2017 0530 - After my little tantrum...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST DAD IN THE ENTIRE WORLD (on Friday haha) I hope you have the best day ever, Dad. I sure love you 💕 It sounds like FHE went well 😂 I'm glad Bryson understands that swearing is the lack of verbal skills 😂 that made me laugh so hard. What would we do without Bryson? 😂 

Also, Happy (late) Memorial Day! I'm glad you all had a fun time. Memorial Day was a regular day for us. We actually forgot it was Memorial Day until 9:00 when we came home and our neighbors were having a BBQ and playing beer pong. But ANYWAY. 

This week was good! We had a lot to do. We get about 10 new members in our ward a week with all the interns and summer coming. So we spent a lot of time contacting all our new members and meeting with them! Ps. We went to Sister Stauffer's apartment last night and guess what. SHE WAS IN MAKAIL'S WARD AT UVU. Hahaha she also knows KC and said he's chill 😂 another sister we visited last night is related to the Anderl family who use to be in our stake. Small world. Anywayyyyyy. 

This week I was so tired- physically and spiritually. Something that I've struggled with this week is faith. (This story has a happy ending so don't panic.) There are things that I really desire as a missionary that I haven't really seen happen yet and there are things that I plead for each night. This week was the last straw as I was praying and praying and praying and I felt like I was being ignored by God. I was kneeling down next to my bed just sobbing because I was basically mad at God for not giving me what I wanted. After my little tantrum (😂) I got into bed questioning whether God really answered prayers. I knew He answered everyone else's prayers, but not mine. So I went the next day just pouting because I was mad (haha don't do that.) But here's the happy part. Yesterday we had interviews with President Smith. Interview days are the best days. I am so so grateful for President Smith. I expressed some of my frustrations to him and asked for his help. He gave me a lot of really good advice and counsel that I'm very grateful for. I told him that I was struggling with seeing God's hand in my life and it was sooooo annoying. I know He blesses me, I just didn't know HOW. President told me that when he came to the chapel that morning he intended on doing interviews in the chapel like he usually does. But when he sat down in the chapel he had the prompting to sit in the Young Women's room. He didn't know why, but he moved to the Young Women's room. As he knelt down to pray before his first interview, a voice came into his head that said "you are going to use the Young Women theme today." He prayed and asked for the guidance of the spirit to know who needed the Young Women theme that day. I'm sure you can guess, it was Sister Bain that needed the reminder that she's a daughter of God WHO LOVES HER. I just sat there crying because that was the first time in a couple of weeks that I recognized His love for ME. It was His hand that guided President Smith to sit in that room so that I could look at the Young Women theme that I had memorized and recited every week on Sundays. I was reminded of a couple of things yesterday. 1. GOD LOVES ME. He is aware of ME and He knows exactly what I need. And 2. God never abandons us. We are the ones that make everything about us and are prideful and WE turn our backs on HIM. So don't do that, okay? Lastly, I am so grateful for the opportunity that I had to attend Young Women's. I realized yesterday just how much it has blessed my life. I was reminded of the basics. God IS our loving Heavenly Father. I know that AND I believe that. And I hope that you do too. I hope all the Young Women in the 5th ward really study the Young Women theme. It will bless them more than they know. Well since I'm crying now...

I hope you have a wonderful week full of miracles and tender mercies that help you feel God's love. This week I forgot those spiritual experiences that I've had in my life that showed me God's love so take the time to write down those miracles you see and show your gratitude for those tender mercies you're given. As we show our gratitude for those things, He will bless us with more.

I love you all so much and I am so grateful for you!!

Love always,

Sister Bain 🍍

Cough drop wrapper encouragement. I have a sore throat. Please give me the same sympathy you gave dad when he was sick 😂😂😂😂 

Halls - A pep talk in every drop.

2017 0524 "Are y'all the Mormon people?"

What's upppppppp 💕🚕

This subject line is something that people say to us ALL. THE. TIME. Hahaha we say yes and they usually proceed to ask us why we are not wearing white shirts and ties. #HarlemLife ✌

I AM SO EXCITED FOR BRANDON AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH MEXICO IS SOOOOOO LUCKY OH MY GOODNESS I AM SO EXCITED FOR HIM. Let's not talk about how I won't see Brandon for like 4 years??? #MissionsAreCool 🌷 In honor of Brandon getting his mission call, I reread my mission call and I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR MY MISSION CALL AND FOR MY ASSIGNMENT TO LABOR. I know this is the Lord's work! 

Alsoooooooo. CONGRATS TO ROOMIE FOR GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL. Maybe now she'll have time to write me or send me some pictures 😉 sooo many awesome things are happening!! 

