Monday, February 10, 2014
District Meeting Picture
I had the Zone Leaders come to our last District Meeting, and Elder J brought a staff and a crazy black women’s jacket with him and told me to wear it in the meeting for fun. The picture is of Elder D and I at the meeting. He wore American socks and I wore British socks. It was a very fun District Meeting.
True Happiness
There is a family that is going to take us to the Pitt Zoo and Aquarium when it warms up! I'm about 25mins away from it. I am so sick of this weather! I pray for warm weather every day! It stinks proselyting in snow... Oh the road salt out here is so bad that it is eating my shoes... I'm going to take them to a shoe repair guy that lives nearby to see what he says and if he can fix them.
I had the Zone Leaders come to our last District Meeting, and Elder J brought a staff and a crazy black women’s jacket with him and told me to wear it in the meeting for fun. The picture is of Elder D and I at the meeting. He wore American socks and I wore British socks. It was a very fun District Meeting.
We are teaching this family that lives around the corner from us, and they have two very young daughters. They lost both their cars, both their jobs and just last week they ran out of food. We gave them some of our food and prayed for them. The wife got a new job and they got enough in tax returns to buy a car so the dad can find a job too. It's very humbling to watch these people live in these circumstances.
On exchanges with my zone leader we ran into a guy who was two hours away from home with his family to go to court for something stupid and they took all his money. He had no way to get home and no food. Elder J and I gave him some of our personal money and prayed with him. Right after we prayed with him, a lady walked out of a bakery and gave all of his kids cookies. They are now investigating the church and finding happiness in Christ.
I've learned that true happiness lasts in Christ because everything in this world will fall. Everything will eventually falter and be taken away but this gospel is everlasting. It is eternal and divine. It never falters and has no follies. It is perfect in Christ. I know I'm here to do a great work, although I don't know why The Lord wants me, I know this is His work. I may not know why I personally am on a mission, but I know that I am servant of my King and Creator. He is everything to me and I am everything to Him. I cannot comprehend His love for me but I know it's there because I see it when I look at myself in the mirror. Christ lives and is very real. He walks just as we do. His love for us is divine and truly powerful. Let His love engulf your sorrows and walk in His light. I love you all and am continually grateful for your support.
Love,
Elder Trotman
I had the Zone Leaders come to our last District Meeting, and Elder J brought a staff and a crazy black women’s jacket with him and told me to wear it in the meeting for fun. The picture is of Elder D and I at the meeting. He wore American socks and I wore British socks. It was a very fun District Meeting.
We are teaching this family that lives around the corner from us, and they have two very young daughters. They lost both their cars, both their jobs and just last week they ran out of food. We gave them some of our food and prayed for them. The wife got a new job and they got enough in tax returns to buy a car so the dad can find a job too. It's very humbling to watch these people live in these circumstances.
On exchanges with my zone leader we ran into a guy who was two hours away from home with his family to go to court for something stupid and they took all his money. He had no way to get home and no food. Elder J and I gave him some of our personal money and prayed with him. Right after we prayed with him, a lady walked out of a bakery and gave all of his kids cookies. They are now investigating the church and finding happiness in Christ.
I've learned that true happiness lasts in Christ because everything in this world will fall. Everything will eventually falter and be taken away but this gospel is everlasting. It is eternal and divine. It never falters and has no follies. It is perfect in Christ. I know I'm here to do a great work, although I don't know why The Lord wants me, I know this is His work. I may not know why I personally am on a mission, but I know that I am servant of my King and Creator. He is everything to me and I am everything to Him. I cannot comprehend His love for me but I know it's there because I see it when I look at myself in the mirror. Christ lives and is very real. He walks just as we do. His love for us is divine and truly powerful. Let His love engulf your sorrows and walk in His light. I love you all and am continually grateful for your support.
Love,
Elder Trotman
Monday, February 3, 2014
Mission Office
I'm doing great!
