2017 08/30 - "The Secret of the Camel"

Hey Fam! Good luck remodeling the bathroom. That is quite the project! AH.   Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Sally tomorrow!! She is getting SO OLD. AND! ROOMIE WENT TO COLLEGE? I'm sure it was hard for Dean and Jo to go up and down all those stairs and stuff helping her move in 😂😉 I hope she's settling in and having fun! Everyone is growing up so fast. BRIANNE WENT BACK TO COLLEGE TOO? I hope she enjoys my car haha (but seriously.) Okay actually, speaking of my/DAD's car, is the bluetooth speaker still in there? Because I need that. I don't need it as a missionary obviously, but later....in a few months...I'm gonna need it 😂😂😂 Okay well anyway.

Something I love about Harlem is that you can do whatever you want and nobody will say one word about it. For example, a person can go to church with a suitcase full of alcohol and start mixing drinks right in the middle of sacrament meeting and then offer some to the sister missionaries sitting next to you. Oh wait, that wasn't an example. THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN REAL LIFE THIS WEEK 😣😭😂😑 It's. Fine. #HarlemLife 

A story was sent to me a couple of days ago that I wanted to share with you. Let me know what you think! 

**The Secret of the Camel**

The camel is an interesting animal. It's not one of the most beautiful. It has thick matted hair that falls off in clumps. It has knobby knees and a big hump on its back. It is referred to as a "ruminant" because it regurgitates its swallowed food to chew again, and then swallows it again. However, the camel is a wonderful pack animal. It is used for transportation in many countries. Camels can carry up to 600 pounds and average twenty miles a day over rugged terrain. They can travel in hot conditions and go for long periods of time without water. They truly are amazing animals. Regardless of its looks or mannerisms, a camel is loved by its master, for it is useful, obedient, and needed.

Here is the camel's secret....each night, at the end of a long day, the camel kneels at the feet of his master. His master carefully lifts the burden from the camel's back so it can rest comfortably through the night. The next morning, the camel kneels again before his master, and the master gently places the burden on the camel's back for another day. He is careful to rearrange things here or there if he sees that the pack is wearing a sore spot. This enables the camel to carry his burden for another day.

Throughout His life, the Savior was referred to as Master. He loves us regardless of our looks or mannerisms. He desires for us to be useful and obedient. May we practice the secret of the camel. As we kneel each night at the feet of our Master, may He lift our burdens, that we may rest well and comfortably. As we kneel each morning, may we realize that He knows of our pain, our suffering, and our sorrows, for He has felt them all. May our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ be sufficient to help us carry our burdens...for just one more day.

Isn't that SO. COOL??? 💞💖💕😊 As a misison, we're studying the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I've always had a hard time grasping the concept of the Atonement because there's no way my little brain can even comprehend the reality of what Jesus Christ went through. But as I've studied the ENABLING power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I've come to understand that we are given strength through our Savior. Physical strength, emotional strength, spiritual strength...etc. Because our Savior knows each of us individually, He knows of our pains and our sufferings and because of His perfect LOVE for each of us, He is 100% willing and able to take those from us. And when we wake up in each morning, He's willing and able to give us the strength we need to faithfully endure. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior. I know that because of Him, I have the opportunity to have my burdens taken from me. I don't know how it all works and I don't know the logistics of everything, I just know that when I ask for strength to endure, I am always okay in the end. I know He lives and that Jesus is the Christ. I'm grateful for the knowledge that I have of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and for knowledge that I have of my Savior. I know that His Atonement really does work in my life. 💕💕💕

3rd Nephi 20:38

For thus saith the Lord: Ye have sold yourselves for naught, and ye shall be redeemed without money.

I love you all so much and I'd invite you to think about your personal testimony of the Savior. What are you doing TODAY to build your testimony? 💛💛💛

I LOVE YOU!

Love always,

Sister Bain 🍍

We got cages put on our windows so nobody breaks in hahaha it's the worst. Sister Horton said "Good morning prison mate" to me today 😂

Madeleine and Anne came to Stake Conference with us (Madeleine called it "the Mormon convention" hahahaha 

Anne made us dinner the other night. Plantains for dayzzzzzzz 

Madeleine-- she's getting baptized on September 16th! She is so fabulous. She's Anne's best friend! <3

2017 08/23

WHAT'S UP ❤ You can write November 29th in pen 😊 It's a big day! 😉 I'm excited that everyone is starting school!! Yay!! Kids in NYC are usually in school all year long so count your blessings that you get summer vacation.... #blessed 

I am so excited for Evie and Johnnie to be baptized this Saturday! Evie has grown up so much!! I'm glad all is well at home and that Jacob has the opportunity to take part in missionary work! THAT MAKES ME CRY BECAUSE I AM SO HAPPY AND EXCITED FOR HIM. What a rockstar. Jacob, Grant, and Bryson are such good examples to me. (I'm still low-key dying that Jacob is going into high school. 😂) 