This week was wonderful🍦I love the time I get to spend in Harlem. This past week I've been thinking a lot about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the sacrament. The Living Christ says "He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice." I love watching the young men break the bread during the sacrament hymn. The church could streamline pre-cut bread if they really wanted to, that would make it a lot easier, but.....that's not the purpose. We see the bread be broken and torn symbolizing Jesus Christ as He performed the Atonement and was eventually crucified. I also thought about the Bishops responsibility during the sacrament. It's Bishop Bain's responsibility to make sure the sacrament is being done correctly for every SOUL that will partake of it. Find gratitude in the trust He has given you, Bishop Bain. (No pressure haha) so, this week I'm working on ALWAYS REMEMBERING HIM. What are you going to do to "always remember Him"? 🌼🍃

**MIRACLE: We're working with a less-active in the area who just moved here from the West Coast (the best coast.) and she hasn't been to church for probably 10 years. She's had a lot of difficult trials recently that have helped her want to come back to church and feel peace. We met her a couple of weeks ago (and we're basically best friends). She's so sweet and I love seeing her change as she's committed to read the Book of Mormon daily. That book really does change lives and if you don't believe me (which you should.) try it out yourself. Read it, then pray and have faith that God will answer you. Anyway. We got a text from her the other day and she told us that she had just paid her tithing for the first time in her life! WHAT WHAT. She said that it was a big sacrifice because money is tight, but she knows she'll see blessings from it. TAKE ABOUT AN ACT OF FAITH. She's so cool. 

You asked about Facebook. It's sooo weird being on Facebook as a missionary. We like to post things on Facebook as a way of uplifting the members in our ward that we're friends with, investigators, and family back home. It's pretty cool that the Lord trusts us with Facebook haha Ps. 

Anyway, I think that's about it from here. I'm glad Kevin's talk went well! I can't believe Keith comes home soon too. What the heck. I'm grateful for cousins. 

I hope you all have a wonderful week full of many many miracles!! 

I love youuuuuuuuu ❤❤❤

Love always,

Sister Bain 🍍

Book Exchange

Book Exchange - Inside (BOM)

Manhattan - South side

Sisters - Send you peace

Skyline from the appartment

Wall art

Rest in the Shade

Harlem tree lined street

2017 0517 - Straight outta Harlem

HEY FAMILY. Long time no see. Oh wait. I saw you 3 days ago. That was a good time and I am so grateful for technology! I LOVE SKYPE AND I LOVE YOU AND I LOVE THAT YOU WERE WEARING YOUR "I LOVE NY" SHIRTS. Aaaaaahhhhhhh you guys are the best. Please send me a video of Jacob's dance. I am still laughing and I miss those cute little boys so much. But I'm serious about the video hahaha 

I wrote in my journal like I told you I was going to. :) BLESSINGS.

WELCOME HOME, ELDER SIRRINE!!!! How in the world has it already been 2 years? It goes by way too fast. HE BETTER EMAIL ME OR I'M GOING TO BE SO MAD. 

Not much has happened since Sunday haha but next week is going to be full of miracle stories! We're all going to have the best week ever! Bummer that you all got SNOW....because we're dying here in the humidity and the 90 degree weather. But it's fine. Happy May!!

I hope you all have the best week ever. I seriously love you so much.

Love always,

Sister Bain 

2017 0510 "I'm a child of God. Of course I brought a white towel."

HEY AGAIN. HAPPY WEDNESDAY!! 🌻🌷🍃

This week was so good. I hope Uncle Kevin had a wonderful birthday. If I ever forget anyone's birthday, I AM SO SORRY. I really try super hard to remember everyone's happy day 💙

My legs are soooooooo tired. Oh, before I forget. So this Sunday is Mother's Day and I guess I'm supposed to call home or something? 😉 WHAT TIME WORKS BEST FOR YOU?? I know everyone's schedules are super crazy so just let me know when you're free 😀 I am so excited to Skype you!!!!!!!!!!!!! (ALSO. It would be super awesome if Kell and KC were at home with everyone so I don't have to call a thousand different people like at Christmas, ya know? Hahaha) ANYWAY. 

Harlem is ggggggggrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeaaaaaaaattttttttt. So yeah. YSA is an interesting experience but it's growing on me. The members here are so cute and little Sister Bain is sooooooo awkward around people her own age hahaha so that's super cool. Honestly, I miss family wards because KIDS and NEWBORN BABIES. But YSA is fun because it's like teaching the gospel to my friends 😂 

We got to go to the temple with Stephanie, our recent convert. She was able to do baptisms for the dead for the first time!! She was soooooo happy. It was such a miracle that we were able to be there with her. She was going to go last Saturday but she thought she broke her toe...haha but she didn't. So we were able to go this last Saturday and we were in a hurry trying to schedule it with the temple and trying to find a priesthood holder to go with us and it was just crazy but within 10 minutes of calling the temple...everything was worked out and Stephanie made it to the temple!! We were 30 minutes behind schedule but it was such a blessing because Stephanie was able to tag along with a Spanish branch from Brooklyn-- Spanish is her first language AND she was being baptized for her grandma who only spoke Spanish. Sooooo it was the coolest miracle ever and I'm super grateful I could be there to see her be there ❤❤❤ The temple ran out of towels so she had a tiny little towel to wipe her face and when she was in the bathroom she said "Sister Bain, can you go into my locker and get my towel?" So I went and got it and it was a white towel 😂😂 I was like "Wow, you even brought a white towel!" And she said "I'm a child of God. Of course I brought a white towel." Same. Hahaha I was dying. (Maybe you had to be there.....?😂😂😂) so I really like it here and Sister Kelly is an angel. I super love her. 

