Yello,
Looks like yinz (PA English for "you all") are having a blast there! I'm glad everyone is happy and enjoying themselves.
Well I should probably tell you a little about my new companion. His name is Elder J and he's from Utah. He's 19, been on his mission for six months and he was Elder V's MTC companion. He's really cool and reminds me of a couple kids from back home! He's a very bold missionary, too. There are definitely a lot of good things I will learn from him. He already invited our new investigator to be baptized in the first lesson. We tracked into this guy (by knocking on doors). So we went back yesterday and taught him about the Restoration with our Elders Quorum President. It was an awesome lesson and I shared my testimony with him. He said he would read the Book of Mormon and pray about it because that's what God wants him to do and then if he sees it's true, he'll get baptized. Does it get any better than that?!
I'm so happy right now and I can feel The Lord's outstretched hand in my life every waking moment as I diligently work in His vineyard. I love being a missionary. I do, I really do. I love helping people and just loving my brothers and sisters. This is by far the best thing I can be doing with my life right now. Thank you for supporting me and loving me. I love you so much and I can't wait to see what God has in store for all of us this week.
Love,
Elder Trotman
Monday, October 28, 2013
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Twelve Weeks Later
Well, as you can see, according to my title, it's been twelve weeks (3 months) since I left Highlands Ranch and became a fully involved and devoted servant of The Lord. CRAZY!!! I've really enjoyed having Elder V. as my companion but he gets transferred tomorrow... Sadly, my 25-year-old companion is leaving me. I am driving to Pittsburgh at 6:30am tomorrow to spend most of my day there and pick up my new companion. It will be exciting! I've learned a lot from Elder V. The following is my testimony that has been strengthened and altered from the training with him. First, below is a quote from the most recent General Conference:
"While I was a boy working in the fields with my mother, she taught me one of the most important lessons in life. It was late in the morning, the sun was up, and we had been hoeing for what I thought to be a very long time. I stopped to look back at what we had accomplished and said to my mother, “Look at all we have done!” Mother did not respond. Thinking that she had not heard me, I repeated what I had said a little louder. She still did not reply. Raising my voice a little higher, I repeated again. Finally, she turned to me and said, “Edward, never look back. Look ahead at what we still have to do.'" (Edward Dube, “Look Ahead and Believe,” October 2013 General Conference) (If you want to read the entire talk, please go to: http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/look-ahead-and-believe?lang=eng&query= )
What Edward Dube said this last General Conference has been circling my mind for days. Finally, one night it hit me. I connected what he said and what Elder V. has taught together. The reason it was in my head so much wasn't because I had succeeded so much in my past and was calling to my supreme guardian asking Him to acknowledge my success. I was calling to Him to acknowledge my failures when there was no need to. He acknowledged them long before I took up this mortal tabernacle. In fact, He forgave me as soon as I asked. I wasn't even calling to Him, but rather, calling to myself. I thought about it for a while. Why am I telling myself to live in the past, when Christ has already perfected my imperfections of the past? Why was I trying to acknowledge my mistakes when I should be acknowledging the successes I could achieve tomorrow? The answer: because I was being selfish and not acknowledging the greatest gift in my life, the Atonement. Through the example and lessons that Elder V. has shared with me, I have come to a new realization of the reality of the redeeming and enabling power of the Atonement. Christ has already paid the price and if we can forgive ourselves and humble ourselves before God to receive His forgiveness, then there is absolutely no need for us to dwell on the past. The past is the past. It's gone. So what are we to do with these blemishes? Learn from them and move on. Look ahead! There is so much to this life and it is way too short to live in the past!
I leave you with my testimony that I know the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real. He knows each and every one of us on a very deep personal level. He can change us if we allow Him to. We can become perfected through His redemptive name. He is the Holy One of Israel, who came to take upon Him the sin of every man and woman of this world. He is the Prince of Peace, the Only Begotten Son of our Father. He is very much alive and real. I proclaim these things in the name of Jesus, who is the Christ. Amen.
