2017 03/20 "Blizzards bring blessings!"

Hey y'all 🌻

I hope you had a fun week in the warm weather. I looked at the weather in Utah and while it was 70 degrees there it was 20 degrees here. Yay. We were hit by a HUGE snowstorm on Tuesday. It was INSANE. But! We saw awesome miracles that day. Everyone was home!!! Trudging through all the snow and being wet all day was A BLAST......and it was definitely worth it! Blizzards bring blessings! (I hope the Gurney's had a nice time in the storm too😉) 

I am so excited for ROOMIE!! She's such a rockstar. She should apply to Juilliard and move to NYC hahaha she'd like it here. But. NAU is sooooooooooo lucky to have her!! Way to go, Rooster!!❤

Transfers are this week and GUESS WHAT!!! I'll be staying in the Manhattan 1st Ward with Sister Jacobsen ❤ I am so so happy ❤ AND!! 

Guess who couldn't go to church yesterday because we were locked INSIDE our apartment. Yeah. 4 Sister missionaries in West Harlem. Sister Jacobsen and I leave first because we have 9:00 church so we prayed and I unlocked the door, we went to leave and IT DIDN'T OPEN. The deadbolt was BROKEN. I climbed out the window onto the fire escape to find out that it was way too rusty and didn't reach the ground so we'd basically have to jump off the window ledge to the sidewalk. NO WAY. NO THANKS. So we yelled down to some guy on the street to ask him if he'd go to the front of the building to get the Supers number. When he came back he gave us the wrong number (even though we gave him chocolate and a Restoration pamphlet) sooooooooooo that didn't work. (DON'T ASK WHY WE DON'T HAVE THE SUPERS NUMBER IN OUR APARTMENT. IF WE EVER NEED HIM WE JUST WALK DOWNSTAIRS TO THE BASEMENT AND HE'S THERE.) We called Sister Larsen in the mission office and she found the Supers number for us. We FINALLY got ahold of him and he gave us the number to the locksmith. We called the buildings locksmith and he said that he'd come help us at noon. He was really put out that we needed his help because it was his day off and everyone should be at church." YEAH NO KIDDING. So noon came. 1:00 came. 2:00 came. 5:00 came AND HE STILL WASN'T THERE. (My happy mood had disappeared by this time OBVIOUSLY.) The locksmith FINALLY came at 6:00pm !!!!!!!!!! He tried to drill at the lock for about 30 minutes, then he said there was nothing he could do. He went upstairs to our neighbors and asked them if he could use their fire escape to get onto our fire escape so he could get into our apartment, but all of them said no. (Go figure. Literally all our neighbors thought he was trying to break into our apartment and rob us. Also, he didn't really speak English so nobody understood what he was trying to do...) So he came back and told us that there was nothing he could do for us, and HE LEFT. (But wait. It gets better.) The 4 of us were sitting there brainstorming ideas of how we were going to get out of our apartment and the buzzer rang. (Someone buzzed the apartment from the downstairs doorbell. You can't just walk into buildings in NYC.) Nobody EVER buzzes our apartment, so we thought the locksmith had come back! Someone rang the doorbell on our door, I yelled "hello?" through the door and GUESS WHO IT WAS! Our friends at NYPD. 😂😂 one of the officers said "Please open up the door." And me, innocent little Sister Bain, said "Uh sorry....I can't do that. The door is broken." 😂😂 Someone had called the police because they saw the locksmith drilling on our door and "a suspicious person" asking people if he could go inside their apartment to use their fire escape😂😂 The officers were TICKED that the locksmith AND the Super were just going to leave us locked INSIDE our apartment. They knocked on our neighbors door and OF COURSE he so willingly and graciously let the officers use his fire escape so that they could climb over to our window in our bedroom. They made sure that we were okay and that we were safe. They stood outside our door for over an hour waiting for the locksmith to come back and get us out. NYPD is the best. Anyway. We CLEARLY didn't make it to church.....but we're finally free and all is well. We just have a nice hole in our door where the locksmith drilled the lock out. Hahahaha YAY. I love that. We also have the Supers number saved in our phone and written down on the fridge. It's all fine. I know that Heavenly Father was protecting us!!❤❤ I also read all of Helaman and half of 3rd Nephi yesterday so that's cool. 

