grateful.

february is half gone!

can you even believe it?

 

dad once told me,

"if you're exhausted that means you're growing."

well this week was a week of GROWTH for sure.

seriously... it was one of the hardest weeks I've had in a long time.

and it completely blind sided me.

buuuuuut the Lord needed to teach me a lesson.

and i am GRATEFUL.

i have gained SUCH a testimony of God's priesthood power.

this transfer has been so hard for me.

having to sign up for BYU classes, figure out housing, future plans, etc.

took my head outta the work and THAT, coupled with complete exhaustion...

no bueno.

and this week it just all piled up.

we "walked and walked and walked and walked" this week. (*pioneer primary song)

seriously. MILES of walking.

lists of people to visit.

aaaaaaaaaaaand NO ONE was interested or ready for the gospel.

or they all were SICK. #fluseason! ;lakjdfs;lkj

BUT two weeks ago,

I was preparing for a talk that I had to give in sacrament meeting...

my topic was "eternal life"...

so naturally I turned to all my conference ensigns and starting reading talks on the subject...

one article was titled

 

"This Is My Work and Glory"

thiiiiiinking it was talking about eternal life

("for behold, this is my work and my glory- to bring about the immortality and eternal life of man.")

I read it....& come to find out...

the title is somewhat misleading

(but I feel like that misleading title was just for me...)

because really it talked all about the Priesthood.

and this is what got me:

 

"The same priesthood power that created worlds, galaxies, and the universe can and should be part of our lives to succor, strengthen, and bless our families, our friends, and our neighbors- In other words, to do the things the Savior would do if He were ministering among us today." - Elder M. Russell Ballard

the minute I read that,

I felt prompted to get a blessing.

BUT being the independent spirit I am,

I procrastinated, thinking I could do it on my own.

then... this week happened

and I finally came to realize

WE CAN'T DO IT ON OUR OWN

and the Lord never intended us to.

 

the priesthood wasn't just restored

to bless our lives with saving ordinances...

but to SUCCOR, STRENGTHEN, and BLESS us.

yesterday, as soon as I received that blessing,

it was as though this "burden" had been lifted-

i felt lighter, and happier...

the sunshine broke through.

i felt LIKE ME, again...!! (#halle-freakin-lujah)

all because I finally asked for Divine help.

 

And then to look back..

the inspired Bishop who asked us to speak...

the topic I was assigned (it was different then my companion's)...

the misleading title that caught my attention...

the words of prophets that touched my heart...

this HORRIBLE week of pure rejection (haha)....

then the incredible peace that was restored through a priesthood blessing.

 

i love the priesthood.

i know it's been restored.

i'm so grateful for this experience that has strengthened my testimony.

we aren't meant to do this whole MORTALITY THING, alone, people.

 

I know God lives.

I know He loves us.

He is in the details...

sending us love notes all day.

love you loads.

 

we got help, ya'll.

SIX WEEK SPRINT TO THE FINISH.

whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa?

(me and meyer dyin in burley)

 

xoxo,

sister ramsey

we should be FEARLESS

SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED!!!

 

have i ever told you how much i LOVE burley?

the people? the wards? the WORK?

things are so good here.

& since i've been MIA

(due to figuring out school lawlz sorry)

i'll fill you in on all that has happened...

in like the last....

three weeks? oops.

 

ELDER M. RUSSELL BALLARD

came to our mission little over a week ago.

absolutely amazing.

he spoke with such power and authority

my zone was the choir for the meeting so we got to be on the stand for a portion

aaaaand then front row,

so that was sweet.

 

what i took most from his remarks was that

we should be happy.

because we KNOW what we KNOW.

because of the message we share.

and because we KNOW...

we should be FEARLESS.

 

he taught us how to be good missionaries

good teachers.

he said we gotta learn how to

"cut through all the CLUTTER that swamps the human family...

cut through and get spirit to spirit

so that you can teach them boldly....

and then we we gotta be good.

we gotta be really good at teaching our message...."

"you have to internalize this stuff.

you find differently and

you teach differently

when you KNOW that you KNOW how to teach."

