Another Week in the Mission (Week #14)

Date: February 29, 2016 
Area: Paris 
Companion: Seour Archbold 

 Coucou Mes Amis! 

 I must say, this week has been full of surprises. I officially have a reputation too I think. "The Soeur who tries to pretend she is not actually a missionary." Haha not really, I just have this awful tendency to forget my plaque. I have been Soeur Kinder on multiple occasions, and then I was Soeur Clements on even more multiple occasions. And now I have the honors of being Soeur Archbold :) I guess I should be grateful I have companions who remember to wear two plaques every day... It is because I only have one! One fell off in the street my first week! But I am thinking about making a sign to hang on my door. Because remembering on my own doesn't seem to be a thing :) We had OFII at the beginning of the week. It is something for all new missionaries, in order for us to officially become legal in France. I won't bore you with the details of all the paperwork and the uncomfortable medical exams haha. But because it is for all new missionaries that came in with me, it was like giant reunion, and you would think we hadn't seen each other in years! It was way fun to see how everyone is doing though. We had six soeurs stay at our apartment, so that was 10 missionaries in one French apartment. Which may not mean a lot to you, but trust me, it is a lot... Haha. Worth it though! Me and Soeur Kinder definitely got to reminisce on some of our "old" memories from like 1 whole month ago ;) I had a few really good moments this week that stick out to me. We had a "jour de consecration," or a finding day. It is this new thing we are doing where we don't schedule lessons or anything as a district, and we just go out and we find new people to teach. And I was stoked because I got to go back to my old stomping grounds, the great sector of St. Ouen. I really do miss that place so much. But me and Soeur Archbold contacted this woman who proceeded to go off on kind of a rant about how she was a missionary for 12 years and how it was pointless and a waste of time and about how we are brainwashed and she went on and on... and on. So we tried to share a little message with here, and then we left. But Soeur Archbold said something that kind of made me stop and think. There is a reason that missions are 2 years and not 12. Because, while we should always be missionaries, there is a time for everything. And we should also start families, and get educated, and gain experience. But I am just so grateful that I have these 18 months to be completely consecrated to the Lord and to finding His children. It isn't going to last forever. In fact, it is already going by scarily fast. And I am just so happy that I am able to be so focused. Because I am never going to be able to be this consecrated to the work again . But for now I am. And I am having the best time finding people and teaching and just doing my best to be led by the Spirit. Oh and this was my highlight of the week I think! Not even a huge story, but it just made me happy :) I love simple things that just make me smile and love people. We have this ami, Philip, who is dating a member in the ward. But we have been teaching him, and he is British and a very intellectual thinker. And he was comprehending what we were teaching, but we could tell he wasn't really "feeling it." And then at church, he came up to us and said, "I felt the Spirit!" and he was kind of really excited so we were kind of really excited, and we talked to him about it later. And he couldn't describe what he felt exactly, but he recognized it. And he liked it, and he knew it was testifying of something good. I know that when we start to feel the Spirit, it is something familiar. Because we are children of God, and we have it within us to recognize it :) I am grateful for Him. He makes me happy, as all our amis and members do. I am grateful to be given hard experiences that test my patience, but also good ones to remind me that it is all so worth it. I am going to keep working hard. I just love it. I love all of you. I think about you and pray for you all. the. time. I hope that you can feel my love and support :) I can feel yours! 

 Soeur Trotter

We have a pretty view too :)

 ​Cool French street :)

 Galeries La Fayette, where you can get a pretty shirt for the fine price of 3,000 euros :)

​Helping the Elders move out of their apartment into a new one :)

Baptism! (Week #13)

Date: February 22, 2016
Area: Paris

Companion: Seour Archbold

Well Mes Amis,

I am officially settled in a location SUPER far away from my last ville. About 5 miles to be exact ;). But it is really weird when people ask me where I live, and I can say "Oh! I live in the quatorzième!" As in one of the arrondissements of Paris. It's some pretty high class living. It is really weird, because I am not far away from my last area at all, but the people there are so much more humble and just live in such worse conditions. It is interesting to see the difference.

