If Nephi can collect the plates, so can you.

What another beautiful week in "sunny" England!!! I'm tellin yah the weather is so bipolar here. I took a picture of the sky to prove it to you..... But you will have to wait till next week to get it because I am writing this on my iPad because the library is closed today... Which means no way to send pictures. Sorry about it!

It is always awkward when you are talking to someone and they ask you for your name and you look at your badge and say, "Sister Ranck" then they say, "No, your first name...." So you hesitantly tell them then they insist on calling you by your first name for the rest of the conversation.... "Excuse me, but who is Sara?"

Another funny story..... We were at a members for dinner yesterday, and when we finished, one of the boys said to his older brother, "If Nephi can collect the plates, so can you." ......... 😂😂

I literally died of laughter.

Well, Thursday was a loooooooong day. I left the flat for a total of 4 minutes to take the rubbish out... Yup. Sister Obley was sick all day. I did like 2 hours of area book finding and making calls but you can only do so much of that, so then I watched all of the church DVDs we had in the flat literally from 1PM to bedtime....... Only took a few breaks to eat and stick my head out the window, but that was it! It actually was kinda nice for a bit, but then it made me realize how much I love walking the streets of England spreading the good news that God has restored his church and has a living prophet on the earth today!!! I love the gospel.

Oh my typing on an iPad is the most annoying thing everrrrr. Well almost as annoying as when some guy tells you that he has a strong faith in Jesus Christ but doesn't believe that Christ loves everyone

and would visit the people in America..... Or when someone tells you that your book is not true without even reading it..... Okay that last one is definitely the most annoying. If only they knew what they are missing!!!!!!!!

Sara sent Sammy 2 post cards.  He loves them.

Friday we had zone conference!!!! Always the best. I don't know why, but I always get picked on at zone conference haha. President Jordan asked me to come up and explain the first vision to everyone.... He did that to demonstrate how using videos on our iPad to teach the first vision and that the iPad should not replace the power of our personal testimony of Joseph Smith. I love sharing the first vision with people. There is so much power behind that experience and I can always feel the Spirit when I testify of Joseph Smith. Especially when I was standing up there sharing it with all of the other missionaries.

I know Joseph Smith is a prophet. I know that God restored His church back to the earth. I know the priesthood has been restored. How truly blessed we are to be a member of this great church!

Sister Jordan said something that I loved...... "Don't let Satan get in the way of you becoming the best missionary that you can be."  That can be applied to everything in life. DON'T LET SATAN GET IN THE WAY!!!!!! Goodness I seriously hate Satan.

Not gonna lie, the work here as far as numbers goes is pretty slow.... But no fear. God is preparing the hearts of many people here, now we just need to find them:) WE GON FIND YOU.

Bishop spoke yesterday in church and talked about how sometimes being a member of God's church isn't "convenient." He encouraged us to not be lukewarm in our testimony and our faith, to rise to a higher level of commitment.

May we all increase our efforts to do just that this week. DON'T BE LUKEWARM ANYMORE.

Love you all a whole bunch!!!

ONWARD AND UPWARD.

Sister Sara Ranck

"Hey, are you Mormons?" Yes we sure are!

Sara's picture on the board at Brighton Seminary

Helllooooo! It was a great week once again! I was super exhausted this week though and took a 2 hour nap this morning... And sometimes we take lunch hour naps which are always my favorite! Nevertheless, the Lord has blessed us this week as always and I love being a missionary:)

I don't know why but this week I have had a sudden urge to just sit and watch Disney movies all day long. We were with Helena on Friday and we talked about our favorite Disney movies and then on Sunday we had dinner at the Wall's and they are crazy Disney fans and we always talk about Disney stuff when we go there, and now I just want to watch a Disney movie really bad. Haha too bad I have to wait until Christmas! 

Welp, Thursday was a GREAT day!!! It also rained ALL DAY long and I have now discovered that my favorite boots have big cracks in the bottom already.... My feet were soaked all day. Lovely. Gotta love the missionary life:)

Seriously though... Thursday was a great day full of miracles:) It started off with district meeting which is always the greatest ever. I love being able to gather with other missionaries and especially be able to learn from their experiences and examples. Then we always leave with a renewed strength and enthusiasm for the work! 

