"Hey Guys, is it just me, or did the elevator stop?" (Week #57)

Date: December 26, 2016
Area:#5 Orléans
Companion: Soeur Robertson 

Hello Everyone :)

First things first, I hope that you all had a fantastic Christmas! Christmas in Orléans was a week full of miracles. Christmas Eve was district meeting, which was held in the Orléans Soeurs apartment. Which, seemed like a good idea. But by the time the Elders left, I wasn't even positive that it was the Orléans Soeurs apartment apartment. Haha the place was... messy. We will leave it at that. We were able to make cookies all together though and then we headed out on the town, where we handed out cookies to people we saw who might have needed an extra smile this Christmas! :) it was super fun to be all together and to be doing an act of service. The day started out good because that morning, me and Soeur Robertson ran to the store to grab something for the cookies, and on our way back, we found a woman who was struggling to get down the street. She was juggling her groceries and a cane. Her name is Joelle. Well, as we approached Joelle, we walked by, and I felt something tell me to just turn back, to ask her if she needed help. So we did. And as we helped her, this poor woman just collapsed in the street. And for a second we didn't know what to do. We were able to help her get situated on a nearby bench though, with our superhuman strength of course, where she proceeded to tell us a little about her life. Something that I remarked though, is that even we were late to district meeting, I was looking at this woman and suddenly didn't feel so rushed anymore. We weren't able to do a ton for her this Christmas, but I think that that 30 minute conversation did us all a ton of good :)

Well, if that didn't set the day off with a bang, I don't know what would. But it is true that we were able to have a white elephant gift exchange, bond a little, serve some people. After our adventure of delivering cookies to people on Christmas, we headed back to our apartment. The Blois elders had a train to catch, and we all had places to be with members that Christmas eve. Well, let me just say this. French elevators are extremely small. They say they fit 5 people, but those people better be pretty small, because once an Elder sees that there is a really small elevator that fits five people but that doesn't look like it, they have to try. Haha well, we fit five people alright. But those five people didn't actually make it to the 4th floor where the soeurs live. It went up, up, up, made a bang sound, a light bulb fell out of the ceiling, and then it stopped. right in between the second and the third floor! And just like that, we were stuck. With one poor Elder on the outside who didn't have a phone, or the french vocabulary to use, if he did have a phone. So, you can say us missionaries all got pretty close this Christmas Eve. Literally. We were in their for over an hour as we waited for help. It was a learning experience for us, but it made for an adventure as well. Nothing ever goes the way that it is supposed to. I'm learning to roll with it. :)

This Christmas, it was a party. We were able to go with a family in our ward to their house, which is about an hour into the countryside, and so it was a pretty tranquille Christmas day. We were able to eat some escargot, with is surprisingly good, some caviar, which is not as good, some duck, some other things that I don't really have a name for. And we literally ate all day. They don't know how to stop! Oh la la! Like 8 courses! And it was really funny actually because they were feeding us so much food, that finally it was getting late, and we were all, "Do you mind if we skype our families now?" And they are all like, "Of course not! Head on upstairs! But make sure you leave enough time for the last two courses of the meal!" Me and Soeur Robertson said many a prayer that night. :)

But overall, it was a fantastic Christmas. A less active, Marie-Pierre, who we visit every week, received news from the doctor that her cancer is getting worse, and she was having a pretty sad Christmas. It was fun to stop by and surprise her with some Christmas songs and a little gift, and to just spend some time together. It is funny, because I remember last Christmas I was away from home as well, and while it is sad, both Christmas's, I have been able to still be with people I love, even if it is not family, and the message remains the same. It is fun to see people smile through little acts of charity, and it is fun to be able to celebrate Christ :)

Well, enough with Christmas. This week we stopped by our investigator M'Biya, and we taught the restoration which went really well. She wants to be baptized on February 11th, so we set that as a date and will be working towards it. Our amie Audrey-Rose is excited to be baptized as well. Basically Orléans is blowing up with people who are prepared. It is so true that God knows where each one of his prepared children are, and He knows how to find them! And we are blessed enough to be used as His instruments in doing so. And he leads us and guides us and waits for us to listen. And when we do, miracles happen. :)

I love you all. I miss you a ton but I just love where I am and the people I am with. They are pushing me to keep working with all my heart, might, mind, and strength, and they are helping me to have a ton of fun!

