She once was lost, but now she's found!

This is Camden Town

Well, it's that time again...... TRANSFER WEEK. And now for the news you have all been waiting for... I am............. STAYING!!!!!!!!!!!! Woooo!!!! I am staying with Sister Obley here in the beautiful Aylesbury ward:) I am so excited! I feel like I have unfinished business here. I love this ward so much and I love all of the members! Sister Obley and I set some goals this morning for this transfer and we are really excited about them. This is going to be a great transfer :)

This week has been full of many ups and downs. It started off great though with some sight seeing in LONDON. We went to this place called Camden Town which is this huge market thing! It was really fun :) We also went to the British Museum! Not gonna lie museums aren't my thing but hey.. now I can say that I have been there. AND I rode on the second floor in a double decker bus! That was cool :) I seriously love London.

P-Day in London at the British Museum

On Tuesday we were passing out fliers with the youth for some ward activities that are coming up, and we all got different routes. As we were passing them out I stopped this couple to invite them personally to come to the activities and the man said, "Oh my wife is a part of your church!" We were like... Whaaaa? Yeah they said they moved here two weeks ago! So we went over on Thursday to see her and turns out she was baptized when she was 12 and went to church for 1 year and hasn't been since. haha. She was lovely though! She said she would like to come again though sometime! Hey, we can arrange that:) That was a miracle.

OH. COOLEST MIRACLE EVER. Right after district meeting on Thursday, we had just left the chapel and were walking when one of the elders who serves in Watford stopped this girl that was walking by and we started talking to her... and she was heading in the direction we were so Sister

Gimme Bones

Obley and I walked with her home! She invited us in and she was just completely shocked about the timing because she said that lately she has been praying and thinking about how she wants to build her relationship closer with God........... then we bumped into her. Weird how that always happens.....

We gave her a Book of Mormon and we read 3 Nephi 11 with her and she was like, "That is so cool! I can't wait till Jesus comes again!" Me too sister... me too. She is super excited to learn more and tell her family and friends about it as well! We will hopefully be seeing her this week!!!! I am super stoked.

Ahh another miracle! So you all know Sabrina right? Well she disappeared for like 2 weeks and her phone wasn't working, and we didn't know how to get to her house because it was somewhere weird... and yeah. We thought we lost her. But no fear because SHE IS FOUND!!! WOOO!!! I seriously love her.

Another shot in Camden Town

So how it happened.... long story short we ended up being just at the right place at the right time to see her. We were on this street sitting on a bench making a few phone calls when I got up to go in the shade before I turned into a tomato,  and Sister Obley followed then looked down the street  at just the right time to see Sabrina before she went out of view. Then she screamed, pointed, and said, "SABRINA! RUN!" So we ran to her and it was a moment of rejoicing. hahah. She once was lost, but now she's found! And she came to church on Sunday:)

Man, missionary work is great. I seriously love it. But then sometimes you get a text that just crushes your heart and all you want to do is cry your eyes out. We had an amazing investigator, and she was on date to be baptized on July 4th.... We had arranged a lift for her for church in Watford to see Elder Holland..... yup. He did a huge multi stake conference and it was broadcast to all of the chapels in northern Europe. AMAZING. 

Anywho... We were SO excited for her to come! We even made her the promise that if she came with a prayer in her heart, she would receive her answer to wether or not this is right for her. Also, the last time we saw her she said that the more she learns the more that she feels this is the right path for her. Then on Saturday night we got that text that crushed our hearts. She told us that her husband doesn't want her going to our church so she will no longer be meeting with us. 

HEART=CRUSHED.

Oh my days I hate Satan. There is no doubt in my mind that she would have received her answer. You can always count on an Apostle of the Lord......... I am heart broken.

You want so bad for these people to sincerely pray and read the Book of Mormon and come to church because you KNOW the happiness and blessings that are waiting for them when they do. You fast and pray so hard for them. You are always studying for them and thinking about ways that you can help them. You invest so much time into them! But no matter what you do, how many prayers you say, ultimately it comes down to their agency. 

Heavenly Father loves us so much that he gives us the choice to accept or reject Him and our Savior Jesus Christ. When we accept, He rejoices. When we reject, He weeps. He loves each of us so much. I truly know that with all of my heart. 

Meet the Mormons is playing here.

I love this gospel. It is the truth. It is truly the plan for our happiness. 

