Natalee's Weekley Letter December 26, 2011

Craciun Fericit! This means Merry Christmas!

Well, First I did get the pictures...Thank you they were so cute.  Dwyn and Jasper are getting SO big!!!  Also, Mom I opened the rest of my gifts.  Thank you, so much for all of the great gift.  I received more that I could believe.  Sora Cottam and I shared a little piece of the Reese's this morning.  SO good...it made me feel like Miss AMERICA! haha

Also, I want to thank Preston and Shanda for your wonderful Christmas gift...I loved loved LOVED the stories, so did Sora Cottam.  We would usually read them during lunch.  One night we didn't get home till late and I had forgotten about the letter.  As I got into bed after saying companionship and personal prayers I remembered I hadn't read my letter for that day...but lights out at 10:30 pm...I glanced at the clock it was 10:43.  So I read it with the light of the phone haha...perfect ending to my night.  I cried, but I loved it!  So thank you. The stories helped me to remember the true meaning of Christmas and to be so very grateful for my many blessings. Preston and Shanda, Thank you, SO much.

Kari and Ed I am wearing one of the new shirts you sent me...SUPER adorable and mom I'm sporting it with my new skirt...I just feel like a new women...haha.  Thank you all for the gifts, love and support.

Well, I feel like I just talked with you all...oh wait, I DID!  I was so excited to talk to you  yesterday.  I love you all so much.  I am so sad that we didn't get to connect with Dan, but no worries.  I sent him a little note today (LOVE YOU DAN).

What a week, so this week we prepared a special lesson on the birth of Christ from scriptures, The Book of Mormon and the Bible and we sang a lot for our investigators, recent converts and members.  It was really fun to talk about Christ with everyone.  Monday, we had a couple FHE's with some of our members.  Tuesday, we had a great English class.  I love our English class this transfers.  Our students are SO smart, so we are suppose to teach beginners, but we  actually teach medium or advanced.  We talk to them mostly in English.  We gave them all a gift for CHRISTMAS...We gave them all a Book of Mormon.  I love giving out the Book of Mormon. They were all excited about it and I cant wait for class tomorrow, to talk with them about it. Then we prepared for the Christmas party.  We made a manger and a stable...with the great artistic abilities of Sora McFadden...She is an amazing artist, so I just did what she said. It looked AMAZING!   It was Adam's birthday, so we went to have a lesson with him.  It was okay.  His sister just died, but on the trip over he smoked a ton and Sora and I just felt like he has lost the desire.  He can't even go away for a few days.  He hadn't been reading.  We told him to read and to pray...don't you worry though because the story gets better just wait till Sunday. :)

Wednesday, we had a great lesson with Angi, Melinda and Petre.  It was nice to have them all together. Peter hasn't sat in on a lesson in about a month, so we were excited.  They told us that they would like to talk about baptism after the New Year.  Angi is off of work for a while, so keep her in your prayers because I am hoping that during this break we can get them married and then have their baptism in the middle of January.

Thursday, was a miracle.  We have been asked to work with some less actives and one of them is Fratele (Brother) Krista.  His wife is a very strong member and so was he about 6 years ago, but now he has been going to the Jehovah Witness Church for a long time.  He was some what offend by some members, but we have been stopping by every couple days to see them.  His wife has been REALLY sick, so when we come he thinks that we are coming to see just her.  On Thursday we showed up and didn't have too much time because we had to be at the church at 5:00 to practice for the Christmas program.  Well, we were late for the Christmas program.  We showed up minutes before Sora Cottam and I had to sing our duet (tender mercy).  Anyways, I got him to sit in a lesson and we talked about the Book of Mormon and the Bible.  He is so Knowledgeable about the Bible.  It was so wonderful, I wish I could express to you the spirit that was there.  Oh and something I almost forgot.  We went to visit Adam and Marioara.  They were just chopping up and HUGE PIG in their front yard and Marioana was cleaning out the intestines.  They had pig parts all over the place, so we went in and she said, "will you sing for me while I work?"  Of course we said yes because we love to sing.  Just imagine this...we are sitting on a couch in their house...Marioara is cleaning out pig intestines in front of us and their neighbor and Adam are chopping away at this body of a pig and their son Lonel is just grinding up pig meat for sausage...it was real potrivit (fitting) for singing, "Angels We Have Heard on High" and "Away in a Manger."  Something I will never forget.

Claymation Christmas which is one of their traditions and then Elder Mcfadden read the Christmas story, as dad always would.

