April 28th 2011 Natalee's Update

On Monday Natalee left the MTC and flew to Romania and arrived there on Tuesday afternoon.

Sister Lundberg (the mission presidents wife) sent us this photo.

Our next correspondence from her will happen on her P-Day which will be on Mondays.

To correspond with Natalee use the following email address:

natalee.hickman@myldsmail.com

We hope all is well with all of you.

Love Mike & Marsha

Natalee's Letter - April 21, 2011

Hello family and friends!

Well, it is official.  This is my last week in the MTC!  I got travel plans last Thursday night.  I leave from the MTC at 5:00 AM.  (Monday)?  We fly out of Salt Lake at 8:30 AM.  Sorry no visitors.  Aunt Georgia asked me that in her last letter...just so you know!  We fly from here to Atlanta and have about a 3.5 hour layover.  Then fly from Atlanta to the Netherlands and from the Netherlands to Bucharest ROMANIA!!!!  We are suppose to land in Romania at 1:30 PM in the afternoon their time.  There is about an 8 to 9 hour difference in time.  Now, I think I get to make a call from the airport to home.  I'm not positive, but about 99 percent sure.  I will probably call around 7:00 AM or so. (Note - added 1:30 PM there is 10:30 PM here)

Mom and Dan, thanks so much for the Easter packages!  Dan, I about cried when I smelt the package.  Ha ha.  Dan sprayed some cologne in the box so I would remember him and as I opened the package... I did!  I was almost in tears. I did think of you.  Thank you!  I love you!

Mom, I'll make sure to get the unwanted clothes sent back to you.  Thanks again I really appreciate it!  Also, will you keep an eye on my saving checking account?  I will be withdrawing some money soon.  Will you make sure it stays at the $200-$250 range?  Give me updates on my accounts every month.

Also, Foote did you get my ipod?  I hope you've sent it by now.  I may not get it before I leave.  We don't receive mail on Saturday.  Also, will you send back my camera card?  I can send pictures by email when I get to Romania.

Oh, another thing, pouch mail is no longer available in Romania.  It was, but as far as I know; form now on it is not available.  The quickest way is to email at natalee.hickman@myldsmail.com.  Then I can reply. I will have a bit more time in the field; not much, but I also won't have to worry about a timer in the corner that will automatically kick me off when my time is over...SO STRESSFUL! Ha ha

Okay, now down to the "nitty gritty"... (I'll give anyone a high 5...when I get home if they can guess what movie that's from?) Guess? 


Now, comes the devotional on Tuesday...one of my VERY favorite Apostles; RICHARD G. SCOTT! He was fantastic.  I'm so happy I got to see an Apostle for my last devotional! He was so cute.  When he first walked in; he apologized and said he would not be able to stay after to give everyone a handshake; but wanted to give us all a virtual hug. I loved it.  I felt like I was hugging you Dad. It have missed every ones hugs.

He talked about the importance of our light and example. He did a very interesting thing.  He blessed all of those learning languages with the gift of tongues; that was very powerful and rewarding for me.  His comments really gave me encouragement.  He also said something that I loved.  He said, "in order to reach a goal you have to do things that you've NEVER done before". Which makes sense, but it really hit me hard that in order to teach the people of Romania and to learn Romanian I will have to work like I've never worked and pray like I've never prayed before and study like Ive never studied before. Then in the end he bore a VERY powerful testimony about Christ.  He said, "I don't believe that christ lives...I KNOW"! Very inspiring!

Everything else here is well.  I am trying hard to make sure all my bags are under 50 pounds and get packed!  I would love to hear from you all!  

Te iubesc,

Sora Hickman

Natalee's Letter April 14, 2011

Wow, can you believe I leave the MTC is less than two weeks; I cant!  We should get travel plans today but we haven't seen anything yet.  So, hopefully we will receive them tonight!

Again, I want to thank all of you for your letters, prayers and packages!  I love getting updates from all of you so thank you!