ON THE PLUS SIDE: MARVIN WENT TO CHURCH AND STAYED FOR ALL 3 HOURS WOOHOO 🤗 (HAHAHAHA when your investigators go to church and you don't) We had a lesson with him over Skype this week (thank goodness for technology) and we read part of Alma 32 with him. I've had so much fun seeing Marvin's little seed grow. He always says that we're his sunshine--helping his testimony grow 🐣🌷☉ I love in Alma 32 when it talks about diligence. The Lord tells us that we can't just sit around and wait for the plant to grow. We have to get up and WORK. We need to read the Book of Mormon, we need to pray, we need to attend church, we need to serve those around us....as we are diligent in keeping the commandments and doing all we can to water and nourish our testimonies, they will grow! Yes, we do need patience in the Lord's timing, but we can't just sit there and except wonderful things to just HAPPEN to us. We need to do our part ❤ Put forth the effort and miracles will come ❤

Good things are happening in Manhattan, NY. I'm grateful that I get to be here and I'm grateful to be His missionary. I'm grateful for MY FAMILY ❤❤❤❤ and I hope you all have an amazing week FULL of missionary opportunities 😚 

I love you!! 

Be bold. Be courageous. Be honest. Be truthful.

Love always,

Sister Bain 🍍

District Picture: Sister Evans goes home this week and Sister Larsen is training!

Snow Storm - Honey, Where's my car?

Dump trucks and tractors doing snow removal hahaha 

NYPD hanging out in front of our door hahaha. (a.k.a.Stripling Warriors)

Sympathy from President Smith

2017 03/13 "One Year ago..."

H E L L O 🌻

I'm taking my companion to the Museum of Natural History today. I'm. STOKED. 😂

On March 12th, 2016 (1 YEAR FROM YESTERDAY) I got a text from mom saying that my mission call was sitting on my bed waiting for me. 1 year ago, I was called to serve in the New York New York North Mission with President and Sister Smith. HOW GRATEFUL I AM FOR THIS WONDERFUL CALLING. I've reflected on the past year a lot this weekend and as much as Satan tells me otherwise, I've accomplished a lot. And I've CHANGED. Man, oh man, have I changed. And I'm so grateful for those changes that my Heavenly Father and Savior have helped me make. In 1 year, I finished my first year of college, I went through the temple, I met new friends (a lot of them are here serving with me and one is my COMPANION), I turned 19 years old. I struggled-- leaving home for 18 months is no easy task. And, I was still questioning whether or not I really wanted to go on a mission. But! Now I'm here in New York City and I couldn't think of a happier place. In the last (almost) 9 months, I've come to know my Savior. I've gained a real testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith, I KNOW the Book of Mormon is true. I've learned how to plan for my day and make the best use of my time. I've learned how to study the scriptures. I've learned how to communicate with others. I've learned how to repent and WHY we need to repent DAILY. I've learned that I can overcome anything because I have the Savior and Redeemer of the world by my side. I've seen INCREDIBLE miracles. I've met people that have changed my life. I've seen myself develop a deeper passion for playing the piano and a greater love for the sacred hymns. I've missed my sweet little brothers A WHOLE LOT. I've seen my family change and grow. I've seen our family relationships be strengthened through the gospel of Jesus Christ. I KNOW that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God with restored priesthood power. I've had sacred experiences that I couldn't have had any other place or any other time. I've overcome weakness, found new ones, developed new skills and new strengths. I've made spiritual goals that will help me create a gospel centered home. I now know of the importance of WEEKLY church attendance. I've seen the sacrament become personal to ME. I've become more and more grateful for mom teaching me the importance of modesty. I love life more. I smile more. I'm happier. I have found REAL joy in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I couldn't have learned any of these things if I wasn't here in the New York New York North Mission. I'm grateful that Mom and Dad had so much patience with me and helped me get here.

I love you all so much and I'm ALWAYS praying for you. 🗽🌃🌉🍎🚕

Gordon B. Hinckley:

"I was touched … by the heartbreaking statement of a young missionary. He said, “I have been here for months. I can’t learn the language. I dislike the people. I am depressed by day and weep at night. I wanted to die. I wrote my mother and pleaded for an excuse to return home. I have her reply. She says: ‘We’re praying for you. There is not a day passes that all of us do not kneel together in the morning before we eat and in the evening before we retire and plead with the Lord for his blessing upon you. We have added fasting to our prayer, and when your younger brothers and sisters pray they say, “Heavenly Father, bless Johnny … and help him to learn the language and do the work he was called to do.”