Soeur Archbold is my new companion, my new mom, as she is the one finishing up my training. :) And she has already been here for three transfers! But she is an incredible missionary. I have seriously lucked out with my companions. And that is all I will say about that because me and Soeur Clements found that I have really really bad luck and a way at jinxing everything. So if I say I have good companions too much, then my next one will be.. well like I said, I won't talk about it haha :)

But I cannot wait to tell all of you the ways that I have been blessed this week. I cannot even count them. I think it is so crazy that just last week, I received such an unexpected transfer change, and I was all "woe is me" and "why would this be the plan He has for me" and "I am not ready to leave St. Ouen!" I was honestly kinda complainly and grumpy and confused. I mean, I was excited for what was to come, but definitely caught off guard. And I am constantly amazed at the ways that I am reminded that His ways are higher than my ways.

Now this is where it gets exciting. Day 1! It gets exciting DAY ONE. How cool is that?! We got a call from another Soeur équipe, who said that they had a referral for us, and wanted us to meet this "Zoe" with them, so they could pass her to us to teach. And we were excited. But we had NO IDEA what was going to hit us. I want you all to picture the cutest little dark haired woman that you have ever met, who is kind to everyone and a little shy and just adorable.

Zoe is French, but she lived in Florda most of her life. And she is seemingly perfect. Well, I have yet to find a problem :)

And in that first rendez-vous, she told us that she wants to be baptized. ON MARCH 12! What? three weeks away?! And we have spent a lot of time with Zoe since then, and she is so excited for her baptism, and she comes to church, and came to Matheo's baptism. :)

I didn't know why I was called here. And I honestly believe that Président Babin didn't know why I was called here. But in Day 1, in my new area, I found out why. I have learned things from her that I needed to learn, and I know that me and Soeur Archbold needed to meet her and teach her.  What an answer to my prayers... I am so lucky that I have someone who knows better than me what I need. And who guides me to certain places with certain people who impact me. :)

And Matheo's baptism was incredible. I am so glad I was able to go. Soeur Clements wasn't able to make it, too far away, but Matheo's face was just bright all day and he was so excited. It was his 10th birthday the day before, and we both agreed it was a pretty good birthday present, to be baptized :) He is such an example to me. He bore his testimony after and cried, as we all did. And I was just reminded of how perfect little kids are :) and how perfect he is for wanting to be good and be better and follow Jesus :)

I feel like I am living in a dream. So many people would die to live in this apartment that I live in, and be able to see what I am able to see every day. And those are all great things, that I live over the catacombs and go to church next to Centre Pompidou, and see all of these cool things. But so much greater is that every person I talk to, I am giving them a chance to feel something special, something familiar.

Being a missionary is amazing. It includes not-such amazing things like eating muscles with tongues and dealing with grouchy ward members are being out late on cold nights. But the good always wins over the bad things. And by the end of the week, I don't even remember the bad things. :)

But I hope you all know I pray for you and think of you and wonder how you are :) I hope you are all doing well :) I am grateful I have so much support. I was looking at how many people are on my email list and I said wow, I have a lot of people who love me. 110 to be exact :) I am one lucky missionary.

Can't wait until next week. Who knows what will happen this week! I am done making predictions. I am always wrong haha :) ALWAYS.

A Bientôt,

Soeur Trotter

 Zoe!

Happiest Day Ever!!! 

Our Last Day Together!

The Day St. Ouen Died (Week #12)

Date: February 15, 2016
Area: St Oeuns 2 
Companion: Seour Clements

Bonjour mes amis, 

Just as a forward- see if you can feel the stress I feel as I type this! It's been a CRAZY WEEK. 

I'm not really sure how to start this letter. Partly because I'm sad and partly because I'm excited and mostly because I am just super confused. This week started out normal, as most things do in my life, but somehow I always attract the most unusual of situations. Which can be fun, as I'm sure this next experience will be, but they can also be stressful and well, like I said before, confusing. 