A memorial to all the soldiers who
fought from Leighton Buzzard in wars

After district meeting we had a lesson with a former investigator called Joelle at the Library. We met him last week... we walked into the library and he called us over and said, "Hey, are you Mormons?" Yes we sure are! He told us that he used to meet with Mormons a while ago and went to our church for a long time. So we met with him on Thursday and it went pretty well! He said that he has read the Book of Mormon and has done a lot of research about our church and knows it is true already!!! Say what....?? He wants to pray about whether or not he is going to be baptised. He came to sacrament meeting on Sunday as well:)

Right when we were about to end our lesson with Joelle, this lady came up to us and asked if we were doing bible studies....... welp looks like we are going to start. So we are seeing her this Thursday for "bible studies!!" AKA Book of Mormon studies!! I am way stoked. 

Later that evening, we were going to the chapel to meet Shannon and we were a little early so we decided to knock a few doors. We knocked on one and a lady answered and kindly said that she was not interested, so we asked if she knew anyone who would be interested in a
message about families. She thought for a minute then pointed to a house across the street a ways
down, and said that they might. So we continued knocking all the doors leading up to them

We walk on this bridge almost every day

because God loves everyone, and then we got to their home and a lady answered the door. She looked at us and said that she doesn't want anything to do with religion and that she is an alcoholic and our religion doesn't believe in alcohol. I responded by saying, "Do you believe in alcohol?" Ha yeah that was the first thing that popped into my head...... The conversation eventually led to her asking, "How can religion help me?" I was able to bear my testimony of Jesus Christ in response to her question and asked if we could share a quick video with her. She had a change of heart and motioned for us to come in. 

We ended up being there for like 45 minutes and she said that two boy missionaries have come around a few times and she always says no but has thought to come to church a few times.... She has had a rough life over the past few years and we shared the Mormon Message "None were with Him." Sister Obley shared a powerful testimony and personal experience as well which really brought the Spirit. It was just cool to see how much her heart softened as we were there. Before we left she said that she wanted to come to church and feels like we can help her. Such a miracle!

This one day we both wore all black...
 how embarrassing. ha

Okay I love the Book of Mormon. I have started to read it again from the beginning and I am in love with it. Seriously. If you have it just sitting on your shelf, pick it up. Read it. Ponder it's message. Study it. Search it for answers. If you have not had a spiritual experience with the Book of Mormon in the past few days, I plead with you to pick it up and turn to it with new eyes and a new heart. So much went into sacrificing for this record so we can have it in our day! So we can have it in our hands. I truly love the Book of Mormon and feel very privileged to carry it around with me all day long in my hand! There was one day where I had given my last one away and I just felt incomplete. 

I know that it is true. I know that it is the word of God. I second Joseph Smith's statement that man will get nearer to God by abiding by it's precepts than with any other book. 

I love you all! I love this work and I love this gospel that we are so blessed to be a part of.

ONWARD AND UPWARD.

Sister Ranck

I'm grateful for the knowledge that families are forever.

Sister Ranck and Sister Obley

Welp, what an interesting week it has been!!!!! But nevertheless, a very great one as always:) Happy Mothers Day to all you wonderful mothers out there! But I must say that mine is the best!!!! I love you MUM so much!!!!! I have the most supportive and selfless and CHRISTLIKE mother in the whole wide world and I hope one day to be the kind of mother that you are. I love you mama so much and miss you like crazy! But I am so grateful for the way that you have raised me in the gospel so that we can have a forever family. I love you!

Sara on Skype

Oh my Skyping home was the best thing ever. I miss you all so much but sitting here in Leighton Buzzard clear across the world and being able to skype you made me realize how grateful I am to have the knowledge that families are forever. This life isn't the end. We are preparing for an eternal family! I am so grateful for the family that I have! I love you all so much!!!!!!

