The last couple of weeks have been a little less than chaotic to say the least! Bringing groups, taking them home, going to the jungle have just been a few of my many activities lately! I feel like my life is a remote control and the fast forward button is constantly in play. It has been already one month since I got here and all I want is life to just slow down, so I can enjoy every moment, every minute, every hour of what God has called me to do. I have had the best time so far with the best staff in the world. We have 13 interns this year, but only 12 are present right now as the last one is coming in a couple weeks. Hannah Perkins from Texas, Anna Sanders from Georgia, Shiloh Barrow from Texas, James Wallace from Auburn, Alabama, Noah Farley from Florida, Seth Peacock from the good ole G-dale, Tori Walker from Kentucky, Emma Armstrong from Montgomery, Alabama, Michaela Charanza from Texas, Taylor Vaughan from Texas, Chris Yancey from Hoover, Alabama, myself of course, and eventually Tyson Lott from Montgomery, Alabama. Please be in prayer for us as we serve together and pray for unity and clarity. I could not of asked for better people to work with this summer.
This past Sunday the staff and two groups one from Boon, North Carolina, and Tupelo, Mississippi, we headed down to the jungle and we had one of the best times in the world. But before we left, I was very sick and was told that I had the flu, which is not what I needed at all. A real slap in the face if I say so myself. I was reminded of the verse in Galatians 6 that says, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (verse 9). The day before we left I slept the whole day and was awake for 6 hours. I woke up the next day feeling a little better and decided to make the four hour treck down to el selva. During the four hour trip I started to think about how, why, what made me sick. So many people told me this was an attack from Satan, and that I should keep doing what I've been doing. But I started to think, what if this is God's way of getting my attention? Not to share my personal thoughts on a blog, but I have been struggling on where my focus should be on this trip. Obviously it should be on the Lord, but sometimes I get so caught up in pleasing people, even doing good things, but sometimes my focus waivers. It's true that this sickness could be an attack from the enemy, but I truly think that this was God getting my attention. He spoke so clearly when I was sick, because I was so dependent on Him and no one else. My attention was all His, and I could hear Him speaking via His word and other friends that isn't this where my attention should be? I am truly thankful that this happened because I feel rejuvenated in Him.
The jungle trip was such a blessing, because I felt so close to the Lord. Not that I don't when I am at the mountain camp, but it is a different environment, different culture, and a lot less dependent on technology (which is my favorite part). A no distraction environment. I actually prefer the cold showers, no technology, hot jungle camp to the hot water, technology, cool mountain camp, surprisingly. It is inexplicable, you can only experience it to know what I am talking about. But, the mountain camp has been incredible as well! We are currently working with children in First Church at Ambato. Last night, we were given the incredible opportunity to give out Samitarian Purse Operation Christmas Child Boxes to the church in Apatug, a Quechua speaking church the same church that faced the persecution that I wrote about earlier. This was my second time to partner with Samiritan's purse with the shoe boxes, and it was such an amazing experience. In Ecuadorian culture, the Quechua are the lowest of low, and it was such a privilege to see these children open the boxes with inexplicable joy. I watched with tears pouring down my face as these children opened up boxes with things that we find at the Dollar Tree. But if you saw their faces, you could've promised that a million dollars was in those boxes. But the most important gift they received was not the cheap toys, toothbrushes, clothes, pictures of the gringos that sent them the things, but the opportunity to learn about our Lord Jesus Christ and the ultimate gift that He gave. It was such a humbling experience, and I got to experience it today and tomorrow as well. I kept thinking of the song, Forever Love, by Francesca Battestelli. I was reminded of the immense love that the Lord has for us:
You are my forever love
You are my forever love
You are my forever love
You are my forever love
From the bottom of my heart I'll sing to You
From the depths of who I am I love You
With everything inside I'll run to You
Cause all that I've become I owe to You
Go listen to it when you have a chance! WONDERFUL song. One of the best love songs of all time, and will be played at my wedding. But nothing beats the love of our Savior.
Thank you for the continual prayers! I love you all!