This young man then went on to say through his tears, “I will try again. I will add my prayers to theirs and my fasting to their fasting.”

Now, four months later, I have a letter from him in which he says, “A miracle has happened. The language has come to me as a gift from the Lord. I have learned to love the people in this beautiful land. God be thanked for the prayers of my family.”

Be bold. Be courageous. Be honest. Be truthful.

Love always,

Sister Bain 🍍

2017 03/06 "I know that there is power in writing things down"

Hi again! 

I'm glad Makail had a fun birthday!! How in the world is she already 23? She's soooooo old.

Fun fact: We were walking down the street and Sister Jacobsen stopped and said "your high school killed my high school in the state championship our sophomore year. I am still so mad about that." 😂😂😂 I DIED. *I'm probably the only one that thinks this story is funny but pity laughs are always accepted and also always appreciated...* 

I finished my study journal that I started in August and it's been so fun to read the things that I was learning at the beginning of my time in Connecticut and in the city. Some of those things I'm still learning and some of those things have turned into strengths. I know that there is power in writing things down and also pondering those things that the spirit is teaching us! Look back and REMEMBER the spiritual experiences you've been blessed with!! I love what Hanna said about how journaling strengthens our faith! I know that that's true!! 

MIRACLE: I was looking through our AreaBook and I found a record of a guy that the sisters had met on the train in November AND NEVER FOLLOWED UP WITH HIM. (WHYYYYYYYY THEY DIDN'T FOLLOW UP??? I. DON'T. KNOW.) ANYWAY, we called him to see if he was still interested and when he answered he said "Sisters! Why the heck are you just barely calling me???" (Yeah, I thought the same thing. It's fine.) So we set up an appointment with him!! We met with him on Saturday night and it was WONDERFUL. The youth were having their camp/activity fundraiser gala thing that night so the church was PACKED and there were people everywhere and crazy kids literally running around EVERYWHERE. It was an actual nightmare. We couldn't use the 3rd floor because the flood of people, the 2nd floor of the church didn't have enough people coming and going so that left the first floor for us to have our lesson. Jokes on us. The 1st floor was where everyone was getting their tickets so it was CRAZY. Miracle---- Elder and Sister Adams in the family history library said we could use the room when they went home. YAY!! They saved us. And so 6:00 came and Dieudonne (our investigstor) didn't come. COOL. But no worries. He came at 6:30 haha. Dieudonne is so prepared. He's a refugee from Africa and has such a BIG heart. His parents were killed when he was really young in a war that happened in his town. Since the time he was about 8 he raised his 2 younger sisters. He came to New York about 6 years ago to go to school and find a better life. He was telling us that adjusting to the city has been really hard and he's been searching for peace. He doesn't like that he sees so many couple fighting and he doesn't understand why they live together before their married. He was telling us that he really wanted to have a family of his own-- because he grew up without parents. It really pulled on our heart strings because both Sister Jacobsen and I grew up with INCREDIBLE parents and families; something we'll never take for granted anymore. It was amazing to see how the Lord has prepared him to hear the restored gospel. Sister Jacobsen and I didn't say much the whole hour. The spirit told both of us to just sit back and listen and just to love him and really care about him. I really just wanted to cry the whole time because my heart hurt for him and because I realized how truly blessed I am. At the end, I offered the prayer and the Spirit just overwhelmed me. He looked up at us after, with tears in his eyes, and said "why do you care about me so much? Why did you just sit here and listen to me? Nobody has ever done that for me and I can't thank you enough. I feel so much love." Sister Jacobsen and I looked at each other and we both had the biggest smiles on our faces. 

When people ask me to tell them about cool experiences I've had as a missionary, I could tell them about cool miracles I've seen or crazy things I've done (like walking in meth) but in reality, the best part about being a missionary is feeling God's love for others. It's hard to explain in words, but the love I feel for people on New York City is far beyond my own ability. I know that it's our Heavenly Father's love. And it's INCREDIBLE. I know God's love is REAL. I've felt it in my own life. His love is personal, His love is infinite, and His love will always be there-- no matter what❤❤❤ On that note, I love you all SO MUCH. And I know that our Heavenly Father loves you even more than that!!😚✌

So, have a good week and remember that your favorite sister missionary is thinking about you and praying for you! 