Sunday was special because I got to talk to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU!!!! We went to see Adam and Marioara.  We got fed again, I was so full.  Anyway, Adam told us that night that he is ready to change.  He knows that he hasn't been doing very good up to this time. Thursday he would like to have a lesson.  Fratele Piper is a wonderful member and Adam said  to him that, "I am ready to change my life forever".  Brother Piper gets along really well with him.  He said that he would like to fast with us again.  I'm leaving out a TON of detail due to lack of time, but I will update you next Monday.  Also, we sang a duet, "The First Noel" in Church, Sora Cottam and I with the great assistance of Elder Schroedter.  Then we spent the afternoon with the McFaddens.  It was a different, but a great Christmas.  I want you all to know how much I love my Savior and I am so grateful for this time of year when we celebrate his birth.

I love being here, its hard, but I think I am realizing it will never ever get easier.  That is why its called a mission.  I love each of you and I hope you all have a safe New Years!  Also, if Katy Broughton reads this, girl will you please send me your address?  Also, Sora Mullen I love you so much and miss you like crazy.  It will be SO weird to NOT see you at transfers next week. Thank you for taking care of Carson for me.  Cars I hope you like your gift.

Va iubim pe voi!

Sora Hickman

Natalee's Weekley Letter December 19, 2011 Buna Family and Friends, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!! Well for a couple items of ward...i mean So

Buna Family and Friends,

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Well, for a couple items...I mean, Sora Hickman Business, Mom here is Sora Mullen's email. Meghan Mullenmeghanmullen@msn.com. She is home now so you can just send her my regular email. I had one of the members in Cluj tell me that she loved reading my emails. PS Sora Mullen I love you and miss you so stinking MUCH! Girl. Thanks SO much for the clothes they are all REAL POTRIVIT (fitting)!! I love them and I love you!!!! PS have you or did you meet Cars?

Also Mom I got your Christmas package on Friday. Thank you! Shanda and Preston THANK you SO SO SO SO much for all the wonderful gifts. I am having a blast. My favorite is the stories. I look forward to reading them. I cry in just about every one of them. I love them, so thank you. Kari and Ed, thank you for the presents. Kari I have already opened up all your gifts. I love them and the clothes were so great! So, thank you all for taking care of me over this Christmas season.

Well, what a week! I'll start backwards. Sunday...actually was really interesting. Its been a while since I've had a drama filled Sunday. I thought I was beginning to miss it and then after yesterday I am very grateful that I only have them every so often. So, Elder McFadden made an announcement that the district center would be changed to Oradea. Right now it is Arad and has been for a long time. SO, he went to sustain the idea and then we had a few who disagreed...well that took Elder McFadden by surprise. Oh, did I mention that one of them was the Branch President and also the previous Branch President. OH MAN I LOVE ROMANIA!!!!!! haha Well, Elder McFadden, who was actually just acting as the messenger because the District President was at a wedding in Bucharest, proceeded to explain that when there is a disagreement that they will discuss things after sacrament meeting. Well, as Sacrament ended not only did the 3 that disagreed with the proposal meet with Elder McFadden, but about 15 more people decided to change their sustaining vote. Poor Elder McFadden got eaten alive...well not really, but he doesn't speak Romanian so they were going back and forth and it was quite the PARTY. You could feel the contention. I jumped up and said lets sing some songs. It helped, but it kept coming up in every lesson. No, worries though it keeps things fresh. It was a VERY LARGE tender mercy that we had 0 investigators. Usually, I would never say that, but I was really grateful yesterday. Later that night we went to a beautiful Christmas program for a less active Andra. She is in High School so it was like a high school choir program, but they really had some great talent. Oh, and I had my first and last drink of alcohol...I thought it was grape juice and I was real thirsty, so I took a huge couple of gulps...SO NASTY the worst stuff I have ever tasted. I think I sent a picture home with me frowning and pointing to a glass...that's the wine. ha ha

Saturday, we had English and then we went to run in a little race down town. We got a lot of pictures taken and we (all the missionaries) were wearing our name tags. So, hopefully people get to see it. It was a 3K, but it really ended up being about a 2.4K. haha Thanks to my nifty Nike+ipod (thank you Camille and Foote). It was fun and some of the members ran too.

Friday, we had our big missionary Christmas party. They combined the Arad and Sibiu Zones. Super Fun, we had a ties and scarf exchange. We played games. The McFadden's cooked up a FABULOUS meal. We had a great slide show that was put together by Sora Hill and the office Elders. It was marvelous and then we ended with a nice testimony meeting.

Thursday, was a crazy busy day full of lessons. The Brasov sisters Sora Henrie and Sora Bulloch (she is new, she was in Sister Cottam's group) came to stay with us. We had a great lesson with Angi, Meli and Petre. They said that we will have to talk more after the first of the year about their baptism. They said that it would just work better for them. Adam said the same thing, so we are just trying to have patience and work with them.