Morgan Ramsey
Isaiah 6:8
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Friday, June 14, 2013
La Selva
Well I just got back from the jungle for 4 days, and I am so excited that I can feel clean and refreshed compared to feeling nasty and smelling like sweat. Despite the nastiness, I had such a wonderful time. Life is so different down there. Different plants, different animals, different pace, different people. And for once, I am thinking that different is a good thing. The land is some of the most beautiful land in the world. I can never, ever describe the gorgeousness of the land with my simple human words. Sure, it was hot and HUMID, but the people there.... YALL. So beautiful on the outside, but even more beautiful on the inside. The Chacauco staff and the Gardendale group were split in to two groups to work in two different places, Archidona and a place that I can't pronounce that had never had evangelical intervention before. And of course, I went to the place I can't pronounce. It was such a blessing to sit back and watch the kids hear the gospel for the first time.. ever. I will always remember how we arrived and how the kids greeted us. We had to travel down a road (if you could call it that) for 20 minutes in the middle of the jungle, to a tiny school with about 20 kids on the first day, all barefoot and mud caked. So excited to see us gringos. So excited to see what and who this "Jesus" is and what He is about. The next day we made so much of an impact that the school had us come in during the school day and tell the gospel to the whole school. Talk about a humbling experience. I thought, Lord I don't deserve this blessing and privilege. For all the times I have goofed up, messed up, failed You Lord, I don't deserve to come to this community and watch them take in the gospel for the first time. But, Lord I am so glad you look past all my problems, my issues, my hang ups, and you still call me to proclaim your name. The Lord has put a song on my heart lately and I would love to share it with you all.
"Rooftops" - Jesus Culture
So thank you for reading along again! Gardendale left about 5 hours ago and I miss them so much already! They were such a blessing as they were constantly working and being servants of the Lord, which isn't surprising. Since their leader is one of my favorite people in the world, and the definition of servant leadership I'm not surprised that this group was like that! Pray for me as I begin this journey after Gardendale and particularly against discouragement, since my camera broke yesterday afternoon, and am now reduced to taking pictures on my phone. Satan uses anything and everything to distract me from the Lord's purpose and will! I love you all and thank you!
Morgana Ramsey
Isaiah 6:8
"Rooftops" - Jesus Culture
Here I am before You, falling in love and seeking Your truthKnowing that Your perfect grace has brought me to this placeBecause of You I freely live, my life to You, oh God, I giveSo I stand before You, GodI lift my voice cause You set me free
So I shout out Your name, from the rooftops I proclaimThat I am Yours, I am Yours
All the good You've done for me, I lift up my hands for all to seeYou're the only one who brings me to my kneesTo share this love across the earth, the beauty of Your holy worthSo I kneel before You, GodI lift my hands cause You set me free
So I shout out Your name, from the rooftops I proclaimThat I am Yours, I am YoursAll that I am, I place into Your loving handsAnd I am Yours, I am Yours
Here I am, I stand, with arms wide openTo the One, the Son, the Everlasting God
So I shout out Your name, from the rooftops I proclaimThat I am Yours, I am Yours
All the good You've done for me, I lift up my hands for all to seeYou're the only one who brings me to my kneesTo share this love across the earth, the beauty of Your holy worthSo I kneel before You, GodI lift my hands cause You set me free
So I shout out Your name, from the rooftops I proclaimThat I am Yours, I am YoursAll that I am, I place into Your loving handsAnd I am Yours, I am Yours
Here I am, I stand, with arms wide openTo the One, the Son, the Everlasting God
So thank you for reading along again! Gardendale left about 5 hours ago and I miss them so much already! They were such a blessing as they were constantly working and being servants of the Lord, which isn't surprising. Since their leader is one of my favorite people in the world, and the definition of servant leadership I'm not surprised that this group was like that! Pray for me as I begin this journey after Gardendale and particularly against discouragement, since my camera broke yesterday afternoon, and am now reduced to taking pictures on my phone. Satan uses anything and everything to distract me from the Lord's purpose and will! I love you all and thank you!
Morgana Ramsey
Isaiah 6:8
Friday, June 7, 2013
The golden calf
IT'S OFFICIAL. I have survived my first week here in Ecuador, and can I just say.... it has been crazy! Weddings, baby dedications, a full week of VBS, painting a daycare, and standing in the middle of a cloud (which is the coolest part). It has been so nice getting back into the swing of things and seeing the Chacauco staff that I love oh so much! It has been so busy with a loaded schedule, and about to get even crazier as we embark on a three day camp tonight and going to the jungle next week! But even more importantly, Gardendale is coming in just a few minutes and I am so excited to see my daddy and my friends! This week has been filled with excitement, love, and challenges. I've been struggling with the concept of love. I have been reading in 1 Peter lately for my quiet time, and have found the expression "deeply love" very constant. I was thinking and praying, "Lord I am here with the people I love so much, doing what I love so much, what are you trying to teach me?". Then it hit me like a brick wall. Do I love these people and this country more than I love the Lord? Anything.. let me repeat. Anything and everything that comes between my relationship with the Lord is an idol. I totally experienced a V8 moment. If you hear the name Morgan Ramsey, many people think the girl that goes to Ecuador all the time. And that's cool and everything, but that's not what I want to be known for. I want to be known as the girl that passionately loves Jesus, and wants to serve her Lord wherever He calls, Ecuador or not.
