Met the first real mean person

Sister Nelson and I on our way home from Stake Conference.

(Don't mind the outfit I hate blazers)

Hello Everyone-
It has been another adventures week in Sanford, ME. This week we had Zone interviews and Stake Conference both in Exeter, NH (about 1 hr. 10 min. away). They were both excellent. President Jensen (my mission president) was at both. He spoke at stake conference. He is such a good speaker, and the stake president here is wonderful as well. The two meetings were very uplifting, and a great experience to be at!!! It's weird though, I got to New Hampshire once every week... in the 13 years I lived in Utah, I could probably count on 2 hands (maybe 3) the number of times I went into a different state. So it's pretty crazy!It has been great weather here. We had one day that was kind of rainy, but the big, heavy rain didn't come until we were in for the night! :) I was happy about that. I have noticed the humidity in a different way than I thought. It hasn't gotten to the yucky muggy stuff that will come later in the summer. But I notice it when it says it is in the high 60's and we are having to wear our winter coats out. The wind is really cold, so that makes is feel way colder than the temperature says. But it's good!

We did a LOT of walking this week. We thought we got 1200 miles each month, but we found of a few days ago that we really only get 1100..... Because it was an honest mistake they didn't take our car away from us. But if we go over 1100 again (in March they did), then we won't have a car at all.... So we have been walking a lot to make sure that this month we don't go over in our miles. But walking isn't that bad... we do keep running into people in different parts of town, and they make funny comments to us, but if that's the worst of it, so be it. :)

So I think I am starting to turn into a "Mainer"... they always say "yep" when every you say something. They say it all the time.... and I am starting to say it. Instead of saying yes, or sure, or something else, I just say yep.... :S Also they always say "Oh yeah!" and "I'm all set." I have caught myself saying both of those this week as well.... :S

We ran into our first really mean person this week. We knocked on his door, and he opened his door and said, "I bet you can guess what I'm thinking." We didn't know and then he started yelling at us, and called us Idiots, and yelled at us to get off his property now! It was kind of scary for a second, but then we laughed it off.... Ya know, instead of feeling bad about myself in a situation like that, I have found that I find it really funny. Sister Nelson and I laugh a lot out here! Well one thing I learned in Zone interviews this past week was really good.... so I'm going to share it with you.

How to arise from the dust and come unto Christ.

1. Be active in the GOSPEL and church.

2. Look for the Lords hand in your life EVERYDAY.

3. What you talk about, is what you invite.

4. Have hope.

5. Have an attitude of finding the solution, not looking for the problem or excuses.

Hope you are all having a great week!! Love, Sister Rankin! :)

Well you two are very beautiful for nuns

Hello Everyone-
So I have been a missionary for 33 days now! Wow, I know that's not very long, but I can't believe it has gone by that fast.
I got the packages, but the frame you sent was shattered.... and my boots were full of glass. :S

My area covers one ward, and it is about 17 cities. We have church at 9AM. The elder that went to Cedar Ridge is Elder Richards, but he lived in Pleasant Grove.... I don't know if his family still lives there or not. Sister Nelson has been out since last May.... she goes home in October or December.
How did the Boston Marathon go for grandpa?? [jeana added--He finished slower than normal at 5:04:37. His legs locked up and he had to walk that last 2 miles]

Well this week we did A TON of tracking.... Pretty much that was all we did. So that means we had lots of funny stories happen. First we ran into this lady on the street. We introduced ourselves, and then she said, "Well you two are very beautiful for nuns." ha ha, it was so funny. We had to explain that we aren't nuns. Another person, we knocked on their door and there was a Chinese man that didn't speak English. His wife came to the door and was talking to us. When we asked if they wanted to learn more the wife said, "No, because he is Chinese.... We can't have people come in because he doesn't understand." We asked if we could give them a card to order stuff in his language, but she yelled NO, and slammed the door. ha ha.
And another funny story was we knocked at a door, and this lady opened it. We told her who we are, and she said, "No." Then as she was closing the door she said to someone in the house, "What do you say to Mormons, I feel bad closing the door in their face." We wanted to say, well if you feel bad, then why are you doing it.
Earlier last week we had a kid tell us he was Jewish, and then when he closed the door he started laughing, and we heard him say, "I was trying to laugh in their face.... I told them I was Jewish..... And they have lots of wives, why would you join that church??!!" We busted up laughing, because their walls are paper thin, and we heard everything!!! some people.... we also had a lot of door where we could hear and see them walk up to the door, see us, and then turn around and not answer the door. Lots of laughs this week, lots and lots of laughs!!!!
Tracking is kind of long and boring, but we don't really have anything else to do. We only have three investigators, and two of them can only meet once a week. So ya... But this Sunday we had two investigators on Sunday. One is a lady named Loral who said she wasn't going to be able to come. But i guess on Saturday she called her neighbor and asked her if they could take her to church. It was so awesome!!!! then we had Steve come. We met him last Sunday afternoon, and met with him once, and then he was at church. He really enjoyed church, and we are so excited!!!!! We are keeping our fingers crossed that it all goes well!
I am hoping we have time today to print some pictures, or send a CD of the pictures. But we will see!!! I haven't really taken any pictures since I have been here. There is no time to stop and take pictures. I didn't realize how busy the days are here. There is no rest ever. I am still getting used to only getting 8 max hours of sleep... I was used to 9+ hours of sleep. But it is coming.
This week was really rainy.... I NEED to get a rain coat. And I think I might want to send my pea coat home, because I don't want it to get gross.... but we will see.
Well I hope all is well with everyone! I LOVE letters, so PLEASE write!!! Love you all!
Love, Sister Rankin!!
PS. Tell Amy congrats, and that I want pictures when the baby comes. :)

