What a Nice Surprise. A Tick. (Week #46)

Date: October 10, 2016

Location: Nancy

Companion: Soeur Petersen

Hello Everyone!! 

This week started off fantastic. Do you remember about how I told you that we went hiking for my birthday? Well, turns out I had a little too much fun because I ended up bringing some little forest friends home with me. :) Tuesday morning, I woke up, ready to ATTACK THE MORNING, and I went into the bathroom. Well, I looked in the mirror and what did I see? Well, I thought it was a scab so I started picking at it... Bad idea #1. Haha but it got a whole less exciting pretty dang fast when it started moving!! I GOT A TICK! Haha that was so gross. Haha luckily my comp was willing to play surgeon and we got it out :) I kept it as a souvenir to show you all when I come home :) Haha whenever I tell people the story and tell them that I kept it, they all laugh hysterically and ask me if I am serious. And they get so shocked when I say I am. Haha I didn't think it was the weird... but who knows what being a missionary has done to me.. Haha.
As for the rest of the week, it was full of lots of adventures and birthday parties and teaching :) Just the way I like it. We went to this member's house, her name is Maité, and she is HILARIOUS. And her birthday was a few days after mine, so she threw a fête! And it was a lot of fun. But it consisted of being fed raw steak, which I wouldn't recommend. Apparently she likes the texture... haha and it also consisted of Maité going and getting her scale and then her and three of her old friends all sat around and forced me and soeur Petersen to weigh ourselves. And when we would get on the scale, they would all come over and look at it and start laughing and pointing at us, and saying stuff like, "c'est pas vrai!" haha and then they made us eat like ten pounds of cake :) haha sooo pretty sure that counts as bullying but it was fun and they love us and feed us so we let them do what they want. It was fun becuase none of Maités friends are members. So we love answering their questions when they have them and helping them grow closer to Christ. She is such a missionary and we love it :)
Something really cool that happened this week was meeting Sylvain. We were walking through a parc one night, and Sylvain was too. He and his girlfriend had just gotten into a really bad fight and he needed some time and some space. And as we started talking, Sylvain opened up a little bit, and He started to cry as we talked of Jesus Christ, and how there is someone who understands him. It was a really cool moment as Sylvain looked at us and said, "You are right. I have been so busy thinking about so much, I completely forgot that He is there for me." and he went on to explain that us meeting was one way in which Christ was looking out for Him. We were able to see him later that week and he is becoming one of my favorite people, who is prepared. It is true that he has trials, but Christ understands him even if we don't, and I love that. I love being able to remind people of these things because they are true! I love being able to look at people, and be honest and tell them that there is no way that I understand what they are going through. But the best part is is telling them that there is someone who does. Someone a whole lot greater and better and who loves us. Even when we don't remember to love Him. That night was a huge tender mercy, for us and for Him, and I know that God is leading and directing us. That is also how we met Anissa.
The other day, me and Soeur Petersen had been out for hours. People were listening, but we weren't getting very far, and I think that we walked up and down the same street 10 times, deciding what we wanted to do and where we wanted to go. Something that gives me the most stress on the mission, is being honest with God and asking Him sincerely where we need to go to find those who are prepared; and then we don't get an anwser. At first I was frustrated with God, and then after a few weeks in the mission, I was frustrated with me, thinking about what might be keeping me from bieng worthy of God's guidance and His answers. But something that I have learned with time, is the importance of acting. If we don't recieve an answer, we cannot just sit and wait, but act, and God will let us know if the decision we are making is wrong. For all of you who know Garth Brooks, He has a song called unanswered prayers. And this night reminds me a lot of it.
I was frustrated in all honesty. Soeur Petersen wouldn't decide where to go. And She was frustrated because Soeur Trotter wouldnt decide where to go. And it was windy and cold and it had been three hours. And we were being so lamme! But we decided to pray. And we really wanted to know where to go. We really wanted to find those who were ready and we were willing to listen. And we looked up from bowing our heads, and there was no one. But, we decided to walk. And just down the street, there we see her. Anissa. She was reading the paper outside of the gare, and she hoenstly looking freezing. But I knew we had to talk to her. and we did. And she told us about her life and her family and her beliefs. And before we knew it, we just felt so much love for her. She asked what we were holding in our hands. Which lucky for her, was the Book of Mormon. and she took it and just looked at it flipping through the pages, saying that she wished that she could have one. little did she know, that is why we hold them in the first place :) #trickymissionnaires
But it was fun to look at her looking at a Book that i know will change her life. I know what it can do. And I know that that day, God's "Unanswered Prayer," was actually an answer. An answer telling us to stop complaining and to just walk a little longer, a little further, to test a little more of our faith. And we did. And like He promised, He blessed us. I know that the Lord gives us commandments that we have to follow. He tells us missionaries to always talk to people and to go to bed on time and to try our best. And then in return He blesses us. And He is the umitmate promise keeper. Heavenly Father WANTS to bless us. And He will! I see it every day.
I love you all. Don't forget it. I think about you all the time, even if I don't write you. Mom comes first and the rest are questionable if I will get around to it. I try my best. I am working hard and I am having fun. The Lord is blessing France and Nancy and Soeur Petersen and Soeur Trotter. And all of us :) His work really is moving. And it really is true so there is no stopping it :)
Soeur Trotter

