What a beautiful Spirit filled everyone's heart

The sweetest girl in this world!

I cannot even describe how I feel right now to you. This weekend has been the greatest weekend of my mission and I feel so much love and gratitude, especially for my Savior. Dee, Maria, Magda, and Rafael all entered the waters of baptism. What a beautiful Spirit filled everyone's heart during this service! Stronger than I have ever experienced. I just thank God that I had the privilege and opportunity to be a part of their miracle!

Sister Epicoco and I did a musical number for the service and this was after they had been baptized, we all came back into the chapel. We sang "I feel my Saviors love", the first and last verse in English and the middle verse in Portuguese! As we started singing in Portuguese, I looked at Maria's face and tears were streaming down her cheek. I just about lost it at that point!

After the service, she came up to me and just cried as she hugged me. She pulled away, put her hand on my face, and with her other hand she pointed to my badge and said, "The bus! Thank you!" I will never forget that moment. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it! I am so grateful for this experience. It wasn't me who did anything, it was all about Christ. She didn't even remember what I said the first time I met her on the bus, let alone what I looked like! And we could barely understand each other as she speaks Portuguese! All she remembered was the name of Jesus Christ and knew that was where she needed to be.

The road wasn't easy and there were moments where we almost dropped them, but the Spirit kept telling us, "just wait a little longer!" There is honestly no greater joy than seeing someone overcome opposition and follow our Saviour. Especially for this beautiful family!!

Dee as well, he is so strong already!!! I am so proud of him and I will never forget the moment I stopped him as he was trying to run to catch the bus! And he yelled his number to me as he was running to the bus, and that was what started it all! He is doing so well and I am so proud of him:)

Sunday was a crazy crazy day but also such a beautiful day! During sacrament meeting, I was looking around and saw all of the people I have worked with sitting in church.... Toba, Rufina, Helder, Lola, Shannon, Dee, Maria, Magda, Rafael. And my heart was filled with so much love and I just started to cry thinking about how much I love these amazing people! I can't believe I will be leaving soon! These relationships and experiences I will cherish for the rest of my life. <3 Especially

with my amazing companion!! I love Sister Epicoco so much! The day we leave each other I will cry so hard!

I have been pondering a lot lately about my mission and the struggle that I had for the first half of my mission. It was hard!! There were days where I just wanted to give up and call it quits....... There were moments that I doubted my testimony..... There were times when I didn't think I would ever see the fruits of my labours........ But I just pushed through it and continued in faith and obedience. Now the miracles I am witnessing have been unlike anything I have ever experienced.

I know with all my heart and soul that the gospel changes people's lives. All because of the atonement and sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ! Oh, how I love him!!!

ONWARD AND UPWARD FOREVER.

Sister Sara Ranck

Toba is praying...

Hahaha Oh Dee....

What a beautiful sight... So much white!!!

This was one of the most amazing and powerful nights of my mission!

Helder and Rafael peeking inbetween us!!!

Brother Duru for President! Haha he took us to the Hindu temple on P day and we got some blessed fruit!

When you give your life to God he sure makes a lot more out of it than you can alone.

Happy Birthday to Bro Beasley!

Just when I thought life couldn't get any better, I am yet again proven wrong. This week was a fantastic week and I am so happy! There is nothing greater than completely giving your life to serving God. It all is true... When you give your life to God he sure makes a lot more out of it than you can alone.

Sister Epicoco and I are so excited for this week. Our beautiful Portuguese family will be baptised on Saturday! Maria, Magda, and Rafael! Elder Silva interviewed them in Portuguese and he told me that Maria said that when she met me for the first time on the bus, she didn't remember anything I said but she saw the badge and knew that this was where she needed to be. 2.5 months later they will be entering the waters of baptism. It has been a crazy road with them and there were days where we didn't know what to do.... But over the past month the change in them has been AMAZING. I just feel blessed that God let me be a part of their miracle <3.

Also, our good friend Dee will be baptised on Saturday!!!!! He is amazing as well and is so prepared:) I spoke with him this past Saturday on the phone and he just thanked me for helping him to get to this point and for everything we have done for him. I love these people so so so much!!!! I LOVE MISSIONARY WORK!!!

Sweet Madga

This week we had a zone conference and the theme of zone conference was the restoration. Wow, this was the most powerful meeting I have been in so far on my mission. The AP's gave a training on the first vision, and then they had President and a Sister Stevens do a role play where they taught the restoration to someone. Let me just say, that was the most powerful 10 minutes hearing them both testify of Joseph Smith, the restoration of the gospel, and our Savior Jesus Christ. The Spirit really told me yet again that it is all in fact true.

After the AP's training, Sister Epicoco and I were asked to give a training on the Book of Mormon. We focused on helping the missionaries gain a personal testimony of the Book of Mormon and then sharing it powerfully with those we meet. We had them each close their eyes and we read these questions while they pondered them in their heads......

-When was the first time I received a spiritual witness of the Book of Mormon?