First week in the field--Sanford, Maine

Hello Everyone!!!
Well I am in Sanford, ME! My area covers about 17 cities, but we mostly just stay in Sanford, because it is the most populated.... I definitely am not in Utah anymore. Not only are there tons and tons of trees (makes for getting car sick really easy), but it is already greener here than Utah gets. And their mountains... well they are more like hills. and small hills at that. haha. I was expecting it to be cold when I got here, but it was 75*. Last week there was a day that it got up to 87*. then the next day it rained all day.... And yes we walked around outside all day in the rain. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be though... but sister Nelson said that was a light rain. :S eek, I don't want to know what heavy rain is then. The wind here is really cold too. It goes right through your clothes. So we have been wearing lots of layers to keep warm on windy days. Also, pretty much everyone smokes, so that is different too. Well when I got here, we had an investigator named Sheila Goode. She was coming along great. But she has a learning disorder that made it take a long time to cover all the lessons. She was finally starting to understand everything, and then she met a guy.... Well let's just say she isn't getting baptized May 1st anymore. We had to drop her yesterday.... So pretty much right now, we are having to start with only 2 investigators... they aren't really progressing, but we are still going to give them a chance for a little while longer. So that means our days will be full of tracting and street contacting.....Oh boy, Street contacting... you have to yell to people to get them to stop, and then you try to teach them a little something. most people say, "I'm all set." and won't listen anymore. But every once in a while someone will listen. Boy, I had NO idea what the field was like. The MTC was so amazing, and I was so excited, then I get out here, and it is not the same. At the MTC the spirit is so strong all the time. Here you have to fight to even feel the spirit during the day. So it is different. But Sister Nelson is a hard worker, and I'm glad she is my companion. She is letting me kind of get into the swing of things slowly, which I really appreciate! But I have testified during lessons, and each day I talk more and more.... some day I will get it down though. But it has only been a week, so I'm still getting used to it..........

Well I guess I should tell you about my companion. Sister Nelson is from Vernal, UT. Crazy story, we were in the same Anatomy Lab class together. I didn't really know her, but we recognized each other... once again it is a small world!!! Then one of the Elders in my district went to Cedar Ridge. I knew he looked familiar when I saw him, but he doesn't remember me. haha. Sister Hatch, my MTC comp is clear over in NY... almost as far from each other as we can get. That is kind of sad, especially not knowing how everything is going for her. But that's okay, the Lord put us where He needed us. That is something I have to keep telling myself. I was put in the Sanford area for a reason... I don't know why yet, but there is a reason. It is pretty ghetto, especially compared to Utah, so it is a big adjustment for me, but the Lord put me here, so I will take it. PLEASE WRITE ME!!!!! I would love to get letters, Lots and lots of letters. Also I was going to print some pictures, and sent them home today, but I don't think we are going to have time, so next week i will try.....Well I hope everyone is having a great week! Love you all!!!!!

Love, Sister Rankin!

This is a picture I found on the internet I think this is her apartment.

Arrived safely in New Hamphire

Pres. Jensen, Sister Rankin, Sister Jensen

First Day in New Hampshire 4-5-10

NEW HAMPSHIRE MANCHESTER MISSION
2 Bedford Farms Drive Suite #208
Bedford, New Hampshire 03110-6532
Office Phone: (603)471-3285

April 7, 2010

Dear Brother and Sister Rankin,

It is a pleasure to report that your missionary daughter, Sister Hillary Kay Rankin, has arrived safely in the New Hampshire Manchester Mission. Although she was tired due to a full day of travel, she is in fine spirits. I have interviewed her and found her ready and willing to serve the Lord.

We have prayerfully selected a companion to serve as a trainer for your daughter. Only the finest young women are selected for this vital assignment. Listed below is the name of your daughter’s trainer together with their address.

Sister Hillary Kay Rankin & Sister Mallori Charri Nelson
833 Main St Apt. C
Sanford, ME 04073

We know you join with us in desiring that Sister Rankin be a successful and devoted missionary. Your weekly letters of encouragement and love are essential elements in her development. You may write directly to her personal address or you may send letters to the mission office address that is printed above, and they will be forwarded. Please write her first as well as her last name on the envelope. You may also communicate with your missionary by e-mail. Our missionaries are allowed to send and receive e-mails to and from immediate family only on Mondays, their preparation day.

