Soeur Alyssa Trotter: Fishing For Men (Week #32)

Date: July 4, 2016

Location: Rouen

Companion: Soeur Bennett

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!! Ahh this is my holiday! And I am not even in

the country to celebrate it. Which is a little bit of a bummer though because the Fourth of July just isn't the same in France.. I wonder why ;) That is okay though because I will be home next year, and this year we got to celebrate in other ways. Like going to French weddings is a good example. Frank and Camille, a young couple in our ward, got married this last Saturday. He is from Utah and she is from Rouen, and their lives crossed paths serving as missionaries in Canada. So that was fun and we were even able to bring Sylvie! It was so funny though because Soeur Bennett loves weddings so the minute we walked in she was gone. In her dream world. This is why missionaries don't get invited to these things. Just kidding, it was really fun though and a great oppurtunity for us to be with the ward and Sylvie as well. Another amie, Precious, came as well.

All I am saying is that I thought it was a lot when they gave us three course meals in france. But we are talking about an 8 course wedding here. They just kept bringing out more and more and more food. And if you know me, I love hanging out at the food table. and so does souer bennett... so there is that. You could guess how our night went. The best part though was Sylvie. She is always the best part. She kept looking at us, and then pointing at men that were in various different conversations. And the conversation would go something like this...

"Do you see Frère Duriez over there in that hat? Don't you think that he looks good in that? I love that hat!"

"Sylvie! Frère Duriez is married!"

"I know, I know, but look at that hat! Too bad that his heart is taken, Shame!"

So that continued with a few different men. And then she said this.

"What? I am at a wedding! It is the perfect time to go fishing for men!"

haha oh la la I love Sylvie. She is always a good time. And even better news, she is progressing. She didn't end up being baptized but she is doing so good and she has changed so much over the last year. And hearing her bear her testimony is the sweetest thing in the world.. She tells people that me and Soeur Bennett are her guardian angels. I feel so blessed to be a part of it.

I don't have a lot of time today, but I wanted to share one last experience that is more spiritual. We have an amie in the ward, her name is Precious. And she has never really liked to meet with the missionaries. But she has been coming to church for years and her kids have been baptized. Well, this last Sunday, she got up in Sacrament Meeting and bore a super powerful testimony about how she is ready to be baptized and how it has been because of certain members in the ward who have guided her and been there for her when no one else was. And how she knows that those people were sent to her from God. I cannot explain the Spirit that was present in that meeting. Me and Soeur Bennett were able to meet with her this morning and get her on track to being baptized soon. But it really strengthened my testimony in the importance of member work. This woman is so prepared and it was all because people in the ward have been there for her and have cared enough to listen to her concerns and be there for her in her lowest moments. They were her guardian angels. So I guess that that is the main thing that I have learned this week. We don't talk about angels a whole lot in the church, but I do know this. That sometimes the Lord puts people in our path who we need and who need us. And we become those angels for them. I am so grateful I have had people like that in my life, and I have the oppurtunity to be that person as well in the lives of people here. I know we can help people if we care enough to look at them with love. And if we follow the promptings that we receive.

I love you all so much. and I am grateful that I am here as a missionary. But that also doesn't change the gratitude that I have for my country, and for the people who work to protect it all the time. I feel so lucky! So HAPPY FOURTH! And wear your stars and strips for me because I CANT! :)

I hope you have the greatest week! I am so much fun and I am working harder every day!

Soeur Trotter