Sister Bain in the Big Apple: 2016 08-10

HEY! How in the world is it already P-day again?? Times goes by so fast. We had a good week! Sister Sam and I have seen a lot of miracles here in cute Darien.
I can't believe Bri has been in Peru for a year. THAT'S SO AWESOME. HAPPY ONE YEAR HERMANA!!! ❤❤❤❤

To answer Jacob's question: my most favorite thing that's happened to me while I've been on a mission is seeing the Lord direct me in all things. It's cool to see how when we ask to be guided, WE ARE GUIDED. I've learned a lot about the spirit in the last month. It's COOL. I've seen His tender mercies and His miracles and it's just cool to be a representative of Jesus Christ. #MissionsAreCool

That's way cool that the missionaries shared their testimony! I shared mine on Sunday too! My goal is to share my testimony on every fast Sunday in the mission. So far I'm doing really well! :-) I know that there is POWER in sharing your testimony! While I was in the MTC I had an experience that made me question if I really did have a testimony of Jesus Christ. I would always ask myself "Why am I even here? Do I even know that this is true??" BUT I DO KNOW! I know with my whole heart and soul that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true! I haven't had an angel come and tell me that it's true. I didn't have an Alma the Younger experience. But the Lord has blessed me with little experiences my entire life that have testified to me that Jesus Christ is my Savior. I really really love fast Sundays. There's a lot of strength that comes from fasting- especially as a family! Thanks for letting me know about the family fast! Your favorite missionary in Connecticut is always praying for you!! <3 #familygoals

Bridgette got baptized on Saturday!! The Darien Ward is INCREDIBLE. We had so many people calling us and texting us asking what they could do to help. There were so many people there supporting Bridgette! Her husband came too which was a huge blessing. He's not interested in meeting with missionaries right now, but whenever we go to Bridgette's for dinner he always eats with us and talks with us. He definitely felt the spirit when Elder Tanner and Elder Glick (the elders in our ward) shared the First Vision. There is so much power and peace that comes from knowing the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Bridgette was really overwhelmed with all the attention, but on Sunday when she received the Holy Ghost she was the happiest person in Connecticut! It was such a good day!

MONICA IS GETTING BAPTIZED! We extended a baptismal date for September 10th! Monica is so prepared. She reads the Book of Mormon every day after she puts her two girls to bed, she prays every day, and she's come to church 2 weeks in a row. She's experiencing the Atonement in her life and she's finding the peace and strength she's been looking for for years. We teach her on Fridays and this last lesson we had with her we were able to bring Maria, who was baptized in January! Maria is wonderful. Her and Monica are already really good friends so it's fun to see them together. They have similar backgrounds and it was so cool to see Maria share her testimony with Monica about how she's seen Heavenly Father's hand in her life, even when she wasn't a member. The gospel changes people!

We had an interesting experience the other day. We had just come from Monica's lesson and we had an investigator in mind that we wanted to visit. We put the address into our GPS and while we were driving I looked at Sister Sam and said "uhhhh we're going the wrong way"...but it was almost 9:00 so we wouldn't have enough time to go all the way to the other side of Norwalk- which is where we wanted to go. So we decided to continue to West Norwalk Road, where our GPS was leading us?? We didn't know why we were there so we stopped on the side of the road and prayed. We have this thing where we pray before literally everything we do. This is the Lord's work, so we need to include Him! I said the prayer, and while I was doing that, the number 45 came into my head. Sister Sam said that she felt like we should go to the house right in front of us. THE HOUSE RIGHT IN FRONT OF US WAS HOUSE NUMBER 45. So at 8:50 at night, we knocked on 45 West Norwalk Road. A guy answered and told us to go away because it was late HAHAHAHA but we left him with a picture of Jesus Christ so it was all good. The Lord was definitely testing Sister Sam and I that night but I'm grateful for that experience! It taught me a lot about how the spirit works and how we have to be willing to do whatever is asked of us- even at 8:50 in a super sketchy forest neighborhood! We don't know why we needed to go to 45 West Norwalk Road but the Lord knows- and that's all that matters! :-)

The other day Sister Sam and I went out tracting for a little while before we went home and I HAD THE HICCUPS THE ENTIRE TIME. I was trying to teach these sweet people about the Book of Mormon and I kept hiccuping!! HAHAHAHA it was so funny. I had the hiccups for a solid 3 hours.
My knee is getting better! I still have to wear the annoying brace, but it's getting better! The doctor just has me taking ibuprofen. I have to take 3 in the morning, 2 in the afternoon, and 3 at night. Sister Sam is real good at making sure I'm okay! #compgoals

One last thought- I've been thinking a lot about trials and adversity lately. We have the opportunity to teach a lot of people who have gone through SO much and are still going through really hard things. It makes me appreciate the life that I've been blessed with and how easy my life has been compared to theirs. I'm not saying that my trials are any less significant than those I've met here in Connecticut, but I've just been very very blessed. I was reading a talk by President Erying called Where Is the Pavilion? and it talks all about how God never leaves us, we are the ones that leave God-- even though His mission is to bless us! There's a quote somewhere on Pinterest probably that says something a long the lines of how we should fight lifes battles on our knees. I know that life is hard. But I also know that we can do hard things! Dad did a really good job of teaching me that. We can do hard things with Jesus Christ. I know that our trials truly do refine us. They force us on our knees and help us strengthen our relationship with our Heavenly Father. When Joseph Smith was in Liberty Jail he asked God "Where art thou?" and the response he got was "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; and then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes." I know that hard times don't last forever. I know that we can find real peace through Jesus Christ. I know that when we're lonely or confused or disappointed, that we can find strength in the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ. And I love that I get to share those truths with the people all day every day! :-)
I hope you're all having a good week! It's been SUPER hot and humid lately, but it's been raining all day today! We have a good time here in CT doing the Lord's work.
I am happy here! I wish that you all could be here with me to experience the happiness and the miracles that come along with being a full-time representative of Jesus Christ. BUT. You all have tons of opportunities to be missionaries and see miracles as well! Pray for missionary opportunities and they will come! I'm glad you were able to make it over to the new neighbors house! They're lucky to live by the Violet Circle gang! :-)
I LOVE YOU!!

Love always,
Sister Bain

Ps: I hope Uncle Jim has a fun birthday this coming week! <3 HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALL THE WAY FROM THE EAST COAST!

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf:
God didn't design us to be sad. He created us to have joy! So, if we trust Him, He will help us to notice the good, bright, hopeful things in life. And sure enough, the world will become brighter. No, it doesn't happen instantly, but honestly, how many good things do?