Anne is doing well. Thank you all for always asking about her! She just received a calling to be a gospel principles teacher!! 🤘HOW. COOL. We had the opportunity to do family history with her and she was able to remember all the information for her parents, her grandparents, and her great-grandparents! It was super cool because she was telling us that because of all the civil wars in her country, there aren't a lot of records left so all of her family tree will have to be from the memory of her and her family. While Anne was doing Family History with us and she said she has a grandpa who is 99 years old and still living!! She said, "He only eats greens so he's still goin strong" 😂 I LOVE HER ❤❤❤ Also, she remembered that my favorite fruit is pineapple SO SHE BOUGHT ME A PINEAPPLE. #BLESSED I also gave her some swedish fish and she didn't like those 😂😂😂 Something that I've been studying a lot this week is charity. When people say "What is charity?" 9 times out of 10 someone will say "it's the pure love of Christ." WHICH IS TOTALLY RIGHT, but what does that really mean??? What really is the pure love of Christ? I looked up charity in the Bible Dictionary and it says that charity is the highest and nobelest of love. It's the same love that our Heavenly Father and our Savior have for each of us. We are to become like Jesus Christ and to love as He loves- we develop Christlike charity by serving those around us and showing them our love. What have you done this week to serve someone else? What something that stops us from serving those around us? For me, it's usually because I think I'm too busy or I think I'm too tired. But then I thought about different things that I can sacrifice to show others that I love them. Sometimes, we must sacrifice A LOT to serve someone but we have to remember that the Savior gave up His life in serving us. Serve is an opportunity for us to turn outward instead of inward-- because turning inward is a whole lot easier. Serving people in Harlem has forced me to look outside myself and my own life and see others the way the Savior sees them. We also have to make ourselves available to serve others. When I think of charity and love I first think of mom and dad because their the best but I also think about King Benjamin. He was chosen to be king but chose to work for himself and create his own means. He didn't just chill in his super nice air conditioned palace and order people around, but he went out and labored among his people. He didn't want his people to think of him as a burden. He wanted to lighten their load. First of all, he was a righteous leader but he was also very considerate of his people and he wanted to show his love by serving them and serving WITH them.

<< Mosiah 2:14-15 >>

14 And even I, myself, have labored with mine own hands that I might serve you, and that ye should not be laden with taxes, and that there should nothing come upon you which was grievous to be borne—and of all these things which I have spoken, ye yourselves are witnesses this day.

15 Yet, my brethren, I have not done these things that I might boast, neither do I tell these things that thereby I might accuse you; but I tell you these things that ye may know that I can answer a clear conscience before God this day.

So, who are you going to serve this week and what are you going to do to show your love? How are you going to become more like the Savior through service? 

I hope you all have the best week ever full of opportunities to bring others closer to Jesus Christ through service!

I love you!!

Love always,

Sister Keauna Bain 🍍

"Therefore, continue your journey and let your hearts rejoice; for behold, and lo, I am with you even unto the end." Doc Cov 100:12

I think you underestimate my awesomeness

Me and Harlem

2017 08/15 "What do YOU know to be true?"

Hey y'all!

I hope you're having a good time getting back into the school stuff. JACOB IS GOING TO JORDAN HIGH SCHOOL??? What the what. He's not supposed to be that old.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Uncle Jim on Monday! I hope he had a fun day.

It's so weird to think that both Keith and Kevin are home.

AND BRANDON LEAVES NEXT WEEK!!!! AAAAAAHHHHHHH. I AM SO EXCITED FOR HIM! Is he going to the Mexico MTC??? I am so so excited for him.

President Nelson, Bishop Waddell, and Elder Gong are coming to the NYNYN mission in September! We are so spoiled here in NYC. Seriously.

Today, I just want you to know that I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father and that He knows me and loves me. The Plan of Salvation is a plan of happiness and I know that as we do the small and simple things here on earth that we will find true joy in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that because God loves me He's given me all the tools that I need to return to Him. That's my ultimate goal! To return to my Heavenly Father with my family. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet and that he's the prophet of the Restoration. I know that he saw and talked with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I know that because he saw Them, he was given the ability and power to translate the Book of Mormon. If you're not reading the Book of Mormon every day, please do so. It will change your life and you will come to know the Savior through the Book of Mormon. I KNOW THAT JESUS CHRIST LIVES. I know that He is my Savior and my Redeemer. His Atonement and His love have changed my life and have given me so much hope and strength. I hope that as you go throughout this week you'll think of your own personal testimony. What do YOU know to be true?
As a mission, we are studying the Atonement and reading the Book of Mormon together. I read Matthew 26-28 this morning and I felt a deep love and appreciation for my Savior. Something that stuck out to me was in Matthew 26:63 when it says "But Jesus held his peace". Jesus Christ went through all these horrible things and endured so much, yet He didn't complain. He didn't whine. He didn't say anything. He went through all that He did out of love for me and for you and for the love that He has for our Heavenly Father. I know He lives and that brings me so much joy.
"He lives to grant me rich supply.
He lives to guide me with his eye.
He lives to comfort me when faint.
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.
He lives to silence all my fears.
He lives to wipe away my tears.
He lives to calm my troubled heart.
He lives all blessings to impart."
What are you going to do this week to build your faith and increase your love and appreciation for the Savior?

