Natalee's Letter July 30, 2012

Fam and friends,

Okay, this will be a really short one because I spent forever writing Mom, Dad and Dan about our trip, so I apologize up front. 

Wonderful week.  It was a lot slower this week.  We went from a really really busy week to a very easy slow week, but we are hoping to see more and more of the results here soon.   We have seen some results, the elders were able to meet with a lot of the referrals which was really cool.

Mom, thanks for the email from Sora Schuld its great to hear about Thea; unfortunately she wasn't baptized, but I guess she is moving to the United States for a year this Thursday, which is crazy!  I hope she will find the church in Iowa and get baptised while she is there. Thea is so strong and she will find her way.

Also, big news Sora Atkins will no longer be my companion she is headed to Lasi to sever with my MTC companion Sora Bennett.  I am going to be with SORA HALL again!!!!  YAY! I am so excited to serve with her again.  Can you all believe that this is my last transfer?  I have just 6 more weeks.  Well, about 8 actually with the traveling we will do here in Romania. Mom, to answer your question, I would say capris and a jacket.  It will probably be good fall weather.  Also, my big suit case would be great!

Also, Lauren my old roommate wrote me this last week and asked about my homecoming.  I will be speaking in Colorado Springs, Colorado on September the 23rd in my home ward. 

I am sorry this is full of stuff!  I really did have a wonderful week.  I am going to miss my district.  I always grow so close to all of the elders and I am very sad when they have to go. But, now that I am headed into my last transfer I am excited to be even more obedient, more diligent and happy!!!!  I am excited to set some goals and to make awesome things happen here in Ploiesti.  I remember telling myself at the beginning of my mission that I had so much time to learn how to become a good missionary and learn how to become more Christlike, but I have come to realize that that journey will not happen in 18 months of my mission.  It will be a life long pursuit and I am excited to keep progressing after my mission.  To hold a calling, to do my visiting teaching, to become a wife and mother...CAN"T wait, but now I have a short time left to serve the Lord with all my heart, might, mind and strength.

I love you all so much and I wish you all a wonderful day and week!

I attached a few pictures of me and Sora Atkins and our elders and a pictures of Cristina Paraschiv our former investigator!

Va iubesc,
Sora Hickman

Natalee's Letter July 23, 2012a

Oh man, family and friends I have so much to tell you! 

Okay, first off congratulations to Brad and Jenny on their new baby girl!  I am excited to come home to a couple of new nieces!   I hope I get pictures soon.  Mom, about the suit cases...I am not sure yet.  I am not sure how big the nativities are.  I will do some research and get back to you next week.  I also feel like a day in every city will be good.  I mostly want to see the members and then we can see other sites around as we are traveling from city to city.  I tell you what, I will think more about it in depth this week. I will write down who I want to see and when and then next week I will send you a separate email!

I have a lot to tell you about the open house and this last week, so lets get ready!  I hope this all make sense there is SO much to tell, but I don't have the time to tell about every important detail.

SO, this last week was probably one of the most stressful weeks EVER on my mission and I would say in my life...I felt really nervous, not agitated, but just STRESSED.  I  want to give a shout out to my awesome comp Sora Atkins for putting up with me.  Well, we went with our branch president President Pasare to do personal visit to meet with many of the local leaders of the well known businesses and organizations here in Ploiesti.  We went out for hours on Tuesday...It was great to talk with them face to face and explain what we are doing and why we wanted them to come.  We had a great turn out and many came.  Later on Tuesday we had lunch with a reporter of WilTV here in Ploiesti.  It was amazing I felt so important, but really Sora Atkins and I have NO idea what we were doing. Two young American Sister missionaries meeting with four older, very successful hard working men.  I'm just glad that we have GOD on our side.  Anyway, the out come was perfect.  He wanted to put together a 45 minute segment about us as an LDS culture and he asked us to put together the questions we wanted asked. THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN!  Virgil, the reporter, is also a great friend of President Pasare.  He was wonderful plus I am pretty sure that Sora and I won him over. ha ha  That is the spirit ladies and gentleman. 

