Christmas 2010

Hola!

I still know more Spanish than i do Russian! surprisingly it comes back after i have been trying to learn russian...werid i know! 

 

Funny Story of the Week-  We had a fireside wtih everyone at the MTC, Sister West and i were walking up the stairs and because I am so graceful, i fell flat on my face!  i have two large bruises and was very embarrassed.  All of the elders wanted to help but were too scared to touch me and sister west just laughed haha! oh goodness!

 

Christmas!  So much to tell!  I think that their goal was to keep us SO busy that we couldn't even be sad or think about Home haha.  On Christmas Eve we had  zone activity and the Natives told us all about the traditions that are there.  They actually celebrate Christmas in January on the 7th or soemthing and it is a mix of new years and christmas.  They have a Santa and his grandaughter goes with him and does all the work!  because he is so old!  they go crazy and love the season and actually smile and go talk to their neighbors unlike the rest of the year!  That night we had a Christmas Eve fireside- it was alot of fun and they got us interacting by Singing the 12 days of christmas at the MTC with actions and yelling etc haha.    That night we learned about the gifts that we can give at christmas as we are missionaries.  WE give the gift of service, the gift of conversion and of ourselves.  not only give part of ourselves but everything that we are.  I am no longer Heather Trottier who goes to BYU and coaches gymnastics, i am Sister Trottier, a Disciple of Jesus Christ- that is the gift that Christ wants of me :)   they handed out a bag of popcorn to every missionary and we watched Mr. Krugers xmas.  I can't remember a year that we haven't watched that so it made me happy!  

 

That night i read Luke 2 and 3 Ne 1.  These stories are both about xmas eve and the people preparing for christ to come.  I loved reading them and have decided to make it a tradition.  The second one is so awesome and i never related it to xmas before.  but it is the last thing that Christ said to us before he was born. 

 

Next morning i opend my gifts.  Thank you so much for everything!  I am so blessed to have such great friends!  i got warm underclothes :) lots of chocolate and candy, a picture of christ, handwarmers, popcorn, books, a turtle glass, head bands and vitamin d!  haha I am trying to write back to you all! no worries!  I love you so much!

 

we got together with our district and did secret santa gifts. we all sat in a circle, sang songs, and read stories of christs birth and life. 

 

next was the talent show! haha it was Hysterical!  mostly full of elders performing with no shame!  There were serious ones, but mostly funny ones, we were laughing so hard that it hurt!  Pres Smith played the harmonica, people made up words about missionary work to random songs etc. The best was the native russian elders made up a song to lady gaga "you missionary now"  and they danced!  they got a standing ovation and it was so funny! 

 

The best was the Elder Nelson and His wife Wendy came to spend christmas and the next day with us.  It was so amazing to feel of their Spirits, and testimony of the Savior. My Testimony was strengthened just by having them there. Their love for us was just so aweseome to feel.   Elder Nelson had amazing insights into missionary work, and the birth and life of Christ. I wish that i could relate them al to you.  One thing that really stuck out was that the told us that the Living Christ is a document that is all of the apostles testimonies written down! mom was memorizing it before and i think that is so great!  it is one of the best tools that we have to learn of the Savior.  He left us with a blessing on us and our families, with the power that he held.  When he bore his testimony of christ you could feel the power that it evoked.

 

His wife Wendy is amazing. She is so blunt and matter of fact.  She talked to us that night and also taught relief society on Sunday.    Matt 23:23  was one of things she focused on.  Do al the good things, but don't let the Weightier things get pushed aside. she told a story about how the lord chastized her. I can't imagine what i have been doing wrong if she feels likde she has.   She had us read with our districs Heb11 Alma 32 and ether 12.  These chapters are full of faith and the power that comes from them!  Read them and find that power.  She also challenged us to daily go the lord- thankd him for the scriptures, aske him for the holy ghost, ask a question you need answered and open the BOM.   the scriptures say that the word of God will tell us ALL things.  its doestn say all things except: Russian, or financail issure, or school, or work. it says ALL things!  I took that challenge yesterday and had an awesome experience with finding exactly what we need. 

 

I loved being here during Christmas. I could feel the love and the faith of everyone here and it was tangible.  I can't even explain to you have amazing it was.  I was sad to not be with you and i thought of you all day, but it was awesome to have my day COMPLETELY centered on Christ.  We had fun and we gave and recieved gifts and laughed but I talked and learned of Christ for the majority of the day.  It was amazing!   i love you all! im sorry i never write a ton.  there is so much to say and not enought time!   I love you!