The Lord has speaking to me and saying is Ecuador your golden calf? Is it my idol that I love more than the Lord? I sure hope the answer is no, but it is something I am chewing on. I want to the love the Lord with my whole being, not just because He has called me to serve this summer in Ecuador, not just because he has called me to the mission field, but because He first loved me, because He gave His life for the wacked up messed up me. Because He is my redeemer, Savior, lover of my soul, healer, my counselor, my King, my Lord, my Alpha and Omega. Do I/we deserve this? ABSOLUTELY NOT. We will never deserve his grace and love. Who are we to give anything less to the Lord of all creation.
So pray for me as I come to grasp this concept. I pray the Lord transforms my heart this summer in a new way. Not for more love of Ecuador or its people, but more of Him. Thank you for praying for me through this journey! I love you all and thank you for reading along!
Morgan Ramsey
Isaiah 6:8
The Lord has speaking to me and saying is Ecuador your golden calf? Is it my idol that I love more than the Lord? I sure hope the answer is no, but it is something I am chewing on. I want to the love the Lord with my whole being, not just because He has called me to serve this summer in Ecuador, not just because he has called me to the mission field, but because He first loved me, because He gave His life for the wacked up messed up me. Because He is my redeemer, Savior, lover of my soul, healer, my counselor, my King, my Lord, my Alpha and Omega. Do I/we deserve this? ABSOLUTELY NOT. We will never deserve his grace and love. Who are we to give anything less to the Lord of all creation.
So pray for me as I come to grasp this concept. I pray the Lord transforms my heart this summer in a new way. Not for more love of Ecuador or its people, but more of Him. Thank you for praying for me through this journey! I love you all and thank you for reading along!
Morgan Ramsey
Isaiah 6:8
Sunday, June 2, 2013
It's gonna be worth it
Man. I'm finally here, doing what I've been wanting to do for almost a year! So much craziness, as my friend Mauricio would say. Where do I begin.. Such a long flight, such a long day, and such a long night it was on Friday. I think I went to bed at 5:00 AM that night, and got up at 7:00, two hours later. I'm still trying to recuperate from that night. But, God is still good and is still on his throne.
Today was one of the coolest days of my life. We went to a wedding in a city called Apatug and witnessed God's beautiful hand on this couple's life. This couple got officially married three years ago, and just now had their ceremony in the church. The couple was married as unbelievers to begin with, but the husband came to know the Lord one year later, and the wife came to know the Lord this past January. They decided that they wanted to have their ceremony in the church in order to give all glory to the Lord. The wedding lasted almost three hours, not including the night long reception at the grooms house and then the brides home. It is SO different from American weddings, like.. SO different. There is so much information I couldn't possibly write it all down, but it was so incredible.
But, the wedding wasn't the coolest part of my day. Brother Steve, the missionary I am interning with, talked about the story of the town of Apatug. A group of 11 people heard about a folklore concert in town and decided to go hear it. What they didn't know was it was a Christian folklore concert. (Background: Ecuador is very Catholic, and during the 1970's-80's there was heavy persecution upon Christians). These 11 because born again believers and began meeting in one of their houses for bible study. Long story short, the Catholic Church found out about these secret meetings, and stormed their house. The church even waited 2 days for them to come out, and eventually tore the house to the ground, literally. They took these 11 and beat them with sugar canes, making them bleed profusely, and then used bullnettle (a type of plant that releases sap that burns open wounds extremely) and put it all over their body. Then they stripped them naked (the worst offense you could ever do upon someone in this community), put ice cold water on them, and tied them up on a mountain (14,000 feet above sea level). Eventually, they untied themselves and went back to the house of rubble and STILL studied the word of the Lord. Please go back and read that sentence again, because I am still trying to wrap my mind around it. The person that told the missionary this story, was an agent of the Catholic Church that beat these people, but also was a father to one of the 11. He beat his daughter, stripped her naked, and embaressed her in front of the entire community. But out of persecution, this church in Apatug was born, and now is at 250 people, in a very tiny church. I mean totally packed out.
