Someone is Sick! (Week #44)

Date: September 26, 2016

Location: Nancy

Companion: Soeur Petersen

Bonjour!!

It has been a great week here in France, for Soeur Trotter anyways. Soeur Petersen is sick. Sick to the point where yesterday while she was sleeping I started disinfecting the apartment. I am pretty sure that I found dust that has been there since 1950 haha. Disgusting. Where is my mom when I need her? ;) but I'm all seriousness, it was great. I even rearranged some furniture haha Soeur Petersen woke up and thought I bought a new apartment while she was sleeping. You do what you gotta do. Now we are just praying that I don't catch whatever she has. It is funny though, because this last week we have been working on love languages. We are trying to learn each other's love languages, because well, it's important. And we are together more than a married couple, so why not? 

But what we have found is that apparently I like quality time and physical touch, while Soeur Petersen likes her words of affirmation. But she can't seem to bring herself to give me a hug! Haha it's the struggle of the past two months. So finally, after some pep talks from the elders, she decided to go out of her comfort zone and try and give me a hug. But this week, I'm not about to let her touch me with a three foot pole. The struggle is real. We will get there one day I'm sure haha. 

So to start off this week, we took a little trip to Paris for some exchanges with the Soeur missionaries in Paris. Every time we go haha it is like a dream. Not because of the beauty or the popularity of it, but it is so exhausting that it quite literally feels like a dream. And Paris is pretty cool. I was with Soeur Wyson, who is a good friend, and we decided to go try and find an amies house. Well we got lost, and casually walked by Notre Dame, La Tour Eiffel, and even the Arc de Triomphe haha. So it was a lot of walking. But casually running into those places al ways makes us look at each other, smile, and say, "WE ARE SERVING A MISSION IN PARIS." Haha it's funny because even though I served in Paris, sometimes I have moments where none of this seems real. It's like we are in denial. 

So basically it was a good trip. It was super fun to be back in the metros talking to people, it is one of my favorite ways to find, and it is ironic because even though I am not a big city person, big cities as a missionary are quite the dream. There are always people to talk to! Sometimes in Nancy as the hours get later, we find ourselves going on people hunts. They seem to disappear that is for sure! 

But we came back to Nancy, and it ended up being a really good week. We were able to teach a new amie of ours, Queenie, and she is reading the Book of Mormon which makes us really happy. I am so positive that the Book of Mormon, if read with real intent, and with a prayer in our heart, can bring us closer to Christ. So when, as a missionary, I ask people to read it, and they do, I am the happiest person on the planet. I really do know what this book can do.

Épinal, a city super close to Nancy, had a baptism the other day. And unfortunately the chapels in France are not all super equipped with everything, so they came here to Nancy to use our font! It was a really great day and very spiritual. I loved being able to meet the woman who was baptized and see how happy she was to be following Christ. 

I made a goal this week fo be happy. Sounds simple, but on some days it is harder than others. So I made what I call a "Happy List," and every day I write down the things that make me happy. The big things, the little things, the people I love, the times I laugh, sometimes even the trials. And all of it together makes me so happy. For the life I lived before the mission, it makes me excited for what I am going to take from it, but most of all I am learning how to be happy in it, and to keep going every day, thinking of Christ and all He does for me. 

I read this the other day.

"Behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance." That is in the first book of the Book of Mormon. And it is true. It doesn't matter what is hard, because there are always tender mercies. He loves us. 

I love you all. I love this mission. I am happy, especially with what I have the ability to do everyday, and I am excited to grow closer to Christ, with these people I am teaching. 

Soeur Trotter

Me and Elder Hone and our favorite member Maité at the baptism!

It's a plum tart! So good! So French!

Just casually at Arc de Triomphe!

Mireille Said the B Word! BAPTISM! (Week #43)

Date: September 19, 2016

Location: Nancy

Companion: Soeur Petersen

Hello Everyone!