 

i. loved. every. second.

i could've sat and listened to him all day.

his remarks have inspired me all week!

best thing to help me finish this thing strong.

Elder Nash of the Seventy came with him

and he shared a few remarks about Elder Ballard

and he called him the Parley P. Pratt of our day.

loved that.

they both were remarkable.

it was such a powerful meeting.

 

we are teaching some hilarious people..

i'm tellin' you.

we teach this guy named PAUL (mexi. 60 yrs old)

and he is one of my favorite people.

he calls us with the funniest concerns!

and he's soooo serious.

 

like yesterday.

he called and said,

"Sisters! I gotta tell ya....

I've been practicing in the mirror...

for like 30 minutes today...

and I CANNOT CRY.

Is that going to be a problem?"

HAHAHA it was fast and testimony meeting yesterday.

obvs we told him you can't practice that

because it was the spirit.

then it all clicked.

and then he said "Ohhh ok, So I can stop lookin' in the mirror?"

 

seriously.

he sends the funniest texts, ever.

its awesome.

he is doing so much research and is just seeking TRUTH.

 

reading the Book of MOrmon with lots of families

and it's amazing!

it's powerful to watch people illuminate as they read and study as a family.

speaking of...

hows your reading going?!

we're supposed to be at the end of Mosiah!

I just read about Alma's conversion today.

LOVE IT.

so life is GOOD.

me and meyer are great!

receiving our trunky papers will all sadness this week

weird. i'm glad we are together for it.

we are crossing our fingers we die together!

i love you all.

time is flying.

this work makes me the happiest.

xoxo,

sister ramsey

 

ps someone told us defacing government property was illegal?

i told them obama is defacing our country soooooooooooo

oops? #justified

 

 

no excuses.

life is so. good.

like SO GOOD.

i've been reunited with so many people in Burley this week

and I'M SOOOOO HAPPY.

 

ALL of the winmills.

rick and heather.

momma poulsen.

the stake presidency!

oh i LOVE these people.

 

mookie (winmill boy) gave his farewell talk in sacrament yesterday

so i got to go see him speak and he did SO good!

i'm so proud of that boy.

he's leaving on the 21st for his mission to Tallahassee, Florida!

 

so. we are back on bikes.

woooooof.

it's currently dumping snow.

and my bike tires keep going flat.

 

but i feel like God popped my tire the other day

aaaand gave us serious ice cream cravings.

because that's how we found a new investigator!

 

haha we were trying to find a road in my old area

but i could nooooot remember exactly where it was.

it was like 20 degrees and we were walking with our bikes (flat tire)

riiiight past dairy queen....

so naturally...

we rode through the drive through with our bikes and got us a mini blizzard

...cause that makes sense when you're already freezing?

the DQ girls gave us directions and we were on our way to contact a referral

wheeeeen we met two young men on bikes

i made a joke about them lookin' like one of us

proceeded to ask if they were LDS. one of them was, the other wasn't.

we asked if he went to a church and he said

"no one has ever invited me"

hahahah CONSIDER THIS YOUR INVITATION DUDE.

long story short we're meeting with them this week!

and he is living with rick and heather's sister. #doublewin

i love how God works.

 

we spent most of our time this week out meeting people in our ward.

LOTS of work to do to build up our area.

i'm excited though.

the people here are so good.

 

so happy to hear some of you are joining me on the BOM reading!!

I love love love the Book of Mormon.

soooooo much to learn.

today i was reading about how Nephi "delighteth in proving unto my people that save Christ should come all men must perish."

how grateful I am to know that he HAS COME. that we won't perish. that we have scriptures that testify of Him and His gospel and the key is to remembering Him, always, and sticking it out till the end. NO EXCUSES.

 

i love you guys.

we're in this together.

 

xoxo,

sister ramsey

 

ps: ME: 0 ICE: 1

toooooootallly ate it riding to church yesterday. sidewalk near the seminary building was pure ice. hahaha i'm tellin you. this mission is SOMETHIN ELSE

TBT? TBM?

throw back monday?

i'm getting transferred...