This week was wonderful.  On Sunday we had a fabulous performance form the BYU Men's Chorus!  It was so entertaining and so AWESOME!  They did a mix of spiritual and international songs; SO cool. I recognized some friends that used to be in my ward in Orem.  It was great to see them. On Tuesday night Elder Rasband and his wife came to speak with us. They both gave magnificent talks. Elder Rasband focused on three things; one,bridle your thoughts, two, garnish your thoughts and three, pray for the Spirit. I really liked what was said about bridling your thought.  On ones mission you have to be extra careful that the thoughts of home, friends and the world don't consume you.  It is easy to let those things consume you.  They are not bad things; but, just not good at this time in ones life. That really made me think about diligence and serving the Lord with all ones heart, might, mind and strength.  After every devotional we get together as a district and discuss it. I really like that.  It helps me to retain the information more.  Elder Rasband, just as the other speakers we've had here talked about the Spirit.  Interesting, repetition is definitely a great teaching tool. Every time we have a speaker I always try to make goals.  It makes my week better by implementing the things they have shared.

The New Romanian district is wonderful.  The Elders and Sisters are all progressing well!  Its crazy to think that...that was me 7 weeks ago.  I'm so grateful for how much I have learned and how fast I've learned everything.  I have miles and miles to go, but I know that it is possible.

I am SO EXCITED to get to ROMANIA!!!  I can't wait.  I don't necessarily feel ready, but I know it will be the start of a wonderful journey.

Many of the Elders and Sisters that I have grown to love, because we have been here so long together, are starting to leave.  It is sad to see them go, yet I know I will be there before I know it!

I was reading in Alma 5 this morning.  I was very impressed by the great power of the words I read and how important it is to be righteous and consistent.  I would go into more detail but I don't have much time.

I'm so grateful for this gospel. I'm grateful to have loving and supportive family members. Thank you all so much!

Te iubesc,
Sora Hickman

Natalee's letter April 7, 2011

     Buna! Family and friends, can you believe that I have been here for 6 weeks now?  I get my travels plans in about a week and will leave two weeks after that.
     General Conference this last weekend was great.  We got to watch every session and while the Elders were watching the Priesthood session we watched the YW's session from the previous week. There were a couple of talks that really stood out to me. I loved President Monson's talk on Temples. I hope that one day I can say that I have been to ALL the temples in the world! It was awesome to hear that we are getting a temple in Fort Collins, Colorado! AWESOME! I loved how he talked of the importance of attending the temple. I have loved being able to go to the temple every week while here at the MTC. I'm going to miss it for the rest of my mission, when I get to Romania.  I hope you all will take advantage and get to the Temple as often as you can. It is such a great blessing and even if you think it is a sacrifice, know that you will be blessed for your service to the Lord.

     I met a sister a couple weeks ago here. She was older and is going to serve in the DC Temple.  She has over 3800 family names to complete. WOW!  Can you believe that?  There is a sweet Chinese lady here in Prove who waits out side of the Temple every week looking for missionaries to do family names for her. She says the only way she will be able to get them all done is with our help! She has over 2000 names... Amazing!

    Also, I loved Elder Richard G. Scott's talk... His precious and tender words about his sweet deceased wife were so great. I loved hearing about their sweet love story. It was so cute.  I loved how he talked about the relationship between husbands and wives...how tender and strong the relationship needs to be in order to rear the family in righteousness and to make it back to live with Heavenly Father! SO WONDERFUL!

     So, I hope that you all were able to listen to conference.  If not, that you will read the talks and apply them in your life. I love conference, it is so great to get pumped up and keep progressing in the Lord's way!

     I was so delighted to get a wonderful package and  dearelder from the Caywood's this Week! Thank you! It was so sweet, I loved the wonderful treats and so did the rest of my district. I am also super happy that B got to baptize Sarah! Sarah congrats! Its amazing the blessings that come from a missionary's service.

    Also, I was very touched this week by some of the blessings my mom wrote to me about. Dad being so successful last month in his sales.  The beautiful prayer given by Brother VanWagenen in the Temple.  Thank you all so very much for all of your love and prayers! I love hearing from all of you!