I will talk to you all soon :)

Soeur Trotter

This is the closest I am going to get to being in the family Christmas Card this year!.... (:

Decorating our amis christmas tree! 🎄 :) it was such a sad one!

Christmas Lights in Orleans!

I own this district! ;) haha

Christmas Day with the Duytsches!

That was one long, tight elevator ride! :) If we weren't friends before, we are now (: 

Simplice is Life. And This Week His Literally Found it. Eternal Life, that is. :) (Week #56)

Date: December 19, 2016

Location: #5 Orléans

Companion: Soeur Robertson

         Okay. So I think that hands down the best part of my week was this Saturday. Haha we got to the church about an hour before the baptism, to practice the musical number that we would be performing, and Soeur Campos de Silva, a member of our ward who was there preparing the baptismal font, comes out to greet us. "He has already been at the church for two hours, maybe you should go talk to him?" So we look at each other and we are like, why is Simplice at the church three hours before his baptism? So we looked through the church for him, and we found him! Sitting in the kitchen at the table reading his scriptures! And when he saw us, I don't know I have seen a happier face in the history of ever. For the next hour, Soeur Robertson practiced our musical number while Simplice dragged me around the church having me take pictures of him in every hallway, every angle, in his suit, or all dressed in white. He was just so excited!

I am going to be honest. Whenever I pictured having one of my amis get baptized, I always imagined the missionaries as the people planning it all out, calling people to give talks, coordinating everything. Haha I think that that is normal.. Well, Simplice, he likes things his way. He knew exactly who he wanted to baptize him, what drinks he wanted after, what hymns he wanted to sing. It was actually really nice. We thought that we were going to get to sit back and relax. But we didn't get let off that easy. ;) Turns out Simplice wanted every one to baptize and confirm him, and me and Soeur Robertson found ourselves having to follow Simplice around, uninviting people to confirm him and so forth. He just loves everyone a little too much is all, and it seemed as though every one was getting invites. And THEN the best part is that he hired one of the young adults in the ward to order a ton of patisseries for everyone and he paid him to do it! And the night before the baptism, we went to the church, and we found the fridge packed FULL of drinks that Simplice had brought. That is the last time that I tell an investigator that we are going to be having a little

"goûter" after the baptism. Haha in english that would be a few little refreshments. Well, I was like, "SIMPLICE! We don't actually know who is coming to the baptism!" Haha and he just looks at me and is like, "Soeur Trotter, I am so sick of you saying "petit this and petit that. This is no normal baptism. This is Simplice's baptism. This is a party. I want a GRAND goûter!" Haha well, he got one, that is for sure :) The baptism was a success. People did come, but that isn't what made it such a special day.

Everything went as planned, the talks were given, the Spirit was felt. But I can't explain the feeling of joy that came into my heart as I watched Simplice walk into that baptismal font. There are no words so I won't try and put any. But it was a moment that I am going to remember forever. It put everything in perspective for me. I saw this child of God walking into the font, spiritually opening a door that is going to affect his life forever. Simplice is a lot of things, but odd as he is, he KNOWS the importance of the decision he was making that day.

Just after the baptism, the four missionaries here in Orléans, we had the opportunity to sing How Great Thou Art. Not gonna lie, we had run through it once, I realized right before the baptism that I couldn't hit one of the notes, and basically none of us really wanted to do it. But we did. It ended up being okay! And as we sat down, I looked over at Simplice, and he just had tears streaming down his face. And he went up to the front, and shared his sweet simple testimony. That he knew that what he had done, changed him forever. That God had led him, helped him, been with him to help him find his way, and he found it, and that God, really is great, and He is a Father in Heaven who never leaves His children.

After the baptism, we did indeed have a party. Don't worry, I will attach photos. And don't worry. I will start next week by talking about some of the other amazing people I have met. They exist. I promise it isn't just me and Simplice over here. ;) haha not that I would complain. That man is hilarious. But no, it is so true that I can't count the ways that the Lord is blessing us.