I love you all and hope you have the best week ever.
Love always,
Sister Bain🍍


“Our focus must be riveted on the Savior and His gospel. It is mentally rigorous to strive to look unto Him in every thought. But when we do, our doubts and fears flee.” - President Nelson

"What are you Grateful for?"

Sidewalk chalk

2017 08/09 "I needed someone like Anne"

HELLO! 🌴

Thank you all for the prayers. I love you all so much. Seriously. Also, this week I found out that Uncle Dean's old home teaching companion from Tempe, AZ is in my YSA ward and he's dating one of my very favorite members! (His name is Nikita Turley or something like that...?) 😂

It's super hard for me to introduce Sister Horton as my companion because I'm from Utah and don't pronounce my "T"s......😂 awkward. So I just say "this is my new companion!" And let her do the rest 😂 it's fine.

I bet Grant is the cutest priesthood holder 😍 I am so happy for him!! Anne is doing well. THANK YOU SO MUCH for praying for her. She has opened up so much since becoming a member of the church. She has already helped SO many people! I often think about why Heavenly Father has called me to serve in Harlem and I know one of reasons is because I needed someone like Anne in my life. She has such a loving heart and a sweet spirit. I WILL GO ALL THE WAY TO KENYA IF I HAVE TO WHEN SHE GETS SEALED TO HER FAMILY. Also! She's a wonderful friend to our investigator, Madeleine, who has accepted a baptismal date of September 9th! Anne came to our lesson with her and she was the one that extended the baptismal invitation hahaha Madeleine is also from Africa so they LOVE talking about home with eachother. I LOVE THESE PEOPLE.

Miracle of the week: when we were at church a lady named Genivive came up to us and said that she met missionaries in Ghana and she wanted to join the church hahahahaha WHAT? We met with her after church and we have another appointment with her on Friday! SHE LITERALLY JUST WALKED IN AND WANTED A BOOK OF MORMON AND STAYED FOR ALL 3 HOURS OF CHURCH.

I'm not really sure what to write about this week, so here's a list of things I'm grateful for:
The Book of Mormon
Sister Horton
Avocados
Air conditioned trains
Agency
Sunflowers
Potstickers (I haven't had any recently but I'm craving them so....)
Clorox wipes
Clean sheets
The bus
The spirit
My name tag
MY FAMILY
Ice water
Bottled water
Cold water
Hot water
Free water
The Priesthood
The sacrament
The hymnbook
Piano music
Most of all, I'm grateful for the opportunity to be in New York City and teach people about Jesus Christ. It's brought so many wonderful people and experiences into my life 💕💕💕 
Love you forever!!

Sister Bain 🍍

Ps. Sorry I am so lame and boring, I literally have no idea what to write about any more 😂😂 but I still love you!! 

2017 - 08-02 - "I LOVE YOU"

Hey fam 

I hope you all had a wonderful time at the lake. Those pictures you all sent were SO cute. I love seeing how much Jacob, Grant, and Bryson are growing! IT'S UNREAL THAT GRANT HAS THE PRIESTHOOD. What an awesome young man he is becoming. Bryson is almost there! I love them so much. MICKELLE GETS MARRIED THIS WEEK SO YAY FOR HER. 

Anne's baptism was nothing but wonderful. She is such a sweet soul. She kept telling us how happy she felt and how much she loves Jesus Christ (SAME.) Thank you for praying for her as she prepared for her special day! The Harlem 1st ward was so awesome and a ton of them came out to support her. She felt so loved by so many people which made US very very happy. An even bigger miracle this past week was that Anne found out that the family she nanny's for lives in the building that the assistants live in!! They met her in the elevator and one of the assistants is one of Anne's first missionaries!! It was cool to see the AP's there to support her because she loves them so much and was able to run into them 3 times during the week leading up her baptism! I know that God is real and that He is blessing us here! I know that He loves all of His children and that He knows each of us by name. I am filled to the top with gratitude that I have the opportunity to know Anne. We went to lunch with her after her baptism with President and Sister Smith and she told us that at first she felt as though she was coming to America to take care of her husband but she said that the reason for her journey to New York City was to find the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I BASICALLY CRIED ALL DAY BECAUSE I LOVE BEING HERE. 

We have a YSA investigator named Felicia and the other day when we said good bye Sister Horton said "Bye Felicia!" I died of laughter. If you don't get the joke, it's okay. Just move on. 

I've been thinking about prayer this week and what a special privilege we have to gain a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father through prayer. I know that Heavenly Father really does listen. 

"As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are His children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt. 7:7–11). Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings."

I love you all so much and hope you have the best week ever!

Love always,

Sister Bain 

Baptism Day!