    Also, this week we had a great Tuesday night fireside with Elder and Sister Robert C. Oaks, an Emeritus member of the Seventy. He talked about finding people and how guidance can come from the Holy Ghost. I loved what he had to say.  He also gave some great ideas form "Preach My Gospel"; on what to study and how to come closer to the Spirit.

    We got New Romanian Elders yesterday... there are 4 of them. We are so exciting to have new ones here!

Well, I love you all again.  Thank you all for your love and support!

Te iubesc,

Sora Hickman

Natalee's Letter March 31, 2011

Wow, Five weeks down can you believe it? because I sure can't!

     Well, to start off I wanted to let you all know that Sister Henrie is doing well! So well that they shipped her off to Romania already. It came as quite the shock. She went into the health clinic on Tuesday at 1:00 PM, just before we went to gym. She got her okay and they said,  "we just have to go meet with the District Presidency". So after gym we went up just before 2:30 PM and they had her travels plans ready. She had to be at the travel office by 5:00 AM Wednesday morning. She was excited but shocked. So, Sora Bennett and I helped her pack that afternoon and got her all squared away.  She is now in Romania working.  Oh, I'm not sure if I told you this but she is the mission nurse. She will do a lot of proselyting but will also have the special privilege to work as the nurse for all of us.

   Well, anyway this week was great! My Romanian seems to be improving. I have noticed since I've been here in the MTC that I have a lot more dreams.  Well, it is more that I can remember them now. It is probably because I am actually getting more sleep instead of 4 to 6 hours its more like 6 to 7.5 hours. The purpose of this story is; I have started dreaming in Romanian lately...LOVE it!  It is a little bit different, but I hope that is the way that my mind is trying to make sense of everything that I have learned through out the day!

  I have had some questions about my schedule especially for Sunday. It is different but its a great difference! On Sundays we have a lot of study time; this is the typical Sunday schedule: Arise 5:45 to 6:00 AM, get ready, breakfast at 7:00 to7:30 AM, Study time MDT(Missionary Directed Time) till 9:15, then we go to Music & The Spoken Word.  RS is from 10:00 to11:00 AM, then we have just a bit of MDT till noon, we go to lunch, after lunch we have sacrament from 1:30 to 2:30 PM, then a temple walk from 2:45 to 3:35 PM.  We have a district meeting for an hour and a half.  With 3 people in our district it does not take long; we usually use the time to play the piano, sing or study and we have dinner at 4:30 to 6:00 PM.  After dinner we study till  the Fireside at 7:00 PM.  After the firesides we have movies or talks that are broadcast to different rooms throughout the MTC. Sundays are great...LONG but wonderful.

   I want to share a really cool experience that happened this last week. So as most of you know the language has been a struggle, but I have learned to be patient and diligent. Sora Bennett and Elder Nielson get it so much faster. Anyway, we have weekly interviews with our teachers; who ask us about life and class just to make sure we are all doing okay. Last week Fratele ( Brother) Irion had an interview with me.  He said he could tell that I had been struggling, but he said when you teach you teach with such power that your grammar does not matter because you have the Spirit with you.  In our next lesson with him; he was our progressive investigator Robbie; I started speaking and words were just coming to my mind.  It was amazing; I knew of his concern, but I didn't know exactly what I was going to say, yet I knew I had to say something; so I started and it was like word after word was coming to my mind...it was AMAZING. Then after the lesson F. Irion said, "okay lets all go back to class; Sora Hickman you stay here". I was floored, he complimented me on my speech. The spirit gave me great CONFIDENCE. I have gained such a strong testimony of the HOLY GHOST. I knew of its importance, but it really hit home that day.

Let me know if you all have any other questions?  If you would like to know anything about my schedule here at the MTC?  I am loving the DearElders and Packages! You all Rock!,

Well, I love you all and I love hearing from all of you! I have now heard from all my siblings! Way to go brothers and sisters! haha!  I really have the Best Family Ever!

Te Iubesc ( love you)

Sora Hickman

temple walk!