I will tell you more about the interview later. All week Sora Atkins, along with all of the awesome Elders and the members worked really hard to get everything accomplished.  I felt  every day we had SO much to get done and not enough hours to get it done.  I always had my planner with me and I had this huge list in the back of all the things we had to get done. The Elders were amazing!  We had six helping, Elder Hickenlooper, Nemrow, Cox, Bruner, Rasumssen and Ward and then the Marcov's who are the Senior couple here with us.  There is NO way we could have made it through with out them.  They took on the large projects and did an AMAZING AND AN OUTSTANDING job. They baked lots of banana bread for the Open House too. They were amazing.

Anyway, the week was going well.  We had a few things more to do, but we are stayed on top of everything.  Friday, President Pasare had to go to Bulgaria for a day!  This was Friday!!  The day before the EVENT!  Oh man, I was nervous.  We had TONS to do.  Well, we kept working and we made some calls to check up on all the Americans who were coming for the event just, so they had an idea of what was going on.  Well the first person I call was President Spooner and he had no idea about the activity.  We then panicked, (well I panicked) Pres. Doru was the one who had told us that they were coming, they being Gary Spooner and Kent Holtz. The reason they were so key is because  they are very important people in the business world here in Romania and the important business leaders from Ploiesti and Bucharest were coming to see them.  If they didn't come...we would look bad. Well, then come to find out Brother Holtz was in AMERICA.  He also had NO idea!  We were not sure what to do.  Don't worry Brother Spooner changed his schedule and came.  We missed Brother Holtz, but all the others were present and we got a couple others to help us. 

For the interview we invited the Hill's, President Doru (District president over the Bucharest district), President Chirila (1st counselor in mission Presidency), Gary Spooner ( the owner of Ford for the eastern European area), Kent Holtz (Eastern European Chevron Company owner), Randy and Vicky Wolsey (humanitarian missionaries), Brother Critchlow and Brother Bensfield they both work at the American Embassy.  The Bensfields are the couple that are related to Natalie and Rick Porter.  We did the interview at 4:00 on Saturday with all of the above mentioned.

Saturday comes...the church looked great.  The missionaries had worked so hard.  All the interviewers had a lunch at 1:00 and then the interviews were at 4:00. They got back from lunch and Sora and I are running around like crazy, trying to make sure everything is looking perfect.  The McFaddens had all the things they need for the food. (They did a wonderful job) I will never be able to repay them.  We were trying to practice our hymns, Sisters in Zions and The Army's of Helaman Medly with the youth and get them lined up so they knew what they were doing.  Then President Pasare told me that they wanted Sora and I to be in the Interviews!  WHAT?  We were not prepared for this...I was so nervous, but it went well. So, we will be on TV!   I will send you the link when I find out what it is. 

The OPEN HOUSE was great.  We had about 200 people there about 150 were there for the program.  The people loved it and more than anything, we accomplished our goal of helping the community see a new side of the LDS people.

The Lord was along side of us the whole way.  We could not have done it with out Him. I am so happy we had this idea.  I loved planning it and seeing it all come together.

I love you all. I miss you tons.

Love, 
Sora Hickman 

Hi friends and family!

 

Well what a week!  Another down and ready for a new one.  We have MUCH to do this week for our Open House.  We are working really really hard this week to get everything pulled off for the open house. 

 The pictures from the funeral were wonderful!  THANK YOU!!!  I wish I could have been there.  It was wonderful to see all the family together.  Shanda your hair looks AMAZING short.  I love it!  Taylor I am sorry about your ankle, I'm sure that's no fun.  OH man I LOVE you all so much!  Seeing you all together makes me miss home, but I know that the time is getting closer and we will all see each other.  I got an email last week from Keagan and he said that he will be getting married in August.  I'm Super excited for him, but sad too that I won't get to hang out with him, when I get home or be at his wedding.  I guess we will have to do fun double dates or something and he will be able to be at my wedding.  All the cousins look so big and grown up...haha  I am also one of those grown up ones. To me its crazy to believe that not too long ago we were the young ones running around.