So that you all know what I am talking about, I will start my story on a lovely Saturday Morning. Just kidding, it was actually raining. BUT Friday, Soeur Clements and I had taught three extremely strange lessons. Three extremely strange lessons that involved a Pasteur, Jacqueline, who we have discovered is a tad bit...NUTS, and an inactive member who only wants us so that we will teach her daughter to sing. And so needless to say, we came home that night, planned for Saturday, and got a much needed night of sleep. Well, Saturday morning came along and we started to study. But those studies were soon interrupted by a phone call. And let me just tell you, you're heart starts beating real fast when you see the name "President" pop up. And if we are being honest, my first thought was, "oh no. Something blew up. Something happened in Paris and we are all gonna die." But after a second we remembered what day it was, and we just looked at each other and said. "Oh no. It's transfer calls today..." We had completely forgot! 

And for those of you who don't know what that means, every six weeks is transfers, and you find out if you are staying in your area, or if you are being moved to some other place in this country. And President Babin only calls you if you are being moved to a leadership position! And because I am a blue (a new missionary in training,) I am supposed to be with Soeur Clements (my trainer) for at least two transfers. And my heart just dropped. Because I knew I wouldn't be made an STL (sister training leader) as a blue! Which means she would be booted from St. Ouen, leaving me with a new companion after just one transfer! A new companion and not to mention a whole lot of crazy investigators! And I just said a little prayer that maybe the call was about something else...

And it's kinda funny because I have been telling Soeur Clements all transfer she was made to be an STL. And she doesn't think so! But even with that heartfelt prayer, I had another little correction, of Him telling me that our wills weren't gonna align this time. Sooo Soeur Clements is moving this Wednesday to be a leader up in the North, in Villeneuve d'Ascq! And I am sad, but at the same time, I am so confident in her abilities to be a leader and example for all the other sister missionaries up there. We only got one transfer, but I know we will always be close. 

But now that leaves my fate... What was gonna happen to me?! Who would my companion be? And this is where my life, once again turns into a series of unexpected events... As always :) 

When they sent out the list of companionships and what not, I could NOT find St. Ouen. It wasn't even on the list. But after lots of searching and searching and starting to freak out, I found my name. And it wasn't in St. Ouen. It was in Paris, with Soeur Archbold, who was actually the MTC companion of Soeur Clements. And she is the STL in Paris. Which means, I am moving to Paris on Wednesday to be a Sister Training Leader... In my second transfer... It's gonna be interesting to see how this one plays out. I was wrong. It apparently is possible after all. Although apparently this is like the first time this has happened... I would truly think president had lost his mind if I didn't have so much faith in him being an inspired man. 

BUT with that, they are actually closing St. Ouen to sisters. So we are the last sisters to serve here for a while. We don't know why, President just feels that that would be best. Apparently this whole thing was his idea. But we actually have heard a few people say it is for our security, with everything that went on a few months ago being in our area. But for whatever the reason, it is leading to the elders moving into our apartment. So we have to clean the whole thing out, not to mention Matheo's baptism on Saturday and saying bye to everyone and trying to fix my broken camera and oh my... So little time to do so many things. 

All I know is I'm sad because now our Amis don't have people to teach them. And I didn't feel like my work was finished here. I still don't, so we shall see what comes of this. I know that President Babin is called of God to be a mission president here in France though, and I know he is inspired to make the best choices for us. Even if we don't agree with them. 

Honestly I'm freaking out because I don't feel qualified at all to do this. Sometimes I don't even feel qualified to be a missionary. And I'm sure Soeur Archbold is freaking out that she has to be a leader and finish training a new missionary. But I have so much confidence that this is happening for a reason. And so much confidence that we can do it. Don't ask me how, because I have no idea. But we can. I'm a serious believer that all missionary work takes is a love for the people. Because when you love the people you want to try and work hard and that is when you sincerely pray and see miracles, Everything comes back to love. And no matter if I am inexperienced or experienced or ready or not, one thing I AM confident in saying is that I love these people. 