Love,
Elder Trotman
Fall in PA
"While I was a boy working in the fields with my mother, she taught me one of the most important lessons in life. It was late in the morning, the sun was up, and we had been hoeing for what I thought to be a very long time. I stopped to look back at what we had accomplished and said to my mother, “Look at all we have done!” Mother did not respond. Thinking that she had not heard me, I repeated what I had said a little louder. She still did not reply. Raising my voice a little higher, I repeated again. Finally, she turned to me and said, “Edward, never look back. Look ahead at what we still have to do.'" (Edward Dube, “Look Ahead and Believe,” October 2013 General Conference) (If you want to read the entire talk, please go to: http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/look-ahead-and-believe?lang=eng&query= )
What Edward Dube said this last General Conference has been circling my mind for days. Finally, one night it hit me. I connected what he said and what Elder V. has taught together. The reason it was in my head so much wasn't because I had succeeded so much in my past and was calling to my supreme guardian asking Him to acknowledge my success. I was calling to Him to acknowledge my failures when there was no need to. He acknowledged them long before I took up this mortal tabernacle. In fact, He forgave me as soon as I asked. I wasn't even calling to Him, but rather, calling to myself. I thought about it for a while. Why am I telling myself to live in the past, when Christ has already perfected my imperfections of the past? Why was I trying to acknowledge my mistakes when I should be acknowledging the successes I could achieve tomorrow? The answer: because I was being selfish and not acknowledging the greatest gift in my life, the Atonement. Through the example and lessons that Elder V. has shared with me, I have come to a new realization of the reality of the redeeming and enabling power of the Atonement. Christ has already paid the price and if we can forgive ourselves and humble ourselves before God to receive His forgiveness, then there is absolutely no need for us to dwell on the past. The past is the past. It's gone. So what are we to do with these blemishes? Learn from them and move on. Look ahead! There is so much to this life and it is way too short to live in the past!
I leave you with my testimony that I know the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real. He knows each and every one of us on a very deep personal level. He can change us if we allow Him to. We can become perfected through His redemptive name. He is the Holy One of Israel, who came to take upon Him the sin of every man and woman of this world. He is the Prince of Peace, the Only Begotten Son of our Father. He is very much alive and real. I proclaim these things in the name of Jesus, who is the Christ. Amen.
Love,
Elder Trotman
Fall in PA
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Monday, October 14, 2013
Progress
How's everyone doing back home? Anything cool happen lately? I've heard, from the YSA Branch, that iOS7 is pretty cool! Not gonna lie, I miss my iPhone, take care of it Shay!
Football is THE TALK her in State College! If they don't talk about football they talk about something else Penn State related... Cael (Olympic wrestler) and his brother are in my ward. They're pretty cool! The assisted living resident, is scheduled to be baptized on November 9th. One of our neighbors, is set to be baptized on November 2nd. We have a Chinese family we're teaching with our Ward Mission Leader who served in Taiwan. We are teaching someone from Rwanda, who is a single parent. We have a few other investigators and have been very successful in finding more people, most of whom are taught by the sisters because they are single college students. State College has been an adventure thus far and will continue to be! My companion will probably be transferred next week and I will most likely end up training a new missionary here! I'm excited!
I just want to leave you with a commitment. As a missionary, I invite a lot of people to make commitments with God. I would invite you to come up with a family missionary plan: that is to have the goal of having someone in your home by Christmas with the missionaries. Pray about it. Ponder it. Ask your Father in Heaven, as a family, where to cast your net. He has prepared someone you know and associate with to hear the gospel, I promise. All you have to do is ask God who it is. Ask in sincerity and ask with a plan having faith to act on your answer. I promise that if you do so, He will answer you. He will guide you and He will provide.
I love you all so much and pray for you every day! If there is anything I can do for you or any of our friends, please just ask.
I know that we have a loving Father in Heaven that has divinely placed an angel charge concerning each and every one of us. I know that Jesus is the Christ and Savior of this world. I know He loves us and has felt every emotion that so twitches in our body. Heavenly Father hears your prayers and looks forward to hearing them every moment of our life. He loves you.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Football is THE TALK her in State College! If they don't talk about football they talk about something else Penn State related... Cael (Olympic wrestler) and his brother are in my ward. They're pretty cool! The assisted living resident, is scheduled to be baptized on November 9th. One of our neighbors, is set to be baptized on November 2nd. We have a Chinese family we're teaching with our Ward Mission Leader who served in Taiwan. We are teaching someone from Rwanda, who is a single parent. We have a few other investigators and have been very successful in finding more people, most of whom are taught by the sisters because they are single college students. State College has been an adventure thus far and will continue to be! My companion will probably be transferred next week and I will most likely end up training a new missionary here! I'm excited!