 

isaiah 9:6   3 Ne 1:1-23  Luke 2 2 ne9:21-24  John 3:16-17  read it! its all about christ!

Week 3

This is Heathers district at the Temple on P-day

Hello!  Its another week!   I have alot to say... so no small talk

I hope Tammy does not mind, but i think that i have chosen her song as one of my Mission motto's.  As i was studying on Saturday and contemplating being here i realized that it doesn't seem weird for me to be here on a mission. it just feels like the next step in life that I was supposed to do.  Its not crazy different, but just life. I have friends, we laugh, joke, learn, study.  There is drama and and i get annoyed of people and that's just life.  A new place to be and a new way of being and trying to become who i want to be.  Its such a weird but awesome feeling! i didn't think that this is what it would be like.  But i love it!  and it is a time for me to change myself and BECOME who i want to be.  is ezekial 36 it talks about getting anew heart and spirit and in 3 nephi 12;47 it says that all things can become new.  I can physically, spiritually, emotionally and everything else ally change completely through Christ and His atonement!  how incredible is that!

These are the girls in Heathers Room! (not all in her District but in her zone!)

BUT! don't get you panty hose all tied in a knot, that does not mean that i will come home a different me.  I will still be me.  one of the biggest things that our teachers talk about is that we were called for a reason. I Heather Trottier *weird to say heather)  was called because of my personality to go to Novosibirsk Russia!  that means i can be my psychotic crazy self and it will work!

THANKYOU-  i have to say thank you to all of you! i am the most spoiled missionary here. I definatly get the most letters and packages! you are the best. I will try to get back to everyone this week but it might be hard... i wear shielas scarf all the time! it is gorgeous and warm and everyone is jealous! i got an awesome package from the Chiropractors and laughed really hard when dr george sent a ripped apart book (oddly enough made me cry).   I got a cd from tammy which i am so excited about, her music is so inpiriational!  and i got presents from my grandparents! you are all amazing! although i be fat soon cause of all the treats.  I wanted to say thanks to sami for doing the blog.  if it gets too much make some body else do it cause i really appreciate it and its aweseom :)

TENDER MERCIES-  i have seen quite a few this week! first and most important is music.   we found out that we can listen to music on the lds website during study time and it has been one of the best things in the WHOLE world! i love it greatly.  I feel the spirit so strong through music.  The snow is beautiful andi better get used to it haha but it really has been beauitful seeing it fall!   We also had our temple walk in the Rain on Sunday which is possibly the happiest thing ever!  it was incredible and beautiful!.  random- i can hear the bell tower from here and see it from my window and it brings me comfort to think that all my friends can hear and see it too :)

TICK TOCK- funny story, if you know me, i HATE the sound of ticking clocks, drives me absolutely crazy!  one of the sisters has a really loud clock and i have been tryint to ignore it but two nights ago i was up for forever and i felt like Hook from Peter Pan. I swear to you that if i had a long curly mustauche it definately would have been twitching to the beat. I was searching this girls desk in the dark until i found it and took out the batteries!!  i had to apologize the next morning...

COLD -random facts about cold in russia.  My teacher went to my mission and it has been declared to be the coldest mission in the whole world!   He wore 2 pairs of thermal garments, 2 pairs of normal thermals, his pajamas, four pairs of thermal socks, a sweater  his suit and THEN all his winter stuff. I will officially be a snowman. and that will keep you warm for about half and hour.  I also learned i will have really cleared out sinuses when i get home beecause as you walk around everything in your nose freezes and yougo inside and it all melts...YUM.   and on top of that, you dont' want to wear earrings because it gives you frostbite inside the holes because of the metal.

20-21 ISHLY days- I can't believe it has only been that long.  I have made friends here who feel like family.  You share such personal experiences and bear your testimony of your deepest feelings, emotions and desires that you can't help but feel you ahve known them for forever.   You all probably have a hard time thinking of things to tell me and i feel like i have been gone forever so i always ask whats up...sorry if you don't want me to ask, but tell me everything ok?  We are even really close with leaders and teachers. we live vicariously through our teachers and they live through us haha. We badger them about their dates and make them recount the stories on mondays haha! Story Time!   its the best!