We're going to the temple today!!! Blessed. 

I hope y'all have a fun week. I love you so much.

See you on Sunday peeps. #BainTrainForever 

Love always,

Sister Bain 🍍

Stephanie at the Temple

Sunset

2017 05/03 "...diligence brings miracles and incredible blessings"

Hi family!! 

I sure love you all. And miss you a whole bunch. ❤ A temple transfer means we get to go to the temple for pday....haha it changes our pday because the temple is closed on Mondays so we have a Wednesday pday until the middle of June so all the missionaries in our mission can attend the temple once!

I didn't really have a "I'll go where you want me to go" attitude this transfer. I REALLY wanted to stay one more in the Manhattan 1st Ward. And then, the other night while I was praying I said, "Heavenly Father, I will go anywhere but YSA" hahahha jokes on me. I'm in the Harlem YSA ward with the one and only SISTER KELLY as my companion and I love her to pieces. I've been blessed with some good companions. (THANK YOU, Heavenly Father) 😎 Harlem is a good place and I love it already, but man....I sure miss my Manhattan 1st. I LEARNED SO MUCH WHILE I WAS THERE. And I learned a lot from Sister Jacobsen too! I learned what true charity and love is and how we need to be patient with ourselves as we try our best to develop that. I learned that diligence brings miracles and incredible blessings. I learned that you have to have patience with ALL people-- especially the people that stop in the middle of the sidewalk and you run right into them hahaha that's happened way too many times. But I also learned a lot about prayer. The last 3 transfers have helped me feel God's love--His perfect and unchanging love. I KNOW THAT WHEN WE PRAY, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS LISTENING AND HE HELPS US KNOW THAT HE LOVES US. I know that as we plead with Him, He comforts us. Prayer is so special to me and I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to talk to my Father in Heaven whenever I want ❤ "Pray, He is there. Speak, He is listening" is a phrase that has become really important to me AND I KNOW THAT IT'S TRUE. 

I don't have much to report this week. I'm just super tired. Harlem is totally different world than South Man. 

I love you all and I hope you have a wonderful week!!! 

Love always,

Sister Bain 🍍

"I don’t believe God wants His children to be fearful or dwell on the evils of the world. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

--President Uchtdorf

New Companion: Sister Kelly

Saying Good bye.

Saying Good bye.

Sister Kelly

2017 05/01 "Harlem YSA ward here I come"

H E L L O

I hope Cili had a fun birthday and that Bri has a wonderful day TODAY!!! Happy birthday, Bri!

I am so excited about dad's new calling! Talk about a busy schedule. Dad, the 5th Ward is so blessed to have you as their bishop. I was on my way to church when I received your email about this new assignment and I couldn't help but just sit in the 135th street subway station and cry. They weren't tears of sadness by any means, but tears of happiness! I am so excited to see all the blessings our family will receive from your service. And, I'm grateful that Aunt Michelle sent me your testimonies!! I listened to them last night and of course, sat there in tears once again-- no surprise. Thank you, mom and dad, for your love of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I wouldn't be in New York City wearing a black name tag without your example and testimonies. I love you and of course I'm ALWAYS praying for you. 

Today's letter is short. I need to go pack because I'm being transferred to the Harlem YSA ward! Sister Jacobsen is leaving as well and will be in the Manhattan 2nd and 3rd wards on the upper East side! I'm sad to leave this area and my companion. I've really come to love the people here. There are some CRAZY people here, but I really love it. And Harlem is just another adventure to add to the list. I'm super nervous to be in a YSA ward because I don't really know how to talk to people my own age hahaha but I know I have the Lord on my side and He'll give me help-- as always. 

Mom and dad- read 1 Nephi 7:17. I read that this morning and thought of you. It's the story of Nephi getting tied up by his punk brothers and while he's there Nephi asks the Lord for STRENGTH. He doesn't ask the Lord to take away his problems or rebuke his brothers or make all the bad things go away, but Nephi asks for strength to endure and to burst the bands which held him bound. I love that. I know that Heavenly Father will give us strength to endure and He will make the burdens light. I know that that's true. ❤❤❤

Also, last thing. This next transfer is a temple transfer so that means that p-day will be on WEDNESDAYS for the next 6 WEEKS ONLY. So, when you don't hear from me on Mondays, you'll hear from me on Wednesdays!! Sorry Sorryyyyyyyyyy. Don't forget, okay? Ps: fun fact, my birthday in at the end of this next transfer sooooo prepare to party 😎🇺🇸🍍

You get to hear from me again in 2 days! SURPRISE!! 

I'll write more on Wednesday.

I love you!!

Love always,

Sister Bain 🍍

Ps. YOU GUYS ARE TOO CUTE IN YOUR NY SHIRTS ❤❤❤