Always a Fine Line... Awkward or Inspired? (Week #26) 6 Months Down!!

Date: May 23, 2016 

Location: Rouen 

Companion: Soeur Bennett

Hello My Beautiful Friends and Family,

This week was probably the longest week in my mission so far. I think it is because we had the oppurtunity to find literally all day every day. BUT finding days always lead to miracles so no one is complaining :) And I think that we can honestly say that rain or shine, that is just what we did. We FOUND. And we really did find. There are some people in this city that are seriously ready and who have open hearts to this gospel. It is so fun when we talk to people and you just know that they are taking everything in and pondering and asking themselves questions and asking us questions!

On Wednesday we decided to spend our time doing a little porting :)

But us missionaries don't have a weather report to look at, and when in Normandie, a weather report doesn't do you much good anyways because one minute you could be out sun bathing and the next you could be searchng for the nearest storm shelter ;). So needless to say, within ten minutes of our little door-to-door adventure, we were wondering where our feet were and our faith of some nice person letting us was seriously boosted :) It is amazing what rain will do. Especially when the rains falls sideways and you cant even try to escape it if you tried. BUT! We signed on for it as missionaries and I don't really think the Lord cares if it is pouring or if it isn't. Because if somebody on one of those streets was prepared in the sun, they were going to also be prepared in the rain, and we were dedicated to find them.

Well, it turns out no one on Wednesday was super ready for our message, or they weren't home. And me and Soeur Bennett were a little wet and a little tired and a little disappinted that no one had listened to us all day. But for some reason I kept having the words "You receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." Come into my head over and over and over again. And I remember we were walking in the cold, and Soeur Bennett just turned to me and said these words... "While they who reject this glad message, will never such happiness know."

And we realized that in that moment we were both happy and we realized we had been laughing all day and we had been happy all day and we hadn't complained at all, neither of us! And now it is one of those days that I will remember forever. Yes, because you can't forget that kind of cold, but you also because I can't forget that kind of faith building experience. Because the next day, walking down the street, we found our witness, after the trial of our faith. And her name is Ida :) and she is incredible and she is so ready. And me and Soeur Bennett are both so grateful that we had the chance to show Heavenly Father that we are willing to keep going even when it is hard :) And because of that, I believe He placed someone incredible in our way.

It is amazing to be a missionary. We have so many awkward moments as men try and bise us and we have to lean our heads back in a super uncomfortable way to dodge it, or we have to do special dances in people's driveways as we try and get their attention while they are using power tools in their garages. But then we also get to see people light up as they get slight glimmers and remembrances of their heritage and where they come from :) And as they remember their purpose :) I say it every week, but it could not be more amazing!

I love you all so much. If you are having a rainy day or a stormy time in your life, just remember that you WILL receive a witness after the trial of your faith. Now is just the time that we have to show Him what we are willing to choose in the midst of those trials. And we can always choose Him. Because it is the only intelligent decision there is to make. I know that I always want to have God on my side, the one who is all powerful and all understanding, and who has our lives in His hands. I want Him on my side. And He always is on our sides, rooting for us, cheering for us, and helping us.

I am so happy. I love Rouen, I love my companion, I love missionary work... and pastries. there is always that too. Life keeps getting better!

Lots of amour,

Soeur Trotter

"And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." -Ether 12:6