-When was the last time I received a spiritual witness of the Book of Mormon?

-What role has the Book of Mormon played in my own conversion?

-How do I know the Book of Mormon is true?

-What does this mean to me?

-Do I feel sincere when I share my testimony of the Book of Mormon?

That was a powerful moment as well. I want to invite you to do the same. Really ponder on your testimony of the Book of Mormon this week and think about what that means to you.

I love this work with my whole heart and soul. God is changing me. I love my Savior.

ONWARD AND UPWARD.

Sister Sara Ranck

Maria, Magda, Rafael

Sister Cardoso from Brazil. She is such a powerful sister!

Hahaha Happy Birthday Brother Beasley:)

The Sikh Temple

The gospel is real life!

Every single day this week I came home and thought to myself.... "This is why I needed to stay in

Ilford for one more transfer with Sister Epicoco." I am learning things right now that I will use for the rest of my life! I love it here SOO SO SO much.

We have a little Portuguese community forming in the ward all because two amazing women decided to give their life to God. They have been praying for months to know what they can do for God, and what happens? We find all of these Portuguese people who are now changing their life to come unto Christ. Sonya and Dulce's example I will remember for the rest of my life...

After church on Sunday, we had a beautiful experience. We all went to Sonya's house to have family home evening with all of our Portuguese friends:) Portuguese food, though..... It's my new favourite! The whole time I couldn't understand a word that was said (All I can say in Portuguese is "Prayer", "Thank you", "how are you", and then my favourite.... "I am tired, sorry." Haha every time I say that they all just laugh!) but man there were several moments throughout my time there that I just started crying because the Spirit was SOOO powerful! That was the most incredible lesson I have ever experienced. Rufina and Helder were there and Rufina shared that since she got baptised,

Sonya's House for FHE. I love our Portuguese community!

her rent has dropped £200 pounds. Maria and Magda are preparing for their baptism next weekend. All because two people wanted to share the gospel and prayed to know what they could do for God.........

I'm tellin' you. The gospel is real life! We get so consumed with these day to day little things that have no eternal value. We really need to take a step back and see people and situations through the Lord's eyes!

I love this work with my whole heart and soul. I have never been more tired, but I also have never experienced more joy. And I am serving with my best friend:) Sister Epicoco is the most amazing person and I learn so much from her every single day!

Have a fantastic week and remember who you really are... Sons and Daughters of our Heavenly

Father:)

Sister Sara Ranck

This guy asked us to trade books,
and this is what we got!

I Fear No Man

Baby Helder

Life is beautiful.

Welp............ We got a call from President yesterday to break the news to us.......... You are never going to guess what is happening......... SISTER EPICOCO IS STUCK WITH ME FOR ONE MORE TRANSFER!!!!!!!!! Yes, you heard right.... We are both STAYING in ILFORDSTAN. We FLIPPED out when we heard!!!!!! AHHH I am so stoked for this you have no idea! I love my Italian sister sooo much!!! 3 transfers..... This NEVER happens! President told us that he really felt we need to stay together one more. I LOVE ILFORD! Here comes round 5:)

Here is some other news I have to share... Dallin H. Oaks is coming to our mission on June 7th! We get the chance to hear from an apostle of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. What an opportunity! This transfer is also a 5-week transfer..... And we have 7 exchanges to do.... Let's just say this is going to be crazy. But I know the Lord will help us:) Even when we don't see how things are going to work out....... We can trust God. He always provides a way!:)

Beautiful dresses from Nigeria

This week, some of the members got back from Nigeria and brought us back an African dress!! I guess you can say I am officially part of the Ilford ward now:) I am spending half of my mission in India and Africa.... I'm tellin yah! I love it so much!

As far as other happenings from the week.... We had MLC on Wednesday. That was the best MLC I have been to! I really prepared myself spiritually to be taught by the Lord for this meeting and I'm tellin yah.... That made all the difference. I felt the Spirit very strongly as we united as a mission and set goals for what we can accomplish together. Also, Dee, Maria and Magda are all doing really well!!!:) I am super excited for these wonderful people:)

Life is beautiful. This week I have been very challenged not gonna lie..... It was a tough week and I have been exhausted. Talking to people sounded exhausting, teaching, planning, everything. There

have been moments where I just wanted to cry thinking about all I need to do. But it is in these moments that I am learning what it really means to rely on the atonement of Jesus Christ. It's in our lowest moments that we really look back and see the power of God in our life:)

I also have the ALL TIME GREATEST family in the world:) Talking to you on Sunday gave me the motivation and strength to continue! Thank you!:) I promise you I will do everything to serve God with all of my HEART, MIGHT, MIND, and STRENGTH. Love you:)

Sister Sara Ranck

It was so fun seeing Sister Fenu randomly!
I literally cried when I saw her!

My Italian Sisters!!

Sister Kat! She is amazing:)

My Flat... 3 Clandon Road!

Elder Haysman is going home this week.
He is one of my Favorites!

I love Maria <3

African Dresses.  What a fun gift.