Meet Stephen Keenan

Stephen Keenan is a remarkable young man.  I have had the privilege of knowing Stephen since he was an adorable, chubby-cheeked toddler.  When Stephen was only nine years old, he served in Bosnia on a short-term trip through our church, led by my husband.  His heart for children and his compassion for the world was already visible at that time.  We have had the privilege of sending Stephen on other short-term trips around the world and have observed him serving the local community for many years by feeding the homeless alongside his grandfather, Ben, a deeply compassionate man who strongly impacted Stephen's life. Stephen's grandma, Roberta, has served with me in Guatemala and needless to say, the Keenan family has become part of our family.  It has truly been a joy to be part of their lives and to watch Stephen blossom into a godly leader, student, athlete and servant.

Stephen and his mom, Stephanie, have participated on our last three summer trips to El Salvador.  I have loved serving alongside both of them and their passions, gestures of love and personal sacrifices have impacted many lives in the beautiful country of El Salvador.  In the summers of 2011 and 2012 Stephen stayed for an extended period in El Salvador to serve alongside our ministry partners, Kurt and Susan Ackermann.  Stephen is a warm, easy going young man who gets along well with everyone and it's clear that he is deeply loved by the missionaries, translators and children he has served in El Salvador.

I was in no way surprised when Stephen began to consider moving to El Salvador after his high school graduation.  It has been an honor to walk on this journey of faith with Stephen and to see his excitement and passion for El Salvador grow.  I fully support his decision to live in El Salvador and am so excited to see how God uses his life for His glory.   Stephen will graduate from Brethren Christian High School in June. Way to go Stephen!  He will travel with our team on July 20 and we will return home with one less passenger (and one sad, but proud mom!) as he stays and serves for another 9-12 months.

The following is an excerpt from Stephen's support letter:

"After much consideration and prayer Stephen has decided to take a gap year and serve long-term in El Salvador! He will serve with the Ackermann family helping with their ministry, "Sus Hijos". We are so excited about the many different opportunities that he will have to serve while he’s there, from building houses to helping with short-term teams, teaching English to young boys in the orphanage and living in a transition home with boys that are learning to live non-institutionalized lives. As far back as I can remember, Stephen has always talked about wanting to be a missionary, and it’s a blessing to be able to see this come to fruition. We have expectant hearts as we wait to see how the Lord will use Stephen and his story in the coming year as he digs deep to live and breath what he’s always dreamed about" - Stephanie  

While most 18 year old American boys are concerned about the cars they are driving or purchasing the newest iPhone, Stephen is dreaming about El Salvador.  He has caught the vision to serve others, live radically and give his life away.  I have no doubt that his huge smile, broken Spanish and heart to serve the poorest country in Latin America will impact many lives for eternity.   Please join us in praying for Stephen as he boldly follows the Lord, departs from the normalcy of the "college path" and heads on the adventure of a lifetime.  He is currently raising $500/month to cover his living costs in El Salvador.  If you would like to help with a one time gift or with monthly support, please contact me.

Blog post written by Jenni Ramsey

Our Largest Team Ever

It's official!  Our July, 2013 team is our largest team yet with 20 members!

Meet our incredible team...

Jenni Ramsey (Team Leader) - 7th trip to El Salvador

Stephanie Keenan - 4th trip to El Salvador/Accounting @ Olive Crest Foster Care/Adoption Agency

Stephen Keenan - 4th trip to El Salvador/Staying to serve for 9-12 months/Senior @ Brethren Christian High School

Amanda Deal - 3rd trip to El Salvador/Senior @ Cal State LA

David Hughes - Youth Pastor, The Village Church of Irvine

Jessica Hughes - Youth Leader, The Village Church of Irvine

Summer Cheser - Freshman @ Orange Coast College

Michelle Lam - Senior @ UC Irvine 

Kari Lauterbach - Recent UC Irvine Graduate

Ashley Bittner - Senior @ UC Irvine 

Ron Bittner - Businessman/Construction/Overseeing house building project on trip (Ashley's dad)

Tori Younger - Junior @ Northwood High School, Irvine

Jeff Younger - Businessman (Tori's dad)

Tori Ascuito - Junior @ Crean Lutheran High School, Irvine

Dr. Thomas Ascuito - Pulmonologist/Will be performing medical treatment on trip (Tori's dad)

Philine Qian - Junior @ Northwood High School, Irvine

Carter Padgham - Junior @ Northwood High School, Irvine

Jake Ludwick - Junior @ Northwood High School, Irvine

Zach Pierce - Junior @ Northwood High School, Irvine

John Edmond - Junior @ Northwood High School, Irvine

Our team is currently fundraising for trip costs, which includes building a home for an impoverished family and taking the kids from the government orphanage to a water park.  We are also collecting donations such as children's shoes, clothing, diapers, over the counter medications, bandaids, toys, etc.  Contact Jenni Ramsey at jenni.ramsey@cox.net if you would like to help.  

Our first July El Salvador team gathering with Susan Ackermann

This week our July team gathered for lunch with Susan Ackermann, one of the missionaries that we partner with in El Salvador.

Susan and her husband Kurt founded HIS CHILDREN after serving for many years in the government orphanages in El Salvador.  It has been a privilege to serve alongside the Ackermanns and we look forward to working together this summer.  Susan has been batting cancer this past year and has been receiving chemo treatments in Kentucky while her family continues to serve in El Salvador.  Last month we raised enough funds to fly Susan to Southern California and are treating her to a week of R&R!  It has been so wonderful to spend time with Susan this week and to bless her with rest, food, fellowship and prayer!

