Our long time client and friends Messenger International know what it takes to go to the next level. Through their faith, hard work and creativity, Messenger International delivers excellence in everything they do – which is why it was not surprising to hear of CFO Aaron Ramsay’s personal efforts to lead a humanitarian rescue mission that seemed impossible. Too often our ideas for pursuing the “next level” gravitate towards making things bigger and splashier. This story is a good reminder what next level thinking is really all about.

Look below to read the amazing story from Aaron and his wife Tanya that will inspire you to truly think “big.”

Our journey started 8 years ago when we found out we had unexplained infertility. We underwent all the testing, experienced unbelievable emotions, and just prayed that God would give us our baby.

After much prayer, we decided to adopt. We wanted a child and knew it was time. We decided to visit Haiti in October of 2008. Even though we had not been referred a child, we wanted to go help at the orphanage called God’s Littlest Angels(GLA). We spent a week volunteering, working with the children and falling in love with Haiti.

Then we received the amazing news in February 2009…Twins! Yes, we had been referred twin boys! We were so excited and knew our life would never be the same. We met our boys for the first time in May 2009. To see them and hold them for the first time was a moment we will never forget! I didn’t give birth to these boys, but there is no doubt in our minds that God hand picked our children for us! True love!

Leaving our boys after 10 days is one of the hardest things we ever had to do. Why can’t we bring them home? Why can’t it just be easier for us? All of the questions continue to cross our minds. We realized everything was happening in God’s timing and not ours. We continually talked about how we would understand someday.

January 12th 2010, will be a day we will never forget. A 7.0 Earthquake! Our hearts panicked, our questions arose, we wanted to know our boys were ok. We got word within 2 hours. God’s Littlest Angels had survived the quake and everyone was fine. Praise God! We knew GLA founder Dixie Bickel and her and staff would do whatever they could to protect our boys and the 90 other children of GLA. What’s next? We asked what we could do. She said they needed supplies to survive. Even though relief was on the ground 24-48 hours after the quake it was not getting to the orphanage. We knew we had to take action.

We immediately started collecting donations at our house. Aaron started figuring out how we could charter a plane and load it up with supplies. GLA partnered with Messenger International to make things happen (Messenger International is the ministry of John and Lisa Bevere). Before we knew it, we had 12,000 lbs in supplies including food, water, medical supplies, blankets, tents, etc. Aaron locked in the plane. Now, could we get clearance to land? It was sounding nearly impossible to get clearance. Only military and Red Cross type organizations could get on the ground, the airspace was closed to everyone else. How could we make this happen? “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26. Yes, we knew, we believed, and God made it all happen. We got clearance!

Well our plane was in the air on January 19th, 2010, loaded with supplies. When we landed on the ground Aaron told me that there were 3 orphans that needed a ride to the US and we were going to take them back on our plane. So Aaron and I had to part ways. I was heartbroken and honored at the same time. I loaded the plane with the orphans who had been cleared with paperwork and ready to go home. We had plenty of room on the plane so the U.S. military asked me if I would be willing to take 50 Haitian U.S. Citizens back home. Honored! God answered my prayers! Supplies delivered, everyone was safe, orphans and 50 Haitian Americans, soon back on U.S. soil. Wow!

During this time, we knew our goal was to deliver supplies. And it was time to get the kids home. Aaron and Dixie Bickel went into action, they went to the US Embassy and started to work on getting paperwork on 81 kids to be released to their adoptive parents in the U.S. Aaron spent 8 hours at the US Embassy in Haiti working with the officials to get Humanitarian Parole Visa’s for 81 children. Tension was thick as he encountered many children from other orphanages that were denied release due to inadequate paperwork. Thank the Lord that the GLA team had all paperwork well documented. At 8pm Aaron was able to leave the US Embassy with a Haitian worker and 81 Humanitarian Parole Visa’s!

I was in Miami, with a small team I had flown in. To include, my parents, and my best friend Lindsay. We were told to get the adoptive parents to Miami by Friday January 22nd. I was told to set up a conference room stocked with food and supplies, have a security team and secure another plane with clearance to go and pick up the orphans and GLA team. I thought, this is not an option, this has to get done. I prayed, I cried, I knew. How was I going to get clearance? I am a high school softball coach, can I make this happen? With the help of Vision Airlines, Miami International Airport, and a wonderful team of volunteers, God opened doors. Yes! All of the above got done, the plane secured, and we got clearance! All the Glory to God.

The children and GLA team arrived in Miami January 22, 2010. God’s Littlest Angels group of 81 orphans were no longer orphans. We watched as child after child was united with their new adoptive families.

Aaron and I are honored that God used us in such a powerful way. We are thankful to Dixie and God’s Littlest Angels for trusting us. We are grateful to Messenger International and John and Lisa Bevere for standing by us. We would like to thank Vision Airlines, Miami International Airport, and our amazing volunteers. We could not have endured without our parents, family, and friends support and encouragement.

It’s been quite a journey and we believe it has just begun. Our boys are home. They are thriving, growing, and learning a new way of life. We look forward to the day we are able to tell the boys their amazing story.

They told us it was unexplained infertility 8 years ago. God’s plan was there the entire time. It was up to us to trust it. We thank God for using us we are humbled and honored. We now have our explanation! Ethan and Brecken Ramsay – our boys, our story, our life changers.

In Him,

Aaron and Tanya Ramsay.