Soeur Alyssa Trotter: "Je vais être Mormon!!!" (Week #28)

Date: May 30, 2016

Location: Rouen

Companion: Soeur Bennett

Well Hello Everyone,

Before starting, I realize that the majority of you probably don't understand the title of my email. But I just want you to picture the cutest 71 year old woman in your mind's eye, and then picture her yelling that to me and Soeur Bennett as she walked down the street after a super good rendez-vous, with a super cute smile on her face. My whole life was made within seconds :) But we will get to that story later.

I will start off with just saying as well, that we are all fine from the flooding :) In fact, I didn't really even know that there was a flooding until I asked someone why I got so many emails about it :) Sylvie, our ami told us something about a lot of water and having to shut down some museums in Paris. And whether or not my blondeness finally got to me or she didn't explain it super well, something didn't click and so we really had, and still have NO idea what is going on. But I heard it is the worst flood here since 1910. So hopefully everything is okay :) We are just grateful that we live on the 14th floor :)

As for this week, we ate a whole lot of pastries. I am finding that every day is a holiday, and there is always another reason to celebrate.

"Oh! Soeur Bennett! It is the last day of May today! We have to celebrate with a pastry!"

and then...

"Oh! Soeur Trotter! Today is the first of June! We have to celebrate!"

"Oh! It is my 6 month and 13th day mark! We have to get a pastry!"

Haha is it an illness? Probably.. but at least we both have it. And is it really that bad of one to have? Haha I think not!

But aside from pastries and floods, this week was probably one of the more special weeks in the mission for me. Our amie Sylvie, has somehow found a way to get to me, and she has become such a big part of me in more ways than one. We are for real the same person! We even think of the same responses in word games that we play every week at the church! Well.. now that I think of it, we are trying to decide whether we actually think alike or whether she cheats, but either way it is fun! I am just a little confused at how the woman who thought Texas is a country decided to put Denver as her response to "capitals of the world." haha we love her anyways though :)

The best part though is that she has been an amie for about a year now, and she has been continually trying to overcome her phobia of water. And she has always been certain that it is insurmountable and impossible. BUT this last lesson was just incredible and she is going to be baptized on the 25 of June :) We still don't know how we are going to get her in the font but she wants to do it and I have the faith to know that Heavenly Father will help her.

The cutest thing in the world though, was when we were leaving the church. We all had big smiles, and Sylvie was so happy! And then as we left the church and walked our separate ways, Sylvie turned around and threw her arms up and said

"Finalement, je vais être Mormon!"

Which is to say, "I am finally going to be a Mormon!" and then she turned around and kept walking, and then stopped and turned back towards us again and said, "I am finally going to be like everyone in our ward."

Sylvie has always loved the members in our ward and she has always seen them as being on a plain that she could never reach! And now she is so excited to become one of them. She already is, but there is something special about becoming a part of a ward family, and on top of that, making sacred covenants with God. This woman is so ready and I cannot explain how blessed I feel to be a part of this special part of her life. I was telling my family this, but I look at this cute little French woman, and I feel something that I have never really felt before. I feel like I am being blessed with this ability to be able to see just a little sliver of what Christ sees when he looks at her. Because Sylvie still has lots of things working against her, but all I can really see is her potential! and there is so much of it!

So pretty much this week couldn't have been a ton better, because my favorite person ever just decided to take a big step of faith that she never thought she could ever make! She sometimes thinks she doesn't have enough faith, but everytime she speaks and acts it just shows and everyone else can see it!

I love this church. I love that my amis can come to a church where they feel welcome, where they can feel the Spirit, and where one day, they can be baptized, and know that there will be people cheering them on and supporting them every step of the way! I remember my MTC teacher Frère Adams telling us how amazing it is that you could get on an airplane, go anywhere in the world, be let down with a parachute, and find a chapel, immediately having a support system and people who love you. What an incredible blessing that is.

I know that we can do hard things. Sometimes I don't think so. But I am watching an amie right now do something really hard. And she is DOING it! Because we are never alone!! There is family, and friends, and if not that, then we always have Christ. He is my best friend and I know that with Him, I can do hard things. Even on the days when I think that I can't.

I love you all and I always think about you :) But not too much because I am a missionary ;) But I love you and am grateful for the strength that you give me! I am working hard and having fun :)

Soeur Trotter