So I have mixed emotions this week.  This is probably my last email as a full time missionary.  That just seems so weird to me.  I still don't feel like it is actually going to happen, but I know it is.  This last week was crazy and this next week is crazy.  I have so much to do and to write down so that my comp actual knows what is going on in this city.  I also have a ton of visits to make and exchanges with the sisters in Brasov.  I am kind of excited for the week to be over, but at the same time I don't want it to end.  I love the people so much and just started some of my goodbye visits has already started pulling at my heart.  Plus I am able to see the impact and the friendships I have actually made.  I love the people here but there has always been the worry about whether they actually love me or not.  But as I am saying goodbye I am realizing all the relationships I have actually made.  That makes it even harder to say goodbye. 

I want to thank all of you for your love and support over the last 18 months.  There have been a lot of hard times, as well as good times, but I can't tell you how many times I received emails or letters from you all just at the right time.  You are all such blessings in my life.  I can't wait to be able to talk to you all soon and to share what I have learn with you as you catch me up on all of your lives.  Don't forget. . .

My homecoming talk is on March 24th 9:00 am at the Downey 1st ward building in Downey, CA.  I would love to see some of your lovely faces there.  My mom posted it on Facebook for me. the address and facts are there so look at it.

Anyways, thanks again.  I will probably write another letter next week after I get home and all of the craziness has died down a bit.  That will summarize this upcoming week as well as the long flight home. 

I love you all so much. 

Sora Krissy Hall

This little piggy went to market....

Woman's Day Gifts at church

Sora Hall doing service

First, Congrats to Bart and Alexis on their new baby girl!  She is just beautiful!  I cant wait to meet her.  Next Alicia, I love that you knew that I wanted to hear from you.  ha, we are just so well connected mentally ha.  I love you and i cant wait for movie nights and just being able to see you! 

Well this week was kind of crazy.  We did service for an older lady that took about 2 days.  We had our own moral dilemmas that ensued with that one and she kind of thought we were going to be working for her, despite us saying that is was just
















for the day and she couldn't pay us and explaining we were just doing it out of service.  But it was nice to serve. 

We also had an activity for the first of March (a holiday here) with the whole district.  Really only the members from Buc and Ploiesti came, but it was so nice to see members I worked with a year and a half ago and where they are now.  I got some nice pics with them and started with the goodbyes.  For the next two weeks I will be visiting all of the members and less actives (in addition to our regular lessons) so that I can thank them and say bye to them as well.  I hate goodbyes.  But, I know that the Lord will watch over them.  I love them so much!

We also got to have a couple lessons with Flori, who has her baptismal date set for April 6th.  I think that meeting her and her family are probably the biggest blessing I have received since being here.  I love them so much, they will be one of the hardest goodbyes.  But like I said, the Lord will take care of them. 

Well all you happy people.  I love you so much.  Talk to you soon.

Love,
Sora Krissy Hall

Sora Hall and Sora Komar February 2013

Pictures others have taken of  Polesti, Romania missionaries....

So I now have my 13th companion, Sora Macdonald.  She is a younger missionary, so this is a totally new experience for me.  There have definitely already been feelings of inadequacies and like I have been doing missionary work all wrong.  But I have just said little prayers and pushed those aside while I surround myself by the people i love here.  It is so amazing how easy it is for discouragement to slip into our lives and how we dont always realize it at first.  Then we have to act fast and move forward.  So that's what I'm trying to do at this point.  There are definitely ups and downs though.  bah!  It is so frustrating at times. 

Anyways, I am excited for these last few weeks and for the chance to be around all the people I love here. 

Well, we also had mission conference this week where the entire mission got together on one day in Buc and Sat for 4 hours (with no break) listening to Elder Richards of the Seventy.  It was long and hot, but he made some good points.  It was also so amazing to see everyone right before I leave.  I got to see how much so many of them have grown and matured and I even got to see Elder Schiers who escorted us from the US to Romania and year and a half ago.  He is just as loving and caring as ever and I am so happy I got a chance to talk to him before I left. 