Things are good here in Nancy, France :) It is blowing up because we just got FOUR new missionaries. Haha which is good! but since then, we have contacted like 5 different people who just get mad at us and yell that they have already been talked to by our "little friends." haha so it looks like we are getting just about every one! I consider that a good thing! Haha some of the people here would agree... some, lets just say that had a bad day that day and move on :)

But we were super busy introducing the ville and the amis to all of our new Elders this week. We barely had time to have rdv's with our own investigators! We always fit them in though. One morning, we were doing our studies and what not, and our amie Mireille called us and tols us to come over right away, as that was the only day during her whole week that she had free time. What great notice. haha but we went, fast as we could, and it was an incredible rdv. If everything goes as planned, there is going to be a baptism on October 22 for Mireille! Yay! That is so exciting! We are so happy for her, and already seeing how her countenance has changed is incredible. I am excited for her and for her three little girls :) So while stake conference was super long, it couldn't have scared her away too bad because she is coming back- For FOREVER!  So basically, it was a good week :)

I even played a soccer game this week and it was so much fun! It was this huge deal with a bunch of guys from the ward, and me and Soeur Petersen were the only girls there! But it is safe to say that we dominated. We had some investigators come, and everyone was so competitive. But I have to say, seeing a huge Tahitian run towards you with a very fast moving soccer ball is terrifying. Haha a couple times during that game, I definitely forgot we werent playing dodge ball. But I dodged it well! 

I don't have a ton of time today because it has been a busy day. I have been getting a little banged up à cause de all of my sporty activities, and so I had to call the mission nurse. It is funny because getting hurt on the mission is really dang stressful. It makes everything harder and I have definitely questioned what I need to be learning from all of it. But it has definitely reminded me to think back on why I first decided to come on a mission and about why I want to go out every day. and when it is harder to go out, whether that is that my leg hurts, or that I feel a little more sad than I did yesterday, everytime those thoughts come to my head I think about why I came. And it makes me excited everyday to do what i can with what I have, and then use the Atonement to help me with the many imperfections that I have. 

I was talking to my district leader Elder Hone today, who is a great friend, and he reminded me to remember Christ. And so I am doing that. Remembering Christ, that He was perfect, yet every trial that could be given to someone was given to Him, and He overcame it. And now, because of that, I can. And I don't have to do it alone. He isn't going to give me something that i can't handle. And even better, He is telling me that we are going to make it through together. Whenever you have a hard day, remember that! 

and remember that in France there is a missionary that is working hard and having fun and thinking about you a lot! You all mean the world to me, and if I can do it, with Christ of course, you can too!

Until next week,

Soeur Trotter

Battle Scars and Second Chances :) (Week #42)

Date: September 12, 2016

Location: Nancy

Companion: Soeur Petersen

Hey Guys!

This week in Nancy was insane. And when I say insane, I mean insanely good :) We saw lots of miracles and we even got to get out of Nancy for a little. Not that I don't love it of course, but it is good to get a break sometimes :) Especially because we went to this ville called Épinal for a finding day! We even found this super cool château, or a castle, and we took pictures in all the ruins. It was a last Hoorah of sorts, because we received the news this week that the Elders here in Nancy are both headed out, and that we are recieving four new ones! 

Not going to lie, it was really depressing. But all is well and we are excited to meet the new Elders. I know one of them, who actaully served with me in my first ville ever. Haha he is a native french speaker from Madagascar and it is funny because while we were good friends, I am not gonna lie. Communication was a huge issue. Haha..... So I am excited for round 2, when he will actually be able to understand me. It is going to be a good transfer.