Hiking up to an Old World War Fort.  Elder Randrianaivo is facing the camera, and Me and Elder Pro are turned around!

You can't tell but we found a super cool old military fort!

Hiking today! Hopefully no ticks round 2!

Such a fun day!

Our Birthday Party! She didn't want to put a 71 on the cake so we said we were both 20 :) Clever   

At our member Claudine's house with Maité  :)

My Birthday! (Week #45)

Date: October 3, 2016

Location: Nancy

Companion: Soeur Petersen

Hello Everyone!

Today is October 3rd. Which means two things! I am extremely lucky that my birthday fell on a Monday, because we get to go hiking today! And it also means that my years as a teenager are officially over. I am 20! Haha although you would never know based off of my general conference behavior. It is never a smart idea to watch general conference with four elders and a back scratcher. I don't know if you remember, but Soeur Petersen has been trying really hard for the last week to bring herself to give me a hug. Well, problem solved. Because I bought this legit back scratcher and it was GENIUS. But these Elder's that I always thought were so grown up got a hold of it, and all hell broke loose. It was like trying to get a two year old to watch general conference :) But the back scratcher was confiscated by my wise companion, and yes, we were able to learn a thing or too :) We even had a raclette party in between as well :) For those of you who don't know raclette, it is a meal that is super french, with a machine in the middle of the table that heats up cheese and cooks meat, and as it cooks, you take it off and drape it over some boiled potatoes. It was so good and I might have to make it a tradition. :) I will send a picture :) 

So it was the week of General Conference. Which in itself is a miracle :) But on top of that, we saw some super cool miracles that made my whole week. Starting with Tuesday. Marie-Lord is an amie of ours, who is incredible. She loves her family and she loves us, and even more, she loves the Lord. And as us missionaries like to say, she is GOLDEN. She just radiates happiness. But because she just had a baby and works a ton, she is super hard to get a hold of. God is good though, and we have ran into Marie-Lord 3 TIMES on buses :) how fun is that? And we would talk to her and twice, she would be getting off the bus really fast and wouldn't be able to talk. But three really is the lucky number, and last week, she talked to us for a while and we were able to schedule a rdv for Tuesday! YES!

So, as the days went on, we started to talk about and prepare what we wanted to teach Marie-Lord. And also our other amis. I swear it is summer because so many of our amies are out of town, but we do what we can with what we have :) We have this one amie Patricia, who was almost baptized. She is from Nigeria, and has only been in France for a few months, and she doesn't speak any french. So unfortunately the baptism fell through. She didn't feel super welcome in the ward, as much as us missionaries love her, and I think it is because no one in the ward can really speak english. And we have been so SAD because we just cannot get a hold of her! So with lots of prayers directed towards her and also Marie-Lord, we set out Tuesday, to do some finding. 