Love always,

Sister Bain 🍍

Ps. I miss dad a lot because I said the word "hip" yesterday in a sentence. I said "wow, that's so hip." And then I bascially died of laughter. I love ya, dad!!❤❤❤

PPs. The 9-11 Museum was INCREDIBLE. It was interesting because there weren't any kids running around, everyone was so quiet the whole time, and it had a very somber and heavy feeling. I really do believe that it's sacred ground. You bet I cried. When the Bain fam comes back to NYC, we're going there. FOR. SURE. And I have a feeling you're all going to cry too. 

Ground Zero - Last Slab

Ground Zero

It's all about family.

Sister Eskimo Bain

Zone Conference

2017 03/01 "Let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever."

WHAT'S UPPPPPPPPP ❤❤❤ Happy Wednesday!! 

First things first, IT'S MY BEST FRIENDS BIRTHDAY ON SUNDAY!!! Happy birthday, my dearest Makail. Thanks for choosing Heavenly Father's plan and being born. I love you!!✌❤ 

Also, guess who had salmon for dinner 4 days in a row??? That's right. WE DID. 😂😭😂😭 Someone guess how much Sister Bain still doesn't like salmon😂😭 

Today is P-day because we were so blessed in the New York New York North Mission to have Elder and Sister Gong (from the presidency of the seventy) here with us on Sunday and Monday. It was sooooooooooo wonderful to be taught by the spirit. I also had the opportunity to play a musical number so now I can check "play the piano for a general authority" off my bucket list😉 Thanks for sending my piano book, Mom!!❤Elder Gong said, "I appreciate your dedicated piano teacher for helping you develop your talent." THANKS MOM! YOU'RE THE BEST ❤❤❤❤I hope you travel safely to Oklahoma!! 

This week was good. It started off with Sister Jacobsen and I going to the ER because Sister Jacobsen had symptoms of appendicitis. Yay. But she's fine now and didn't actually have appendicitis. Also, Anne is feeling better so we were able to see her at church on Sunday!! Marvin is also doing well. We had a lesson with him yesterday and he said that everything is starting to make sense. We love love love the people we have the opportunity to teach!!❤ 

Something I've been thinking about this week is prayer❤ I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR PRAYER. I know that it is direct communication with our Heavenly Father WHO LOVES US. He's real. And He hears every single prayer. I know that's true. I know that by counseling with our Father in Heaven is how we find true peace. 

《Alma 37:36-37》

Yea, and cry unto God for ALL thy support; yea, let ALL thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let ALL thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, LET THE AFFECTIONS OF THY HEART BE PLACED UPON THE LORD FOREVER.

•Counsel with the Lord• in ALL thy doings, and HE WILL DIRECT THEE for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and IF ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

I love the phrase "let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever." I know that Heavenly Father knows the deepest desires of my heart. I know that what's important to me is important to Him. I've been making some goals this week of things I want to accomplish before the end of my time in New York City. I've taken those goals to my Heavenly Father and I've counseled with Him-- asking Him to help me accomplish the desires and affections of my heart and asking Him if those goals are what He wants me to do. Everything I desire (as long as it's righteous) I KNOW that Heavenly Father WILL help me. I'm also grateful to have been raised in a home where we said family prayer EVERY night. It didn't matter how tired we all were or how busy we all were, we always knelt together. And I will forever be grateful for that. Thank you, mom and dad, for teaching me how important that is❤

I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. And I know that the Book of Mormon is true. It's all true!! And it'll bless your life.

I hope you all have a good week. I love you so much and I'm so so grateful for the wonderful family I've been blessed with. Thank you for your prayers and for all your love.

I love youuuuuuuuuuu. 

Love always,

Sister Bain 🍍

Elder Gong and President Smith serving up Ice Cream

Sister Jacobsen in the hospital. All is well. 

We Love the Missionaries!

2017 02/20 "Let our faith replace our fears..."

Hello! It's me again! Another wonderful week has come and gone. This is email is going to be sooooooooooo scattered (but what else is new...?) because I have so many things I wanna tell you!!❤

❤❤❤ There were kids from Jordan High school visiting my ward yesterday for a choir thing and it was so weird to see them there hahaha 

Yesterday the weather was so nice  (WE DIDN'T HAVE TO WEAR TIGHTS!!!!!) so we went and ate lunch in central park. What. A. Dream. I love everything. 