 

BACK TO BURLEY BABY.

no place could ease the sting of leaving jerome like burley can

same stake i served in last time

different ward.

winmills are close

IM SO HAPPY

totallllly called this when i left over a year ago.

when i got transferred out, I said,

"well maybe this means I'll just get to end my mission in Burley."

hahahahaha God is so good.

 

this week was amazing

we got to go to the temple with Jackie and Jake!

two of our recent converts! (i forgot to take a pic :(...sad day!)

and our ward invited a few recently reactivated families to come and participate.

it was a powerful experience for everyone-- perfect way to start out the new year!

i just love the temple so much.

i'm so grateful for the covenants we make

and for the church that reinforces what the Savior taught:

"when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."

 

as soon as we make covenants for ourselves,

we are asked to go and serve and help others receive those saving ordinances...

whether in the temple, for those who have passed...

or to strengthen those around us and help people here find faith in Christ

and feel the hope and joy that comes through repentance.

 

repentance.

sometimes its just little changes.

that make a BIG difference.

this new year, our mission began reading

The Book of Mormon

together...until the end of April. (beginning for me!!)

and I am so excited about it.

we focused on the five gospels as a mission before Christmas

and I would only have time for a short study of the BOM each morning

...oh I've just been craving it.

read it with me, ya?

finish before I get home?

 

i know of NO BOOK that can bring more happiness and peace into your life then the Book of Mormon. it will bring you closer to God and Jesus Christ and the spirit will fill your heart and mind and help you find your way along this crazy journey of life. it's rocked my world, time and time again. read it with me!!

 

i know the Book of Mormon is the word of God.

i love being apart of His work.

may this new year bring you closer to Him

and fill your heart with HIS LOVE.

love you all.

xoxo,

sister ramsey

 

pic: sorry sister draper looks....out of it. i only took one? haha

i'm dreaming

of a WHITE Christmas....

white. as in baptism white. ha. ha

#lamemissionjokes

yeeeee. JACKIE GOT BAPTIZED YESTERDAY.

and it was probably the best baptism i've ever been to!

there were soooo many people in attendance, we had to move into the chapel

and SO many of them were non-members!

it was a BEAUTIFUL, moving, uplifting baptism

jackie bore the sweetest testimony

the spirit was so strong

she's already dreaming up mission plans for next year.

I. LOVE. HER.

and her mom.

and her sis, marcela.

who i TOTALLY met over a year ago...in Burley!

her sister came into town late saturday night and as soon as they walked in

we said hi & they go, "we've met you! didn't you serve in Burley?!!!!"

hahah it was awesome. as soon as they brought that up, I instantly remembered meeting them in a restaurant last year and dying over what a beautiful couple they were. when i met them last year, they told me their story and how she joined the church and they were sealed in the temple just the year before-- NEVER in my wildest thoughts would I have thought-- "okay...see ya in a YEAR at your sister's baptism?!?!???" hahaha God is just so good. I LOVE that He is in the details. I can just see Him mapping that out and thinking, ya...that's gonna make them happy...

 

anyway. i couldn't help but think of how HAPPY this mission has made me

how much it has helped me grow and BECOME a little better.

and how much i have LOVED siding up with the Savior and proclaiming His truth

i love love love this time of year.

i love the feeling of love for one another that FLOODS the earth

i love our Savior

I KNOW HE LIVES

& i'm so grateful for the LIGHT and the HOPE that He brought into the world.

CANNOT WAIT TO SKYPE YA'LL ON THURSDAY.

get ready, yo.

xoxo,

sister ramsey

'tis the season!

CAN I NEVER LEAVE JEROME? PLEASE?

i loooooove it here!!

i don't want to leave next transfer!

start praying for a christmas miracle lol

we are SO busy. like up to our brains busy! meeting our new ward and setting up appointments with our investigators-- our next free evening apt slot is SUNDAY. we are booked a week out! haha. it's awesome. we are talking to as many people as we can and trying to help our investigators progress. we have had 10 people at church the last two weeks-- BUT having a hard time setting dates b/c of parent permission, holiday busyness, flakey on apts, waiting for mawwage or on probation! bah! but i love them all!

