We Deliver...Us Sneaky Missionaries, Us (Week #35)

Date: July 25, 2016

Location: Rouen

Companion: Soeur Bennett

Bonjour to All My Favorite People!!

Vacances is going to be the death of me. There are about 8 weeks during the summer, where everyone decides that it is vacation, and that they don't have time to walk, talk, eat, or meet with the missionaries, because it is a time to sit back and think about all the stuff that they DON'T have to do :) So missionaries hate vacances. We love it because it is pretty out, but we hate it because we can't swim, and more importantly because no one seems to be available to see us, or to answer the phone.

Having said that, there is still plenty of work to be done because no matter what time of year, there will always be people to talk to, and doors to knock on.

I like to look at it like this. It is almost like a "we deliver" system at a restaurant. They are too lazy to go OUT to get the gospel, so we bring it right to them! Haha sounds like a pretty good deal to me. Haha we are still working on other people seeing it that way :)

So the other day we were walking home, and I saw this woman wearing lots of yellow, and so I had to contact her. I just knew that she had to be a happy woman. and boy was I right. Once she started talking she just couldn't shut up! and as one minute turned into two, and two into twenty, we were scratching to find a polite way to interrupt and try and share a little bit of this happy message. So we did! and it turns out that she was interested! So it ended up being a super cool experience!

And before we left, we asked her if we could pray for her, and for her family, and we asked her if she had any needs. So this is what she wanted. To "to continue to be happy and to one day be a grandma." This woman was in her 70s, and she really wants to have grandkids.

So, I bowed my head to pray, and as a started to pray, I don't know what happened- no excuses, but I asked God to give this adorable woman the ability to have children of her own one day. And this chatty woman interrupts me and says, "déjà fait!" or "already been there and done that!" and she just started laughing.

So it turns out I am not perfect, but it was a really awesome experience nonetheless and I added it to my book that is titled "The Not So Normal Life of Me as a Sister Missionary." haha there are one too many entries in there :)

BUT this week was really good. I am winding up my days here in Rouen, as I am done training Soeur Bennett this next week, and I think they are booting me from what has very accurately become a home. I am so grateful for the experiences that the Lord has given me here. I have met people that have changed everything.

The other night, we were with Sylvie, we had had the idea to go visit her, and we did. And we had a super powerful lesson and so much love was there. And before we left, Sylvis said this, "I really needed you to come over tonight, I need to feel the Spirit, and now it as almost as if Christ is present." Little did Sylvie know, but it had been a really hard day for me as well, and I needed it just as much. I am learning that sometimes to answer our prayers, the Lord gives us other people. Sylvie is definitely that other person for me :) and that night we were those people for her.

His hand is everywhere. Don't forget to look for it even when the days seem really long and hard. Because it is there and I learn that everytime I think it is not, I am just missing it.

I love you all a lot. I am having fun and reprioritizing what is important like crazy, and finding that the people I love always come out on top. I am learning lots and I am working hard.

Soeur Trotter

This is the closest to a real smile we are going to get from Sylvie, I love her so much (:

My Ville, Rouen

Ready or Not... Pack the Books!!! (Week #34)

Date: July 18, 2016

Location: Rouen

Companion: Soeur Bennett

Hello Friends!

So for one reason or another, whether it be that we are headed to Paris on an early train, or teaching a difficult ami who is only free at 8 in the morning, me and Soeur Bennett have not been able to get in our morning studies. And when there are no morning studies, there is more irritation, less concentration, less motivation, and the list could go on for a while. So for everyone's sake, its better for everyone if Soeur Trotter can find an hour or so to spend some one on one time with her best friend. The scriptures.

So just try to picture Soeur Bennett's face, and mine, when the other night we planned for the next day, and realized there was nothing scheduled for 8 in the morning! It was a special moment ;)

So there I am, I sit down, I open to the first page. And lo and behold, I wasn't getting off that easy. It is never that easy. I was interrupted by a text, ordering me and Soeur Bennett to "Pack the Books." Which is basically what happens in the case of a natural disaster, and we have to throw our life into a backpack and book it to the church as fast as we can. So, me, being a little overly excited, yell to Soeur Bennett to get going, and my heart started to beat a little faster, and I realized just how unorganized I am as I tried to collect what I would need most to survive. Well, I may have forgotten to read the rest of the text, which included the words "THIS IS A DRILL." Haha But I will say that there is nothing like your life flashing before your eyes that will get you to move fast. Haha and may I just say, if a real one ever does happen, you want Soeur Trotter on your side. That was real efficiency right there, folks. ;) haha

But once again, our studies were... gone... haha can't catch a break! It is so cool to see how the church has us protected though if something did happen. :) I definitely feel safe so that is definitely a positive!