Having said that, this week was awesome with our amis. Yesterday, our amie Mireille came to church! FINALLY! This is the one that was left behind in the dust by a bus driver. Well, she decided to stick around. And between lots of buses and trams and effort on both our parts, her and her three little girls came! And we had a lot of fun :) She got to listen and the girls got to color so everyone was happy :) I couldn't stop smiling! So it made for a great end to a great week with some of my favorite people :) I absolutely love to watch the Lord bless those who are willing to put in their effort. He really is so willing to bless us if we are just willing to show the faith that we have be acting. And as a missionary, it is my job, to help these people learn how to exercise their faith. and watching their relationship with God grow through that is the greatest thing in the world. 

So backup a day or so, and we decided to stop by our friend Dominique. She is the woman that doesn't believe in God, but she plays that cool instument and she is so happy all the time! So cute! We stopped by her house at literally the perfect time. She was in the middle of cooking a TON of different French desserts for a party she was throwing the next day. and lets just say, we got to try some, if not all of them. It was a good afternoon, and we were able to talk more about God, and she even had another friend there who was adorable. They were so cute! They would bise us, or kiss our cheeks, and then look at us and grab our faces and tell us how adorable and pretty and happy we are. It was so cute to hear her testify that each time we come we bring such happiness in her home. THE SPIRIT! She will know what it is one day :) I feel her progressing already and I am excited to see what happens. Old French women may not have teeth, but they sure have a lot of heart :) haha they were adorable. 

Basically it was a really good week. I did lots of embarassing things. I even broke a giant mirror in our apartment just by looking at it. Turns out I really have gotten ugly in these last 10 months ;) haha but I also have fallen out of my chair multiple times. I am very well known for my strange sitting positions. And it has led to chairs falling on my face, my legs, my arms. I have more than one bruise that is for sure ;) Haha but life is meant to be lived. I didn't come on a mission for nothing, so I might as well have a few battle scars. ;) 

Oh! And to save the best miracle for last! The other day, we were contacting, and we were stopping everyone. and we saw this lady who looked like she was exercising, but anyone can stop working out for a minute to have their life changed for forever ;) So we stopped her! and She was soooo nice! we ended up going to her house later in the week, and she was so happy to see us! She has this adorable family and an incredible home. And an even cooler story. She has lived almost everywhere. Marianna is from the Dominican République, and she married a Belgium man. She has lived in France, Morocco, Spain, South America, France. She is mondiale that is for sure. But it turns out that when she figured out that we were the Mormons, she remembered that growing up, she lived across the street from the Mormon Church! And that when it was hot out, they would always see the missionaries walk by, and so her mom invited them in all the time and they were taught! 

She said that she didn't remember much, but she was happy she found us again and that when she reads the Book of Mormon, and when she prays, if she feels it is true, she will stick to it forever and be baptized. It was definitely a moment for me that changed my view of missionary work. I think of all these people whom I have taught, many of who haven't continued to see the missionaries. It is the most haertbreaking thing. But that is who she was for those missionaries back in the Dominican Repuplique. and we found her! 30 years later! They have no idea but she found it again, and God is leading her to what is right. We never know how God is preparing people. When I meet these people who are so prepared in my mind, I can never understand why God just lets them drop, or why they do it to themselves when they know it is true. But really only He knows them, and He prepares them in His way in His timing. I have been on the front end, and now I am on the other. Some our lost, but this one is found again! And I am so excited. For the future of my investigators, and for Marianna. I love her already.

It was a good week. I feel God's love for me and it makes me want to be a missionary. It makes me want to work hard and to be happy and willing in helping this great cause. He has given me everything. When I think of that, it really is such a tiny sacrifice I am making. :)

I love you all,

Soeur Trotter

Us missionaries with a young adult member that we love! (: We are all super close now!

Pretty Parc Pépinière! :)

Us with our Amie Florence! We adore her!

Train Rides with Moose (: haha Me and Elder Kelley had a good laugh. I love my comp.

That sun was a treat! Haha went on an exchange with an adorable member Soeur La Forge! Contacted by the river! 

Coolest district photo ever? I think yes. We climbed the ruins of a super old Chateau!

Transfer 6 has come, and gone!