We had the best Valentine's Day in history!! February 14th was the New York New York North Sisters Meeting. It was so fun seeing past companions and other sisters whom I LOVE. The best part was being able to hear from Stephanie Nielson. She and her husband survived a plane crash in 2008. Sister Nielson has since become a world famous "mommy blogger" and has given out over 9,000 copies of the Book of Mormon!! She shares a powerful message of hope (and SHE TOOK A PICTURE WITH SISTER JACOBSEN AND I ❤❤) (Ps. Sister Nielson and her husband actually came to NYC to speak to the New York North sisters but the fireside we were able to attend for the stake was just a bonus. Still mad I didn't see Kim and Bri there but it's fine.) We are so spoiled here. Sooooooooooo check out Sister Nielson's blog because she is WONDERFUL.

I hope you all had a good week!! Marvin is GOOD! We had a Skype lesson with him on Tuesday and we read from the Book of Mormon with him. We read Alma 36 (BEST. CHAPTER. EVER.) and we talked about Repentance. Marvin usually doesn't ask questions during our lessons, but during this one he said "Sisters, how do I repent??" And we just about fell out of our chairs-- MARVIN ASKED US A QUESTION!!!!!! We explained the repentance process and it got us talking about baptism. Sister Jacobsen is AWESOME and she's so good at asking inspired questions. She said "Marvin, do you believe that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has the correct authority to baptize?" And he said "Yeah, but I don't believe it's the only one." Sooooooooooo we're going to work through that next. I'm just super grateful for the spirit because we've been kinda frustrated with not being able to really help him this week. BUT! Now we know what his biggest concern is AND NOW WE CAN HELP HIM!!! YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY 

ANNE IS THE BEST EVER HOLY COW I LOVE HER. We had a lesson with her on Tuesday and cute Sister Read was able to come with us. The first Sunday she came to church she was really quiet and she just sat in the back and observed but then last Sunday she was super into gospel principles and she shared some awesome experiences. When we met with her on Tuesday she shared another cool story with us. She said while she was at church she heard someone say that we don't drink coffee. This past week she said she was feeling really anxious and so she would drink some coffee but she kept thinking about what she heard while she was at church and she said "My anxiety would get worse when I drank the coffee so I think I'm going to stop drinking coffee." WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAT. OKAY. SHE'S SO COOL. 

Sister Jacobsen has been super sick (throwing up sick...ugh) for the past couple of days so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE pray that she gets better soon❤❤❤❤

Here's my favorite quote ever. Enjoy!!😚

•••

"I come with a plea that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I’m suggesting that we accentuate the positive. I’m asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still our voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment virtue and effort. I am not asking that all criticism be silent. Growth comes with correction. Strength comes with repentance. Wise is the man or woman who, committing mistakes pointed out by others, changes his or her course. I am not suggesting that our conversation be all honey. Clever expression that is sincere and honest is a skill to be sought and cultivated. What I am suggesting and asking is that we turn from the negativism that so permeates our society and look for the remarkable good in the land and times in which we live, that we speak of one another’s virtues more than we speak of one another’s faults, that optimism replace pessimism. Let our faith replace our fears. We have every reason to be optimistic in this world. Tragedy is around, yes. Problems everywhere, yes. But … you can’t, you don’t, build out of pessimism or cynicism. You look with optimism, work with faith, and things happen. Do not despair. Do not give up. Look for the sunlight through the clouds. The Lord’s plan is a plan of happiness. The way will be lighter, the worries will be fewer, the confrontations will be less difficult if we cultivate a spirit of happiness." 

--President Gordon B. Hinckley ♡

•••

Instead of me just copying the entire Relief Society lesson GO AND READ IT. It's lesson 3 from the teachings of President Gordon B. Hinckley "Cultivate an Attitude of Happiness and a Spirit of Optimism". I love President Hinckley. Just take one section a day or something but seriously. Go read it. Then email me your thoughts about it.

I love that he says that "life is to be enjoyed, not just endured." We're a week into the transfer, but I've learned that this is to be true with Sister Jacobsen. As I've gotten us lost or as I've taken us on the wrong train again and again...I've learned to just laugh it off. WE DON'T HAVE TO BE STRESSED EVERY SECOND OF THE DAY. Learn to laugh. Learn to ENJOY THE RIDE and show gratitude!! 