 

Well, so some updates about our work and our investigators.  Cristina unfortunately is no longer investigating.  She talked with an older man at the hospital about a week ago and he told her that reading The Book of Mormon is a sin.  She said that she would no longer read it or come to church.  She said that she felt like this was her answer from God...Sora Atkins and I testified our little hearts out and it was so hard to see her be so deceived by this old man.  I know that Heavenly Father will take care of her...she'll come around.  Also, we had a baptismal date for Gabriela for July 28th, who is so wonderful!  She came to church 2 weeks ago and loved it, but then last Tuesday she was hired at a company and they stationed her 250 kilometers outside of Ploiesti, 250 KILOMETERS!  Now she doesn't come into Ploiesti except for once a month...SAD I know.  I am super happy she found a place to work but we can no longer meet with her now and as of recently she has not answered our texts or phone calls.  I hope she is doing okay.  The life of a missionary is so up and down.  Really every day brings many new adventures, trials, heartaches and smiles.  I have become so much more reliant on the Lord and flexible with all the things because he knows what he wants  and he guides us moment to moment.  I LOVE being a missionary, but sometimes it is hard, but that's life and I do love it.

 

We had exchanges this last week.  I spent a few days in Bucharest with Sister Ewell!  Who is a brand new missionary from Salt Lake City.  She is being trained by dearest Sora Henrie. Exchanges were great and kinda crazy because Sora Ewell is new, so she is still not use to getting around Bucharest super well.  I've never served in Bucharest, but I have been there a few times and I can get from the church to the train station or from the train station to the sister's apartment in Bucharest on the Panduri side...lets just say we might have gotten lost a few times, but it was great fun.  Sora Ewell is a great missionary and she has an amazing voice.  We did some singing contacting on Wednesday night...that's where we go to a park and we sing hymns and if people stop or approach us we go and  speak with them and tell them about the church.  Unfortunately Sora Henrie hurt her knee the previous Monday...so a week ago!  We are afraid it is her miniscus again.  DO you all remember last year in April when she tore it before she was about to leave the MTC?  I hope she is okay...she was told to stay in bed for 7-10 days and then they will do an X-ray after the swelling goes down which is also unfortunate because she only has about 3 weeks left in the country before she goes home August 1st.  Pray for her!

 

Also, I got to meet the Bensfields...they are a couple serving here in the embassy, but they know Rick and Natalie Porter, so if you see them you can tell them that I got to meet them.  I'll attach a picture for you to see.  She cooked us tacos and burritos, oh it was delicious!  I also got to see the McFaddens, oh how I love them.

 

Sora Atkins and I are doing so well!  I love her so much and I grow to love her every week!  I am glad that we stayed together the 2nd transfer because without her I would not have been able to do this project.  This week we are going with President Pasare (Branch President) to do individual invites to many of the local authorities!  We have about 20 companies we are inviting.  We are going to starting with The Child Protective Services, the police station the Anti Drug Services!  It is going to be great.

 

Also, Mom and Aunt Georgia, I put your order in for the nativities.  I also bought one.  Mom, how many suit cases are you planning on bringing? haha  Not that I am planning on bringing a ton home.  I just need to know we are prepared.  My credit card it woking.  Thank you again for sending it to me!  Shout out to Tiffany, Ashley Farris, and Katy for wrtting me.  Ash can you send me your address?  I love you all!

 

Va iubesc,

Sora Hickman

Natalee's Letter July 9, 2012

Okay, this will have to be a short one!  We are currently in BROSOV!  We took a trip to Brasov for P-day and it is been so awesome!  We do not have tons of time, so I have to apologize in advanced. 

