Am I French Yet? No... But Maybe Tomorrow! (: (Week #9)

Date: January 25, 2016
Area: St Oeuns 2 
Companion: Seour Clements

Well Mes Amis,

Another week has come and gone in this mission experience. It's funny what happens when you are busy. The days go by. Each day slow, and each week pretty fast. 

I'm having a hard time adjusting to a new country still, but it's better! It doesn't feel like home just yet, but the people who I am close with are becoming family. So that is pretty awesome. I've always cared more about people than location anyways, so I'm fine with it. 

The people here are brutally honest. Haha it's great. Kind of makes me wonder how they grew up, but not gonna lie, it's fun to watch. Haha until they say stuff to ME. For example, one of the women in my ward touches my face and tells me that I have pimples. Which I don't! Haha Sister Clements has been told she has gotten fat, and Soeur Touret, a woman in my ward, looks at me sometimes like I'm some sort of alien and just tells me I'm very bizarre. They love us, but someone somewhere in their lives forgot to tell them how compliments work. 

Oh and my family has pointed out to me that I forgot to tell everyone what became of the trajet tragedy. No fears, I got my companion back. I found her at the next stop on the metro dying of laughter. Haha. 

But overall France is good. I still hate cheese. We had Soirée Familiale (FHE) the other night with a family in the ward. and they had us all tasting all their different cheeses. One of the most stressful experiences ever because I REALLY don't like it. The things you do for members. But they just kinda watched with confused stares as I cut off a slice that could probably only be seen under a microscope. I'm really trying I swear. It's a process. 

Everyday I'm here I am learning something new. I keep something I call a Hand of the Lord Journal, and every night I record one tender mercy of the Lord I saw that day, or one moment when I felt His presence in my day. And I truly do see His hand everywhere. 

Yesterday, we were counting our numbers for the week, how many lessons we have taught, how many new investigators we have received, how many less active members we visited. And our numbers were very low. We had cancelled discussions, investigators dropping off the face of the planet, and no luck in walking around in the cold trying to find people to listen. And we counted these numbers, and just looked at each other. And the mood in our room went from happy to glum in a matter of seconds. 

What were we doing wrong? Did we not talk to enough people? Do the investigators not feel what they used to? And our District Leader, the Elder ahead of our area, texted us. He told us about how he used to talk to people for hours and hours with no luck. 

And it was a complete reminder to us that this work is hard. People here really don't like us for the most part. They can be snobby and mean and just plain rude. But those people are not prepared. And that is okay. It makes me so excited to find those who are. And they are here. I don't know if we have found them yet, but I know that all over the world, people are being prepared. It's the greatest message in the history of forever. 

That was a hand of the Lord moment for me because I was reminded that my list of numbers is nothing. These are people, actual people who need this gospel in their lives. Life is really hard. And as soon as we make it through one trial, another comes. That's how it works. But we also have a promise that someone a lot greater than ourselves died for us so that He could walk with us through those trials. 

I love you all very much. I hope you remember that even on our worst days, if you think hard enough, there's probably still one moment in each of your days in which He was there. Because I know He is there, sometimes He is just harder to see. 

I love what I'm doing. 

And I always ask my missionary friend Elder Randrianaivo, who is from France, if I sound French yet. And he always says, "Pas encore, demain." Or "not yet, maybe tomorrow." Haha and then laughs at me. 

And so to all of you who are wondering if I sound French yet, my answer to you is, NO. But maybe tomorrow ;) wish me luck. :) 

Soeur Trotter

Trajet Tragedy (Week #8-Clearly Alyssa hasn't learned not to use the word "tragedy" in email titles to family yet (:

Date: January 18, 2016
Area: St Oeuns 2 
Companion: Seour Clements

Bonjour Mes Amis,

Slowly, very slowly, but surely, I am adjusting to this new country. The more I'm here though the more I realize I'm an American at heart. I miss my wide open spaces. There aren't many of those in San Clemente anyways. But France is becoming my home more and more each week. Although let me tell you, there is nothing that makes you look more like a tourist than "trajet tragedies." Haha. The other night we were told by one of our amis, that a man died on the metro (trajet) in Paris, by getting his coat stuck in the metro doors. And once those doors shut, they really don't open. ONE DAY LATER, I am walking with my companion, and we really don't want to miss our metro. Because it would have just been so terrible if we had to wait five minutes for the next to come. Haha but anyways, she gets on, and I hear the signal that the doors are about to close. But I really wanted to make it on.

And we keep our purses pretty attached to us on our arms so no one steals them. And as I get on the metro, the doors close on my purse! And I swear my life flashed before my eyes. Haha and using all my force, I pull that thing out and just eat it. Causing about five Parisians to come to my rescue. And my companion rode off Into the distance on that metro. It was terrifying. And now that the moment has come and gone, it is just one make thing to add to my long list of embarrassing moments. It's always me!

French is getting better. I understand more and more everyday, and I try so hard to speak better, but it is still a struggle. So many people have so man have accents and most of my time here I forget I am in France and not Africa. Everyone is from there!