As far as miracles this week, there were PLENTY, because the Lord always blesses those who try, even if we don't always have the words to say, or the way to say them. We went into Paris this week, and on the train there, we had to talk to someone, because we promised to God and to ourselves that every time we got on a train or a metro or a bus, we would try to share the gospel. And I met this super cute girl that lives in Rouen! And she wants to meet again! And THEN on the metro on the way to the church I met an adorable African lady who asked me for my number! That was two people in about ten minutes, and the miracles just kept going. I am amazed by the amount of people the Lord is looking out for and leading and guiding.

Paris has kind of a scary reputation. This one member even came to visit on vacation and said, "I don't know how you missionaries do it here in Paris. There is no Spirit in these streets, they are so cold, how do you even have the courage to approach these people?" And while it is true that I have seen more smiles in my life, it is all about the way you look at it! THINK ABOUT IT! Because yeah you can look at the dirty, big, busy streets of Paris that smell like constant Nicotine, but you can also look at the PEOPLE in the streets, and see that they are just like all of us, and a lot of them aren't happy, and a lot of them do need something more, and they just don't know how to find it! and despite popular belier, a whole lot of them listen.

And the ones that do listen have taught me at least, what it means to love someone. Because I find that all it takes now is five seconds. If I look at someone for over five seconds, I automatically feel prompted to talk to them. And I asked myself why it works that way. And I think it is that every time I look at someone for over five seconds, I see a little part of what Christ does, and It makes me love them a little bit more than I did before.

So I went to Paris this week, and the people and the crowds and the tourists are extremely tiring and frustrating. But I felt the Spirit with multiple people in the street.

On exchange, me and Soeur Weckesser were walking in the gare, and we saw a poor Muslim woman to the side, asking for money. And we couldn't give her any. But what a cool experience, to stop to the side, and to talk with this woman about her and her family, and to pray with her, and to share with her a little feeling of love, that maybe she hasn't felt in a long time. It was so easy to do, a little nerve-racking and out of the ordinary, yeah, but I don't think it is something that I am going to forget any time soon. What an amazing opportunity.

I love this place and these people, and every day I get to spend my time sharing a little part of what changed me and my life so completely. I have seen what Christ has made of me already, and I can see my potential. And because of that, I can see what Christ has planned for all these people. And it is a lot. He just needs people bold enough to share it.

I love you all so much :) There are so many more cool things that happened, but Ill have to share after the mission, because I just don't have time for that anymore :) I knew that would happen one day.

The streets are callin'! Haha I love you and I am working hard and having lots of fun!

Soeur Trotter

Another excerpt from Alyssa's companion this week that I thought was funny: 

Really cool and weird story! So yesterday, Soeur Trotter and I were walking to the bus stop after a less than successful night of porting when I see this lady with orange hair sitting on a bench. The first thought in my head was, "Hey I should talk to her!" And then, of course, I start battling myself thinking, "Wait was that a prompting?" Stupid I know? Then the thought hit me, "She is a daughter of God. What if she needs it?" So then I stopped Soeur Trotter and was like, "Soeur I think we need to talk to that lady." Hahaha so we head back and we start talking to her and she turned out to be super nice! The funniest part though was when we were telling her that we had found peace in the gospel and how we couldn't keep the knowledge that we had to ourselves and stuff, she then put her hand on the grocery bag that was hanging on her arm and said, "This is where I find my peace." The grocery bag was LOADED with the flower looking herbs that were slightly questionable... Haha but of course we're soeur missionaries so we were like, "Wow that's great," hahaha and then we asked her if we could pray with her. She said yes, and I explained to her that sometimes we cross our arms when we pray. She started to, and then was like, "Oh wait hold on I've got a cigarette in my hand!" Hahaha

So then I prayed for this sweet lady, Françoise, and after the prayer she looked at us and I could tell that she felt something. She thanked us and then headed off on her way into a weird random field that was nearby... Haha she was a super random and kind of crazy lady, but Heavenly Father loves her. It was just so cool that once I thought about her true identity, I knew that God needed me to talk to her.

