Hey family!

Here again.  Well. I have alot to write, haha but as always after reading all my emails quickly i don't want to write haha i just want to read them again....haha but don't worry, i will write some.

We went to Novosibirsk again haha ya we make that 4 and half hour bus trip every other week but its ok. Good time to study and ponder and have companion and district bonding time :) we went for leadership conference which was absolutely incredible. I loved it. I wish i could just record all of the conferences we ever had and watch them over and over again. but it probably wouldn't be the same. The spirit is so strong with all of us gathered together. I love learning and studying and picking apart the gospel all together, figuring out how we can help Heavenly Father best in doing His work, or in other words, bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man by helping people perform eternal ordinances.  Sounds epic huh?  well it is! and that is all of our work. What a great privilege. 

I also had a great interview with president. I took notes. :)  We talked about my mission, the future and all about the present. It was great. He said i am at the pinnacle of my mission right now....i will try to live up to that. 

Monday we had a lesson with a member who is Mongolian and her friend. it was so interesting! we read in Russian, they read in Mongolian.  in the past we have just done it in Russian but it was incredible to see the difference when they were about to read the scriptures in their own language. what a blessing to have it translated into so many languages! 

random- i saw a Mormon message this week at conference that was called "Sanctify yourselves"  was Chase Elwood the actor? haha pretty sure ya! i about freaked! He is so cool!

Did i tell you about the awesome couple that we are trying to reactivate?  well they wanted to try American pancakes so we went over to make them! the funny thing was that the oil they bought was from sunflowers so it kinda messed up the taste! but other than that it was pretty good. I felt just like mom making a big pile of pancakes!   PS  could you send me a recipe for syrup? they don't have maple extract i don't think, but maybe a different kind of syrup that is good?  The couple came to church by the way! and all the members welcomed them with hugs and tears and kisses! 

Remember Lydia? who was so excited to hear about the restored gospel?  well we met with her and it was just great! the spirit was so strong and we had a great member present lesson and everything! and Sunday she came!! and she liked it alot! and the members were so nice!  she brought money to pay tithing!  holy cow.  She is the sweetest babooshka and is just like my grandmas at home.  she is from Uzbekistan. She is so happy and smiley and loves to laugh and sing!

Sunday was great!  alot of the people who we are working with came and were able to partake of the sacrament and to hear great testimonies!   Sometimes testimony meetings are crazy sauce here but miraculously every single one this time was incredible! the spirit was so strong!  Members are great!

My new contacting technique is to look at people with a big smile and say "Hello!  How are you?" haha they automatically know i am a foreigner and they just smile and start talking with me, sometimes with a little bit of probing and a few more questions. I have come to LOVE talking to people wherever i go. The Russian people are incredible!  and i have had some great conversations and opportunities to share the gospel and my testimony!

One crazy story to end the email with :) i was blessed by a Provoslovni gypsy lady....she didn't like my name and said that she would give me a new one. she started doing all these weird hand motions and weird noises and gave me the name of Tania. haha and i don't know if it was more of a curse than a blessing haha! oh goodness.  after we walked away we laughed so hard! haha couldn't stop for anything!.  

Gotta good quote for ya for the week from the doctrine and covenants "To be Spiritually Minded is Life Eternal"!   so keep that in mind (pun intended) . and remember that God is a God of miracles. Always was and always will be. So look for those miracles!  

I love you so much! the gospel is true. it changes lives. 

Love sister Trottier

PS-  We will watch conference in 2 weeks :)