Monday, through Wednesday are a blur now. Obviously nothing OUTRAGES happened because I can't remember.

I LOVE Christmas. We are so excited for this week. We have been preparing a beautiful lesson about Christ and His birth that we want to share with the members, our investigators and for all those that we visit. Including songs and scriptures. We are very excited. I have been studying a lot about Him. I am very Thankful for Him. We agreed with the McFadden's that we are going to make pizza on Christmas Eve, just like we do!!!!! Then go caroling to a large number of the members. Then Sunday I get to call you! Well actually Skype. I wanted to ask if you had conference Skype? If you don't know what that means ask Foote. I ask because the McFadden's do and so we could have more of the siblings on the conversation if we want. Oh man I CAN'T wait. Dad could you please email the McFaddens your Skype info. I have it but just in case. Then we will have them email you about what time you will get a call from me.

I want you all to know how much I love you. Cars, thank you so much for the email and for the song...I love it and I've been listening to it over and over again today while I've been emailing. You all are so wonderful. I hope you all have a Wonderful Christmas! Also, I encourage all of you to look for those in need and think about how you can help them.

Va iubesc fuarte mult,

Sora Hickman

Natalee's Weekley letter December 12, 2011

Buna! to all my friends and Family,

I can't believe that Elder Scott came to Stake conference. I am SUPER jealous. I love Elder Scott. He came to the MTC to speak to us; it wasn't too long after conference when he gave that wonderful talk about his wife, he spoke so gently about her. It really touched my life. So, a bit of an update...I haven't talked to Daniel in over a week now. He won't answer my calls. We will try to stop by this week. I keep praying that they will soften their hearts and understand that we meant well. Adam was again at church yesterday, he loved it. He is doing SO much better with his smoking. We fasted with him on Wednesday and the Fratele(Brother) Piper and Elder McFadden came and gave him a blessing. Angi and Petre unfortunately do not have any hope of getting married soon. I don't know what else to do. We will continue to pray for them; Meli, on the other hand, she can still get baptised so we are planning for this Saturday.

Our clementine give away went well this week and we are going to do even better. We gave them to taxi drivers and then when we talk to people on the street. Also, if we saw someone that is poor and on the street we gave them one too. I love it and it is a great conversation starter too. I am very excited to start my 12 days of Christmas count down this next week. I have slowly been opening up Kari and Ed's gifts too. (Thanks Ed, Kari, Preston, Shanda and your Families) I will be able to use skype on Christmas....what a great Christmas present for you. Early Sunday morning you get to wake up and talk to your cute baby daughter! ha ha I am not sure exactly yet the time. We need to coordinate with the elders. What time do you have church? We will use the McFadden's computer. I think that last time (mother's day) we talked at about 7 so probably about the same time. I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!! Really I am so excited.

Well, where do I start...we really had a rough week; good things too, but just draining. SO, lets start Tuesday we had English. We had 22 students!! Super baller the elders had 0 in medium. So, Elder Schroedter helped us a bit. It was a great turn out and we had a great time.

Wednesday we went to visit with some less actives...that was probably the roughest or hardest lessons I have ever had on my mission. Unfortunately they were so mean to Sora and I. I left the lesson very shook up and worried. Not to fret though, we then did some contacting in the college dorms here and it was SUPER. We found some really great young people...one in particular Andrea, she is 19, super cute, speaks English really well and we had a great first lesson. Then her boyfriend from Timisoara showed up at the end. Oh, and did I tell you, he is studying to be an Orthodox priest? We had the Book of Mormon laying on her bed, he picked it up and starting reading it. He actually asked if he could keep it. We are heading back tonight to check up on her.

Thursday was a very busy, but a rewarding day. We had fasted with Adam to help him stop smoking. Then he was given a blessing. He is doing a lot better. When we called him on Friday he still hadn't smoked. Friday we also got to attend Edi's wedding. It was marvelous his wife's name is Timi. She is not a member, but she is super cute. We are hoping to be able to work more with her and get her interested. We also had a great lesson with Meli and Evei. Evei is Meli's cousin and she has been baptized for a year now. We watched part of the YW's session from the October Conference. Meli is doing ok. Evei is such a great influence for her. They are really strong girls and it is so amazing to see these two young girls at 13 years old have so much potential in the church.

Saturday we had English. Our students speak English really well. Unfortunately we only had 6 this time. Granted 3 went to the Medium class, but we were missing a lot. SO, we'll see what happens tomorrow. We also had a fireside, we watch Elder Perry's talk from this last Conference. It went well, we didn't have tons of people, but that's okay.