Guess what I spent 2 whole days in London this week and slept over at the sisters flat in London on Tuesday night!!! That was pretty cool. The reason was because Sister Barbosa went home on Tuesday so I was companionless for pretty much a full 24 hours....... No fear though I was always with a sister at all times throughout the day! I got to go for a mini walk through Hyde Park on P day too which was pretty cool! 

Sara's New Companion
Sister Obley

On Wednesday I spent the day in London at the mission home as well being trained on how to be a trainer! I am the only sister training this transfer as there is only one brand new sister! I feel very honored... But also a lot of responsibility for this young missionary. Honestly, I feel like I am still brand new at this as well! It's only been 2 transfers... I am still a baby missionary pretty much.

The trainings are always amazing. President and Sister Jordan trained us on many different things, but most importantly, on loving this new missionary. And boy do I love Sister Obley!!!

Alright time for all of you to get to know Sister Obley!!!! She is from Samoa, but has lived in New Zealand the past 6 years!!! The first day she was really quiet, but now she doesn't stop talking. ha. She is a big jokester and I love telling her that I love her because then she just gets really awkward and doesn't know what to do... it's the best. 

She is such a great missionary already!!! On the first day that we had together we were walking to district meeting and I stopped to talk to someone and then she stopped someone all by herself that was walking the other way. I was so proud of her! I would have never done that my first day... She has no fear that is for sure. I am learning so much from her and she is already such a great teacher and knows the lessons and doctrine so well!! I am really looking forward to working with her this transfer:) 

This is the street where the
Mission Home is located in London

This weekend was Stake Conference so we spent Friday night and Sunday morning in Watford because that is where the stake center is. The drive down there was the best ever. All through the countryside and little villages! Saturday night President Jordan and Sister Jordan were there as well and spoke! Oh my I love them so much. They end their mission in June, and were super emotional. I just gave Sister Jordan a big hug and told her how much we are going to miss her because she is so amazing!

I am realizing so much how important members are in this work, and how I wish I did more missionary work when I was home. If you really love your friends and family, you will share the gospel with them and invite them to learn more. It's that simple. Take courage:)

This next week is going to be a big finding and building week and we have been praying hard to be led to those people who are being prepared, who have softened hearts, who are ready to receive and embrace the gospel. I can't wait to see miracles this week!!:)

Love you all to pieces!!!

ONWARD AND UPWARD.

Sister Sara Ranck

Good Bye to Sister Barbosa.  I will miss her!

This is my District

New Missionaries and Their Trainers

Missionary Work in the Digital Age

WOW. WHAT A WEEK.

Here are a few things that happened this week......

Mission Conference

Sister Barbosa finishes her mission today.
I will really miss her.

1. I AM GOING TO BE A TRAINER!!! Yes... you heard right... I am training a brand new missionary this transfer. Her name is Sister Obley (I don't know how to spell it yet, I will meet her tomorrow!) and she is from either Australia or New Zealand... President couldn't remember!!! Well... I feel very humbled to be training. I have only been out for 12 weeks now and just finished my own 12 week training program, and now I am going to be training a brand new missionary already. I feel a lot of responsibility for this new missionary already. I am really looking forward to this opportunity though and am excited to see what this transfer brings:)

Spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ using iPads

2. Welcome to MISSIONARY WORK IN
THE DIGITAL AGE!!!! Yes. You heard right... we have iPADS now!!! WOO HOO!!! They are great. So many cool features and I am really excited to see how the Lord will use them to hasten his work!!!! As of now, we only use them to teach. But soon we will be able to do lots of different things such as Facebook, Skype teaching, etc etc.

3. No big deal but Elder Jeffery R. Holland will be coming to speak to our mission on June 12th.... And this is the exact mission he served in as well. HOLY COW I CAN'T WAIT.

My Cousins were able to visit me on my Birthday.
I was crying I was so happy.