Traditions-  now your not allowed to have traditions at the MTC, so we don't......but we do things that people have always done....we play this game whcih is a mix between that ninja game and signs haha  it kinda looks like cult.  everyone chants (in english letters)  "oo menya yest seela" which means I have the power- or translated word for word- at me exists the power-  haha its not funny as i explain it probably...but it is!  we also play a game that is like big booty and signs mixed with Russian animal names!  hysterical to say the least!

MTC HUMOR-  if you are wondering, EVERYTHING is funny at the MTC beacuse it has to be haha.  we have two sayings that have ceom from experiences. the first came when a sister tried to help an elder off of the floor and he said "um that is unwanted physical contact" and the next came from the white handbook-  quiet dignity- anyways...that was randoman di which i had time to tell the stories but i do not.....sorry

Heather and Sister West

I have had two songs stuck in my head.  The first is Eye of the Tiger!  it is beceause every night with out fail i dream that i am in Supernatural!  haha it is so funny!  and next is that song from 7 brides when they are in the snow chopping wood!  haha they think i am crazy a little bit.

END- It is awesome to be here. one of the elders gave a lesson on asking not only the Lords will for our mission, or week, or day, but every hour.  ask yourself what you can do to come closer to Christ every hour.  My favorite miracle at the moment is Mark 9:23-24 along with enos. I wish i could tell but i have 30 seconds. I love you

I love you all so muucch!  Have a very merry christmas! i wihs i could be there and don't be sad that ii  am not ok? I amm happy and doing well. you are awesome!

Sister Trottier

Hello Family!

its time to write again! i can't believe it!  it has been ten hundred days and one!  haha and i have alot of things to say again, but this time i sorta made an outline so hopefully that helps:)  it feels  like i don't have just one emotional roller coaster ride a day but about 14 of them! but i think that is a good and bad thing i guess.   How is everyone?  moms calling going ok? how was your first funeral?  Sami's surgery?  Audrey said she loves her job! (thought she had died by the way) and Jake?  padre?  Whit said that you all went dress shopping...that was kinda a punch in the gut but so exciting! you better have taken pictures! and also send a picture of her hand too da?  You asked who was going to Novosibirsk and that is me, sister west, holmes, clark and an elder that im not sure about his name...i will find out! and everyone i have talked about is learning russian. There are two whole zones learning Russian so that is cool!

random facts of the day: I found out yesterday that you know the book war and peace?  it was supposed to be called War and the world but was translated incorrectly.  It is supposed to be record breaking cold in Russia this year and i get there in the coldest time! haha YAY!  (said like Jessa)   BTW how is kate? haven't heard from her

 

everyday i wrote down something i wanted to tell you...here it goes

 

Wed- Personal study is my favorite part of the MTC, when i get stressed or overwhelmed i just pull out whatever i am working on and it makes me happy :) so that is positive.  We had our first TRC appointment that night, we had to meet someone, testify of Christ and set up and set up and appointment with three people all in RUSSIAN. and then teach a lesson in English.  This wed.  we are doing it again and have to talk to them about their families and ours and pray with them and do all of the other stuff like last time in Russian.  can i do it? haha not very well but it is coming.  I think the hardest part about everything is that i know what i k now is true and i know that i want to be able to share it with people but i do not know how to convey it very well....make sense?

today 9 native Russians came to the MTC. it is alot of fun having them here. we always corner them and blurt out every bit of Russian we know, ask them all sorts of questions and ask them how to say things.  They are very patient and nice and always laugh at us.  They know lady gagas songs way more than i do haha.

 

Thursday- we started out with service in the morning and they assign you to a building to clean.  oddly enough it is the best part of the day! that day was the shortest ever it felt like and it was so awesome to be able to do mindless work that helped people out.  that day we played basketball with the natives and it was so funny! they are good sports. Sister West and i at about seven at night every day we get alittle slap happy haha! we are so tired, overwhelmed and sick of being in the same room that all we can do is laugh and joke haha it depends on the day whether the elders like us or not....

 

I thought i would tell you about the cafeteria.  Our first day we got bombarded by Russian missionaries and told where to sit. I guess we are stuck up or something cause we all sit in this one corner off to the left by the pillars.  They call it the IRON CURTAIN. haha very clever.  we only eat salad, wraps, soup, fries, and all the bad stuff.  like cookies and ice cream etc....opps.  

