The Cat Whisperer (Week #30)

Date: June 20, 2016

Area: Rouen 

Companion: Soeur Bennett

Bonjour à Tous,

There is something special about this ville and about the missionaries that are serving here right now. The only way that I can describe it is by saying that we are a family. We are family with our amis, with the ward, and just all the missionaries are a family. Because Rouen isn't the biggest ville around and because we teach at the church, we constantly see the Elders and we have been able to share amis, share mission stories, and just become a family. So when we received the news the Elder Reiss would be leaving us for the last transfer of his mission, it was a little somber the rest of the week. It is good that we found out on Saturday.. haha. We know he will do great things but it is always hard. I am finding that when you love where you are and who you serve with it always seems like there is no way that the following transfer could be better than the last. But somehow it is.

So whatever happens next transfer will be great I am sure. But as for right now, it is just a little sad.

On a happy note, Sylvie is still just as amazing as always and she is getting baptized so soon! We had to move it back a little beacuse the font doesnt heat up. or drain... soooo that could make things more difficult. So in the mean time we are going to help her overcome this fear of water and we even got her in a baptismal suit the other day :) This is baby steps if there ever was such a thing but she is getting there. Slowly, sometimes not very surely, but she is getting there.

This woman is such a character. It is so funny because everyone always tells me that I am going to be a clone of Sylvie when I am old. And I am flattered truly. But then all that anyone ever says about her is that she is an airhead! What is that supposed to mean! Haha but either way I would be stoked to be Sylvie one day because she is legit. She even told us this really hilarious story at lunch on Sunday about how she was in the train station last week and there was this man playing the piano.. and in the words of Sylvie Christoff herself...

"The music.. I can't explain it.. the gare was empty and the music, it just toook me away! So I put down my bags and I danced! There was no one there either... well, except for those people taking photos!" Oh Sylvie... She would. But hey, who wouldn't want to be her as an old woman? Once again, my life was made in that one lunch :)

I don't have a ton of time this week but it was a really cool experience teaching Sylvie :) She interrupts me all the time and it is so frustrating but this time she interrupted me and said "Psychologist." I was so confused, so of course I asked for an explanation. And so she said "You need to become a psychologist. You seem to always know what thought is in my head and you always know how to respond to it and say just what I need to hear. You have to be a psychologist!"

And back story... My whole mission I have had this fear that I just can't follow the Spirit because sometimes it is really hard for me to hear. So I try my best, but there have been so many nights when I come home and just ask, when is it going to get easier to respond to the Spirit? Or sometimes it is, when is it going to get easier to even hear the Spirit?"

But something that Elder Holland said once came into my head that very moment. It was this.

“More important than speaking is listening. These people are not lifeless objects disguised as a baptismal statistic. They are children of God, our brothers and sisters, and they need what we have. Be genuine. Reach out sincerely. Ask these friends what matters most to them. What do they cherish, and what do they hold dear? And then listen. If the setting is right, you might ask what their fears are, what they yearn for, or what they feel is missing in their lives. I promise you that something in what they say will always highlight a truth of the gospel about which you can bear testimony and about which you can then offer more. … If we listen with love, we won’t need to wonder what to say. It will be given to us--by the Spirit and by our friends."

If we listen with LOVE, we won't need to wonder what to say. It will be GIVEN to us-- by the SPIRIT and by our FRIENDS.

Sylvie is one of the first amis that I have had where I would literally do anything to help her. It is an incredible amount of love. And I know that it is not me that is just good at psychologie, but it is the Spirit, that is able to speak through us and use us, when we have real love for these people. Sometimes we don't even recognize it as the Spirit, but that is why we have the ability to change and grow and become better, and more receptive :) And with time, we know what the Spirit is, and just how it works through us :) I feel so blessed to be here with these people :) I am one lucky missionary.

I love you all. I am having fun and I am working hard :)

Soeur Trotter

Giant Fly

Filipino Feasts and Four Amis à l'Église (Week #29)

Date: June 13, 2016 

Location: Rouen 

Companion: Soeur Bennett

Hello My Favorite Friends and Family :)

The end of this week will wrap up this transfer. I don't know how to explain how fast time goes by I saw in my journal last night that a year ago I was getting ready to turn in my papers for this crazy experience of a mission. I had no idea what I was getting into :) But only good things so it is fun to see where I was then and where I am now :)

I was pretty stoked because for exchanges this transfer, we got to go into Paris! Which is really fun as is, but even more fun that I served there and got to stay in my old apartment, and see some of the old people that I miss :) BUT exchanges were EVEN better because it took my on a little trip down memory lane... all the way back to St. Ouen and my first transfer with Soeur Clements. And yes I realize that I am talking about 5 months ago, but it seems like ages ago so I will continue to talk about it like it was haha.

