Week 55

This week we went to do service and help the Salvation Army. That was a lor of fun! There were a lot of people there that day! 

We went to go see Mimicka's art gallery. (She is a member) And it was so fun to go and support her and see some of the other members go and support her too.

We got to see Raisa this week! We decided to sing to her a hymn and she loved it! After the hymn she bore testimony of Christ being her Savior. It was wonderful being able to see her and see how firm her testimony is!

This week we also went finding a lot. (Which means we were put talking to people pn the streets about our message). It was pretty cool. I met a man named Joseph on the bus ride back home and we talked about the church and then I had to get off and didnt have enough time to get his number, but I was able to give him a card with our number on it and a website of the church. And the next day he called us! Usually people that have our number dont call us...we usually have to call them. So, that was pretty cool!!

We also had a Service emergency, so we missionaries and members that could attend went to the church to help make refugee health kits. We made 1500 kits within those 2hours. It was really amazing to see how much we could do! We also had a lesson with a lady named Florida. She was so nice! We were able to talk to her about the restoration and she said she would read the Book of Mormon and pray about our message! We also had a Fireside this sunday! The fireside was soooo goood!! It was done by a couple from America, who are serving as refugee aid missionaries. And they both had studied the old testament and Hebrew before their missions and taught us things from the Bible and Christ. It was sooo inspiring!

I hope you all have a fantastic week!!

Love you all,

Sister Ramsay

Week 54 20th Birthday!

I wanted to thank you all for the Birthday wishes!! It really made my day!!

This week we had a lesson with a new investigator named Tzakoba. She is from Madagascar and is so sweet! We taught her the restoration and she loved it. She compared herself to Joseph Smith. It was so cute! She said, "I am Joseph Smith. I am looking for truth!" She agreed to praying and reading to know if it is true. We are excited to have another lesson with her this coming week!

We also had a lesson with Fatima this week right after church. Church this sunday was sooo amazing!! The speakers spoke on a topic that was exactly what Fatima needed to hear! It was such an amazing experience to me to see how the Lord really does work through us to bless others!! I have seen Him bless these people here in Greece! And I know He lives! He is aware of our situations and our desires!! Fatima really felt the spirit during church and loved having a lesson with us after. God is blessing her and that was really a miracle to see!

We also had the opportunity to go to the hospital to go see a new born baby of one of the members. She had a baby girl. And she was soo adorable. We were able to share a scripture with her that was in Moroni 8:17. Looking at the baby you could tell there was nothing more pure. She had just come from heaven. I know we are all God's children and we are all equally important to Him!! He always wants to bless us and care for us! I am grateful to be here and to see all these wonerful miracles.

Love you all,

Sister Ramsay

Week 53

How is everyone doing?

This week we had a lesson with Anna. She was an investigator that the sisters had awhile ago. We decided to call her and she was so happy to hear from us and so we arranged to meet up and as soon as she saw me she hugged me tight. Before we started the lesson she told us about how she has had a hard time these past months. She felt like God had abandoned her. We promised her he has always been there. And that when we turn to Him and trust in Him, He will comfort and be with us. But we have to want Him for Him to come and help us. I know the Savior has suffered and felt all the pain and hardships I have felt. I know He understands. And will help me through anything I have. Trials and hardships are there because if we didnt have opposition we wouldnt know the difference between good or bad. We wouldnt progress in life. We wouldnt grow or learn what we need to learn to become what God has in store for us. In the lesson with her she expressed the love she felt and that what we had told her was true. She said coming to see us and felling the love God had for her, as we were talking was a way for her to get the healing she needed. She told us She will continue reading the Book of Mormon and start coming to church.

We also helped Sister Petchey (senior couple) finish making blankets for the members. That was fun!

We also had a lesson with Hannah this week. She is so sweet! We went to her friend's house to have a lesson. And it was her friend (Juinis) and her husband (Roland), who were there as well. So, we ended up having a lesson with them and Hannah all together. We taught the Restoration and watched the Joseph Smith video with them and Hannah's friend Junis really liked the video and the message. Junis even told us that she would love to come to church and learn more. She was so happy and that was just a highlight! To see how we were able to share something that really came from the spirit that touched her! I love this gospel! I know it brings the utermost Happiness!

Love you all,

Sister Ramsay

p.s

This is for George & the Twins. They will like this!

Here are some photos from a Backpack Project

Week 52

How is everyone?

This week we had a lesson with Loukas and he had a lot of good questions when we were teaching him the restoration. He likes how he feels in the lessons and what we teach. He agreed to being baptized after all of the lessons. And so that was really cool! 1) Because he wants to come closer to Christ. And 2) because he is an Orthodox Bishop, who despite what he does he still wants to learn and find the truth. I found that really amazing. The spirit is something powerful!