Live it more fully <------- That is your challenge for this week. 

Mosiah 2:41

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

ONWARD AND UPWARD.

Sister Ranck

PS Birthday Shoutout to my cute gramps:) (Last Saturday) Love you so much! Thank you for being my biggest fan:)

Family Night with the Shepard family is always a fun night
full of laughter

My best friend Malcolm. I sure love this man!

We taught the restoration with the Legos

AHH THIS WEEK WAS SUCH A GREAT WEEK. My testimony has grown so much this week it is crazy. I LOVE THIS GOSPEL SO MUCH AND I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!! Seriously it is the greatest ever. The 3 weeks before this last were not the greatest, but I grew so much during those few weeks and now my testimony is stronger than ever. 

Here are a few of the happenings this week......

1. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY WONDERFUL MOTHER!!!! I LOVE YOU  SO MUCH!!!

2. I am famous. Have you all seen that Glorious video that my mission did a cover of??? Yeah it is going viral. Haha that was fun:) 

3. We had the 3 week new missionary meeting in London!!! I love going to London! We learned a lot from President and Sister Jordan about being a more dedicated missionary and exactly obedient. I love them so much! I will miss them when they leave in just a few weeks!! 

4. HAPPY 4 MONTHS TO ME! Seriously where is the time going.......

5. I went on an exchange with Sister Mclcochova! (Moch-A-Hova) She is from the Czech Republic!!! We had some crazy things happen on the exchange..... 

First of all some guy kissed me on the cheek.... I didn't know what the heck to do. He tried to kiss Sister M as well but she dodged it.... that was awkward. haha 

Then when we were doing companion study in the morning, we were talking about the signs of the second coming and no joke a pigeon flew into our window and died. ........ It was crazy. I think it is a sign. ......

6. We went to the Wall family on Sunday for Dinner and they had some legos and we taught the restoration with the Legos. Haha that was kind of fun:)

7. On Monday we went to this cool place called Woburn Safari Park with the Wall family!!!! Oh my days it was fun:) We had to drive through the England Countryside to get there and I think I am obsessed with it. So beautiful!!!!!! We had fun taking selfies with all of the animals:)"

The best part of this week was that we have an amazing new investigator called Lisa!!!!! She is a young mother and Sister Barbosa and I knocked on her door a few weeks ago! She said that her mother is a member but hasn't been for years, and she remembers having the missionaries over at her house a lot when she was young. We had a wonderful lesson with her last week and another one with her this morning! Last week when we invited her to be baptised, she said that that is something that she has been thinking about for awhile. She said if she come to know this was right that she would be baptised:) She is on date for July 4th! 

I love teaching her! She is so receptive and loves learning about the gospel. I just love her so much already! PRAY FOR HER. 

My testimony really grew so much this past week. On Saturday we were coming to Leighton on the bus and I had a really intense conversation with this guy. He is an ex-muslim and doesn't believe that there is a God anymore. He was trying to do everything he could to convince me that there is no God and shake my faith. As we were having this conversation, I was able to look him in the eye and tell him that I KNOW that there is. I KNOW there is a God. My faith is firm and unshaken and stronger than ever. I have seen him in my life and I KNOW he is real.

Last night we stopped this lady on the street and started a conversation with her. That conversation again became very intense as we told her a little bit about the Book of Mormon. She became so defensive and said that she cannot accept anything but the bible, and the bible is all that we need. That reminds me of some verses in 2 Nephi 29:6-10....

The Bible cannot be the only scripture...... God is a god of revelation. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He called prophets in days of old, and he calls prophets now. Why would he stop speaking to his children? Well, good thing we know he hasn't. And the evidence of that is the Book of Mormon. 

I sure love that Book. I have been studying it over the past few weeks and my testimony of it and the things it contains is continually growing. Immerse yourself in it. It is here to direct and guide us! If you have not read it, here is the council of President Monson.... "READ IT." 

I love you all so much! This is the work of the Lord. People are being prepared right now for this message. They are being placed in YOUR path. Don't be shy. Have courage and open your mouth!!! 

THE CHURCH IS TRUE.

ONWARD AND UPWARD.

Sister Ranck

Yup.  It's a Monkey at the Safari Park.

Yup.  It's a Bear at the Safari Park.

Thanks for the Package from my UVU girls and Mom.

England's Bi-polar Weather

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.