But now I want to finish up with a few happy things. Saturday we also had a cool opportunity with our district to go to Paris, the church is actually right by the Pompidou Museum. And we sang in the rain with our wet hymn books and umbrellas and it brought a spirit to the streets of Paris. And we also sang on metros and in the gare. It was really cool. 

And me and Soeur Clements have been saying bye to everyone and we actually had an amazing lesson with our Filipinos last night. It was the first time I cried in a rendezvous and none of them could deny the Spirit was there. I am super excited too because I am only one sector over, so I get to still see them! Yay! 

Anyways, I could write more but I don't want to talk your ears off :) it's just been a crazy week in every way, but I get to finish it off by going to little Matheo's baptism. So all is well :) and I'm excited. 

I learned this week that sometimes God takes something good away from us to give us something better. I'm not saying that the people in Paris are better, but maybe there is someone there that really needs me :) I know even though me and Soeur Clements are doing things we never would have chosen, it's because the big guy upstairs knows best. I know that that is true. I don't for a second question that President felt this was right, and I'm gonna trust that and go with the flow. 

So wish me luck. I already know Soeur Archbold. She's in my district. And she is amazing :) 

I hope that all of you are doing well. I think of you often. I can't wait to share some more pictures and moments with you! Keep in touch!

Soeur Trotter

Fun fact: I'm gonna live literally above the catacombs now. That's pretty cool! 

 Us with our Filipino family! Cathy in the middle and Malou next to me, Agnes on the other end. Saying bye to Soeur Clements was hard for them :(

 Super pretty part of St. Ouen as you can see. Just had to get a pic :)

 The district! Holding up what transfer we are in! Soeur Archbold is actually the one next to Soeur Clements :) thats my new companion starting Wednesday! 

That moment we "killed" Soeur Clawson with a giant Livre de Mormon. She's dying as in going home this week :)

Hangin out in Paris!

Creole and Chaos With The Kids (Week #11)

Date: February 8, 2016
Area: St Oeuns 2 
Companion: Seour Clements

Bonjour à tous,

This week was a pretty typical week in the mission field. Well, typical for this mission. I have learned that "typical" in the France Paris mission consists of lots of Africans that are hard to understand, cancelled appointments, interested men (not sure if they actually care about the message) and lots of people who are factually genuinely interested. And usually I eat Lots of pastries in between
those things. So if I ever say a week is normal, that's usually what that entails.

But a few fun things that happened this week. We have this ami de l'église, Marie-Clausette- if any of you remember her, she is the one that fell asleep in our first lesson. Yes, somehow she is progressing and keeping commitments. :) But she has been so frustrating for me because she is from Haiti and I cannot understand her accent to save my life. And we brought a member from Haiti with us this week to help teach and maybe give her a friend in the ward. And when we left after the appointment, she just looked at us, and was like "that woman in there was not speaking French. That was definitely Haitian Creole.
With some French mixed in..." But now I can confidently say I feel better about my language abilities! So funny! Marie-Clausette is such a character! She's the only person I have ever met who's favorite scripture is about Lehi pitching his tent in a valley. :) but we love her. We just love all our Amis so so much.

We have been meeting with the Filipino woman I contacted and her mom and aunt. And they are amazing. Their culture is so welcoming and they treat us like family. And they don't have much but they give us everything they can. And I am amazed by them. The aunt, Malu, has so many questions and interests in what we believe and me and Soeur Clements just get this amazing feeling that she will get baptized one day. I love teaching everyone. People that have been passed to us from previous missionaries, friends of members, but I feel a special love for them because we found them by walking down a street on a freezing night when we were tired and cold. But we kept going. I know when we keep going and don't stop is when I will see the most miracles.

But I am just having so much fun. My ward is incredible and they are hilarious and supportive and just amazing. Some of them are odd, but that is what makes it so fun! There is so much personality!

