Happy New Year

What a holiday season! Thank you so much for the gifts! It was nice to see the family on Christmas day:) This will be a short email because not much has happened since then...

I gave a talk in sacrament on the power to change. We had 5 investigators at church and a ton of visitors, members and non-members.

Here's a picture of our district after we all (except Elder B) bought matching hats!

I'm doing wonderful and working hard! My companion has 4 weeks left before he goes home. So I just work him hard, we do a lot of walking and stay busy!

Love,
Elder Trotman

Sunny Barn Photo

Christmas Season

Last night we were invited to a member's Christmas party. There were a large number of non-members there. The family held a simple but beautiful Christmas musical party. The comment was made that most songs this season are on Christ and Mary, I would agree... In his very beautiful bass voice, someone sang a song about Joseph. In the song it says, "I am not His father but He is mine." (Talking about Jesus.) Ponder Joseph's humility in being the Christ's "step-father.” Caring for and raising The Son of God. Can you even fathom the love? The pressure? The faith? The song brought me to tears as I thought about the warmth and testimony of Joesph's heart as he watched his 12-year-old son teach doctors and lawyers about raising men from the dead. I hope you find time this week to ponder the true meaning of Christmas.

As a missionary during this beautiful Christmas season, home is on my mind quite often. Not just Highlands Ranch, though a wonderful home, but heaven and my Savior, a glorious home. Honestly, last Christmas was hard for me. I was transferred into a new area a week before Christmas. It was cold, wet and miserable. This Christmas season is quite the opposite. I have been in this area for three months now. The work is on fire! Last week we had eight investigators at church, the most I've ever had in one week! I love my companion and joy fills our hearts.

As I stated before, this Christmas season has brought my Savior to great pondering in my mind. With the "He Is The Gift" initiative, you can see how commercialized Christmas has become, but we know what Christmas is truly about. It is about our Savior, He being the first and greatest gift mankind will ever receive. A gift so glorious, we cannot fathom it's eternal worth, yet a gift so humbly given. Today, I see Christmas for the joy and peace that the Spirit of Christ can bring into a broken home, a torn heart or an aching soul. I see Christmas in more than just the glimmer of the lights on a tree, but the rays of "good tidings of great joy" that shine down from Heaven. I pray you too may look up and see how glorious the gift our Father has given.

Thank you again for your love and support and Merry Christmas to you!

-Elder Trotman

Gingerbread Houses

My week was fun!

We were asked to attend a fundraiser dinner at Old Economy Village where we volunteer weekly. It was interesting, Elder B. mentioned how fake he felt sitting there and how fake everyone looked. I at first didn't see it, but then it all opened up to me. Instantly I got a headache, haha! I realized how fake my high school was and then compared it to this dinner event... I don't know how you and dad do it! We left around 9:00pm to be home in time. The Pittsburgh Opera performed a beautiful private Christmas special for us. That was cool! They did a song from Frozen, Shay would probably know it but I forgot the title! I found out that my Stake President's wife's sister is in the Summit View ward.

Anyway, the week was good! We made gingerbread houses with a family, SW from the Hershey Ward came and took us to dinner while he was in Pittsburgh for work and we helped work the Ambridge Holiday Parade on Saturday!

I hope you have a great week!!!! Don't forget to have FHE and family prayer!

Love,
Elder Trotman

Thanksgiving

My week was awesome! Thanksgiving was really nice and I ate some great food! Don't worry, I'm getting fed haha trying not to put on so much weight!

Tell the family and friends hi for me next time you see them!

I don't have much time today. Our library is having some work done so we only get a little time on the laptops in the basement - Ambridge is a fun place;) So this pic is all the missionaries with former Steelers Lineman and our current Bishop. It was a legit Turkey Bowl!

Love,
Elder Trotman