 

but let me tell you about miss JACKIE. she is my little mexi sister. srlsy.

 

we have been over to her house multiple times this week to teach and she is SO awesome. we met her a couple weeks ago... she is a senior in High School and is just on fuego?! (they're helping me with my spanish lawlz). her mom is one of my favorite people. she is this AMAZING little woman who is so close to the spirit and filled with so much love... & she makes BOMB spanish food! she took the missionary lessons like 15 years ago and loves the church and knows it's true but won't get baptized with out her husband...who is staunch Catholic. she is so excited that Jackie is becoming Mormon and really wants us to teach her son, too. he's a junior and not too interested....yet! they are the best and i'm so excited for Jackie! she's already thinking about a mission! haha! she's getting baptized a few days before Christmas and it's going to be beautiful! i LOVE her!

sister draper is awesome. she shared her story with me this week and ah! it just inspires me to slow down and be more aware of others and just LOVE them. she bears a pure and simple testimony to everyone we talk to and it's beautiful.

we have the most insane week this week.

one exchange.

THREE christmas parties.

one being our mission talent show/ devotional.

ahhhhh. its going to be the best!

 

aaaand i just talked this guy into selling us a 6' tree for TEN BUCKS

#missionaryperks

tooooootally pulled the "i'm so far from home" card.

sold.

hahahaha im so happy about it!!!

i've never bought a tree before lolol

its sitting in a bucket of water with a beach towel around it #classy

we are going to decorate it now!

'TIS THE SEASON.

i lOVE this time of year. i LOVE our Savior. i LOVe declaring His gospel. i LOve this place, these people! i LOVE being a missionary!

 

xoxo,

sister ramsey

 

ps HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAYLEE SUE. miss that dog!

let us cheerfully do all things

PEOPLE, people, people

"name that movie"

"McLintock?!"

^^ miss you dad

 

another crazy week.

doesn't every missionary say that?

haha we didn't stop all week.

sis walker left me on mon (saddest day ever)

i was on an exchange all of Tuesday.

got Sister Draper on Wednesday-

apts every hour all day...

Thanksgiving all day Thursday.

SO MUCH FOOD.

zone meeting on Friday. planning.

moved apartments on Saturday.

made our rounds to invite people to church

taught a few lessons

invited people to be baptized

help set up a Christmas tree for some less actives in our ward!

its here! christmas time is here! and i am so happy about it.

....and then...

Sundays are the best days.

we had a crazy day yesterday...

trying to meet our new ward and get things figured out.

spent the day feeling slightly overwhelmed at everything we need to do

and all the people we need to go meet...

 

BUT yesterday, once we finally got home...

i was feeling antsy & I jumped into the scriptures

because I didn't get my personal study time

(#millionhoursofchurchmeetings)

 

& I read section 123 of the Doctrine and Covenants and reflected on how grateful I am to be here. I've said that a lot... but this woman made a comment in church yesterday that got me thinking about my time as a missionary and how it's allowed me to serve. she talked about how OVERWHELMED she gets every time we hear about "Hastening the Work" in church...her voice shook as she expressed, "what more can I do?" Without any judgement towards her, I thought a lot about what she said.

I'm so so grateful for this time in my life I have to give everything to the Lord. all my time, talents, and attention. its stretching me and showing me how fun it is to side up with and serve with Him. I'm grateful to have this time to serve in this capacity... I know it won't be mine forever but I want to make every moment count. In 123 the prophet is writing a letter to the Saints from Liberty Jail about their duty and I just love it.

11 And also it is an imperative duty that we owe to all the rising generation, and to all the pure in heart—

12 For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it—

13 Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven—

14 These should then be attended to with great earnestness....

17 Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.

I hope you "cheerfully do all that lies in your power" to share the message of our Savior.

no act of kindness is too small- this is the perfect time of year to reach out

and lift and love those around you and share THE GIFT of our Savior.

I know Christ lives.

I know His gospel has been restored to

BLESS AND LIGHT UP THE WORLD.

may it light up your heart this Christmas season.

love love love you all

xoxo,

sister ramz