We are true lions!

Haha everyone at church wanted to know who her kids were! True missionary right there (;

Our Amie's baby after church.

Instruments in the Hands of God... Literally. It's How the Psalms were Written. :) (Week #41)

Date: September 5, 2016

Location: Nancy

Companion: Soeur Petersen

Hey Everyone!!

I hope that life is going good and that the great old United States is treating you well! Don't take it for granted! I think that French people are more concerned for America right now than America is. it is all that anyone every talks about. On the street, durring Sacrament Meeting, in the middle of a rdv, some of them just interrupt you to talk about it! Haha it fascinates me. But it has gotten to the point where I am having dreams of getting phone calls from mission leaders telling me that Trump won. Talk about me needing to get my priorities in line as a servant of the Lord ;)

But in all seriousness, this week was a good week. We were busy, the way we like it, and in between we met some pretty amazing people. We were knocking doors one day, and this spunky looking older French woman walks by with her dog. and we had just rang a door bell so we couldn't just leave! so after a couple seconds of no answers, we booked it down that street after this older woman! And turns out it was inspiration because we got invited to tea and crumpets! (without the tea of course) The best part was going over there two days later, seeing that she had invited a friend to come pray and talk with us, and is was the most amazing experience to testify to this woman who just doesn't remember for the moment where she comes from and how much worth she actually has. But these people are LITERALLY the sons and daughters of a Heavenly Father who they can't remember but, but He is also the one who has never once forgotten them. So whatever it takes, we are going to do what it takes to help this woman remember. 

We are so excited to go back and see Dominique again. Nothing but high hopes! :)

The amie Florence that I met on the bus is so legit. She really is the greatest miracle and is becoming one of my favorite people in the world :) She can't say anything in english to save her life. We played a trick on her too and Soeur taught her how to say "Soeur Trotter is really ugly." and then told her that it means "Soeur Trotter is really pretty." Haha clearly we have eachother's backs :)

But it is super amazing. It is going to be interesting to see how it plays out because Florence doesn't know how to read. But it was so fun to go to her house and have her get all excited about the Book of Mormon and how she has been researching and watching videos all about it! and it is so amazing because when she typed in "Livre de Mormon," she stumbled upon one of my favorite talks I had read a few days before! It was fun to talk about and see her desire to learn and grow. She is such a happy person despite trials and the positivity just makes me want to be better! 

It has been a good week and on top of all of that I ate my weekly pâtisserie :) They never get old. And there is always a reason to get one. This week was the birthday of Soeur Petersen's mother. So clearly we had to celebrate. Il faut, quoi.

It is true though that not every moment of every day is perfect. This week was really hard as we tried to get a hold of people who seem to have disappeared, and it was a serious heat wave. Lots of people didn't seem to be home, and there always seemed to be a reason to complain. But the more I looked at myself, the more I realized that the more I complained, the easier it was to find things to be negative about. There is always something. There is always heat or cold or rain or a late bus. and there are grouches and amis who drop us and sore feet and bug bites. But I realize the more time I spend praying and thanking God, and the more time I spend focusing on why I came here in the first place, I find there is way more to be thankful for. It isn't always easy but the good weighs out the bad every time. He has my back, and is always there if I have His, if I am willing to be his mouthpiece and be grateful for the chance to be here. Not every one gets to do this, and I am grateful to be his instrument. 

Speaking of instruments, Dominique plays the same instument as David in the Old Testament! The same one from when he played the Psalms! Taking it way back! I will be sure to send a picture :) 

I love you all a ton. Time is short today and people need to be found! And me and Soeur Petersen are having lots of fun! I am working hard, and I see it paying off. I feel the Spirit guiding us and I can see it in the faces of these people we are teaching. He is trying to talk to them! and they are listening! :)

Beaucoup d'amour, et à la prochaine,

Soeur Trotter

Old Testament Instrument called a "Psaltery"