My first or second week, I remember going to teach Matheo, the little boy who was baptized in St. Ouen. We had just finished teaching him, and on our way home, Soeur Clements thought she would be a good missionary mom and give me a little push to go talk to a woman on the street. Well, to me, the idea was out of the question, but Soeur Clements little remark "This woman is ready, you have to go talk to her, she is GOLDEN!" somehow got me to do it. Because then I started picturing this girl in white, and I knew that if I didn't talk to her, than no one was going to. And it was just enough for me to push aside everything telling me not to, AKA Satan. And I talked to her. And she spoke English, and she invited us back to her home with her to teach her family!! So there is the background of this amazing story :)

Well, the St. Ouen sector was shut down, me and Soeur Clements were moved, and I tried to stay in contact with this family but they were GONE! :) Me and Soeur Archbold saw them once, but then we were both moved again! And that was the end of the Filipino Family that I loved so much :)

BUT Soeur Weckesser, the soeur in Paris right now, told me that for exchange, we were going to go hunt down this Filipino Family! We didn't have an address, just my memory, and we didn't have a code for the gate, and we hadn't been invited :) But we had determination and I was super excited to see these friends :)

Well, my memory didn't fail me, and we found this apartment. MIRACLE! But unfortunately my memory isn't that great and the code that I hadn't used in 5 months wasn't really coming to mind. Shame. Haha I was so mad! But then I remembered that we have something better than a code on our side. We have the Spirit! Haha and no, there was no code whispered in my ear, but the Spirit works in other wondrous ways :) So right after a very heartfelt prayer, this woman walks into this gate, punches in the code, and me and Soeur Weckesser were stoked! We just looked at each other with big eyes and even bigger smiles :)

Well, the anticipation was short lived because that lady that appeared to be so nice, turns around and slams the gate shut so that we can't get in. And for a second, we were so discouraged. But we knew that if we needed to see this family, that we would get in :) So here were the options and the outcomes we had already tried.

  1. Squeeze through the bars on the gate. #toofat #pastrieprobs

  2. Wait until someone came. #missioncurfewkills

  3. Call the family #theyneverpickup

But this is the best part :) I walk up to the gate right after the lady is out of sight, punch in the code, and we are in :) Haha that’s right, I was watching her ;) haha Soeur Weckesser was seriously impressed. You should have seen her face. haha. And I was too for a sec :) I still don't even know if I typed in the right code, but I know that we were supposed to get in. So we did. A Heavenly Father who cared about Cathy and Malou and Agnes wanted us to get in, and so we did! I am learning more and more as time goes on that Heavenly Father can work so much easier through us when we are willing to say a prayer to ask for help, and then do whatever we can to accomplish the challenge He has given us. Even if it means stealing codes :)

But I got to see my Filipinos :) and I was so happy to see them and what makes it better is that they were even happier to see me :) I was able to share my testimony again, catch up on life, and introduce them to the missionaries that are there right now and they even have another rdv. Turns out one of them just had surgery and the others needed some company as well :)

MIRACLES! It was definitely one of the better nights on my mission :)

So now I have taken all my time telling that story, but it was totally worth it wasn't it? I love miracles, so while a lot of miracles happened this week, that one meant the most to me, and I think I am going to remember it forever, so I just had to share it.

But on top of that :) We had four amis come to church this week! And the wife of the couple that we found porting, Holy, came, and she loved it :) She met they Elder's amie who is from Madagascar as well and they were best friends in minutes! It made for the best Sunday ever and even better is that she felt the Spirit :) That is what it is

all about :) I feel very lucky this week. I have a great companion, great amis, and I am part of a great ward. We really are a family and it is a huge blessing, for me, and also for the people that we bring :)

I love you all so much :) This mission is crazy and unexpected things happen all the time but all of those little "unexpectations" usually turn into some pretty big miracles. Because really me and all these missionaries are just the instruments and God is the one doing all the work :) I know that whenever we are in hard situations, when we have to do hard things. I know that we can do them. Because yes, we put in the effort, but in the end we see that it wasn't really us that ever did it at all :)