I think that something that I learned a lot about this week is joy. So many times I wonder how someone ever gets to the point of having complete joy. I thought, to be honest, that it was possible that that is how it was for missionaries. I never knew, but I thought that maybe the Spirit was always so strong, the miracles were so present, that I would be able to have joy all the time. False. Well, to a certain extent. I cannot say that I am happy 100% of the time. I still miss people a lot, and our amis disappear sometimes, and we walk in the door at night wondering if we did all that we could. We aren't happy all the time. But when I pause, to look at what the Lord has given me, when Simplice was in that font, and everything stood still for a second, I knew, that in my life I have joy. There is no greater joy that comes than from seeing the hearts of people change. There really isn't. And so with everything else that goes wrong, with life, with missionary work, it was all swallowed up, in that one moment when I saw what God had led me to, what He made out of me, out of Simplice. He leads us to people that we need, who change us, and who change with us. He really is the entire difference.

So basically this week was a big one in the life of Soeur Trotter. I learn a lot, as always, and I am still working hard and having lots of fun. But I am also learning about what it means to have true joy. Which, as we know, really only comes through Christ.

Oh! And that reminds me! This week is Christmas! I wish that I could be with my family, but instead I will be eating escargot and frog legs, and if I am lucky some fancy foie gras as well, or for those English speakers out there, duck liver. The french really know how to live......:) Counting my blessing this is my last Christmas away from home ;) haha.

I love you all a lot :)

Soeur Trotter

That moment your best friend sends you a package and you can't wait until Christmas to open it, so you do and...

You realize that this is the proof that they really do love you!

The most amazing man in the history of forever :) What a golden guy. Best Day Ever.  

Simplice made sure there were enough drinks at his baptism, that's for sure!

Every Story Has a Happy Ending :) #baptism (Week #55)

Date: December 12, 2016

Location: #5 Orléans

Companion: Soeur Robertson

Well Everyone,

Once again I just have to say that Simplice is amazing. He put us through the ringer this week and I had like three nights this week when I wasn't actually sure what I was thinking or feeling or doing because of the emotional rollercoaster he took me and Soeur Robertson on, but it is once again Monday, we are all alive, and all is well. I probably have a few more gray hairs and I ate a little bit more chocolate than I would like to admit, but in the end, God is still looking out for me, and He is REALLY looking out for Simplice. Don't worry. I will explain.

Haha basically though, the week was good. Some of my best friends finished their missions, including Elder Trotter, so what else is there to do other than spending your last p-day on the top of a Ferris Wheel! Orléans looks a whole lot cooler from up high. But if you have a fear of heights I wouldn't recommend it. Poor Soeur Robertson. Good sport.

Oh! On Tuesday, we had the pleasure of heading out to Montargis! Soeur Duytche, a member in the ward, is the greatest, and once a week, she goes out with us for the whole day, because it is quite a ways away, and we visit about 5 people together and spend the day together. It always makes for a good time. And then we always eat lunch together somewhere in there. Haha but whoever handed Soeur Trotter the potato and the knife to help prepare lunch must not have heard of the recent church incident that I had. I have no idea what happened. I put the potato on the plate, cut it, and next thing I know there is no more plate and there are glass shards flying all over the room. There really was no more plate. That is how far every single piece flew. I am just not even going to try to explain that one... But it ended up being a good day. It was sad because a lot of our amis who live out there cancelled, and we ended up taking an earlier bus back into Orléans. But I just looked at Soeur Robertson and was like... Simplice. So we call Simplice, and you betcha he was free!

So that night, was the start of the rollercoaster that this blessed man took us on. That night, Simplice was... Simplice. He was so excited to be taught, and we were able to teach with Soeur Javoy from the ward, who was free last minute to come with us. It was the start of the commandments, and we were able to teach Word of Wisdom, which Simplice loves. The baptism is getting close, so we actually saw him every day this week, and without fail, Simplice continued to amaze us. He always comes to the church with his little box full of his books and manuals and brochures that he has collected since meeting with us, and he just soaks everything in!

