Man WHAT a week! I have so much to tell, so let get started!!

First TRANSFERS! So great, kinda crazy, but so wonderful. We got Soa Multon packed and ready to go ( Sora Moulton I miss you!!). We had a busy day on Tuesday, trying to get in some last day appointments before leaving for Buc. We got home about 6:20 PM and we had to get on the train and 6:45 PM. I thought we would be okay, but we called a taxi and he didn't come! So then we had to RUN up and around to get to the taxi station that is right across the street. We got in the Taxi at 6:37 PM...The Zone leaders kept calling us saying where the HECK are you...I would respond, "I think we are close," or "we are some where"...Not really something to joke about, but I had faith that we would make it. Really I was PRAYING my little heart out. We jumped out of the Taxi grabbed all of her luggage threw some cash at the driver and said, "La revedere" (goodbye!) Not even kidding I stepped onto the train; Sora Moulton had to jump on and the train took off...wow, that was a close one. We had some close ones either getting off or getting on the train this past transfer. ha ha (SORTA SIS) Well, we made it to Buc early about 5:30 AM.

Then we had some time till I had to be at the President's house to pick up my new missionary, so we went and cleaned up at the sisters apartment. Then we headed off to the mission home, after a nice morning of being with all the wonderful sisters. Well is a GIRL!! Name: SORA COTTAM weighs about 110 height: 5' 6'' from Wales, Utah (close to Manti) Super cute, super sweet and SO FUN!!! Oh, and even better she was in Michael Perucca's ward! So, we already have common friends. She also knew Fratele Middleton and Fatele Jeppeson from the MTC. They were also my teachers at the MTC and they were all in the same ward.

Well, unfortunately the sisters coming in had some problems with their Visas and Health exams. So, we had to stay an extra night in Buc. It actually was SUPER fun. We had a huge Sisters Conference. SO, all the sisters came over and we got to share advice and hear from all of them. We have 4 that will be going home in about 2 weeks (Sora Mullen I'm going to miss you!!!!!) So, it was great to say goodbye to them. Sora Hill also gave us some great advice on protecting ourselves and making sure that we are being safe as Beautiful Daughters of God! Since we are so beautiful plus most of us are Americans, sometimes the guys try to sweet talk us and act real sneaky with us, so we were just given some advise to help with that. :) Wednesday night we stayed at the Hill's home. We ate Pizza, sang Christmas hymns, and just spent time together. I was actually thinking about the family and about you all gathering for Thanksgiving. I hope it all went well. I hope to hear more and more from you and all about it. Last year, I remember when Tiffany and I had a crazy trip home with the weather. (LOVE YOU TIFF!!) Then I took my endowments out. I can't believe Christmas is around the corner!

Then, Thursday we left the Gara (train Station) at about 1:30 PM and got into Arad about 1:30 AM in the morning! Long trip, but so great. I love getting together and seeing all the missionaries. Sora Cottam and I have had a rough couple days. The fact that we are so DEAD tired by the end of the day, I think it is more that we are trying to make up time. ha ha

We also had a baptism on Saturday. Ghita who is Dona's husband. Dona was baptised in May. I am SO happy for them. They both have made the choice to be together and to raise their son Kristi in the gospel. We will be going tonight to have FHE with them.

We also got a new elder...Elder Olsen. He served in the MTC with my trainer Sora Humphries. I am excited to have another transfer. I can't believe that after this transfer I will be half way done with the mission...WIERD!!

Also, I want to thank all of you that emailed me for my Birthday. We celebrated a bit this morning with cake that the McFaddens made for us. We'll do something fun tomorrow I think. I LOVE MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!! Also, I want to say thank you all for your love and support.

Okay, I love you all!

Va Iubiesc Sora Hickman

Natalee's Letter November 21, 2011Hello family and friends! Well transfers are her again! So I found out I will training again! Sora Moulton will be

Hello family and friends!

Well, transfers are here again! So, I found out I will training again! Sora Moulton will be going to Ploiesti. So we leave for Buc tomorrow night and get in at about 5:30 in the morning. Nothing like another long train ride! I love them. It will be interesting with the change up and the new Sora. I'm excited...nervous, of course, but excited. I learned a lot from Sora Moulton and I am excited to learn more from my new trainee.

Okay, so what a week. SO to start, we are still working on Peter, Angi and Melinda. We went over to see them last night. Peter left for Germany for a day...super random, but he is back tonight. We had their baptism planned for this Saturday, but they will not be ready. I really want to make sure they know what they are doing and that they are prepared. Also, we had a great turn out for church yesterday. I think there was about 40 who came. We had a few investigators and Lucretia showed up out of the blue. I looked out the window and there she was. It was kind of crazy because I had to give a talk and so I knew it was just seconds before I would have to go up...then all of a sudden I see Lucretia out the window. I was thinking what to do...so finally I grabbed Sora Moulton we ran out and let her in, well we had to lift her up the stairs. Then by the time that we got back in my turn had already passed...SO thank goodness Elder Schroedter was ready to give his talk. He jumped up and gave his, then I went after him. We also had met this young guy named Daniel on the tramvi on Saturday night. We invited him to come to church and he said, "okay I'll be there!" (in Romanian of course) and HE CAME!!!!!!!!!!!!! He is really searching...so I am excited to meet with him this next week to see how everything is going.