Keep your chins up :) I love you all and so does Heavenly Father :) I am working hard and having fun :)

Soeur Trotter

"I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." 1 Nephi 3:7

"Je vais être Mormon!!!" (Week #28)

Date: May 30, 2016 

Location: Rouen 

Companion: Soeur Bennett

Well Hello Everyone,

Before starting, I realize that the majority of you probably don't understand the title of my email. But I just want you to picture the cutest 71 year old woman in your mind's eye, and then picture her yelling that to me and Soeur Bennett as she walked down the street after a super good rendez-vous, with a super cute smile on her face. My whole life was made within seconds :) But we will get to that story later.

I will start off with just saying as well, that we are all fine from the flooding :) In fact, I didn't really even know that there was a flooding until I asked someone why I got so many emails about it :) Sylvie, our ami told us something about a lot of water and having to shut down some museums in Paris. And whether or not my blondeness finally got to me or she didn't explain it super well, something didn't click and so we really had, and still have NO idea what is going on. But I heard it is the worst flood here since 1910. So hopefully everything is okay :) We are just grateful that we live on the 14th floor :)

As for this week, we ate a whole lot of pastries. I am finding that every day is a holiday, and there is always another reason to celebrate. 

"Oh! Soeur Bennett! It is the last day of May today! We have to celebrate with a pastry!"

and then... 

"Oh! Soeur Trotter! Today is the first of June! We have to celebrate!" 

"Oh! It is my 6 month and 13th day mark! We have to get a pastry!" 

Haha is it an illness? Probably.. but at least we both have it. And is it really that bad of one to have? Haha I think not!

But aside from pastries and floods, this week was probably one of the more special weeks in the mission for me. Our amie Sylvie, has somehow found a way to get to me, and she has become such a big part of me in more ways than one. We are for real the same person! We even think of the same responses in word games that we play every week at the church! Well.. now that I think of it, we are trying to decide whether we actually think alike or whether she cheats, but either way it is fun! I am just a little confused at how the woman who thought Texas is a country decided to put Denver as her response to "capitals of the world." haha we love her anyways though :)

The best part though is that she has been an amie for about a year now, and she has been continually trying to overcome her phobia of water. And she has always been certain that it is insurmountable and impossible. BUT this last lesson was just incredible and she is going to be baptized on the 25 of June :) We still don't know how we are going to get her in the font but she wants to do it and I have the faith to know that Heavenly Father will help her.

The cutest thing in the world though, was when we were leaving the church. We all had big smiles, and Sylvie was so happy! And then as we left the church and walked our separate ways, Sylvie turned around and threw her arms up and said 

"Finalement, je vais être Mormon!" 

Which is to say, "I am finally going to be a Mormon!" and then she turned around and kept walking, and then stopped and turned back towards us again and said, "I am finally going to be like everyone in our ward."

Sylvie has always loved the members in our ward and she has always seen them as being on a plain that she could never reach!  And now she is so excited to become one of them. She already is, but there is something special about becoming a part of a ward family, and on top of that, making sacred covenants with God. This woman is so ready and I cannot explain how blessed I feel to be a part of this special part of her life. I was telling my family this, but I look at this cute little French woman, and I feel something that I have never really felt before. I feel like I am being blessed with this ability to be able to see just a little sliver of what Christ sees when he looks at her. Because Sylvie still has lots of things working against her, but all I can really see is her potential! and there is so much of it!

So pretty much this week couldn't have been a ton better, because my favorite person ever just decided to take a big step of faith that she never thought she could ever make! She sometimes thinks she doesn't have enough faith, but everytime she speaks and acts it just shows and everyone else can see it!

I love this church. I love that my amis can come to a church where they feel welcome, where they can feel the Spirit, and where one day, they can be baptized, and know that there will be people cheering them on and supporting them every step of the way! I remember my MTC teacher Frère Adams telling us how amazing it is that you could get on an airplane, go anywhere in the world, be let down with a parachute, and find a chapel, immediately having a support system and people who love you. What an incredible blessing that is.

I know that we can do hard things. Sometimes I don't think so. But I am watching an amie right now do something really hard. And she is DOING it! Because we are never alone!! There is family, and friends, and if not that, then we always have Christ. He is my best friend and I know that with Him, I can do hard things. Even on the days when I think that I can't.