Other quotes I love: 

"Stay true to the church because the church is true."

--President Buckner (NYNY Stake President)

Be a pineapple. Stand tall. Wear a crown. Be sweet on the inside. 🍍🌴

(5 people sent me this quote this week saying "I saw this and thought of you." ❤❤Much love) 

I love you sooooooooooo much. #BainTrainForever 

Love always,

Sister Bain 🍍

Ps. Pday is on Wednesday next week!!✌

Sister Horton

Sister Jacobsen

Sisters and heart glasses. What else do you need? 

Sister's Conference

STEPHANIE NIELSON ❤

2017 02/13 "Thank you, Mr. Gardener..."

H E L L O

This week was sooooooooooo good. As usual. 

The meth story is a classic and that's going to be a highlight in the mission journal FOR SURE. The guy was super high and dropped the meth on the ground, went across the street to tell his friend to help him pick it up, but then Sister Bain accidentally walked all over it thinking it was ice (hahaha). The Police said they'd been watching him for a couple days but thanks to the Sister missionaries being inspired to walk down that street, they got the proof they needed when he started yelling at me. We gave one of the police officers a pass-a-long card so it wasn't all bad. And my shoes are clean now so yay. 

THANK YOU for the Valentine's day packages! You cuties. I love you all xoxo  

I WAS AT THE FIRESIDE LAST NIGHT THAT KIM AND BRI WENT TO. I was leaving the church and like 5 companionship's told me "Hey we saw your aunt again. And your cousin! Did you see them?" I'm convinced Kim has met every missionary on the island except for my companion 😂 ONE DAY I'M GOING TO SEE THEM. (Hopefully when grandma and grandpa are in Jersey!!) 

My new companion is Sister Jacobsen and I. LOVE. HER. She's just like Sister Sam who is bascially one of my all-time favorite people. Sister Jacobsen is so so sweet and we're always laughing. I'm super super grateful for her and all that I've learned from her in just 1 week! #CompGoals ❤ This area is going to see MIRACLES with Sister Jacobsen here!! 

Something I've been thinking a lot about this week is God's plan. His plan is PERFECT. I know that! God's plan is designed to bring us JOY- joy that is eternal. Part of God's plan for each of us is go through trials and humbling experiences because that's when we grow. We watched a Mormon Message the other day called "The Will of God" (one that I would HIGHLY recommend). It's an excerpt from a talk given by Elder Christofferson and he talks about accepting and embracing correction. He tells a story that I'm going to copy and paste for you to read because I LOVE IT and I hope you can relate it to your own lives.

•••

President Hugh B. Brown, formerly a member of the Twelve and a counselor in the First Presidency, provided a personal experience. He told of purchasing a rundown farm in Canada many years ago. As he went about cleaning up and repairing his property, he came across a currant bush that had grown over six feet (1.8 m) high and was yielding no berries, so he pruned it back drastically, leaving only small stumps. Then he saw a drop like a tear on the top of each of these little stumps, as if the currant bush were crying, and thought he heard it say:

“How could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth. … And now you have cut me down. Every plant in the garden will look down on me. … How could you do this to me? I thought you were the gardener here.”

President Brown replied, “Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. I didn’t intend you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush, and someday, little currant bush, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down.’”

Years later, President Brown was a field officer in the Canadian Army serving in England. When a superior officer became a battle casualty, President Brown was in line to be promoted to general, and he was summoned to London. But even though he was fully qualified for the promotion, it was denied him because he was a Mormon. The commanding general said in essence, “You deserve the appointment, but I cannot give it to you.” What President Brown had spent 10 years hoping, praying, and preparing for slipped through his fingers in that moment because of blatant discrimination. Continuing his story, President Brown remembered:

“I got on the train and started back … with a broken heart, with bitterness in my soul. … When I got to my tent, … I threw my cap on the cot. I clenched my fists, and I shook them at heaven. I said, ‘How could you do this to me, God? I have done everything I could do to measure up. There is nothing that I could have done—that I should have done—that I haven’t done. How could you do this to me?’ I was as bitter as gall.

“And then I heard a voice, and I recognized the tone of this voice. It was my own voice, and the voice said, ‘I am the gardener here. I know what I want you to do.’ The bitterness went out of my soul, and I fell on my knees by the cot to ask forgiveness for my ungratefulness. …

“… And now, almost 50 years later, I look up to [God] and say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for cutting me down, for loving me enough to hurt me."