Sora Atkins and I have really been busy with our open house here on the 21 of July.  We have so MUCH to do, but luckily we have an awsome branch and Branch President!  We will have lots to do this week, but I am loving it. 

I am very sad to hear about Grandpa, but when I read that he passed away, my initial thought was to cry, but then a very nice feeling of relief come over me because I know he is in a better place and he is with grandma!  I love the gospel SO much!  I am so glad that I have the knowledge that I have about the great plan of Happiness!

Mom, I got my package safe and sound THANK YOU!  I LOVED the peanut butter cookies and the girl scout cookies topped it all off, of course I love cereal from America so thanks. Kari I also got your pictures and letters...thank you I loved them.

I love you all.  Will you make sure to take pictures at the funeral of family and send me some...please?

Well, again I am sorry that this is so short, but just LOVE me and I will do a longer letter next week.

Attached are some pictures of our 4th of July party last Monday, me eating stuff from my packages and then some pictures from our hike here in Brasov.

LOVE YOU!
Sora Hickman

Natalee's Letter July 2, 2012

Wow, I know I say it every week, "another week down," and they are flying by NOW!!!!!!

 

We had a wonderful week!  I have so much to share.  We are working hard on our project.  We moved the date to the 21st of July...THANK GOODNESS because we have SO much to do.  We are still working hard and I still feel like we have a long way to go, but I am convinced that the Lord is going to make up for us because His hand truly is in this Event.  It keeps getting bigger and bigger and Sora and I just keep praying and fasting that we will have all the help that we need and that we will have all the skills necessary to pull everything off.

 

We have another baptismal date for one of our investigators...Gabriela on the 28th of July. She came to church yesterday and really enjoyed it.  We are still working with Cristina.  She still does not feel ready to be baptised, but I know that she just needs time, the support from the branch and her time will shortly come.  We are being so blessed with lessons and people to teach, so many miracles.  When Sora Atkins and I started serving together, we really didn't have anybody and now our numbers are rising.  We are busy and I love it!

 

Yesterday in church we had one of the best fast and testimony meetings I think I have had in my entire mission.  I could just feel the love of the branch.  Members were coming up one after another.  It was awesome!  They testified of The Book of Mormon, they testified of families, of the power of a living prophet, the power that comes from doing visiting teaching and home teaching.  Then of course you have some of the old timers, like Fratele Popa who is 84 and so funny, he share a "lifeamony" instead of a testimony, but it still was so wonderful!  I love this branch here is Ploiesti.  Mom and Dad I can't wait for you to meet these wonderful people in Romania and Moldova.

 

Sora Atkins and I had a wonderful opportunity to meet with the Relief Society President, Sora Banita and do some work with the less active .  Oh, it was AMAZING!!!  We went out, found and visited a lot of members who were baptized years ago...15+ years ago.  Sora Banita is a wonderful and strong member.  She came out of a 10 year inactivity period about a year and a half ago!  She now is helping find those lost ones, her lost friends.  We met a sister on Friday night, actually it was slightly by accident.  We were headed to the Ursu's house.  They are an inactive family who were also baptized years ago.  As we were headed over there this lady waved to Sora Banita.  She shouted back at her and we walked across the street.  Come to find out she was baptised years ago.  Sora Banita hadn't seen her in years and YEARS!!!  The member, Georgiana is her name, came to an activity once at the church and according to the records she was DECEASED!!!  Could you imagine showing up to your church and having the members tell you that they thought you were dead, because you had been inactive for many years?  You would no longer recognized anyone and of course no one would recognizes you!  Sora Banita said come back to church, prepare yourself for the temple, this branch needs you!!!!  Oh it was amazing.  I have such a strong testimony of member missionary work. It truly is the BEST way!

 

I also hope you all have a wonderful 4th of July!  We are celebrating today...we are going to have a BBQ and we are roastin' S'mores!!!!!!!!  OH, I'M SO EXCITED!!!

 

I miss you all and I love you all!

 

Have a wonderful week!

 

Love Sora Hickman