Tornadoes, Getting Organized, and "Now that I've made you emotional..."

Minha querida familia!
(How's my Portuguese?)

I hope you all had a wonderful week. Just to clarify, there wasn't an actual tornado in Evans, Georgia this week. But one went through my suitcases, that's for sure! I've been tearing my things apart, making list after list, trying to get organized physically and mentally as I prepare to leave for Brazil. Add to that load going on exchanges almost every day this week, and there's another tornado! Sister VanDyke and Sister Eggett both had doctor's appointments the same day, but one was in Warner Robbins, so we had an exchange so they could both make their appointments. I feel like I haven't seen my companion all week! This was seriously the craziest week of my entire mission. Crazier than the ice storm! But I'm happy to say that the sisters have gotten the medical care they needed, and they are doing so much better today. Also, shout out to worthy priesthood holders! It's amazing to know that we have the ability to call someone at any hour of the night, and they will find a companion, put on their suit and tie, and come give a blessing. I love the priesthood!! So I'm just taking things a day at a time, working hard to not get overwhelmed. And I think I'm handling everything pretty well! Thank you for your prayers, they are seriously felt. There's no way I could've gotten through this week without some added strength from my Heavenly Father.

On Tuesday we had our Zone Conference combined with the Augusta Zone (my last one here :( ). It was amazing. President Cottle asked us each to prepare a short talk on a conference talk, and he would ask a few people to share theirs throughout our meeting. Before we broke for lunch, he got up and said they were going to announce a transfer that would take place and told everyone I had received my visa. Then he asked me to share my talk ("Now that I've made you emotional..."). So I spoke about President Monson's talk about love. And of course I cried in front of everyone! But we had an awesome training from one of the Assistants about expecting to baptize. He talked about how we know that baptism is necessary, so we shouldn't be afraid to extend the commitment to be baptized. He gave me this new vision of looking at everyone we meet, knowing that they need to be baptized by the priesthood authority of God. It definitely helps us make our contacts more of a conversation and less of a "Here's a card, bye!" approach. I think we were glowing yesterday as we walked down the streets, because people were so much friendlier and more open than I've seen them in the last three months. Miracles do happen! Sometimes all we have to do is change our way of thinking.

I love you all to the moon and back! Seriously soooo much. Thank you for the advice. I'll definitely take everything into consideration as I continue making my lists and sending things off and buying things. I love you and hope you have a wonderful week! Let me know if there's anything I can do for you!

All my love,

Sister Kashmir Janae Ramsden

Easter Caroling, Because of Him, and I GOT MY VISA!!!

I got my visa! I know you already knew that, but I'm telling you anyway haha. President Cottle called and told me this morning so I could tell you all today. Honestly, it hasn't completely hit me. I'm so full of emotions that I'm kind of indifferent right now haha. Crazy stuff!! I don't even know what to buy, what to send home, anything. Should I really try to buy enough hygiene stuff for the next 9 months? (Oh yeah, happy 9 months to me!) I'm gonna try to think things out, look at everything I have, probably pray a lot. Yeah! So pray for me please! And give me any advice you have!



Exchanges were awesome this week! I feel bad that I keep leaving and Sister Drollinger has to take the reins in our area, but that's what the Spirit says, so that's what we do! I was with Sister McElroy, and she is just an incredible missionary. We have a ton in common, and she's just the best example on the planet. I truly believe that being in a leadership position teaches me infinitely more than it teaches the missionaries I serve.

Thank you for the package! I love love love the skirt. The shirt didn't fit as well, but it fit Sister Drollinger, so it was perfect. :) Easter was just awesome. Actually, it has become my favorite holiday on my mission. We went Easter caroling! That was fun, and people loved it. I just love thinking about Christ, His life and resurrection. How absolutely amazing is the gift that He gave us! Dad, I have watched "Because of Him" sooo many times the last week! I'm glad that you loved it as much as I did! What a powerful message. I love that because Christ was resurrected, we know that we will be too. And even more than that, we can be resurrected and live with our Father in Heaven and our families for eternity. That gives me the greatest hope in the world. I love you all so much! I hope you're all doing wonderfully, taking good care of each other. I hope that you see the Lord's hand in your lives and that you feel His love around you. I love you!!

I am sad to be leaving the mission. Insanely sad. But I trust my Father with all I have. I know He will take care of me and help me through this new adventure. I love Him, and I am so grateful for everything He has done for me in my life. He truly loves each one of us and only has our best interest in mind. Have a wonderful week!!

Love always,

Sister Kashmir Janae Ramsden

Conference Weekend, Mission Leadership Council, and TAXES!!!

Hey family!

I hope you all had a wonderful week and that you enjoyed General Conference!! I love love love Conference weekend. It's always so uplifting and just much-needed. I have such a great love for President Monson and all of the men who support him. He truly is a man of God. He is so loving and so humble and so Christ-like, and he has such a huge weight on his shoulders. I love him and pray for him! So what did you love about conference?? I want to hear what kind of themes you saw. I saw a lot about love and obedience. It made me think about how hand-in-hand those two go together. When we love God, we will obey His commandments. And we will be blessed! I love the Plan of Salvation, just knowing that we know exactly what we need to do in order to return to our Father's presence, and live with our families for eternity! That is seriously the greatest blessing we could ever receive.

So we got three new sisters in our district! Sister VanDyke is brand-new, and Sister Eggett is training her. They still live with us, and then two sisters opened a new area in the other ward! So they now have two sets of sisters and a set of elders in that ward. We're all super curious to see what the Lord has in store for the work here! It's fun having so many sisters in our district.

Sister Drollinger and I are loving our new responsibilities as Sister Training Leaders. We've already seen the Spirit working through us as we've prayed and pondered over the sisters in our zone. We also got to attend the Mission Leadership Council meeting at the mission home in Macon on Thursday with all of the zone leaders and sister training leaders, President and Sister Cottle, and President and Sister McCoy (counselor to Pres Cottle). So I got to see two elders from the best district ever, because they're still zone leaders! It's always awesome to see people you worked with and talk about how the work is progressing in new areas, etc. So that was a long day, we woke up at 5:30 am and got home about 8:30 pm. But it was wonderful receiving trainings that we will be teaching to our zones this week. And there's just a great power that comes in being in a room full of amazing people who have the same purpose as you. I love being a missionary!

I hope you are all doing well! Thank you for being the best family ever. Oh, I your letters, pictures, and tax forms, thank you! I'm sending my taxes out today. That seriously meant a lot to me that you took the time to fill them out so I only needed to sign. You're the best! Have an awesome week, and don't forget to write me about conference! I love you!!!

Love always,

Sister Kashmir Janae Ramsden