Soeur Alyssa 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