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

Week 42

This week was so fun! We worked really hard this week! President has asked us to try to go finding at every opportunity. So, now every time we are on the bus or metro we share the gospel with everyone around us. It is so fun! As a trio we can be very powerful. People listen to us and feel something. On Tuesday we went to do service at the Salvation Army. What we did was we went to a house full of clothes and put the clothes in big bags and brought them to the Salvation Army and put it out for the refugees to take. That was really amazing to see how so many organizations are helping them and we can help too. I really love being able to go and help out! On Wednesday we went to the other organization called Praksis. We were at the warehouse putting things in boxes and making sure everything was in order. On Thursday we were invited to a dinner from the Praksis organization. They wanted to thank us for the help and gave us certificates and a letter of thanks. We were all really surprised. But we love working there! They are very sweet people!

We also had a lesson with Lorna this week. She had been on the Greek islands working but now she is back! She is the happiest person I know!!! She was so happy to have us over to have a lesson. And in her prayer she prayed to be baptized soon! We just love her!! We also had a lesson this week with Souri. She is doing really well! We had a lesson on missionary work and she shared with us how she loves to share the gospel with her coworkers and how she feels about reading the Book of Mormon.

We also visited Mary and she is doing better! She had a little surgery and has really bounced back up! She called one of her friends to meet up with us. That was really cool. So, we will meet up with her friend this week!

And I just wanted to add how much I love my Savior! I am so grateful for this opportunity He has given to learn and grow! I feel as though He has given me so much! This gospel truly makes me happy!

Love you all,

Sister Ramsay

Week 41 Athens!

Hi Everyone!

I am now in Athens and I love it! The work here is amazing! We have a lot going on! The sisters here are working hard and are so fun to work with! I am now with Sisters Leuzinger and Jansson. I was with them before and now we are a trio:) Its fun!

This week I went to go do service for 5hours at a refugee warehouse, where they gather furniture and and supplies for the apartments that they stay in. It was really neat to see how much we could do. We also had some lessons with our investigators this week. Souri is one of them. She is the sweetest thing! She is from Iran and came here looking for freedom and peace. She loves the gospel and wants to get baptized. We also had a lesson with Jemika. She loves learning about Christ. She teaches a Bible class to a youth. she had  heard about our church from the elders and wanted to learn more. This week we taught her the restoration and she loved it. It was so amazing! We also had a lesson with Anastasia, who is from Greece. She loves to serve the people around her! She is loving the lessons and wants to learn more. So, we are excited to see her again today!

We also had a fun little miracle that happened on Saturday. We were looking for a less active that we had never met before and the people in the building did not know her. So, we decided we would still check every door. And at the last door she opened the door and we thought she was another lady because she didnt tell us her name. But she wanted help cooking and so we helped her cook and clean and as her husband came home he said her name and we realized in that moment it was her! We talked to her about visiting her again and she was very happy to hear that and her children agreed to coming to church again! It was so amazing!

I Love you all and I am very grateful for the opportunity I have to be here and learn so much!

Love you,

Sister Ramsay

Week 40 Love and Faith

Dear Friends and Family,

How are you all?

This week has been very interesting! On Tuesday we had transfers and no one got transferred from our district! Yay! 

And on Wednesday we had Zone Conference with Elder Kearon. It was really good! He spoke very powerfully! I learned a lot from that Conference. It really gave me strength for the rest of the week! 

However, my companion had been a bit down and I at first I didnt realize what was wrong and on the bus ride home from the Conference she told me she had been battling depression these past few months. And so we went home and talked about everything. And we called President and a therapist talked to her about her situation and she prayed about what she needed to do to get the help she needs. And her decision was to go home. I made it my goal to make her as happy as much as I could. So, we talked a lot and laughed. And we even got matching bracelets. :)

She wants to be with me up until she goes. So, tomorrow we will be going to Athens and we will figure out what we need to do. I think I will be staying there. But I will let you all know soon!

Thank you for your support!

Love you all!

Lots of love,
Sister Ramsay

Week 39 ΟΛΑ ΚΑΛΑ!

This week we were with Diletta and Salvo a lot! Salvo wants to get baptized and be a member of our church! He has gained a testimony and loves to share it with people! He also has some other Turkish friends that he has given some Books of Mormon to. And He wants them to come to church with him. So, that is pretty fun! Diletta is wanting to take things more slowly and steady so she can understand everything more fully. This morning we saw both of them. Diletta and Salvo told us how they believe Thomas S. Monson is a Prophet of God. We had showed them yesterday night a General Conference talk that they should listen to and they both loved it!! We also had Greek and English class this week. It went really well! Salvo and Diletta are doing soo well!

This week Amanda (member) had her wedding! It was soo amazing! We were able to help her get ready and go to her wedding! She was very happy!

We also had transfers this week! No one from our district left!!! We are all happy to be here still!!!:)

On Sunday it was Marcello's birthday (member). So, we went to Panayiotis's house to have a roast dinner and cake! It was amazing! He is truly a chef! 

I love Cyprus! I am grateful to be here and to be here with such a loving companion. We are honestly blessed! 

Love you all!
Sister Ramsay