It all started when we decided that we wanted to walk through a park next to Marie-Lord's apartment. We went, and to be honest, I started to wonder if I really had been prompted to go there, because i was hearing crickets. This place was empty! But we walked about five steps, and as we turned the corner, there we saw her. Her name is Bolinda. She was just taking her daily stroll, when she decided to sit down on her usual bench and smoke her usual cigarette, when she sees two young girls walk up to her, with a smiling faces and a Book of Mormon. Smiles work, my friends, they really do. And in the case of Bolinda, she was able to hear something that she really needed to hear. She shared with us towards the end of our conversation, that while we spoke, she forgot that she was even holding a cigarette, and that she could find no desire in herself to pick it up again. She felt God's love. It was a moment that I will remember for a while and we are excited to see what happens :) 

So after an hour with Bolinda, we ran to our rdv with Marie-Lord. and we knocked on the door, disappointed as no one answered, and no one answered, and a minute later, no one answered. But we have faith, and Soeur Trotter should stop trusting her blue, because she had had a feeling all along that it was the wrong door ;) haha but we were happy it was, because we found Marie-Lord and she was there! and even better than her being there, PATRICIA was sitting on her couch! What?! They can't even speak the same language! And that afternoon was fantastic. We taught in english and in french and we felt the Spirit. And Marie-Lord is going to get baptized on November 12th! we are super excited and we really felt the Lord blessing us. 

So, I could keep rambling on about things that I have learned and miracle people that the Lord has placed in my path. But I kind of just want to bear my testimony about something that I have been working on. 

This week I have been really trying to improve my prayers. I read a quote during my studies that changed the way I see it.

“Our prayers become hollow when we say similar words in similar ways over and over so often that the words become more of a recitation than a communication. This is what the Savior described as ‘vain repetitions’ (see Matthew 6:7). 

“Do your prayers at times sound and feel the same? Have you ever said a prayer mechanically, the words pouring forth as though cut from a machine? Do you sometimes bore yourself as you pray

"Will prayers that do not demand much of your thought merit much attention from our Heavenly Father? When you find yourself getting into a routine with your prayers, step back and think. Meditate for a while on the things for which you really are grateful. Look for them. They don’t have to be grand or glorious. …

"Think of those things you truly need. Bring your goals and your hopes and your dreams to the Lord and set them before Him. Heavenly Father wants us to approach Him and ask for His divine aid” (“Improving Our Prayers,” Ensign, Mar. 2004, 24, 26).

I know that some of the most miraculous experiences in my life have come when I try my hardest to have conversations with God. Yes, it takes more time, effort, and a lot more humility then I sometimes am willing to give. But I am learning more and more all the time that those are the times when I receive answers and feel close to God. I can feel Him listen to me when I am willing to listen to Him, and I feel Him watching over me, when i care enough to look to Him. He wants to give me His attention, but to do so, I need to be willing to give HIm mine. 

He loves me. And He loves you. i love you a lot as well and I can feel your prayers. I am always working hard and doing what I can to please God. And I know that He is watching over us all the time.

Soeur Trotter

This 6 month old African Baby is almost big enough to eat me!!!  

Conference Raclette Party!

Raclette Party!

Hike on my birthday!

Mary Laure gave my companion these hair extensions to practice with, and she put them in my hair! Mary Laure is the mom of the adorable 6 month old baby I sent a picture of!

We got caught in a rain storm! 

Because the Justice League is cool!

Our DMP bought us my favorite drink! #blessings

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"

Was it the Bus Driver? Or Was it Satan? (Week # 40)

Date: August 29, 2016

Location: Nancy

Companion: Soeur Petersen

Bonjour!

Have you ever asked yourself why the devil hates missionary work? I did this week that is for sure, and I also learned WHY he hates it so much. Haha and I also learned that bus drivers aren't my favorite people in the world, and that the principle that you can break prison walls with the word of God is true. Okay, not EXACTLY prison walls, but it got us out of cops taking us to jail sooo close enough :) 