Yesterday though, we had an amazing experience. We decided to set out contacting. Sunday is a great day for that. Families are together, and no one is at work. And we went somewhere we had never been before. So we picked a road, and started walking. And it was so cold! But we kept walking, taking turns talking to people. And I get so scared. But I did it. And I introduced myself to this young woman, and she right away asked us if we could come to her place to testify to her family and to her of what we have to share. And just like that, we have new Amis. They were the nicest people I have met in France, living in the most humble of circumstances. And they listened and had questions, and it was amazing. I felt the Spirit working through us and testifying.

I really needed that. Yesterday was a hard day for me, struggling with feeling of inadequacy and just missing home. And they were a great reminder to me of why I must talk to everybody. I don't know who the Lord is preparing, and in what ways. And if I had not spoken up, we would not have met, me and Soeur Clements would not have born testimony, and people who were prepared might not have had that experience. I am grateful that everyday I can improve. I look at these people and I see them with a weird sort of love I've never felt for anyone. And more and more everyday I am seeing through Christ's eyes. They all need this message, to know he loves them individually.

I hope you all know I am doing good. I have such hard days sometimes, but mostly it is just all in my head. I know if I focus on others and not me, I will be okay. And that's been such a comfort. I love these people.

I hope you know I love you all very much. I am excited to see you again soon. But for now I'm busy being a missionary :)

Much love,

Soeur Trotter

 Old Companion and New Companion 

 There is an Elder Trotter!

  This is an old MTC picture!

 Frozen Green Beans Still!

My street!

And So it Begins... (Week #7) and Finally in Paris

Date: January 11, 2016
Area: St Oeuns 2 
Companion: Seour Clements

Bonjour Tout Le Monde,

It's just a grand day as every other day in the mission field. Especially in Framce We are always so busy! I did not know it was going to be like this! I knew I would always be busy, but we have so many lessons, we hardly have any time to proselyte.

I am in St. Ouen, which has had a rumor of being a super sketchy place. So when I got called there, I told myself everyone was wrong. And when I arrived, I realized they were all telling the truth, and nothing but the truth. In fact, it was worse than they said. St. Ouen is right outside of Paris, in fact part of our Area is in Paris. But it is old
and poor, and just lots of scary people. It makes it harder for me to have a desire to approach people. But that is good. I need to get better at not being so nervous.

Everyone asks me what is different here from America. And lots of things are, but I was surprised at how much is the same. People drive cars, live in apartments, take the bus, drink Starbucks. It's just the little things that are different. Like how the light switch is on the outside of the bathroom and they use chairs instead of church pews in the chapel.

The first day I arrived, I did not understand a word. Well. Maybe a word. I got "Bonjour!" And that's about it. But I received the greatest blessing. I didn't know I was gonna be so lucky. But my companion has been teaching an American named Jacqueline, who doesn't know French but who lives here, sooo English it was. And I got to teach, it was a good way to ease my way into the French culture, haha.

We teach a lot of kids too. There are 10 kids that we teach in three different families, and they are my favorite. They fight over who gets to sit by the sister missionaries and they think we are the greatest thing to walk the planet. We get to teach them because some of them are 9 and so it is the missionary's job. I was hoping that I would just get to stay quiet because I have such a hard time with the language, but every time without fail, one of them will say "why don't you ever talk? I want you to teach!" So I have to! And they are usually understanding. But my friend Matheo, who is 9 said to me a couple days ago. "You talk now! Soeur Clements always does!" So I did, and then he interrupted about 30 seconds later and turned to Soeur Clements, and said "when are you gonna talk again so I can profit from your voice?" Haha he thinks I'm bad at it. I love how honest little kids are.

Everyday gets better though, my companion helps me a lot and she is so understanding and helpful. I don't think that my companion will be the problem this transfer. We have other problems.

To name a few, people fall asleep, for real fall asleep in our lessons. Or they will invite us over and then bash Joseph Smith, who I know is a prophet. Or they will not be home at the appointment time, or not keep commitments. But I know that if they are prepared, they will come to realize what this gospel is. I know that it is true. I know that my French suffers. A lot. And that I don't always say the right thing and that not everyone will listen to me. And I live in a scary city with lots of scary people.

But it's okay because I couldn't be happier than I am right now. I am Sharing with these people what I have felt in my heart and know to be true. I am teaching them about how families are together for eternity and about how we can be healed through Christ's Atonement. There is no greater message.

I know that for a little, I questioned if this mission was really what I wanted for me. But I'm learning more and more through the little corrections that God gives me, that it doesn't even matter if it is what I want for me, because it's what He has had planned for me since the beginning. And because of that, I don't care that I don't speak French well and that people are rejecting me. There are people prepared who will listen.

Being a missionary is the greatest work, I am so blessed everyday by little miracles that I see. I wish I could write them all. We always seem to find people when we don't expect to. And none of them have been big moments so far, some don't really seem like Miracles in the moment. But when people keep a commitment that they said they would, or when a little boy who insulted your speaking tells you he loves you when you are feeling a little bit down, they sure seem like miracles.

Here's to another work filled week in the mission field! We don't get a break and I love it. I love you all, keep In touch, :)

Soeur Alyssa Trotter

 Consecration Hill

  Getting a new companion (Seour Clements)

Seour Clements and I

 The new missionary arrival at the airport

 All of the new missionaries

 Working Hard

 Breakfast for the 8 new sisters at the mission home on the first wednesday morning!

In a meeting!