I just want to leave you with a commitment. As a missionary, I invite a lot of people to make commitments with God. I would invite you to come up with a family missionary plan: that is to have the goal of having someone in your home by Christmas with the missionaries. Pray about it. Ponder it. Ask your Father in Heaven, as a family, where to cast your net. He has prepared someone you know and associate with to hear the gospel, I promise. All you have to do is ask God who it is. Ask in sincerity and ask with a plan having faith to act on your answer. I promise that if you do so, He will answer you. He will guide you and He will provide.
I love you all so much and pray for you every day! If there is anything I can do for you or any of our friends, please just ask.
I know that we have a loving Father in Heaven that has divinely placed an angel charge concerning each and every one of us. I know that Jesus is the Christ and Savior of this world. I know He loves us and has felt every emotion that so twitches in our body. Heavenly Father hears your prayers and looks forward to hearing them every moment of our life. He loves you.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Monday, October 7, 2013
General Conference
May I start by saying thank you for your prayers. I hope you know that they have been heard by our Father and felt by my heart. I do pray daily for your well-being as well and, even more so, for opportunities for you to share this wonderful gospel.
We have been blessed to again hear the powerful words of The Lord's Apostles and Prophet. I pray that you take heed to their words as they are the Lord's, for "whether by mine voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same."(Doctrine & Covenants 1:38)
Elder Holland said something quite harsh but true, "God's love is there for you whether or not you deserve it." I personally know this to be God's truth. We are all imperfect beings in an imperfect world. We chose to follow our eldest brother (Jesus Christ) and come to this Earth. We have already accepted the challenges we are to face here and we knew it would be hard. The Lord gave us a promise when He told John, "for without me ye can do nothing."(John 15:5) I testify unto you that is true. However, He gave us another promise, as President Eyring stated, "There is not one of us that He has not given His angels charge concerning us." Unto John He also said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."(John 14:27,18) As President Uchtdorf expressed, though carnal man may fall, The Lord will always stretch forth His redemptive hand to save us, even a stranger. However, it is solely up to us to feel the joy of forgiveness. We may not entirely understand how the Atonement of Christ was made, but through it we can feel the peace of God, which passeth all understanding. Remember the promise given to Isaiah, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red as crimson, they shall be as wool."(Isaiah 1:18) Take Edward Dube's advice given from his mother and "never look back, the past is to be lead from, not lived in." If you doubt the eternal redemptive power of the Atonement, then "doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith" as President Uchtdorf stated. It is through the Atonement that you can walk in faith, which faith can make you whole. Christ is everything to us and we are to abide in Him permanently, unyielding, steadfastly, forever.
Elder Richard G. Scott told us something very important when he said, "Repentance is not a punishment." It is a God given gift that we are to use. It is only through repentance that we are able to come closer unto Christ. If we want the blessings of the gospel to blossom within our lives, we need to be firmly attached to Him. We are to "run with patience the race that is set before us" and run with faith, as Richard J. Maynes stated. President Monson said, "Patience is a Heavenly virtue." I second the testimony of our dear prophet with my own personal testimony, "From the bed of pain and pillow of tears, we are lifted heavenward in the peace of our Savior, which peace is a special rest amid unrest." If you feel burdened by grief or pain, He can heal you. Remember, "don't forget to look up" as Adrian Ochoa expressed. Let The Lord drape His eternally loving arms of comfort and forgiveness upon your heavy laden shoulders. Terence M. Vinson stated it perfectly, "You haven't used all your strength until your Heavenly Father has helped you." Humble yourself and let Him make weak things become strong unto you.
Pray fervently, daily. As you draw nearer unto The Lord, He will draw nearer unto thee. I leave you this - that our Redeemer lives. Jesus is the Christ and Only Begotten of the Father. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
I love you all and I look forward to hearing from you.