It is so surreal how bittersweet it is say goodbye to people.  That realization that I may not see them again in this life is so weird.  I love all the people I have had the opportunity to meet and I just dont want to say bye ha.  But I also know that my time is coming and that I have so much more awaiting me in the future.  God has things in store for me and even though things are kind of stressful now, I will look back on this time and be so grateful for the beautiful time I have here.  Missions are amazing things. 

Well, I don't really know what else to say other than I love you all.  OH!!!  I almost forgot!  I want to invite everyone to my homecoming on the 24th of March.  If you can come I would love to see you.  It will be a great chance to catch up and for everyone to be confused by my Romanglish ha.  It is the Downey 1st Ward at 9:00 am, check Ffacebook because hopefully it will be on there.  Also, it might say it on the ward finder on lds.org.  but I'm not entirely sure ha. 

I hope you all have a great week.  I love you all.  Thank you so much for your letters and emails.  Without all of your support I never would have been able to do this.  So thank you.

Love
Sora Krissy Hall

PS- Alicia I just love you!  Thank you for your email and yes, we will talk after.  I strongly approve of your Facebooking skills, ha and you know what I mean.  Girl I miss you a ton and can't wait to see you.  Also I am super excited that you are working with Brooke Barton again, that is awesome!  Love you!

PPS- Richard, I understand you are busy, no worries k.  You are awesome and a champ at everything k.  Have a great week

From February 18, 2013


Happy Valentines Day to everyone!  I love you all and I can't believe it has been another Valentines day ha.  This week had its ups and downs.  We have a couple awesome days where we were able to follow the promptings of the spirit and be guided to people to serve.  That was amazing.  We definitely felt like instruments in God's hands.  Also, we had a lesson with Flori (Sanda's daughter) and she told us she prayed and opened the scriptures to Doctrine and Covenants 20 which is the organization of the church and the baptismal ordinance on April 6th.  She took that as her answer that she needed to be baptized on that day.  She we are now teaching her the lessons (that was her first lesson as our actual investigator).  It has been such a blessing to the gospel touch this family.  They are so faithful and humble and open to the promptings of the spirit. 

I am so sad that I wont be here to see the joy and elation she will have when she is baptized but I am so happy for her.  There is just so much joy that comes from seeing how the gospel changes lives and makes people so happy.  I feel so blessed to have known these people and to still have some time with them.  Gosh I just love them all so much. 

Well the sad news this week is that Sora Komar is leaving and I will be getting a new companion, Sora Macdonald.  That should be good, I just know much about her yet.  But we will have a few weeks to unload about 9 months worth of information on her before I leave ha.  So that will be interesting.  I am excited to be able to work hard and move forward up until the end. 

This has truly been the most amazing experience of my life.  I wouldn't trade this for anything.  I am so happy that I still have time left to truly just love it all. 

I love you all, and I hope you all have a great week.  Take care. 

Love,
Sora Krissy Hall

PS- Alicia Draper- you should email me and tell my your plans for summer and stuff :)  Richard- I am so happy you finally got some letters ha. 

Sorry Krissy's mom is behind...
From February 11, 2013


First things first, I love you all.  Next would the person who sent me the pic of the "What cause cancer" slide please tell me what the rest of it says beneath it (like the causes ha), I cant see it clearly.  But I am pretty sure I know where it was taken ;)  You are adorable for sending it.  Thank you.

Next, guess what!  Roxana wants to be baptized!  She just wants to learn more first!  Which I don't blame her because we haven't finished the lessons yet.  But I am so happy for her.  The gospel has changed her life so much, she is so happy and much more open now than she ever was.  Everyone that meets her just loves her and we are all excited for her. 

We also had 3 investigators at church on Sunday and one potential (Luiza, Radu and Roxana and Flori as our potential).  Plus the elders had 3-5 investigators each as well!  The investigators class was full and the chapel was more full than I have seen it in a long time--if ever!  What a blessing that was.  Things are looking up here in Ploiesti and all of us have been blessed with wonderful people to teach. 

This week we had a little trouble setting up with people so we went out contacting.  We had so much fun and made friends with the workers at the piata.  At this point we have given away 3 Book of Mormons and every time we go they ask for more.  When we ask if they are reading, they tell us all about Joseph Smith and the Gold Plates!  They even finish each others sentences.  It is so cool to see how enthusiastic they are about it.  They are amazed that we would volunteer our time to be here to talk about Christ.  So they love when we come and talk about our purpose.  We have invited them all to church, so hopefully some new investigators with come of this. 