This week we also went to go visit a member named Augusta. And while we were there she shared with us a spiritual experience she just had. And so I want to share it with you all. She has a son, who was applying to go to college in England, but they didnt have enough money. And so she was really worried and praying a lot about what to do. She wanted her son to be able to have the oportunity to learn and go to school. And so she prayed all week and still wasnt sure what she needed to do. And so one day after she finished her prayer she had a feeling, it will work out and she was trying to figure out how. And so she went to get the mail and they had received a letter. But she couldnt read it because it was in Greek. So, she handed it to her son and he said, "Mom, the bank is giving back some money that they had taken from the account...we have the exact amount I need for England." She was in tears as he said the words. She knew in that moment that God had a plan for her and her son. And that He was going to take care of them. She was in tears as she bore testimony to us of how God is really there. He loves us and exists. He will help and uplift us in our trials. I was overwhelmed as she shared some other personal experiences of how God has guided her. I know it is true for everyone! God will guide us and take care of us. He knows us individually.

We also have a new investigator this week. Her name is Irene. She is so sweet! She has come to church twice. She had a lesson on the Restoration and really loved it! She shared it with her husband and invited him to church. She is so cute! She said she wants to get baptized , but needs a little help with getting over smoking. We are very happy to be able to help her come closer to her Savior! We even had the wards come together for an activity and she came. The activity was amazing! A lot of members came and investigators! We did soem humanitarian service by making school bags for the refugee kids and making some boondogles to personalize the bags. It was really fun!

Have a fantastic week! Love you all!!

Love,

Sister Ramsay

Week 51 Baptism!

This week was amazing!! I dont have words to describe my feelings!!

So this week started off with a few lessons we had with Loukas the Orthodox priest. We had a lesson on the Book of Mormon. And we talked about Christ and read some scriptures with him to help him understand. We also had a lesson with Nathaneal this week and he wants to finish th Book of Mormon. He loves going to church!

We also prepared all week for Souri's baptism by making a lot of food and going with her to her interview with president. When Saturday came we were all so excited and happy for her!! She is an amazing girl!! She was smiling and super happy! It was really funny. The water in the font was really hot and so when she came out she said, "I thought I was going to boil." She felt really good about it all. The next day on Sunday she got confirmed and it was a beautiful blessing! What made it so special was that she was in tears! You could see how the spirit had touched her. She was a real light all day! I am so very grateful to have been able to teach her the gospel of Jesus Christ and be apart of her life! She is a real blessing in my life! It is an experience I will never forget! She was prepared by God! Her faith and dedication to the Lord has been a strength to my testimony that I know Heavenly Father knows us individually and will work with each and everyone of us. Being able to see her progress in the gospel was a witness to me that God will refine us and humble us in our circumstances!

I love you all!!

Sister Ramsay

Sorry I cant send out any photos of the baptism, because it cant go on facebook or social media.

But these are the cookies we made for the batism:)

Week 50

Hi!

This week we had a lesson with Joy and Austin. They are a really cute couple from Africa. THey have the desire to learn more and came to church on sunday!

We also had a Specialized Training this week. Sister Heder spoke to us about the Book of Mormon and asked us how the Book of Mormon has changed/influenced our life? That question made me think a lot. I am really grateful for the Book of Mormon and how it has been a comfort and guide for me. I have felt the spirit everytime I read it. I know it comes from God!

President Heder talked to us about Jacob 5: 74-75 how being diligent to the Lord will give us a lot of joy and blessings. He also shared with us a 5 purpose plan from Elder Nelson's talk on Full Purpose Missionaries. The 5 purposes; Finding, Teaching, Baptizing, Reactivating, and Strengthening. He compared the five purposes to our missionary purpose. And how when we apply these five steps we will be fulfilling our purpose! It was really neat to see how when you do one of the purposes, you can accomplish others.

Then the Assistants shared a spiritual thought:

 One of the APs was a runner in High school and he said that his coach would alwasy yell, "Keep your eyse up and dont look back!" And so he told us to do the same. Dont focus on the steps we take, but on the goal we want to make! When we are striving and working for that goal, we arent afraid of whats to come, because we know where we want to go. Helaman 16:4

Let us be like Nephi, who did everything for the Kingdom of God! Diligently pressing forward!

It was a really good training!

This week we will also have Souri's baptism! We are really happy and excited for her!

I hope you all have a great week!

Love ya,

Sister Ramsay

Week 49

This week It was Sister Leuzinger's birthday! So, for her birthday we decorated part of the house in Christmas decoration while she was in our room, because her favorite holiday is Christmas! And Becasue we have a lot of decoration! It was so fun! I made crepes and we made it a big fun breakfast! And she loved it!

Highlights of the week:

I fell off a bus! 

We started to teach a Greek Orthodox priest. He loves the Book of Mormon. 