I started thinking about this, and I thought If I was beaten with sugar cane, If I was smothered with bullneetle, if I was stripped naked, If I was bathed in ice water, what would be my response? Give up? Would I go back and still follow the Lord? I hope the answer is yes, but these questions really make you think. I think in America, we don't understand persecution. I don't think we've begun to scratch the surface. It makes me think that people leave church because no one says hello to them, someone took their seat, they don't sing the solos, it's too much money, and all these petty reasons. MAN. How many true Christians are there in the world that would say," Lord I'm willing to give everything, my family, my friends, my job, my status, to follow you and endure persecution if I have to. I'm still trying to grasp this. I can only imagine the courage, strength, humbelness, fear these 11 had to still follow the Lord. Maybe they thought of the title of the wonderful song, "It's gonna be worth it." This song rips me apart when I hear it. Everything we endure here on this earth, deserving or not, is all going to be worth it when we see our Lord Jesus Christ, the redeemer and lover of our soul.
I hope you all pray through this concept with me as I begin to chew on this concept throughout this journey. Pray for us as we have a group from Kentucky, and we start VBS tommorrow. And then I see Gardendale on Thursday! I can't wait to see their group and work with them! Thank you for reading along and praying for me!
Morgan Ramsey
Isaiah 6:8
Today was one of the coolest days of my life. We went to a wedding in a city called Apatug and witnessed God's beautiful hand on this couple's life. This couple got officially married three years ago, and just now had their ceremony in the church. The couple was married as unbelievers to begin with, but the husband came to know the Lord one year later, and the wife came to know the Lord this past January. They decided that they wanted to have their ceremony in the church in order to give all glory to the Lord. The wedding lasted almost three hours, not including the night long reception at the grooms house and then the brides home. It is SO different from American weddings, like.. SO different. There is so much information I couldn't possibly write it all down, but it was so incredible.
But, the wedding wasn't the coolest part of my day. Brother Steve, the missionary I am interning with, talked about the story of the town of Apatug. A group of 11 people heard about a folklore concert in town and decided to go hear it. What they didn't know was it was a Christian folklore concert. (Background: Ecuador is very Catholic, and during the 1970's-80's there was heavy persecution upon Christians). These 11 because born again believers and began meeting in one of their houses for bible study. Long story short, the Catholic Church found out about these secret meetings, and stormed their house. The church even waited 2 days for them to come out, and eventually tore the house to the ground, literally. They took these 11 and beat them with sugar canes, making them bleed profusely, and then used bullnettle (a type of plant that releases sap that burns open wounds extremely) and put it all over their body. Then they stripped them naked (the worst offense you could ever do upon someone in this community), put ice cold water on them, and tied them up on a mountain (14,000 feet above sea level). Eventually, they untied themselves and went back to the house of rubble and STILL studied the word of the Lord. Please go back and read that sentence again, because I am still trying to wrap my mind around it. The person that told the missionary this story, was an agent of the Catholic Church that beat these people, but also was a father to one of the 11. He beat his daughter, stripped her naked, and embaressed her in front of the entire community. But out of persecution, this church in Apatug was born, and now is at 250 people, in a very tiny church. I mean totally packed out.
I started thinking about this, and I thought If I was beaten with sugar cane, If I was smothered with bullneetle, if I was stripped naked, If I was bathed in ice water, what would be my response? Give up? Would I go back and still follow the Lord? I hope the answer is yes, but these questions really make you think. I think in America, we don't understand persecution. I don't think we've begun to scratch the surface. It makes me think that people leave church because no one says hello to them, someone took their seat, they don't sing the solos, it's too much money, and all these petty reasons. MAN. How many true Christians are there in the world that would say," Lord I'm willing to give everything, my family, my friends, my job, my status, to follow you and endure persecution if I have to. I'm still trying to grasp this. I can only imagine the courage, strength, humbelness, fear these 11 had to still follow the Lord. Maybe they thought of the title of the wonderful song, "It's gonna be worth it." This song rips me apart when I hear it. Everything we endure here on this earth, deserving or not, is all going to be worth it when we see our Lord Jesus Christ, the redeemer and lover of our soul.
I hope you all pray through this concept with me as I begin to chew on this concept throughout this journey. Pray for us as we have a group from Kentucky, and we start VBS tommorrow. And then I see Gardendale on Thursday! I can't wait to see their group and work with them! Thank you for reading along and praying for me!
Morgan Ramsey
Isaiah 6:8
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)