4. Thank you ALL so much for the birthday wishes!!! It sure was an amazing birthday as A) I got to spend it in LONDON with the whole mission. We had a mission conference and we were privileged to hear from Brother Kiran of the area presidency and Elder Nelson who is going to be head of the Church Missionary Department to train us for the IPADS, and B) I GOT TO SEE MY COUSINS!!! Holy cow that was the best surprise in the whole entire world. We were all in the chapel before the meeting started and Sister Jordan came and got me and took me outside and I had no idea what was going on, and then I saw my cousins standing right there in the visitors center and just started crying. Haha That was seriously the best surprise ever and such a tender mercy!!! I had no idea they were coming! So basically it was the best birthday ever.

As you can see it has been a great week. I love my companion! I love my area!! Seriously I am growing to love more and more the blessed land of Aylesbury and Leighton Buzzard!!! And I get to spend another 6 weeks here:) YAY! 

Sunday was the best day I have had so far on my mission... First of all, Sabrina came to church again and she is growing so much! My girl Helena came to church!!! She is a recent convert as of last year and we see her every week! She is always the person I look forward to seeing each week. Oh my days I love her. She has also been keeping me updated on all of the royal baby news this past week... haha. For those of you who haven't heard.... The royal baby was born here and her name is Charlotte! This is a big deal here obviously... someone even mentioned it in their testimony on Sunday... haha. Any who, she has some major health challenges she is dealing with, and because of it is unable to come to church every week. But she came on Sunday and I just love her!!

Okay we had the biggest miracle this week.... So it was Friday night and we just got back to our area after spending the day in Wembley for Zone Meeting AKA IPADS, and we were at our flat for a bit having to make some calls to figure out some stuff for Sister Barbosa going home, when I looked at the clock and realized we had been in for awhile, and I stood up and said "Okay Sister, time to go out now!" So we went out and made it just across the street when we stopped this lady and started talking to her. She said that she had an uncle that was has served a mission and he lives in Utah... (Bountiful) and he told her that whenever she sees missionaries to stop them and take them to lunch or something. Then she told us that actually "by coincidence" he will be in town this weekend to visit her...... WOW. So we exchanged information and gave her our number to give to him so we can call us to find out where the chapel is and stuff. 

So the next night he called us and we gave him the directions to the chapel and he told us that he is trying to make arrangements so Mandy can come as well!!! 

Sunday morning came around and they all came to church!!! Oh just some background, she is a Catholic. It was testimony meeting right? So Mandy's uncle went up and bore his testimony, the most powerful testimony straight to Mandy about how her bumping into us just hours before he came was no coincidence at all. It was the most perfect timing it was amazing. He bore his testimony about how this is the true church on the earth, and about how this ward is like a family. It was so powerful and both Sister Barbosa and I were crying and so was she. It was amazing!

Then last night we went out to dinner with her, because her uncle was visiting other family the rest of the week. It went well:) She is a really strong Catholic, but I am really looking forward to seeing what the next few weeks brings:)

Mission Conference Was AMAZING

Such a miracle!!!

The mission conference this week was absolutely incredible. The Spirit was so powerful and I left with such a greater determination to serve with all my might, mind, and strength. As we sat in the chapel, all 200+ missionaries, looking up to our leaders and listening to their council, and really seeking to be taught by the Spirit, I became overwhelmed as they expressed their love for all of us missionaries. Sitting there I felt like the army of Helaman, only this time the army of God here on the earth to brings souls unto Christ, to conquer Satan. 

"We are as the army of Helaman. We have been taught in our youth. We will be the Lord's missionaries to bring the world his truth." 

Elder Yost from my Stake.

What powerful words that took on a whole new meaning to me as I was sitting there listening to our inspired leaders. We are the Lord's hands on the earth. What an incredible thing that is. What an opportunity. We should be doing everything in our power to bring about his purposes upon the earth, and the more converted to the gospel we become, the more his work will become our work, his desires will become our desires. What a great responsibility, but even more, what a great privilege.

I love everything about this gospel and I love my Savior Jesus Christ!

Thank you for your love and support. You have no idea how much it means to me!

ONWARD AND UPWARD.

Sister Ranck

It was so good to see Sister Mussman again.
She was my MTC Companion.