We had a lesson with Vera and she had told us in the beginning of the week that she was going to stop reading the Book of Mormon, so during the week we were praying for her and at the end of the week we met up again and she told us she had prayed and felt like her days were better when she was reading the Book and is reading it again! I know the Book of Mormon is powerful! It truly is from God! A way to direct us back home to our Heavenly Father.

We also had a lesson with a man we met on the metro. His name is Dimitris. And he liked the first lesson on the Restoration and told us he would read the Book of Mormon. What was kinda funny was that in the middle of the lesson he asked us, "would you say yes if I asked you to be baptized in the Orthtoddox church?"

We also had a lesson with Souri! She is doing amazing! She is ready for baptism!

We also had a lesson with Nathaneal. He is so sweet! He really cares about the people around him and has really good questions. 

I hope you all have a good weeek!

I love you all! Keep in touch!

Love ya,

Sister Ramsay

Week 48 Corinth!

Corinth was amazing!! We saw a lot of things! There was a canal built by 6 thousand jewish slaves. Its incredible!! I have a picture! We also went to a museum and saw some pillars and pots, and some amazing history! We also saw a castle built on top of a mountain! It was really cool! The water in Corinth was beautiful! Clear blue!

This week we had 2 lessons with Souri! She is amazing! She is really wanting to be baptized. We reset a date. And we are so hapy and excited for that day! We also had a lesson with Nathaneal! He is soo cool! He is from Nigeria. We met him on the street reading the Bible and we talked to him and he suddenly started teaching us the Restoration! It was really funny! He had met some missionaries when we was in Germany and they gave him a Book of Mormon but he had lost it. And so we gave him a new one and he is now learning about the church. He read some of the Book of Mormon and loved it. He believes its true! He also came to church and met Souri there and asked her if she was a member and she said no. And then he sayd, "ahh, you are a student like me." hahah He is really sweet. And after the Priesthood class he said, "I was just waiting for my three teachers to tell me where to go next." haha He was hoping church was longer, because he loved it so much. That was the first time an investigator had said that before! hahah!

We also had a lesson with Vera and her friend! It was a good lesson! She is learning a lot of new things and its nice to see how she wants to pray about the things we tell her.

Church was amazing! Nathaneal and Souri were there! We had a lesson in Sunday school of 'why did we need a Savior?' And I loved what a lady said in that lesson. She said, "We can change our behavior and attitude, but only Christ can change our hearts."

We need a Savior! Not only for our sins and weaknesses, but also so that we can go back to our Heavenly Father! We need Him in everything! And I love that! I love that we can be close to Him and learn from Him by following His example and living the gospel. He truly is the way and the light!

I love you all!

Love,

Sister Ramsay

Week 47

How is everyone?

This week was great! We had two lessons with Vera and she invited a Pastor to one of the lessons and he ended up coming to church and bringing a friend! It was great! He is so funny and felt really good at church! This week we also did cookie service:) We went and dropped off cookies at some of our investogators homes. It was really fun! We also had a lesson with Souri and she is doing really well. We also played street basketball this week with some of the kids at the park with some of our investigators and the elders. It was really fun! Some of the boys after asked about the church and we had some really good conversations! This week we also had a lot of dinner appointments!! We had a lot of spicy food! Everyone from Africa and Pakistan made us really spicy food. One time after our lesson and meal with them we had to go to a grocery store and buy some milk just to cool down our throats. It was a pretty funny experience! 

Sorry this week its short. We are going to Corinth with the senior couple!

Oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWITZERLAND! 

Love you all!!

Sister Ramsay

This is the only swiss thing I found in Greece!

And every park has its gang of old men...its pretty cute:)^

Week 46

Hey Everyone!

This week we went to go see Mary (member) and prepare her for a lesson we were going to have with her friend Betty (our investigator). She was so excited for the lesson and to help teach her friend and bear testimony of what she knows ot be true! We went and it was Betty and Jenny (her 13year old daughter) and Irene ( almost 8year old daughter). I sat by Irene and I speak greek with her and help her understand the lesson with pictures and reading the Book of Mormon verses with her in Greek. (she can only read greek). This family is amazing! We taught them the Plan of Salvation and the understood it and loved it! Mary was so important in that lesson and we could all feel her love for her friend as she bore testimony of the Plan! The spirit was so strong!!

We also had a lesson with Vera. We watched the Joseph Smith video with her. And then she had some questions on prayer and we were able to testify of the power of prayer has and how through prayer we are closer to our Heavenly Father. She's amazing and super sweet!

We also had the opportunity to meet President Uchtdorf. He came to visit and was able to stop by and talk to some of the members here and us missionaries in Athens. It was a real blessing and boost to hear him! He helped us refocus and realize how important it is to give our best and trust God!

I love you all!! I hope you all had a good week!

love ya,

Sister Ramsay

p.s We also played basketball with Jenny and Irene!!

