Soeur Alyssa Trotter: Simplice is Life. And This Week His Literally Found it. Eternal Life, that is. :) (Week #56)

Date: December 19, 2016

Location: #5 Orléans

Companion: Soeur Robertson

Okay. So I think that hands down the best part of my week was this Saturday. Haha we got to the church about an hour before the baptism, to practice the musical number that we would be performing, and Soeur Campos de Silva, a member of our ward who was there preparing the baptismal font, comes out to greet us. "He has already been at the church for two hours, maybe you should go talk to him?" So we look at each other and we are like, why is Simplice at the church three hours before his baptism? So we looked through the church for him, and we found him! Sitting in the kitchen at the table reading his scriptures! And when he saw us, I don't know I have seen a happier face in the history of ever. For the next hour, Soeur Robertson practiced our musical number while Simplice dragged me around the church having me take pictures of him in every hallway, every angle, in his suit, or all dressed in white. He was just so excited!

I am going to be honest. Whenever I pictured having one of my amis get baptized, I always imagined the missionaries as the people planning it all out, calling people to give talks, coordinating everything. Haha I think that that is normal.. Well, Simplice, he likes things his way. He knew exactly who he wanted to baptize him, what drinks he wanted after, what hymns he wanted to sing. It was actually really nice. We thought that we were going to get to sit back and relax. But we didn't get let off that easy. ;) Turns out Simplice wanted every one to baptize and confirm him, and me and Soeur Robertson found ourselves having to follow Simplice around, uninviting people to confirm him and so forth. He just loves everyone a little too much is all, and it seemed as though every one was getting invites. And THEN the best part is that he hired one of the young adults in the ward to order a ton of patisseries for everyone and he paid him to do it! And the night before the baptism, we went to the church, and we found the fridge packed FULL of drinks that Simplice had brought. That is the last time that I tell an investigator that we are going to be having a little

"goûter" after the baptism. Haha in english that would be a few little refreshments. Well, I was like, "SIMPLICE! We don't actually know who is coming to the baptism!" Haha and he just looks at me and is like, "Soeur Trotter, I am so sick of you saying "petit this and petit that. This is no normal baptism. This is Simplice's baptism. This is a party. I want a GRAND goûter!" Haha well, he got one, that is for sure :) The baptism was a success. People did come, but that isn't what made it such a special day.

Everything went as planned, the talks were given, the Spirit was felt. But I can't explain the feeling of joy that came into my heart as I watched Simplice walk into that baptismal font. There are no words so I won't try and put any. But it was a moment that I am going to remember forever. It put everything in perspective for me. I saw this child of God walking into the font, spiritually opening a door that is going to affect his life forever. Simplice is a lot of things, but odd as he is, he KNOWS the importance of the decision he was making that day.

Just after the baptism, the four missionaries here in Orléans, we had the opportunity to sing How Great Thou Art. Not gonna lie, we had run through it once, I realized right before the baptism that I couldn't hit one of the notes, and basically none of us really wanted to do it. But we did. It ended up being okay! And as we sat down, I looked over at Simplice, and he just had tears streaming down his face. And he went up to the front, and shared his sweet simple testimony. That he knew that what he had done, changed him forever. That God had led him, helped him, been with him to help him find his way, and he found it, and that God, really is great, and He is a Father in Heaven who never leaves His children.

After the baptism, we did indeed have a party. Don't worry, I will attach photos. And don't worry. I will start next week by talking about some of the other amazing people I have met. They exist. I promise it isn't just me and Simplice over here. ;) haha not that I would complain. That man is hilarious. But no, it is so true that I can't count the ways that the Lord is blessing us.

I think that something that I learned a lot about this week is joy. So many times I wonder how someone ever gets to the point of having complete joy. I thought, to be honest, that it was possible that that is how it was for missionaries. I never knew, but I thought that maybe the Spirit was always so strong, the miracles were so present, that I would be able to have joy all the time. False. Well, to a certain extent. I cannot say that I am happy 100% of the time. I still miss people a lot, and our amis disappear sometimes, and we walk in the door at night wondering if we did all that we could. We aren't happy all the time. But when I pause, to look at what the Lord has given me, when Simplice was in that font, and everything stood still for a second, I knew, that in my life I have joy. There is no greater joy that comes than from seeing the hearts of people change. There really isn't. And so with everything else that goes wrong, with life, with missionary work, it was all swallowed up, in that one moment when I saw what God had led me to, what He made out of me, out of Simplice. He leads us to people that we need, who change us, and who change with us. He really is the entire difference.

So basically this week was a big one in the life of Soeur Trotter. I learn a lot, as always, and I am still working hard and having lots of fun. But I am also learning about what it means to have true joy. Which, as we know, really only comes through Christ.

Oh! And that reminds me! This week is Christmas! I wish that I could be with my family, but instead I will be eating escargot and frog legs, and if I am lucky some fancy foie gras as well, or for those English speakers out there, duck liver. The french really know how to live......:) Counting my blessing this is my last Christmas away from home ;) haha.

I love you all a lot :)

Soeur Trotter