Well, on Thursday night, Simplice came to our lesson, and things went well. But as he shared his testimony, as we talked a little bit longer, it was discovered that the baptism, after all, might not be happening on Saturday the 17th. It never ceases to amaze me how much the devil tries to hinder the progress of the children of God. Même the very elect. But something else that amazes me, is that if we keep our faith, if we keep believing that God will provide a way, He will. The elect will NOT be found wanting by Satan and if they remain valiant, God promises that we will have the strength to overcome.

            So having this knowledge and actually acting on it are two different things. But for the next few nights after that meeting with Simplice, I wanted it to be my goal. I just kept telling myself. God will provide a way. He will provide a way. My thought process was definitely all over the place, but at the end of each day, when I would see the picture of Christ on my wall, and when I would look at my picture of Simplice, I just knew. That because this man is so strong, so faithful, so diligent and detirmined, that God would provide a way. That Simplice, would be able to make it to baptism one day, because of this desire of His to follow the Savior of the World. I had no idea when it would be, but it's all on the the Lord's timetable, right?

Well, a few tears and countless prayers later, Simplice found out that he WOULD be able to be baptized. I don't know how to explain the joy that filled all of us four missionaries standing there in that chapel, or the joy that filled Simplice, as they came to tell us the news, but his face said it all, and I think ours did too. I can't describe the love of God that I was able to feel that night, I can't describe how much my testimony was strengthened in that our Father in Heaven really does have everything in His hands. The longer that I am here on this mission, the more and more I am realizing that this path to baptism, this path to eternal life that we are all on, is not an easy experience. It was SUPPOSED to be hard. It wasn't supposed to just be accepted by every one with no questions or trials along the way. It takes faith, it takes endurance, it takes realizing that even though it feels like we are never going to arrive at where we need to be, we can, and we will, if we keep our faith, if we have the TRUST that God knows all and that he directs our path.

I think that I learned a lot this week. Too much to tell you guys about that is for sure. As much as I would love to. But slowly and surely, I can feel God making more of me than I could ever make of myself.  He is taking me and molding me and loving me even though I'm probably not as lovable as He would like me to be ;) and at the end of each day, I love that I can speak with Him, that I can sit and ponder for a moment, and listen to Him. And if I listen hard enough and long enough, each time, I have the most incredible feeling that yes, He is there, that He knows it is hard, that He knows that I am not nearly as good as I could become. But that yes, He is proud of me, and that that day, I was a whole lot better than I was the day before. That I was enough.

9 I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.

10 And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me." Alma 29: 9-10

I know that God hath heard my prayers. I am so happy this week. It is so true that no greater joy comes than from seeing a child of God follow Him, and come unto Him. I hope you always remember Him and what He has done for you. As SImplice says, every time I ask him if he has had a good day, "Oui. Grâce à Dieu!" So true! It is thanks to God that we have what we have. Never forget it! :)

I love you all. I hope you know that I am over here working really hard, and yes, I am having a lot of fun! Can you not, when they add a giant ferris wheel right in the middle of town?

Foggy Days!

Headed for the Ferris Wheel! Elder Trotter's last P day Hoorah!

Orleans!

That is one big match right there!

Putting lights on our sapine! 

Found this gem of a photo of me and my best friend! :)

I am Freezing!! (Week #54)

Date: December 5, 2016

Location: #5 Orléans

Companion: Soeur Robertson

Hello!

This was a good week here in Orléans. I feel like I say that every week, but is it really possible to have a bad day in the service of the Lord? I will say though, the weather isn't exactly on our side. I don't know what God is doing up there or if He thinks it is funny to watch me and Soeur Robertson and all the other missionaries start stuttering when we talk to people, but whatever the case, IT IS FREEZING. Haha the cold here cuts to the bone, and it takes a good hour to numb up. But after that hour, I find that I am as good as new, and the work goes on. Nothing stops us missionaries! And God totally knows what He is doing because the more we are in the cold and willing to work through it, He just showers us with miracles; so overall, I love the cold :) And it made for a good laugh when I ran into the apartment the other night and stuck my feet in the shower. Soeur Robertson and I were seriously concerned, and there was some silence for a good five minutes, because of the discoloring of my foot. We couldn't tell if the blackish color was my foot, or if it was my shoe disintegrating because of how many hours we had been in the rain. :) Don't worry, it was the latter.