Africans are Life! (Week #33)

Date: July 11, 2016

Location: Rouen 

Companion: Soeur Bennett

Hey Friends!

So I know that you can't really pick a favorite kind of people but I absolutely ADORE Africans. Whether it is the Ivory Coast, Congo, Camaroon, Senegal, Nigeria, I just love them. I love their huge bright dresses and headwraps, their excitement everytime you say the word Jesus, and their honesty, whether it is them telling you that you have gotten fat since the last time they saw you, or them saying, "Did you just arrive in France?" "Yes, I did!" "Mmm, I can tell." Haha I love it! Because yes, they can be a little rude and dramatic, but that also means that if they know that  something is true, they are going to stick with it.

The other night at the church, we had a Ping Pong Pancakes Party. It is definitely a regular occurence put on by all the missionaries. And we invited members and amis, and everyone who wanted to come bond over some competition and American Style Crêpes. And no members came which was a little disappointing. But we had three investigators show up!

Two of them being our beloved African amis who we just love. And Sylvie of course. But it was amazing because we started with a little spiritual thought, and one of our amis, Frederic, shared his testimony about howwhen he met the missionaries, he knew he needed to keep talking to them and so he invited them over to his house! and how ever since then, he gets a strength from church, from the scriptures, from the missionaries.

So there we are listening to this story! And it is so spiritual. And Sylvie interrupts him, saying, "It was the exact same for me! There is something special at this church! It is true!" And then all of the sudden, Elisabeth, our amie who is loaded with energy- a serious fireball, she starts talking and is like, "When I met these missionaries, I KNEW they belonged to the church of God! I knew it! And I know that I am going to be a Mormon one day." So it went from silent, to us four missionaries, sitting there with mouths practically dropped open, listening to our amies interrupt each other

to talk about their personal testimonies of the divinity of this church. It almost sounded like they were arguing! None of them could stop talking!! What an amazing moment. And what amazing people who are honestly seeking the truth and who have open hearts. I know that their experiences are real. Because I myself have had them. What a blessing.

Another fun story is that of my Sylvie :) I just adore this woman and she is turning into a little missionary. A few months ago, I believe I told the story of how she literally pushed a couple into the church to have them take a tour :) Well, nothing has changed since then, I have only forgotten to share other stories from the life of Missionary Sylvie. But since that time there have been countless events of Sylvie knocking on people's windows to invite them to learn more, sharing with people the message of the restoration libraries, and with the latest story, I am starting to think that I have no courage at all compared to Sylvie.

It was the Euro Cup this week for soccer, and France was in the Finale. So there have been lots of parties, lots of crazy teenagers doing stupid things, and endless noise. And Sylvie, the cute 71 year old that she is, was invited to attend a party held by a young man and his friends the night before the Finale. He had invited the whole apartment building and she was lucky enough to be on the list :) SoThe night of, she decided that she needed to go. So not only did she go to the party, but she marched up those stairs with what in her hand? A WORD of WISDOM brochure that she searched her apartment looking for! And she interrupts this party and teaches these young men about why it is important to not drink and smoke and why our bodies should be kept healthy! So they didn't really want to hear it according to Sylvie :) So on her way down to her apartment, she ran into some more boys headed up with a bunch of beer. So she took the oppurtunity and bore testimony AGAIN! what is life :)

I don't know how Sylvie has so much courage to do that and she still doesn't have enough to overcome this fear of water. It is something I would love to have the answer to, something that I don't know if I ever will. But I see Christ strengthening her every time I am with her and hear her bear her testimony. How amazing is it that He knows us perfectly. So it doesn't matter that I don't completely understand Sylvie. Because in the end, I can plan and plan and plan for what I think that Sylvie needs, But I can see Him strengthening her and blessing her with what she needs in that moment.

I love where I am. I love my amis, the other missionaries, the country, my companion, and that I can wear Christ's name on my chest every day. I am having so much fun and I am working hard :)

Soeur Trotter