I love you all and I always think about you :) But not too much because I am a missionary ;) But I love you and am grateful for the strength that you give me! I am working hard and having fun :)

Soeur Trotter

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Phillipians 4:13

"Am I Dreaming? Pinch Me!" (Week #27)

Date: May 30, 2016 

Location: Rouen 

Companion: Soeur Bennett

Bonjour Mes Amis,

There is absolutely no way to describe this week without saying "Am I Dreaming? Pinch Me!" But I don't think that I am dreaming! I think that it was actually just a really solid, incredible week, with God at the center of everything. He led us to places we didn't plan on going, to people we didn't plan on meeting, and He led us to say things that

we weren't planning on saying.

I don't even know where to begin so I will start with the biggest miracle of all because I won't be able to say anything else until I get this one out. Me and my frazzled mind can't handle all the stories I guess :) BUT it all started with porting... Everything always starts with porting. Something about going door to door always leads to a

good story. I guess it is because you never know what you are going to get on the other side of the door when it opens...

For example: It could be a huge aggressive dog that leads your companion to start running down the street as you yell, "Soeur Come Back! There is a man coming!" Haha poor Soeur Bennett.

But on this special occasion, we had gotten off the métro at a stop that was really really random. Looking back, I believe that it was a prompting, a little nudge from the Lord telling us that He had something bug in store for us little sister missionaries. So we found a street, and we started to ring, we started to get yelled at, we started to get a little tired. But we kept going. And we knocked on a door, and a window opened. Not even a door. A WINDOW!

And as we testified, the window opened a little more and little more, and we told this man that if we could have ten minutes of his time, we would leave. And so, because of that good ole Rouen hospitality, he agreed :) I can honestly say that this moment was better than all of my Christmas's combined. I looked at Soeur Bennett, she looked at me, and I couldn't have kept the smile off my face if I tried :) which was good! Because what a better way to share the happiest message on earth than with a smile! :)

Anyways, it is safe to say that after ten minutes, we did not want to leave. But I saw my watch, and I told him ten minutes, so I knew we had to keep our word and part ways. I told him that we were grateful for their time, and then, HE KEPT TALKING! And he wanted us to stay! Ah! So we stayed for 20 more minutes, and as we left, we were amazed by the new number written in our book and the Rendezvous that we have set for this Wednesday!

The best part is that the Elder's just set a baptismal date with this cute young woman named Elaonore who is Protestant and from Madagascar. And she always talks about how she needs more friends. And there is this woman who is a recent convert in our ward from Madagascar who was protestant! and see if you can guess where this woman is from?

If you thought Madagascar I'd give you a high five but I'm a few hours away. ;) But it is safe to say that when we found this out we were feeling beyond blessed. And the few hours of rejection we had before

seemed like seconds! and I would do it all over again for those 30 minutes! And we knew that we had followed the promptings of the Spirit. And we were led to a beautiful family who the Lord is preparing. I can't really explain the joy that came from that experience. But I don't know if there is much greater. To be in the moment, and to know that you were just led by the Spirit of the Lord, that you taught a lesson that you know was directed by the Spirit of the Lord, to a family that you know is being prepared by the same Spirit. It was an incredible experience. And I am so excited for Thierry and his wife and for whatever plan Heavenly Father has in store for them.

And looking back, I don't think it was his Rouen hopsitality, but I'd like to think that he was able to recognize two servants of the Lord. :) He is preparing people!

So as you can see, I spent all my time talking about one miracle. I got carried away. As always. But I am just so excited and I just love this work so much! I feel very very blessed this week.

I hope you all know that our Father in Heaven is aware of all of us. He directs us everywhere that we go with every decision that we make. The more and more that I think about it, the more and more I realize that if we allow it, we will never be without His guiding influence. He sent us here to test us and to let us grow, but He always promised us that we could always be under His guiding influence. I really felt that this week and i feel so blessed to have someone who loves me enough to always lead me in the right direction.

I love my companion. I absolutely love Rouen. I could spend my whole mission here. And it has taken some time, but I love France. I am a lot less homesick and a lot more attached to these people. Don't get me wrong, I am still pretty good at rocking out to "I'm Proud to be an American" at night, but I have a love for these people that probably won't ever go away.

I love all of you. Don't forget that He is aware of you and that I am always thinking of you and praying for you :)

I am having fun and I am working hard.

Soeur Trotter

"And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go beforeyour face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and mySpirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, tobear you up." -D&C 84:88