But on a more serious note, kind of, Simplice is doing great. He was freaking out for the transfer news because he doesn't want me and Soeur Robertson to leave. It was so cute! So when me and Soeur Robertson found out that we would both be staying, I knew just what I had to do. I had to tell Simplice that we were both leaving. Looking back, that was just mean, but it made it like 100 times better when he found out that I was kidding and that we would be staying! His baptism is coming up at the end of next week so we are super excited for that! He came up to us on Sunday, and he was like, "Hey, you, I am getting concerned. My baptism is coming up very soon and I haven't been taught everything. I need to see you every week this week so that I can be ready." Well, we weren't going to say no to that and Simplice is my favorite person in the world so of course we said yes. :) He is progressing in ways that I didn't know were possible. He is just a strong man, who is doing his best to follow Christ. But as time goes on, every time I see him there is something different. Yes, it is true he is always in a different suit, but it is more than that. The more that we change and decide to go closer to Christ, the more we become like him. Simplice is a crazy example to all of us here in the Orléans ward, and we are sooo excited for Him.

Haha the best part is, is that Simplice is obsessed with being invited to everything. If there is a baptism, he has to know about it. If there is a ward council, a ward picnic, a young adult activity, he has to know about it. And He has not missed a single activity. We are starting to keep count because we are wondering if there is ever going to be something that he cannot come to. So the other night, he found out that there was going to be a young adult activity. And he was so mad he wasn't invited! But this man is 40! Anyways, he came, that is for sure. Everyone loves him so it was fine but it was so funny to see him walk into the church bearing drinks for every one and getting all ready to party it up. Oh la la. Simplice. What a stud.

This week we were also able to see our amies, Line and Sophie. Sophie is a single mom, raising her daughter :) and while they don't believe in God, they are so welcoming and willing to listen and are open to learn new things. It was the hugest miracle to see them this week. It was funny because Line went to school this week and went home early with a broken leg. Her mom was rolling her eyes because she was saying that Line is always breaking something and it is super tiring. Haha reminded me of my family and Braden who is always breaking things :) haha but they were so cute! We talked about how God is our loving Heavenly Father. That is my favorite thing to share I think. It just makes me so happy! Every time I testify of my Father in Heaven, my heart just beats super fast and I get this happy smile on my face and a feeling rush through me that what I am saying is true. I have never been so sure of something in my life, than I am that we have a Father in Heaven who knows our names and our challenges, and who knows how to help us. And every time I tell someone, i know more and more that it is true. I love how that happens when I bear testimony. That in the end, I am benefited by it just as much as they are.

There is this scripture that I love in Doctrine and Covenants 123. It says this:

12 For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it--

13 Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven--

14 These should then be attended to with great earnestness.

15 Let no man count them as small things; for there is much which lieth in futurity, pertaining to the saints, which depends upon these things.

17 Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.

Think about it! It is pretty straight forward! I love that it says that we should waste and wear out our lives in sharing this gospel, based on what we know. That we should do it cheerfully. I decided a long time ago, that no matter how bad a day I am having, no matter how much I miss home or am tired or frustrated, I want every person that I talk to, to see the happiness and cheerfulness on my face of the message I bear. It is too important of a message to share with a frown or with laziness in my tone of voice. It needs to be shared for what it is. And it really is the happiest message in the world.

So smile guys, especially when you bear your testimony. The more I do it, the more happy I am, and I know that God is as well, for His message is one of happiness. :)

I feel so blessed this week. Time is ticking by and it goes faster and faster all the time. I am not ready to leave so it is good that I don't have to, and it is even better that this scripture says that we have to waste and wear out our lives, not just this year and a half. :) So in a way, I don't have to quit! EVER! Haha I love you all a lot, I hope that you have a good week.

        I am working hard and having a ton of fun :)

Soeur Trotter

It is getting so cold! You can't see how cold it was, but  oh la la, I couldn't breathe!

Transfer 8 is already over! What?!

Elder Trotter's Dying Photo! haha

Orleans is so pretty!