•••

All these thoughts might be a little scattered sorryyyyyyyyy 😂

When I hear this story or read it again and again, I always think about humility. I've learned that humility is one personality trait that if you think you have it, you don't. I think humility comes a little at a time when Heavenly Father puts us through a "refiners fire". Manhattan has been my refiners fire. While I've been in this CRAZY city, I've learned that my way is definitely not the right way. But HIS way is what brings blessings and happiness-- even when it's hard. Sometimes I'd rather be the fruit tree or the shade tree. But Heavenly Father has created me, Sister Bain, to be a currant bush. God is the gardener here and He knows what He wants us to be, what He needs us to be, and what we can become with His help and with the Atonement of Jesus Christ. As we are put through our own refiners fire, we see the need for our Savior Jesus Christ and we're humbled a little more each time. Accepting God's will IS NOT EASY. If it were easy we wouldn't grow and progress. What would be the point? I know that God is loving. I know that He knows each of us as individuals and I know that He loves us more than we can comprehend. I've felt His love over and over again and the times when I feel it most are the times when I've needed some correction. I know He loves me enough to cut me down so that I can grow closer to Him❤

I love being in Manhattan. There are some REALLY good people here. Marvin is doing really well. At church yesterday he said "Sisters, God is answering my prayers. Today was a good day." Sister Jacobsen and I could have started crying right then and there. He's getting there!!✌ Millie is good. We've given her a little space because she doesn't want to come to church until the weather gets warmer. But! She loves the Book of Mormon! 

Anyway. We were true New Yorkers and went to the Met today. It's cool. I like it here.

I hope you all have a good week and a Happy Valentine's Day! Remember, God loves you. 

I love you!! ❤❤❤

Love always,

Sister Bain 🍍

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." 

--John 3:16 

Sister Jacobsen

Sister Jacobsen

Sister Jacobsen

Sister Evans, Bain, Jacobesen, and Larsen

Snow and the Skyline

2017 02/06 "She said a friend of a friend referred her to the church..."

First of all. I can't believe Brianne is going HOME this week. What in the world. Has it really been 18 months already? 

Second, I hope Maggie had the best birthday ever yesterday ❤ She sent me the gold plates for Christmas hahaha 

**Story of the week**

I was walking and there was salt on the sidewalk and I always like walking on the salt and hearing it crunch (haha) but then this guy came running across the street yelling "Stop stepping on my meth!! What are you doing!!??" 😂😂😂 

So that's the story of when Sister Bain walked on illegal drugs in New York City.

(It really was meth because the police officers down the street had to clean off my shoes😂)

This week was full of miracles! Heavenly Father is sooooooooooo good to us (and our investigstors!!!!!) Millie is still getting baptized! Just not on February 18th.....but we're shooting for March!❤ Satan is super rude and is making it real hard for us to meet with her, but I know that she's prepared and everything will work out the way it's supposed to! Marvin is GOOD! He came to church yesterday and had a really good time. I think he got some prayers answered❤ We got a new investigator at church yesterday! Her name is Anne and she just showed up😂 She's from Brazil and is in New York studying photography. She said a friend of a friend referred her to the church and she woke up just in time to take the train to Manhattan from Brooklyn! She stayed for all 3 hours and LOVED it. She asked if she could keep the gospel principles book and nobody wanted to tell her no so she took it with her 😂 she said she really enjoyed Relief Society and wanted to come back next week! ❤❤❤ We got a couple other new investigstors that we're hoping to meet with! The Lord is preparing people in Manhattan!! 

I'm getting a new companion tomorrow so I need to go clean the apartment😂 Sister Jacobsen is coming to the Manhattan 1st Ward!! It's soooooooo fun because I knew Sister Jacobsen before the mission. We've gone to lunch and the temple together a couple of times so I'm SO excited to have her in the city with me!! ❤❤❤ (Pray that my subway navigation skills are up to par and we don't get lost!!) 

I love you all and I'm grateful for eternal families ❤

Don't forget to pray! 

Lots of love,

Sister Bain 🍍

Alma 13:28-29. Read it. ❤❤❤

 28 But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering;

 29 Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest.

Joshua got baptized last Sunday!! 

The Gold Plates I got from Maggie for Christmas 😂 HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET GIRL! 

District pics

Alma 13:28-29. Read it