In case you wish to send packages, please be advised that the best way to handle those that you are mailing to the mission office is First Class or Priority Mail through the US Postal Service. UPS, & Fed-X, or other carriers will not forward packages without additional postage. In case of an emergency, your missionary can be reached by telephone through the Mission Office or the Mission Home. Sister Jensen and I take seriously our responsibility to watch over and take care of your daughter.

We thank you for the opportunity to share this marvelous time with your daughter. We rejoice in the great blessings that will come to many wonderful people here in New England because of Sister Rankin’s devotion to the work of the Lord.

With Best Regards,


Michael R. Jensen
President, New Hampshire Manchester Mission

Sister Rankin's theme song

I think this should be Hillary's theme song while she is serving her mission.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVHhcHOj7NI&feature=related

letter from MTC 3

Hello!!!

So I only have a few days left at the MTC. I leave Monday morning at 4 am! Then I have a layover in Detroit, then fly into Manchester. I don't remember the times though. And I got my Easter package!!! Thanks for all the little notes, they made my day! Also for the Peanut butter M&M's... yummy!!!!

Dad's birthday sounds like it was good, did he get my card??? The cake sounds really yummy. The only good food we get here is on P-day when we eat breakfast at the Temple! :) Tell Cameron I laughed when I read about how he broke his toe!!! That stinks, but is still funny!!! I told my district, and they all thought it was funny too! And also mom, tell Andrew and Mikayla (sp??) congrats for me! that is so exciting!!!

I'm so excited to watch Conference this weekend!!! About the conference bingo, my district was talking about that the other day. We were also talking about Don't eat Pete. ha ha, it was funny. but we were told we aren't allowed to take any food or candy with us, so it wouldn't have worked anyways.

This week was amazing (from last Saturday till today). We had three teaching appointments. One was a second lesson with our first investigators. HOLY COW!!! I love teaching. We have taught the first lesson every time, and when we get to the First Vision, the spirit comes in like a brick wall! it is so amazing. We have been able to get all of our investigators to cry from the powerfulness of the Spirit (it's awesome). The first couple we taught didn't believe in God or Jesus, they also didn't know anything about it. It is amazing how just telling them a few truths, their perception changes. We felt like we should have committed them to baptism, but we didn't know how to do it, so we didn't. but we think they would have accepted the invitation. The first time we taught them was a week ago Wednesday. We taught them a lot about prayer and faith, and that God loves us! Our teacher said he was very surprised with our teaching, because they were VERY rough investigators... so it's amazing that after just 2 visits, we probably could have gotten them to commit to be baptized. The second one was a girl. we taught her on Saturday night. She comes from a family that went to a lot of different churches, but wasn't a member of anyone. Wow, if we would have known how to commit someone to baptism at that time, she probably would have accepted too. (remember these are fake investigators, but it feels real) The spirit was so strong. It's amazing to see how it can guide us if we just listen to it!
Then yesterday we had a mother who was looking for truth. again, the spirit was so amazingly strong!!! I know it won't always be like this in the field with every investigator, but when it does happen, it will be AMAZING!!!!!

Also this week I started being more brave and bold while teaching lessons. Instead of sitting back and waiting for my turn, I jumped in and gave it my all. it felt SO good!!!! I love being a missionary.

Today we took a lot of pictures coming home from the temple.
I will try to get them printed and sent home soon.
It is so weird to think that in a few days, I won't be seeing the people I have been stuck with 24/7 for the past 2 1/2 weeks.

I'm really sad about it, but it will be so fun when I get to see them again.

It's also fun that 7 out of the 9 of us in my district are going to the same mission. So we will be able to catch up every once in a while at like Mission conference and stuff.

Speaking of mission conference, last Sunday was fast Sunday. In the morning, instead of RS/Priesthood, we had mission conference. It was so good. The MTC presidency all spoke, along with their wives. They told some amazing stories, and the spirit was so strong! I wish all of you could experience the feeling here at the MTC! Then we had testimony meeting with our zone! WOW!!!! So awesome!!! then that night we watched the Testaments. It was really good!

I LOVE IT HERE!!!!

There have been a couple rough patches with my companionship, but we were able to get through them with some good ol' companionship inventory! It's going to be sad to send Sister Kinikini off to Australia, and not to see Sister Hatch everyday! But it will be good.

Well I am getting short on time! I love you all, and thanks for the letters/notes!!!

Keep writing! :)

Love, Sister Rankin

MTC pictures

Mom got a letter with some pictures from Hillary this week.

Sister Rankin's Missionary name Tag

Sister Rankin and Sister Keilani Stolk.
Keilani is the daughter of my mom's best friend from childhood. We lived by eachother when we were preschool age. We would have mommy/daughters playdates. Keilani is going to Spain on her mission. Here we are all grown up and ready to serve the Lord.


Me and my companions
Sister Hatch, Sister Kinikini and me at the MTC entrance.




My MTC district
Elders- Hansen, Miller, Oliphant, Jones, Ashcroft, Adams
Sister Rankin
Sisters Hatch and Kinikini