 And we also had dinner with the senior couple!

Week 45 It's Fun to be a Missionary!

How is everyone??

My week was great! We started the week with some good hard service by helping out the Salvation Army! It was really fun! We met two other people from America, who came to help the refugees. It was so nice to see! We then had a lesson with Souri and she got a priesthood blessing and that was a real spiritual experience for us all! We all had tears in our eyes as she started smiling and hugging us after the blessing. She was so happy to receive a blessing to give her comfort and guidance!

We also had a lesson with Ferdinatos, who we met on the street and that was so coool!! We had a lesson with him in a park and as he sat down he was going to smoke but we asked if we could say a prayer and after the prayer he put the cigarette he was going to light away because he felt something! I know the spirit was there and testifying to him of the truthfulness of  our message! He was really touched and asked us "How fast can I become Mormon?" It was the first time on my mission anyone had ever asked me that!! It was so cool!

We also went to meet up with Vera and she had read some of the Book of Mormon and gave it to her friend because she loved it so much! She also asked us for 2 more Books! :) She invited her friend to be with her in the next discussion we will have!:) She also asked us to be her bridesmaids! She is  getting married in October and asked us to help her by being in her wedding! haha

This week we also had a Specialized Training! That was a really good boost! We are ready to go back out and work hard!

On Saturday we had an activity were we invited investigators and members to come and watch Meet The Mormons at the church. Souri came early so we had a lesson with her and she now has a baptismal date!!! She will be baptized in 3 weeks:)

The week was full of miracles and fun!! I know God is with us in everything we do! He is guiding us every step we take!

Love you all,

Sister Ramsay

Week 44

This week was very busy and full of adventure! So we had a lesson with a new investigator Vera. She is from Ghana and is super sweet! She has two children and is open to learning about the gospel! We also had a lesson with Maybelle, who is the daughter of Marion. Her father is a member but she was never baptized. Her family had lessons together but she was too young to understand. She is so amazing! She just turned 18 and loves to bake! We even had a little chocolate get together with her. We made brownies and she had made some chocolate cake! It was the best thing ever! We also had a lesson with Artimos. He is a new investigator as well. We gave him a tour of the church building and he loved it. He felt peace coming inside and when we introduced the Book of Mormon. He was so happy and thrilled to have it! So we are excited to see how that goes! We also had a lesson with Betty. Betty is a referral from a member, Mary. Mary told us how she met Betty. She met Betty when she first came here from Ghana and they met the missionaries and started having lessons but Mary wasnt relly into the lessons, but Betty was. And so somehow Mary and Betty lost contact..because they stopped the lessons. However during that time (18years) Mary got baptized. And just a few weeks ago Mary bumped into Betty and was so haoppy to see her and told her she got baptized. So, Betty is interested in lessons and her whole family wants to be baptized! It is such a miracle! This is really the Lords work! He knows exactly what people need and when they need things!

This week we also had something funny happen!! We met a lady, Janette,  in the street and she gave us her phone number to meet up again and talk about the gospel and so we called her a few times and tried to figure out a time to meet her. And so we arranged a time and went to her house and when we got there she introduced us to another lady, Veronika, who she called her her sister. And at first I was a bit confused because she didnt look like her sister and then another lady, Comfort, came and they both had nice dresses and a Bible in their hands. Suddenly I realized we had been ambushed by the Jehova's Witnesses. It was very interesting! We started with a prayer and then they began discussing with us about the Bible being the only word of God. And that is when we pulled out the Book of Mormon. They all were very shocked and told us no. They didnt want the Book. And so we just testified of its truthfulness and bore testimony on the Savior. It was a real eye-opener experience!  

Another cool thing that happened this week was we had a big time change in our schedule!! We now wake up at 7:30am and stay out until 10pm. Just for the summer. We have been able to have more lessons since everyone is out late and we also met a basketball coach. So, every morning we go and play basketball and volleyball at the courts. And during the time we are there he comes with his group of kids learning basketball. And we were able to invite him to church and invite him to learn more about the church and he agreed! We are excited to have lessons with him! He is so cool! 

On Sunday we saw Souri!! She came to chruch and was glowing with joy! We also went to President's house to have dinner. It was an amazing day and weeek!!

I love you all! I hope you all know that true happiness only comes through following Christ and His gospel!!

Love ya,

Sister Ramsay

Week 43 Praksis

Here are some pictures from the award ceremony that Praksis held for the missionaries in Athens to thank the missionaries for their volunteer help at the clothes sorting center. 15 missionaries that donate four hours each which makes 60 hours of volunteer service each week.


Here is a group picture and it also shows the balcony where we want to help create a garden center with potted plants and benches and it shows the children's room and the washers that were purchased by LDS Charities



Love, Monica