We are still happily teaching Andreea Musat and Radu Ene and loving it.  This week we taught about the 10 commandments, which, they had no idea about ha.  It was slightly difficult to explain to them what they all meant in terms that were simple and that they could understand, but it was a lot of fun.  On Sunday, Radu asked if he could sit by me, he is a cute kid ha. 

Sora Zimmerman and Remsberg came to Ploiesti so they could spend their last Sunday here where Sora Zimmerman served.  It was weird to know that they are going home.  They are in the group behind me.  It made me realize how hard it is going to be to leave here.  I love the people so much.  But I know my time is coming.  I am just not counting, so I know it will sneak up on me ha.  But all is well.  I know I still have a work here to do.  I feel so blessed to be here and to learn of the people here.

I love the branch here and the work.  I feel like I am finally getting it and really being able to see the potential of others.  That just gives you so much hope!  We all have such great potential and nothing stops us from reaching that potential except for ourselves.  But if we rely on God and put our trust in Him then He will guide us down the paths that will enable us to reach that potential.  What a blessing it is to know that and to be able to enlighten others of that. 

I hope you all know how much I love you all.  I am so grateful for all of your support, especially now.  I am excited to see you when the time comes.  But until then, work hard and use the enabling power of the Atonement to reach your potential :)

Have a great week!

Love,
Sora Krissy Hall

PS- for all of those at school and are taking midterms right now.  Good luck!  :)

So this week we were able to get out and do work.  WooHoo!  It was so much fun to just get out!  We had more lessons and such cool experiences like going to a Ion Caragiale play with our investigator.  It was so much fun.  I love the people here.  I love our investigators and all the people we get to meet everyday.  We just got passed a family from the Zone Leaders.  It consists of a mom, dad, and two 8 year old boys (twins but not identical).  They are wonderful.  The mom (Luiza) and son (Dori) were able to make it to church on Sunday!  It was so cool.  Roxana also made it to church and bore her first testimony saying she was so thankful to how nice everyone has been to her and helped her and that she believes the church is true!  It was so awesome. 

I love that I have been able to be here for so long and that I have been able to see so many of these wonderful people here grow in the gospel.  What a blessing it has been.  I know I never would have learned this if I hadn't stayed in Ploiesti for so long.  I really hope that I dont leave, since it is still a possibility with transfers coming up in a couple of weeks.  I really would love to just give my whole heart to these people before I leave and I am trying now.  But the longer I am here, the more I love them. 

Marinica, son of Ramona and Doru Tudorache was able to get his first surgery this week on his leg.  He has some paralyzation in his leg and now he has possibility to walk normally, instead of on his toes like he does now.  I am just so amazed at how the branch here just comes together to help one another through any trial that comes about.  This little boy now has a chance to live a more normal life because of the love of the members.  What an amazing thing to see.  This is what the church members should be doing everywhere.  I have seen many places that just dont get that yet.  But this branch is so united, it is just inspiring.  I love it. 

What else, other than the fact that I just love Sora Komar and that we are having so much fun together.  I just love all that is going on.  I am still feeling a bit under the weather, but we are pushing forward and loving life.  We are teaching and loving the people here. 

I have been having lots of moments where I just realize how amazing and simple the gospel really is.  It is so cool.  It really has the answers to everything.  Any problem we have or any trial we come across can always be endured and we can be strengthened as we go back to the basics.  That is, strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ and use the Enabling power of the Atonement, repent and CHANGE if we have done something wrong, go to church and renew the covenants we have made at baptism and always remain worthy of the Holy Ghost.  If we do this, we Endure to the End.  It is that simple.  Yes, at times life is hard and throws us curve balls, but Christ is always there with us through it all.  How awesome is that!

OK, well that is enough of my ranting for now.  I love you all.  Take care and know you are always in my thoughts and prayers. 