This week has been so good! Elder D and I are having so much fun and success! We went to Pittsburgh on Saturday to spend the day with the AP's. I got to go with Elder M, from Ireland, and do some work in the Mission Office. I called the missionaries that come in at the end of the month! It was so weird haha I loved it though! I learned so much from Elder M. He told me that the best missionary is the real you inside. Just be real with people and they will listen and connect with you, "don't be a freakin' robot", he said in his awesome Irish accent. (Which just makes everything so much more funny.)
Love,
Elder Trotman
This week has been so good! Elder D and I are having so much fun and success! We went to Pittsburgh on Saturday to spend the day with the AP's. I got to go with Elder M, from Ireland, and do some work in the Mission Office. I called the missionaries that come in at the end of the month! It was so weird haha I loved it though! I learned so much from Elder M. He told me that the best missionary is the real you inside. Just be real with people and they will listen and connect with you, "don't be a freakin' robot", he said in his awesome Irish accent. (Which just makes everything so much more funny.)
Love,
Elder Trotman
Monday, January 20, 2014
New Church Member
Do I have any cool stories...? Psh, who am I, Elder Boring...? Of course I have a great story!
It all starts with Alma 56:47 and 48, "...they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me... We do not doubt our mothers knew it." Now, besides the fact that this scripture is true and moms are the best (Shout Out to my own mom!), this shares many lessons: honor thy mother, don't doubt God, trust in the Lord in time of affliction and follow the example of those who know it, just to name a few. Not only has my mother been an outstanding example of a faithful woman, but so has “J.” Now who is “J?” She is a Humphrey Scholar currently studying at Penn State. She is from Burundi, Africa, where her husband resides. She has a son in Russia and a daughter in India, both doing research study for school. As of Saturday, January 18th, “J” is the newest member of the State College 1st Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She, indeed, has set the example for her family and is a pioneer to her country, where the church is very small and new. She is also an example to me as I had the opportunity to introduce her to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and teach her about the love of Christ. Although I was not physically present for her baptism, I was very much present in Spirit and prayer. I know that because of her example, many others will join the kingdom in which god has made for His children. My love for her and her family is exceedingly great, just as it is for this church. I pray that we will all strive to be the example Christ wants us to be. To walk in His footsteps so those that follow may be guided by example and direction. in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.
Love,
Elder Trotman
P.S- This is a pic of Elder Nash and I at the overlook of Pitt. He just got transferred out of my district :(
It all starts with Alma 56:47 and 48, "...they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me... We do not doubt our mothers knew it." Now, besides the fact that this scripture is true and moms are the best (Shout Out to my own mom!), this shares many lessons: honor thy mother, don't doubt God, trust in the Lord in time of affliction and follow the example of those who know it, just to name a few. Not only has my mother been an outstanding example of a faithful woman, but so has “J.” Now who is “J?” She is a Humphrey Scholar currently studying at Penn State. She is from Burundi, Africa, where her husband resides. She has a son in Russia and a daughter in India, both doing research study for school. As of Saturday, January 18th, “J” is the newest member of the State College 1st Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She, indeed, has set the example for her family and is a pioneer to her country, where the church is very small and new. She is also an example to me as I had the opportunity to introduce her to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and teach her about the love of Christ. Although I was not physically present for her baptism, I was very much present in Spirit and prayer. I know that because of her example, many others will join the kingdom in which god has made for His children. My love for her and her family is exceedingly great, just as it is for this church. I pray that we will all strive to be the example Christ wants us to be. To walk in His footsteps so those that follow may be guided by example and direction. in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.
Love,
Elder Trotman
P.S- This is a pic of Elder Nash and I at the overlook of Pitt. He just got transferred out of my district :(
Monday, January 13, 2014
District Leader
The Mission President extended a new calling to me last night. A call, at first, I was dreading... Now, after reading the lyrics to the hymn "Ye Elders of Israel", I am open and excited to serve in my new calling. I have been called, and gladly accepted, to be the Freeport Area District Leader. A position within the mission where I am over eight missionaries, including myself. I not only set and collect goals from them and teach the lesson at District meetings, but I encourage, love, serve and teach these missionaries. As I mentioned beforehand, I was nervous when I received this calling, but these words brought a warm reassurance to my heart and mind that, through humble prayer, I will be lead by The Lord in this position: "And thus, if ye are faithful ye shall be laden with many sheaves, and crowned with honor, and glory, and immortality, and eternal life."(D&C 75:5) I know this is an opportunity that will bless me with eternal knowledge in leadership and love.