-Elder Trotman
We have been blessed to again hear the powerful words of The Lord's Apostles and Prophet. I pray that you take heed to their words as they are the Lord's, for "whether by mine voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same."(Doctrine & Covenants 1:38)
Elder Holland said something quite harsh but true, "God's love is there for you whether or not you deserve it." I personally know this to be God's truth. We are all imperfect beings in an imperfect world. We chose to follow our eldest brother (Jesus Christ) and come to this Earth. We have already accepted the challenges we are to face here and we knew it would be hard. The Lord gave us a promise when He told John, "for without me ye can do nothing."(John 15:5) I testify unto you that is true. However, He gave us another promise, as President Eyring stated, "There is not one of us that He has not given His angels charge concerning us." Unto John He also said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."(John 14:27,18) As President Uchtdorf expressed, though carnal man may fall, The Lord will always stretch forth His redemptive hand to save us, even a stranger. However, it is solely up to us to feel the joy of forgiveness. We may not entirely understand how the Atonement of Christ was made, but through it we can feel the peace of God, which passeth all understanding. Remember the promise given to Isaiah, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red as crimson, they shall be as wool."(Isaiah 1:18) Take Edward Dube's advice given from his mother and "never look back, the past is to be lead from, not lived in." If you doubt the eternal redemptive power of the Atonement, then "doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith" as President Uchtdorf stated. It is through the Atonement that you can walk in faith, which faith can make you whole. Christ is everything to us and we are to abide in Him permanently, unyielding, steadfastly, forever.
Elder Richard G. Scott told us something very important when he said, "Repentance is not a punishment." It is a God given gift that we are to use. It is only through repentance that we are able to come closer unto Christ. If we want the blessings of the gospel to blossom within our lives, we need to be firmly attached to Him. We are to "run with patience the race that is set before us" and run with faith, as Richard J. Maynes stated. President Monson said, "Patience is a Heavenly virtue." I second the testimony of our dear prophet with my own personal testimony, "From the bed of pain and pillow of tears, we are lifted heavenward in the peace of our Savior, which peace is a special rest amid unrest." If you feel burdened by grief or pain, He can heal you. Remember, "don't forget to look up" as Adrian Ochoa expressed. Let The Lord drape His eternally loving arms of comfort and forgiveness upon your heavy laden shoulders. Terence M. Vinson stated it perfectly, "You haven't used all your strength until your Heavenly Father has helped you." Humble yourself and let Him make weak things become strong unto you.
Pray fervently, daily. As you draw nearer unto The Lord, He will draw nearer unto thee. I leave you this - that our Redeemer lives. Jesus is the Christ and Only Begotten of the Father. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
I love you all and I look forward to hearing from you.
-Elder Trotman
Monday, September 30, 2013
Staying in State College
To answer your questions, I'm doing a lot better. Just a few prayers and some Advil is all it takes.
President said because of how many missionaries are here (we are at our cap, by the way) we can expect to be in our current areas for a minimum of six months. (Which puts me in State College through Christmas.)
As for Wendy, the one in the assisted living, she was in fact baptized, but not by me. She was baptized by a reverend (a different church) a couple of weeks ago. We had an interesting and direct conversation with her about baptism, to say the least. It was, however, loving and powerful because of the presence of the Spirit. She has expressed a desire to be baptized again, and this time by the proper authority.
We have picked up a few investigators in the last few weeks and dropped a couple. The weeks seem to pass by faster than the leaves hit the ground here. I can't believe I'm emailing you again already. Not saying I don't want to - I look forward to P-Days!
I will keep you updated on work as it progresses. Check out my wards blog: statecollegemormons.blogspot.com
I love you, I pray for you. Remember who you are and where you came from. Always strive to lift those around you.
Love,
Elder Trotman
President said because of how many missionaries are here (we are at our cap, by the way) we can expect to be in our current areas for a minimum of six months. (Which puts me in State College through Christmas.)
As for Wendy, the one in the assisted living, she was in fact baptized, but not by me. She was baptized by a reverend (a different church) a couple of weeks ago. We had an interesting and direct conversation with her about baptism, to say the least. It was, however, loving and powerful because of the presence of the Spirit. She has expressed a desire to be baptized again, and this time by the proper authority.
We have picked up a few investigators in the last few weeks and dropped a couple. The weeks seem to pass by faster than the leaves hit the ground here. I can't believe I'm emailing you again already. Not saying I don't want to - I look forward to P-Days!
I will keep you updated on work as it progresses. Check out my wards blog: statecollegemormons.blogspot.com
I love you, I pray for you. Remember who you are and where you came from. Always strive to lift those around you.
Love,
Elder Trotman
Monday, September 23, 2013
The Savior
Well I'm currently experiencing my first cold/sickness on my mission. My head hurts, I can't breathe and I just want to sleep all day but other than that, all is well.
We've been getting feed a lot because our bishop talked about us during Sacrament Meeting and said that the ward is big enough that we should be in a member's home for dinner with a non-member friend every night. The ward has positively responded and our fridge has been given an over-whelming amount of leftovers. It's starting to get colder here, which is nice.