Sunday was a long day...a great day, but long. We were fasting again and church was great. Adam really liked Church...but during priesthood they were talking about some temple work and they got into baptisms for the dead! SO, we had an interesting time explaining how it works. I don't think that he understands yet. Then after church he saw one of our recently baptized members smoking...he was really hurt or discouraged because of this. I was to, I was shocked and mad. We were fasting again and it had been just about 24 hours. We had spent the day visiting less actives and meeting with members or recent converts. I came home last night a bit discouraged, frustrated, and felt so negative. I didn't want to, but I was so stressed to say the least. I don't think that I have felt this way ever before. I know that Christ said it wouldn't be easy but it would be worth it.

I know that Heavenly Father's hands are in this work. Even when we struggle, he is putting us through the refining fire. I love this gospel. I wish others would all except it...but they all have their agency too. I want to thank you all for your support, love, emails, letters and everything. I really have such a wonderful family and friends. Carson thank you for writing me every week. Your support and encouragement goes and long way for me, so thank you!

I love you all! Va iubesc

Sora Hickman

Natalee"s weekly letter Dec. 5. 2011

Buna Family and friends,

Couple items of business. Mom, I got your other package and I also got my Christmas package form Preston and Shanda. Thank you all so much. Mom your birthday package was great. Perfect timing too, my eye drops had just ran out that morning. Kari, I loved the cereal you sent me. I ate it in just a couple of days. I am very excited to start on my 12 days of Christmas from Preston and Shanda. You all are wonderful and I am so grateful to have such a great family.

Well, what a week! Angi and Meli are really moving along, but Petre has decided as of right now he does not want anything to do with the church. SO, we now just have to get him married to Angi because she can't get baptised if she is not married. Also, Adam and his wife are doing well. Adam came to church yesterday. (Sora Moulton he LOVED it) As I said he LOVED it. He liked the order of things. It was a great fast and testimony Sunday. We also gave him a baptismal date for the 17th of December...he has to stop smoking and it has been really really hard for him to stop. He is starting to notice more and more the importance of baptism in him life. We will meet with him and his wife tomorrow.

We also, met with this young man named Daniel and his wife Amelia this last week. Sora Moulton and I had met him on the tramvai and he said he wanted to come to church and he came. Then we finally got to meet with him, but he didn't tell us that he was leaving for work so we started the lesson and minutes into it he left, so we taught Amelia. It was a great lesson and she had great thoughts and comments and Sora Cottam and I felt like it all went really well. Daniel said that he would come to church, but yesterday he didn't. So, I called him and he said that he was mad at me!!!!!!!! I was so confused. I thought he was joking...but then he asked why did you have my wife pray to Joseph Smith? I was so confused. I said we didn't, we had her pray about Joseph Smith. He was SUPER frustrated with me and I listened and tried bear my testimony. I felt really bad. I didn't know if it was the language barrier or what. What I do know is she told us as we were

talking, that she could feel a difference as she read in the Book of Mormon. That it really made sense to her and that it made sense that Joseph Smith was called as a prophet. It will work out great, I know that it will all work out the way God wants it too.

At the beginning of this week Sora Cottam and I were struggling, feeling like we are not doing our best and that we are not giving our all to the Lord. So, we made a December sacrifice's list of certain things that we want to do on a daily and weekly basis to show the Lord that we want to give this work our all. Such things as fasting together every week. Fasting with an investigator about baptism. Praying for all of the missionaries in our Zone. Also, we are planning 12 days of Christmas for someone. Studying about the Atonement every day. Things like that, that will help us to make a small sacrifice and to be able to grow in the process. Something we are WAY excited about is our clementine give away. We plan on buying a huge amount of clementine's every week and giving them out to random people. Like homeless people or taxi drivers or whenever we contact someone on the street or go block knocking. We want to write www.moroni.org on all of them and add some information about our church. It should be fun, I'll let you know how it is going more next week.

I loved the Hunting pictures that I got in my package. It was so cool to see Cars with all the family! He fits in real well doesn't he? He is a lot taller that everyone else ha ha, but it was great to see all the Bros and Bro in law there. I love getting pictures! Again thanks for the packages, love and support. I also got many emails from a lot of good friends and from some members of the ward so that was really sweet too!

I'm loving it here. The weather is getting colder, but it was also a bit nicer this weekend. I love this time of year. We get to remember the birth of our Savior and Redeemer. I hope that we can all take a bit more time to study about His life. I want all of you to know that I love you. I really am so blessed to have such supportive family and friends. You all are wonderful!

va iubim,

Sora Hickman