we stopped and picked her up and brought her back to the Ark so I could interact her. She was so extremely cute, and she loved the swings! We gave them a box of food and she got a little bag of goodies to take home with her! I can’t wait to see what all this sponsorship brings to her life! It’s a great feeling to know that I am going to be making a difference in her life! I can’t wait for the years to come when I come back to Haiti and get to see her grow! The Lord has honestly blessed me so much! I am so lucky to be able to work along side my dad and have such a great role model to look up to! He is such a great inspiration! I am also blessed to have an amazing youth pastor to push me along the way in my walk with the Lord. I couldn’t be more lucky! This has been such a life changing event, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world! I don’t want to leave, but I am excited to come home! Love you all and say a prayer for us as we head out tomorrow! See you soon!

Day 13 | Allie

Today has been quite an interesting day! We got to go to the market where they buy all their produce. It’s nothing at all like our Krogers! There was farm animals, raw meat, fruits, vegetables and many other things. It was really crowded and you were constantly on top of someone. I got to be the barterer for our group, and it’s crazy how bad they want your business! They will do almost anything. After the market, we went on a ride in a tap tap which is like a truck with rails attached in the bed to hold on to. I got to see the Dominican Republic today too! The Ark is just about finished! All that is left is a few things! It’s an amazing feeling to see all the kids, younger and older, playing on something that I got the opportunity to work on! It makes me so happy to watch kids go down the slide that I once went down! God is absolutely amazing and indescribable! He has really opened my eyes being here! I am beyond blessed! Love and miss you all! See you soon!

Day 12 | Allie

Today Bill and I dug 24 holes combined, at which I dug 13 and 3 other people did the other 11 holes. I do believe that is all of the holes to be dug. Eric and I put the swings together. I helped cut boards with my dad and Bill. Even though my hands and neck are pretty sore, I think I’ve found something else I’m good at! The Ark is finally almost complete, and I’m so excited! It looks awesome, and I can’t believe my dad is the one who came up with the design! He is so creative! It’s awesome to see the little kids starting to play on it! Today the temperature was perfect, it was very breezy! All together today has been great as always! I am beyond blessed and it’s all because of the guy upstairs! Love and miss you all!

Day 11 | Allie

I don’t know what to start out with other than God is unbelievable! This morning we started out by going to church with the other Hasians, it was amazing! Although I didn’t understand much of what they said, it was still amazing to see how excited they were to worship God! The hike we went on this afternoon was absolutely breath taking, literally! Haiti is such a beautiful place, and I don’t think people realize that! The mountains look like just like a postcard! Today we got to explore in a sense. We hiked down a mountain, not just a little hill like is in WV, across waterfalls that were absolutely huge, then back up the mountain! Tiara, Madison, Chase, Shane, Brent, Holden, a few others that aren’t in our group and I went the farthest than anybody to the 4th waterfall! It was absolutely breath taking! We climbed up 10 foot waterfalls, across a path that was about a foot wide over a 30 foot drop off on the side of the mountain and through many feet of water! God just leaves me speechless at his wonderful creations! Continue to keep us in your prayers as we finish the ark and open it up to the kids that are anxiously awaiting! Love you all!

Day 10 | Allie

Today has been a good day as every other day is! Of course we accomplished a lot! We finished the little kid playground and got to watch some kids play on it and go down the slides that they have patiently been awaiting! It’s so cool to see everybody standing around just watching us as we work! One of my slides that I played on as a kid was shipped over here to be used on the playground! It was amazing to see that a slide I once played on will bring kids joy and happiness as they slide down it! I also decided to write something on it that will be there for years to come! On the sides of the slide I wrote Matthew 19:14. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Underneath I wrote my name and todays today and hopefully in the years to come if we get to come back I will still be able to see it! God is truly awesome!

Day 9 | Allie

Today was a great day! We started off our day by touring the campus including the hospital. It was really cool to go in their hospital and see how they do things there! It is very similar to our hospital. We had an awesome day working, and the sun shined all day long! We accomplished a lot and it’s amazing to see all of the people standing around watching. They are so excited for us to get it done! I can’t wait to see what else Haiti has in store for us as we realize how lucky we truly are!

Day 8 | Allie

Today was a good day! I got to fly for the first time and I really enjoyed it! The only part that wasn’t too good for me was when we were going thru security and my shampoo and conditioner got taken because I didn’t know it wasn’t aloud to be over 3 oz. I’m excited to be in Haiti and to see what the next week brings!

Day 2 in Montana

Today we started working. We started the day out by cleaning the park. We woke up at 4:30 this morning to get out there early enough to finish it before breakfast started. Allie and I worked at VBS in the morning. It was a lot of fun and the kids were absolutely adorable. After Lunch we started working on Kenny’s roof. We are almost completely done with it. We should have it finished by lunch tomorrow. The weather held out great today and it wasn’t too hot. But, our tans are now all messed up (lol). God Bless.

Montana Day 4

Today gave us a chance to get to know people from our group a little better and also meet new people from the other mission group from Michigan. The weather is really weird and unpredictable. It sprinkled this morning and then was really nice out, and then it just started hailing like crazy, and then ten minutes later it was nice out again. Tomorrow we start on the job sites and VBS (Kids Club). We are having a lot of fun. We miss you all. God Bless. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers. (:

Traveling Day 2

Headaches and stomach aches started today, but that's all part of the trip. We saw less and less of corn fields today. We saw a little hill and it felt like a mountain to us(lol). We also got to see the ending of a tornado, but we didn't know that that was it till after we took a picture of a "funny cloud". Tomorrow is our last day of traveling and we will arrive at Montana. EXCITED!!!! woohoo. we love and miss you all. keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

First Day of Travel

The first day of traveling went by quite fast. We spent twelve hours in a van so we not only saw many different environments but also got to know the people we were traveling with very well. Everyone got along very well so it made the first day of traveling seem to go by even faster. From our perspective of today the outlook of this mission will be very productive and enjoyable. Hopefully the next day of traveling will be just as quick.