El Salvador team member receives national college award.

Last month former El Salvador team member, Amanda Deal, received a highly prestigious collegiate award for her service in El Salvador.  Amanda has participated on two of our short-term trips and played a crucial role in planning the quinceanera last summer.  She will be serving with our team again this July.  We are so proud of Amanda's accomplishments and passion for El Salvador!  Congrats Amanda and enjoy your trip to New Orleans!

To read the article about Amanda's award, click on this link:

Cal State LA Athletics

2013 El Salvador Trip Dates Confirmed!

It's official!  HIS HANDS/HIS FEET, the humanitarian aide/outreach arm of All Blessings Intl., will be sending a team to serve in El Salvador from July 20-27, 2013.  We are accepting applications now.  The trip cost is $2,000/person and team members will need to turn in $100 with their application.  The remaining funds can be raised through All Blessings Intl.  To receive an application, please contact Jenni Ramsey at jenni.ramsey@cox.net.

Our team will be serving alongside HIS CHILDREN in orphanage work by bringing hope, joy, gifts and encouragement to the children in the government orphanages.  We will also serve in HIS CHILDREN'S new transition homes for teens phasing out of orphanages and participate in a local outreach/feeding to the homeless.  Sadly, many of the children in government orphanages end up on the street after "aging" out of the system.

To learn more about the trip, contact Jenni Ramsey at jenni.ramsey@cox.net.

To view a powerful video of the work of HIS CHILDREN in 2012, click here:  HIS CHILDREN VIDEO

College Article Highlights El Salvador Team Member

Post written by Jenni Ramsey

Last month Cal State LA Today published an article on one of their students, Amanda Deal, who has traveled with our teams twice to serve in El Salvador.   I  have known Amanda since she was a young girl in our church.  Amanda's mom and I served together on our church staff for many years and Amanda babysat our boys when they were toddlers.  It has been such a privilege to watch her grow into a beautiful, godly young woman and to serve alongside her in El Salvador.

Amanda first served on our July, 2011 trip, where she became deeply burdened for the teenage girls.  That summer I watched Amanda remove her brand new Nike basketball shoes and give them to a nervous teenage girl who owned only one pair of flip flops.  I'll never forget that moment.  To read the post about that experience, click here:  "Giving Away our Shoes"  Amanda vowed to return to El Salvador the following summer after Stephanie Keenan,  another team member, received the vision to throw a quinceanera for these forgotten girls.  And Amanda kept her promise.

Amanda played an integral role in organizing the quinceanera this past July, soliciting funds and donations from family members, friends and fellow college students.  She organized a "dress drive" at Cal Sate LA and received many stunning dresses for the quinceanera.  Most of the girls who participated in the quinceanera had never owned dresses of that quality, style or glamor.  To read Amanda's post written on the night of the quinceanera, click here:  "Transforming Hearts"

To read the Cal State LA Today article, click on this link:  Cal State LA - Sports Feature on Amanda Deal

One of the things that I love most about leading orphan outreach teams is seeing the profound transformation that takes place in the hearts of our team members.  It has been so incredible to watch God move in Amanda's life as she has fallen in love with El Salvador.  I have watched her future plans as a college student evolve as her heart has become broken for "the least of these."  She is a gifted athlete and leader and it has been a blessing to be part of her life for so many years.  I look forward to watching Amanda shine the hope of Jesus as she serves our hurting world through her gifts, talents and passions.

Orphan Sunday 2012

Post written by Jenni Ramsey

Last Sunday our church (The Village Church of Irvine, CA) celebrated Orphan Sunday along with thousands of churches in twenty-two nations. Mike and I were honored to share about our adoption journey during the service. It was a thrilling morning as we celebrated many of the ways that God is moving through our church community in orphan care. Mike did an awesome job preaching on God's heart for adoption. He brought Hailey onto the stage at the beginning of his message and it was priceless to hear him speak about adoption with Hailey in his arms.

To listen to Mike's message, click here: Mike Ramsey's Orphan Sunday message 2012

One of the highlights of the morning was interviewing the Skelly family. Last year God spoke to the Skellys during our Orphan Sunday service about the foster care crisis in the US. This fall they received their first foster placement of a precious baby girl. It was so exciting to pray over their family with their foster daughter in their arms.

We also welcomed the Steele family home from Ukraine. The Steeles participated in a hosting program last summer through Nightlight Christian Adoptions. They met Nadia during the program and fell in love. After a grueling year of paperwork, they finally brought Nadia home just three days before Orphan Sunday.

It was a privilege for me to introduce families in our church who have been touched by adoption. There are approximately fifteen families in our body who have experienced the miracle of adoption and each story is powerful. We asked all of those families to stand with their "Adopted"signs. At the end of our service, our lead pastor, who has an adopted son, spoke about how believers are adopted by God. Adoption into God's family is the heart of the gospel. We organized a "flash mob" of people to hold up "Adopted by God" signs. It was powerful!

We are so grateful to be part of a church that is passionate about the orphan crisis. Our church partners with Lifesong for Orphans in providing adoption grants to families and has participated in two blood drives (through Blood for Missions) to raise funds for grants. We send three short-term teams every summer to serve orphans in El Salvador and Africa. Mike and I look forward to encouraging families in our church as they follow God's calling to foster care, adoption or orphan care through short-term trips, advocacy and beyond in the years to come.