I'm so grateful for all the great investigators we have. We are also working with a man named Adam and his wife Marioara. We are trying to get him to church and to quite smoking. He got sick the past two weekends and has not been able to come to church. Something interesting is...they are gypsy. Camille, I can see you getting excited about this part. They, meaning the Gypsy's, are a very interesting culture. They do have their own language. I've had their son teach me a few words. It is hard I'm definitely NOT pro yet...but just think I will come home knowing Romanian, a little Hungarian, Tigan (Spelling) (gypsy language) and now I just need to go to Chisinau and I can learn Russian. Anyway there are different types of Gypsies. There are ones that dress in a costume...meaning they have these large skirts ( I think I sent some pictures home of Sora Harward and I dressed up in skirts) and big blouses and the others are just like normal people. You can usually tell the difference between them and Romanians by their skin color, they are darker.

I am excited to hear about how Thanksgiving went...please send me pictures. I asked for pictures from the Hunting trip and I got NOTHING. :) Pretty please send me some good pics. Do you put up the pictures on my blog meaning the ones that I send home? I sure hope so because I don't just send them home for the fun of it. haha. We are celebrating Thanksgiving today with the McFadden's and the elders. They are making a huge meal and we are bringing some of the side dishes. I'll have pictures for you next week. Elders Schank will be finishing his mission in 3 weeks so he will be leaving Arad and Elder Olsen will be our new zone leader. He served in the MTC with Sora Humphries and Sora Harward ( LOVE YOU GILLIES)!!

I'm excited for another transfer #6. I feel like it was just last week that I was arriving in Buc and heading to Cluj! Crazy how time flies. Well, I love you all!! Also, a few of you have asked when I come home. My release date is September 12th, I believe. I also found out that some more people are getting engaged and married CONGRATS. I won't name names because she told me to keep it a secret, but I'm very happy for you.

Also, before I go I want to tell you all how GRATEFUL I am for you all. I am especially grateful for faithful and loving parents who taught me the gospel and who are magnificent examples for me. Also, I'm thankful for the Book of Mormon, scriptures in general, that we have a living prophet today Thomas S Monson. I'm grateful for a wonderful free country (God bless America) It is interesting the things that I took for granted and that I am more grateful for now. I am very grateful for my knowledge of the gospel. I am grateful for my wonderful friends. I'm grateful I can read. I'm grateful that I have 15 nieces and nephews and one on the way. (CONGRATS Camille and Andrew!!!) I am grateful that I have food to eat, clothes warm clothes in fact to wear and that I am healthy! I'm also very very grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and for His sacrifice for me. I love you all.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

LOVE you or Va iubesc,

Sora Hickman!

Dear Family and Friends!
Wow what a week! I feel like I always say that but really I feel like the weeks just fly by and that I was just here in our little internet place yesterday writing you all!
Well, We didn't have a baptism on Saturday but that's okay because Angi and Petre need to get married first and then we will have the baptism. SO, we are now planning on the 26th for their baptism. Angi, their daughter will also be baptized, keep them in your prayers. We met a few new people this last week that we are excited to keep working with. One in particular, her name is Carmen. Sora Puckett and I met her on the street one day. She saw that we had a Book of Mormon and asked about it. We gave her the book and she started to read. She is very Baptist, but I can see that she feels something. She has lots of questions, we will be meeting with her again Wednesday. Lucretia, we saw last Sunday, she is doing okay. She was happy to see us. She is still so sweet but not really interested in the gospel.

Sora and I have been trying to focus on working better with the branch and finding new people to teach. The new changes in the branch are great. We have seen some great miracles. Yesterday Sora Mogos's husband came to church. He hasn't been to church in years. She is an absolutely fabulous member. She is so strong, she has such a great attitude; her whole family was baptized about 11 years ago, but now she is the only one that comes. She also has 3 daughters. It was such a miracle to see him again, we hope that this is a time that we can get him back. Dona, one of the recent converts husband will be getting baptized on the 26th as well! He just had to get over smoking first. The elders are working with him and he seemed to be doing really well. They moved this last week into a very nice place. Their last home was a smaller room than our living room. They had no bathroom, no light, no electricity! It was so sad when we would go over at night. We would have our lessons in candle light...sounds romantic right....wrong! So we are super excited that they found a new place to live. They have a cute son named Kristi he is about to turn 7. He reminds me a lot of Taylor when she was younger; how excited she would get when Uncle Dan would play with her.