I pray that you will look for ways to serve your peers, "to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort," and to encourage all around you to live a Christ-like life, by example.(Mosiah 18:9)
"The harvest is great, and the lab'rers are few;
but if we're united, we all things can do.
We'll cheer up their hearts with the news that he bore
and point them to Zion and life ever-more.
O Babylon, O Babylon, we bid thee farewell;
we're going to the mountains of Ephraim to dwell."
-"Ye Elders of Israel," verses 2 and 3
Love,
Elder Trotman
I pray that you will look for ways to serve your peers, "to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort," and to encourage all around you to live a Christ-like life, by example.(Mosiah 18:9)
"The harvest is great, and the lab'rers are few;
but if we're united, we all things can do.
We'll cheer up their hearts with the news that he bore
and point them to Zion and life ever-more.
O Babylon, O Babylon, we bid thee farewell;
we're going to the mountains of Ephraim to dwell."
-"Ye Elders of Israel," verses 2 and 3
Love,
Elder Trotman
Monday, January 6, 2014
The Man on the Corner
It's pretty ridiculously cold here...It snows almost once a week. Not a ton though...
So we got a sneek-peak of our new mission president and his wife. They are awesome! They come out here around July 1st. I'm super excited but I will miss our current mission president and his wife!
My more spiritual message is inspired by "the man on the corner" (titled as such for confidential purposes). We went to visit a man who lives just down the street from us and who is in our Area Book, showing that missionaries had visited him before. As we talked with him, we came to find out that it had been about two years since missionaries had talked with him and although he wasn't interested anymore, he was very nice. He said something that I want all of us to really focus on,
"More and more people just shut the door and don't communicate. We need to look at who is in front of us and listen. Don't just hear them, actually listen. They most likely have something to say that you can learn from. I love what you (missionaries) do and respect the fact that you teach the gospel to those that need that foundation."
I, honestly, couldn't have said it any better. He is speaking truth and I love it! He is so right, we need to actually listen to who is in front of us. I pray that you will focus on the individual who is in front of you, realizing that they, just as you, are a child of God. They are your brother or sister who is just trying to get through this life and make a positive difference in this world. Listen to those who spread and share the good news. I know that we will find happiness and understand this life more as we learn of this great gospel. The love of God will pour down upon us as we immerse ourselves in this more divine knowledge.
Love,
Elder Trotman
So we got a sneek-peak of our new mission president and his wife. They are awesome! They come out here around July 1st. I'm super excited but I will miss our current mission president and his wife!
My more spiritual message is inspired by "the man on the corner" (titled as such for confidential purposes). We went to visit a man who lives just down the street from us and who is in our Area Book, showing that missionaries had visited him before. As we talked with him, we came to find out that it had been about two years since missionaries had talked with him and although he wasn't interested anymore, he was very nice. He said something that I want all of us to really focus on,
"More and more people just shut the door and don't communicate. We need to look at who is in front of us and listen. Don't just hear them, actually listen. They most likely have something to say that you can learn from. I love what you (missionaries) do and respect the fact that you teach the gospel to those that need that foundation."
I, honestly, couldn't have said it any better. He is speaking truth and I love it! He is so right, we need to actually listen to who is in front of us. I pray that you will focus on the individual who is in front of you, realizing that they, just as you, are a child of God. They are your brother or sister who is just trying to get through this life and make a positive difference in this world. Listen to those who spread and share the good news. I know that we will find happiness and understand this life more as we learn of this great gospel. The love of God will pour down upon us as we immerse ourselves in this more divine knowledge.
Love,
Elder Trotman
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