There are these kids we teach right now, I will send a picture. And they are sooo wild. And the little boy Pierre. He just knows so much and he isn't even 8 yet! He answers all our questions and he keeps this Book of Mormon and has all the missionaries sign it! His dad is less active but I just love that family. The kids always steal our name tags and pretend they are the missionaries. They teach great lessons. In better French than I can pull off. ;) haha

I hope you all know how much I love these people. Missionary work is so much bigger than I thought it was. We are able to help little old women get to the grocery store when they can barely walk. And we get to visit the lonely members of the ward, and we get to help less active members remember what joy they once felt from coming. And we get to help new people find this gospel, who didn't even know they were searching! Isn't that the greatest?!

I saw this quote and loved it- "We must develop the capacity to see men not as they are at present but as they may become when they receive testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ." That was Monson. I love him. I am learning a mission is just that. Everyone has potential because everyone needs this gospel. Not everyone wants it, but they all need it.

I am grateful to be a part of this missionary force. And I am grateful for my Father in Heaven who called me to this place through his Prophet and Apostles. They really are called of God and lead us.

I hope all of you try to be missionaries- through trying to see people not as they are but who they can become with Jesus Christ. And know that I'm rooting for all of you in your challenges and in your lives. I have he best support system ever. I'm so lucky! :)

The face of two missionaries who just finished emails and were about
to go to a lesson and the woman won't call us back... FRUGED.

Kisses to Heaven (Week #10)

Date: February 1, 2016
Area: St Oeuns 2 
Companion: Seour Clements

Bonjour all my favorite people,

This week was sooo interesting. It went by so fast. And we had some of our hardest moments and some of our best moments and some of our funniest moments. Crazy how that happens. We were out of control busy with meetings, and splitting up with other missionaries for "exchanges," and we had moments when we really just wanted to go to bed. The life of a missionary.

One funny story that will probably be remembered my whole life, is when we went to go teach our amis, Tina, Sam, and Gideon. When we arrived, they were actually not really expecting us, despite our appointment that we had recently scheduled. That seems to happen a lot here. But they had friends over, including a famous singer from Ghana and his producer. And they wanted to pray with us and know all about us. They were so loud and when they prayed, all I can really say is they prayed with "SPIRIT." They might as well have been dancing and I
probably wouldn't have noticed a difference. Haha and they were sending kisses up to heaven, and singing and yelling and it was spiritual whiplash if there ever was such a thing. So lesson learned-when in France, or anywhere really, you can't really predict how a lesson will go. It NEVER goes how you think it will haha. But we always seem to leave with smiles on our faces, and usually a pretty fast heartbeat.

I love how much people here love Jesus Christ. They have such a strong belief that they can do anything with Him. It is so amazing. Everything is "grace à Dieu." Or thanks to God. And they really do mean it. I have taught a lot of people here, and I know they learn through me. But I also know that I have learned so much through them, in each rendez-vous and with each individual. They teach me about the blessings that come from looking outside myself, and that come from giving your whole self to the work.

This week was full of many embarrassing moments, like when I started stuttering sooo bad in my interview with the president (B-b-b-bonjour!)' and when Soeur Clements tumbled down the stairs in the Gare, or the train station. And frustrating moments when we couldn't get through to investigators in our lessons. But we also had moments when investigators thanked us for all we do for them, or when people we had lost contact with called us to see when we can meet again. And I'm learning that things always end up how they are supposed to.

I just feel so lucky today to be a missionary. To do the same work that Christ himself did, and the same work that every prophet has been a part of. It really is a high and holy calling. Every week is different and has hard moments, but the moments I always seem to remember are good moments. The bad ones seem terrible in the moment, but once they are over, they are over. But the good ones really seem to last.

And slowly, I'm starting to see some cool things here. We can't see everything because of the recents events that happened, and it might not be safe, but I finally saw Notre-Dame!

I hope you all know that missionary work is for missionaries but also it is just for everyone. Never hesitate to smile at someone or compliment them, and never hesitate to share your faith with others. Life is hard doe everyone in different ways, but someone's weakness could be your strength, and we can really help others.

I love you all. It's been another week in paradise :) keep in touch! I love hearing from all you!

Beaucoup d'amour,
Soeur Trotter

With some members, and little Matheo- getting baptized on 20th! Right after 10th bday! Yay!