I tell you what, when I am at lessons with younger kids all I want to do is play with them. I miss all the nieces and nephews. They will all be so big and grown...and who knows we might have a couple more!!! That reminds me is anyone PREGNANT!?? I haven't asked in a while being that most of you actually all of you had babies in 2010. I will be excited to see all of them too. I can honestly tell you that my mission has really made me excited to be a mom! Seeing the members and investigators with their young kids teaching them to follow the notes in sacrament makes me excited to teach my kids. I remember when mom would point to the words in the hymn book for me when I was young.

The weather here has just gotten really cold. We had a few days of it being really cold in October but then for about 2 weeks it really warmed up. Then this last Tuesday it took a turn to the cold side. So today I need to find some warm nylons and get some earmuffs or something.

I have been reading in Alma a lot lately... taking it slow and really studying it out. I have learned so much from their examples and I just have to say that I love being a missionary. It is hard and it is stressful that's for sure, but I know that I have an opportunity and a great calling to share with the people here in Romania; the great message that His church has been restored.

I want to thank those who wrote me this last week. I love hearing from each of you!!!! Kate wrote me this week and so did Brina and of course Carson! I love each of you!!

Oh, something SUPER cool that I found out, a member, his name is Weber Bela and he is from Oradea, Romania which is in our district. He trained Ben Nealy on his mission!!! Brother Weber was just called into out District Presidency a month ago. He served his mission in Hungary and I asked him about Ben. So, if you talk to the Nealy's you will have to tell them that I met Ben's trainer.

Love you all,
Sora Hickman

Natalee's Letter November 7, 3011

Just to start, So you all know there is 21 Days till my BDAY on the 29th of this month!

Hello family and friends!

Thank you all for the great emails I got this week! I want you all to know how much I love you and appreciate your love and support.

We had a great p-day today. We left early and took a train to Lipova. Which is a small town about an hour outside of Arad. There is a really old Castle out there. So, we went to see the ruins and meet together as a whole Zone. It was super fun. The McFadden's even came.

Mom, I am SUPER excited to get my packages...hopefully I'll get one of them by the end of transfers, which is the 23rd of this month, right before Thanksgiving. Thanks for taking care of me! Also, Mom I wanted to ask you if have received an email with pictures from Sora Mcfadden.

Well, yesterday we had a wonderful sacrament meeting, with about 47 people there!!!! SUPER awesome, we had to put in extra chairs. We had 4 to 5 investigators at church. We had Maria who I am in LOVE with. She has a very similar face to Aunt Georgia. I think it mostly is her smile...but I LOVE it, because she reminds me so much of Aunt Georgia every time I see her. She is 63. We also had Daniela who we met last week out side of a grave...she is SUPER funny and talks a million miles an hour. I really have a hard time getting a couple words in. I put 4 to 5 because Daniela came late...but we were just excited she came. Then we had Melinda (Meli), Angi, and Petre at church. SO, we have a baptismal date for...them set for next Saturday, but Petre just got back from Italy. We want them all to get baptized at the same time. The only thing is we have to get Peter and Angi married first. So once that is done, we can have the 3 of them BAPTIZED!!!!

We had a special fast this last week as a district. We really want to stretch ourselves as missionaries and sacrifice more so that we can receive more blessings. We are already seeing miracles. We have met and contacted a lot of new people this last week, which was fabulous. My week went a lot better. I wasn't as stressed. I have so much to learn and I think that is something that is hard for me because I am realizing how much I have to work on. Our President shared a great scripture last week from Ether 12:24-27 saying how we can make weak things become strong. It is not easy, it takes a lot of work, but it can be done. I only hope that I can do more to be a better servant of the Lord. I know that I can if I want to. I just have to have the desire.

I have been studying in Alma. I'm taking it real slow so that I can really understand and get the whole picture. I love it and I love the teaching of Alma and Amulek. I hope that I can be a strong powerful teacher like them someday. I have really grown to love the scriptures, more than anything the Book of Mormon. I had an interesting experience yesterday. We were waiting outside Maria's apartment and this man who was working outside asked if we were "Mormon" we responded "Da!" Then he went on and ON and ON about how the Book of Mormon was not true. He had received it many years ago. He read it, he studies about it, he did research about it and the history of that area of the world. I understood most of it, but you could tell that he was a very smart man using large words and talking very fast. I started to panic a little. He talked more about the History and saying if it was placed in the Hill Cumorah why is there no ruins from the Lamanites and the Nephites in those areas and went on and on. I had the best feeling come over me. This voice said to me "Sora Hickman...you don't have to prove him wrong because you know what is right, JUST bare your testimony." I did just that. He may not agree and I may not EVER see that man again, (I hope I do) but the fact is I know the Book of Mormon is true. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet of God and that I am called of God to administer to the people here in Romania! Also, I would encourage you to look up: "A Book Of Mormon Story" it is a new Mormon Message...its fantastic!

I love you all. I love you all SO much. I heard from Emily Fajardo (I worked with her at the spa in Springville) this week. She told me at my farewell in Utah that she was pregnant and she has since had the baby girl. Congrats Em I am Super happy for you! Again thank you all for your love and support.


Va iubesc,
Sora Hickman

My Birthday is in 21 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!