Forever Love

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