It all started as we were on our way to pass by an old Amie of some past missionaries. She hadn't been home, and so we decided that we were in a nice neighborhood, and we wanted to knock some doors. And I usually really like the sound of ringing doorbells and fists knocking on doors. Haha but something about cop lights and people yelling at you takes away from it. We were caught, sharing the good news. There could be worse things I suppose. :) Unfortunately for the woman who was about to hear the restored gospel, the cops ordered her to go back inside. I wonder what that poor woman was thinking. Two young women standing at her door surrounded by three cops. It turns out we looked a little suspicious in our skirts and nametags. Well, it turns out that these cops were not very happy. So, they told us that they were going to have to take us to the station, due to our lack of passports. He was impressed with my Californienne ID, everyone is usually, but it wasn't cutting it to prove that I am here legally. And let me tell you, I almost wanted to go with how hot it was outside, but something in my head told me that the idea was better as an idea, and it needed to stay as an idea, and not a course of action. So, with all the gusto I could muster up within myself, I said to this man, "We are here to represent Jesus Christ, and to find the people that He has prepared." It sounded pretty good, but his response was this... "I don't care who you represent! even if it is the Christ or not!" So I told him that I have a VISA, and he could take us back to our apartment instead. But, whether it be that his heart was softened or that he realized he messed with the wrong missionary, or more likely that he realized how innocent we actually are, he agreed to let us go. Close call. The Lord was on our side that day. What an awkard phone call to make to President Babin... 

But the week continued on. and little did I know, as we got on Bus 2, I was about to meet one of my favorite people in the world. Florence. She was just sitting there, with a cute black purse, black outfit, on her way to work. And so I did what I have been trained to do, and I followed what I thought was a prompting, and talked to her. and within minutes, she was talking about her family and her work and her hobbies. and before I could even ask her for her number, she throws her phone at me, saying "I have to have your number." So, I wasnt about to decline. And as we parted ways, I invited her to church. I don't know if I have seen someone this excited about church in a really long time. Even me maybe. But she wanted to come, and she was detirmined to find a way. 

On the other end of things, our other amie, Mireille, wanted to come to chiurch as well. and she has three kids and she was so willing to try and get them all out the door at 8 the next morning, to make it to church :) Her bus stop was a few after ours, so as we got on the bus, we were excited to see if she would be at the stop we were passing by. and SHE WAS! We waved to her, and we were so excited. And before I could even process things, the bus driver just kept driving. he didnt even stop! And he just left our amis behind in the dust. I was so mad. Number one, because she tried so hard to get out the door, and she did, only to miss the bus, and number two because the driver didnt stop! So I ran to the front of the bus, not about to let that one go, and he was so mean! I said, "Hey, they were people back there. Our friends were back there and you didn't even stop." And he looks at me, and says, I didn't see anyone. maybe you should have told your friends to make themselves stand out more. So they MISSED church. Oh la la that took some cooling down. I am so convinced that all these amis we teach as missionaries are going to see opposition in their path, as they try their hardest to come to Christ. But the more I think about it, the more I realize it is never easy, and there are always road blocks. So I hope that they try again next week. Because I know they are ready. And the harder we try, the more God helps us to make it where we need to be.

BUT Florence came to church, and she LOVED it. I am so amazed with this woman and her desire to be better, and her happy personality. The members loved her, and she already has so many friends. She told us that she loves how she already feels like she found another family. and when church ended, all three hours, she looks over to us, and says, "That was it?" Usually getting them to stay for two is a feat. She is incredible, and is such an example to me of someone who is so willing to follow the things that they feel. She wanted to see the baptismal font, she wanted to know if she could come back next week, she wants to start doing her family history. She is a miracle. I am so excited for tomorrow when we teach her again and I am grateful for how easy it is for me to love her. 

I really do love this gospel. so many times I am so frustrated, asking, "Why isn't this easier, God? Why, if these people need to be at church, is it so hard for them to get there? Why are there roadblocks  and missed buses and bumps along the way and why doesn't everyone listen to this gospel message that I know is true. And I know that through these difficultiess, these people are building their faith. God never said that it would be easy, but I think there is a quote somewhere that says that God said that it would be worth it. These people are ready, and so Satan really doesn't want them to progress. But he always loses so I know that they will. He loves me and I feel the love He has for them.

I learned a lot this week- about patience and being bold. And lots more. I love you all so much. I am working hard ad having fun and I know that this mission is going to change everything.

I love you a lot :) 

À la prochaine, 

Soeur Trotter

Taking it back to the Homeland!

Pretty ville! First time I haven't lived by the Seine!