My favorite hymn right now is "A Child's Prayer" because I know this is not just a song, but it is a true prayer:
1. Heavenly Father, are you really there?
And do you hear and answer ev'ry child's prayer?
Some say that heaven is far away,
But I feel it close around me as I pray.
Heavenly Father, I remember now
Something that Jesus told disciples long ago:
"Suffer the children to come to me."
Father, in prayer I'm coming now to thee.
2. Pray, he is there;
Speak, he is list'ning.
You are his child;
His love now surrounds you.
He hears your prayer;
He loves the children.
Of such is the kingdom, the kingdom of heav'n.
Heavenly Father does answer every child's prayer and as the scriptures tell us to be as a child, we are to pray. We are His children and He answers our prayers. He loves us. He watches over us.
I would like to add one more thing. We had Zone Conference on Thursday this week and it was so inspiring and touching. An elder stood up and said, "Whenever I think about the pre-mortal life, I imagine our Father saying: "I have a plan of happiness for you my children. For this plan to work, it is necessary that one of you go down before your brothers and sisters and teach them about my plan. However, and no matter how much you love them, they will crucify you. You will be filled with immense pain and sorrow, but know, I am here. Who is willing to go done and sacrifice yourself for my children?" Then we see this little figure at the front of the congregation stand up and say, "I will Father. I, Jehovah, your first son, will sacrifice myself for my brothers and sisters.""
I can't even fathom the love Jesus Christ has for us. He has felt your greatest pain. He has felt every tear drop that falls from our eye on His own face. He knows you. He is the only one that can truly comfort you. As He tells John, he tells you personally and individually, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27 I bear my testimony and give unto you my witness of The Savior's peace and love. He loves us more than we will ever comprehend. He will never leave us, even if we try to leave Him. He will, and constantly does, comfort us. He has paid the price and gives us life. He is the son of our God and Father. Our Father hears our prayers and answers them more often than we think. They love us. I love you with all my heart. In the name of Jesus Christ, our dear brother, Amen.
Love,
Elder Trotman
We've been getting feed a lot because our bishop talked about us during Sacrament Meeting and said that the ward is big enough that we should be in a member's home for dinner with a non-member friend every night. The ward has positively responded and our fridge has been given an over-whelming amount of leftovers. It's starting to get colder here, which is nice.
My favorite hymn right now is "A Child's Prayer" because I know this is not just a song, but it is a true prayer:
1. Heavenly Father, are you really there?
And do you hear and answer ev'ry child's prayer?
Some say that heaven is far away,
But I feel it close around me as I pray.
Heavenly Father, I remember now
Something that Jesus told disciples long ago:
"Suffer the children to come to me."
Father, in prayer I'm coming now to thee.
2. Pray, he is there;
Speak, he is list'ning.
You are his child;
His love now surrounds you.
He hears your prayer;
He loves the children.
Of such is the kingdom, the kingdom of heav'n.
Heavenly Father does answer every child's prayer and as the scriptures tell us to be as a child, we are to pray. We are His children and He answers our prayers. He loves us. He watches over us.
I would like to add one more thing. We had Zone Conference on Thursday this week and it was so inspiring and touching. An elder stood up and said, "Whenever I think about the pre-mortal life, I imagine our Father saying: "I have a plan of happiness for you my children. For this plan to work, it is necessary that one of you go down before your brothers and sisters and teach them about my plan. However, and no matter how much you love them, they will crucify you. You will be filled with immense pain and sorrow, but know, I am here. Who is willing to go done and sacrifice yourself for my children?" Then we see this little figure at the front of the congregation stand up and say, "I will Father. I, Jehovah, your first son, will sacrifice myself for my brothers and sisters.""
I can't even fathom the love Jesus Christ has for us. He has felt your greatest pain. He has felt every tear drop that falls from our eye on His own face. He knows you. He is the only one that can truly comfort you. As He tells John, he tells you personally and individually, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27 I bear my testimony and give unto you my witness of The Savior's peace and love. He loves us more than we will ever comprehend. He will never leave us, even if we try to leave Him. He will, and constantly does, comfort us. He has paid the price and gives us life. He is the son of our God and Father. Our Father hears our prayers and answers them more often than we think. They love us. I love you with all my heart. In the name of Jesus Christ, our dear brother, Amen.
Love,
Elder Trotman
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