Friday-  we have alot of teaching experiences in class, our teachers go into character and we have progressive investigators through them. its pretty hard to tell you the truth, i guess you never realized how hard it is to relate to people what we believe with out going into too much detail but also helping them to understand.  The thing that i have heard THE MOST since coming here is TEACH TO THE INVESTIGATORS NEEDS. that's what it is all about. don't just teach lessons and check it off.  I thin that is an incredible way to teach and way more effective. we show the Saviors love for them through us by listening and helping them see how we can help them with the gospel of christ.its  harder because you must always go by the spirit but also incredible when you achieve it ( so i have heard)

 

We go every morning (besides tues and sun) and work out early.  we do the aerobic classes, or run and evern run stairs sometimes. Yesterday sister West and i ran outside around the campus and it was so incredibly beautiful to be outside! i loved it!  i think we are going to continue to do that.  

 

sat-  all the russian speakers have a tradition that we sing a hymn in russian before we go to bed out side. it is beautiful and echoes through out the whole mtc campus. right now we are singing christmas hymns which makes it even better.   and i can almost sing the songs with out mistakes...almost :)  

 

sun- we went to music and the spoken word which was awesome and for relief society we meet with all of the sisters in the MTC.  Elder Christofferesens wife came and talked to us about Mary and Jesus.   That night the Mens Chorus from BYU came for the devotional.  it was beautiful and i got all excited cause i thought isaac would be there and then i remembered that is the wrong choir...oh well.

last week sacrament meeting was very overwhelming because they do everything in Russian. it wasn't as bad this time because we could sing the songs and pick out a few things that they were saying.  what is nerve racking is that we all have to prepare 4 min talks and they randomly choose who has to give them right on the spot. our first four are in English but then we have to do it in Russian!

 

Mon.-  Bro Mccleary (teacher) always has lots of fun games for us to play in class that get us excited and moving. we played the name game with Russian phrases and trashketball and baseball etc.

 

Tues-  we went to the temple again this morning, one of the native elders went through for the first time and it was amazing being able to be there.  All the natives get to go to SLC on Friday and see the lights and go to a session. They are all very excited.  what a wonderful experience for them!.

 

PHEW!  that was alot of typing! hope you got all that and it was ok :)  I forgot to tell you, sister west is from mesa Arizona I think you asked :)  

 

I am so happy to be here although it is hard everyday i am working on being the best missionary i can be, or there would be no reason for me to be here.  I am so thankful for this gospel.  I know that our Heavenly Father loves us and it has become even more apparent as i have NEEDED His help every moment of ever day.  I have met so many great people here and i hope to be able to learn from all of them.  My new scripture theme is Alma 26:12. i have been trying to learn it in Russian haha we shall see how that works out.  Thank you for all the letters! they make me happy and i love to hear about what you all are doing at home!  I know i am doing what i am supposed to be and i am so happy to be doing it! 

 

Love Sister Trottier

 

sorry its all jumbled and crazy!

First letter from Sister Trottier!

Hello Family!

 

To be honest, i have no idea where to begin, or even what to say! haha  i got your letters and they made me very happy!  just so you know, you can send emails and that is great, but letters are the best cause they hand them out in class and you feel loved when you get them :)   As probably every missionary says, i feel like i have been here forever but not long at all. There is so much to tell you.

Right when i left you a sister came to pick me up and show me to my room.  There are six sisters in my room, Sister webb, francom, taylor, pitchforth and west. and then onto my classroom.  There i met my companion. Her name is Sister West :) my new best friend! i already love her and we get along really well!  possibly too well if that is possible.    And i did not bring too many clothes if you are wondering, all the girls in my room have way more than i do! if this gives you any idea, Sister West brought 3 peacoats, 3 boots and about a billion clothes!   It is a struggle for us to get to bed on time because we all want to talk all night long, but we do not we go to bed :)

oddly enough the sisters in my room are not in my district (they are in my zone though)  The sisters in my district are sister stout and rassmussen.  we have four elders in our district Elder winnegar, sperry, hansen and goodard.  We all get along really well and are all very close already.    The first day we had a teaching exercise with all of the newbie missionaries. it was stressful and they just throw you out there right at the beginning.  We learned quickly that spouting off doctrine is not how to teach, but rather bearing pure testimony and sharing scriptures in order to let the investigators feel the Spirit.   (i am typing so quickly my hands are cramping haha, i have so much to say and not enough time!) 

It is true what they say about the MTC, all you do is eat and study and go to class :) i have never been more tired, frustrated, happy, excited and uplifted in my whole life.  The Spirit is so strong here. There is no where else that you have thousands of people all praying their hardest to be able to live up to what the Lord expects of them.  Sister West and i usually spend our Gym time playing basketball and volleyball, haven't tried four square yet.  In the mornings they have a special aerobics class for the sisters at 6 am that we go to. There is step, yoga, etc and it is a good thing to get us up and going in the morning to start the day out right.

about the Russian. We began learning Russian that first day.  I have two very conflicting emotions, I have never felt so confident that i can do something and that the Lord will help me, and I have never felt so helpless that I cannot do something haha!  Because of this i have been studying humility, faith, hope and patience.  I know that if i do all i can, the Lord WILL do the rest. I will be able to learn Russian and teach with His power and authority.  I have learned to pray in Russian, although it is somewhat memorized it is heartfelt. I start out in Russian begin thanking Him in Russian and finish what i cannot say in English and then i end in Russian.   I also sort of know how to meet someone, testify of Christ, and ask to set up an appointment.  tomorrow in the TRC that is our task so i have to practice that more :)   We try to use our Russian as much as we possibly can.

I have seen quite a few people that i know here and it is nice and comforting to talk with them.  Kelli Russel is my neighbor and she comes in and checks on me and a girl from school Erin Austin is on my floor and we chat too (she says hi Chelsea)  and also a girl from my study abroad Jennie? Ward is in my zone and is the leader over my district. She is AWESOME and it is so good to have her there.   I also say trevor reeder and matt okasaki...awkward kinda.... 

MDT is probably the thing that i need to work on the most at being effective at.  it is time where we just study, at first it is hard to study for four hours straight, but we are getting better and better at it as we go.   We seriously have class for hours and hours haha but it gets broken up between, teaching skills, gospel study, language study, practicing teaching/language etc. We have two teachers Brother Mccleary and Bro. Rutter. They are both very different but also very nice.

 

Before i forget i want to tell you what i need.  Please :)  I need my boyfriend jeans and my skinny jeans, i need my blue basketball shorts, and some nail polish and remover.  i know i had more but now i forget :)    I am out of time which is sad because i don't think i have told you everything that i need to, but i will write you a letter too ok?  and i will send pictures soon and  i will get better at writing emails! I'm sorry! its stressful!

I love it here!  you know at my farewell how my face hurt cause i was smiling so much? that is how it is here.  I love being here and i love the spirit of the MTC. I have already grown so much and i understand now why boys are weird when they come home. I would probably already be weird. My weaknesses are already starting to be my strengths, i probably comment the most in class but i also ask the most questions, i struggle the most at the language ahah i think i still know more Spanish than Russian :)  Sister west and i have the best companionship and are always laughing and talking. Went to the temple this morning and the provo temple is so beautiful! it was a great experience to go with my whole zone.  I am very happy and am looking forward to hearing more from  you wink wink.  I love you all!  sorry i didn't have enough details.   oddly enough it is normal to be called sister trottier

Love, Sister Trottier

Dropping Heather off at the MTC

For all of you who haven't dropped off a missionary lately, our experience was quite a bit different then yours.  Pretty much what we did was pull up to the curb, some Elders grabbed Heathers luggage and asked us to say our goodbyes. (Of course we had already hugged her and taken pictures so Heather simply said "I am not going to hug you again because I already did that, so bye!" and she walked off...then Audrey ran after her and made her give her a hug!) So really there isn't much to say. She was holding her briefcase and two Elders were dragging her suitcases. She walked into the MTC without looking back!

Setting Apart

Sister Trottiers setting apart was last night. It was great to sit with some of her friends and family and have everyone bear their testimony and share thoughts about Heather, the gospel, and missions.
President Webster set her apart and gave a beautiful prayer with many wonderful blessing and promises that gave us (her family and friends) and her comfort and strength as she is leaving.
Now we just have to help her finish packing for before we drop her off at the MTC in a couple of hours!

Farewell!

November 21st was Heathers farewell! She pretty much filled the whole church building with friends and family that love and adore her. Sorry I don't have very many pictures...apparently no one in the family took pictures so I just have them from Whits camera! Oops. So if you have more you should send them to me!