Love,
Sora Krissy Hall

I am still sick, but today I am feeling a bit better.  We have been so blessed this week by getting two new investigators and one more potential (that should become an investigator this week).  Plus English is starting back up and we are moving forward.  The snow has finally decided to come, which means a little more work for us, or at least a change in our approaches.  We are taking this as a push to get even more lessons and to get things established and set up so that we can use our time most effectively.  We will see how it works.  Things are really going great and I am so happy to be here. 

Anyways, I am hoping that all is going well at home.  I know this is short, but hopefully next week I will have some better stories to tell.  Just remember that if you do the right thing, for the right reason, now, God provides for the rest.  I love you all

Love
Sora Krissy Hall

So not much happened this week.  I went down to Bucharest on Monday with Sora Jones.  Then we were at the office on Tuesday where I just did random odd jobs to help for transfers.  Then we went to meet her family and the new missionaries at the airport, which was a lot of fun.  The new missionaries seem awesome even if they were really jet lagged ha.  After that we went to President's house and at a wonderful meal.  Sora Lund and Savage showed up so we took the 3 new sisters and headed back to their apartment.  On Wed. I was with Sora Bulloch and we were just in love as usual.  I said some goodbyes and then headed off to Ploiesti with Sora Komar.  She woke up sick the next day, so we have basically spent the rest of the week in the apartment.  We have had a great time to get to know each other.  I am so excited to be able to serve with her and to work hard for the next 9 weeks.  Life is going great and I just love it in Ploiesti.  I feel like they are my family.  We got people asking us to come over this week, which was a huge blessing.  Everything just works out when we do our best and put the rest in God's hands.  Anyways, sorry this is short, I love you all.  Have a great week! 

Love,

Sora Krissy Hall

PS- Ashley Page, thanks for the Christmas card, it made my day!  It was so cute and you are just beautiful as always!  Also, thanks for the owl hat from Matt and the Han Solo ice tray from Jen, as well as all the other treats and gifts from Mom and Dad.  I love you all!

An old church in Strjnic, Romania and ME!

Elder Knapp and myself

Sora Bulloch and Sora Hall

Note from Krissy's mom...yes it is true she just got her Christmas package that was mailed the beginning of December.  She only gets her mail every six weeks. grrrrrr 

I don't have much time this week.  But Sanda got confirmed on Sunday by Fratele Chirila.  It was amazing.  She is just so excited and so happy.  We are still working with Iulia and were able to meet with her on Saturday.  I did a lot of the teaching (Sora Jones helped with keeping the kids under control ha) and just felt like I wasn't connecting with her very well.  I feel like after a while I stopped teaching and Spirit started.  It ended a lot better than it started which I was grateful for.  Other than that things are going well.  I will probably be finishing out my mission here in Ploiesti because next transfer I will be here with Sora Komar.  Then I only have 3 weeks after that.  I am nervous and dont really want to leave.  But I know that all will go well I just need to keep focused now on what is most important.  Everything else will just fall into place :)  I love the people here and I couldn't think of a better place to end my full time missionary experience.  I have been so blessed by being here and I cant wait to see what this transfer brings. 

Love you all!

Sora Krissy Hall

PS- Thanks to Alicia for her lovely letter, girl your letters always make my day and just give me hope :)  Love you!

Predescu Family and Sanda

Sora Jones, Sanda, little Predescu & Sora Hall

Sora Hall and Sora Jones

La Multi Ani again!  I can't believe that it is a new year.  We have had a really exciting week.  Sanda got baptized and was just glowing on Sunday as she made that covenant with God.  It was so awesome to see.  It was by far the best experience to see since I have been out.  What a blessing to be a part of, even if it was just a small part.  She has been baptized not because of us, but because the members did their job and the Predescu's invited her to church and did their part. The other branch members have just welcomed her with open arms.  I love the people here.  They are amazing.  That was most definitely the highlight of the week.  We had other lessons and English which was great as well.  It was awesome.  We got more bungs (cancellations) than in any other week this transfer, but nothing could get us down.  We were so excited for Sanda that it just lifted our spirits. 

In other news, I found out I will now be coming home on the 20th of March due to changes in the time missionaries are in the MTC (Going from 9 weeks to 6 weeks).  So I will be home a bit earlier.  I am nervous, but I just want to push it out until the end.  I love it here and it is sad that my time is being cut short, but I know it was inspired to do this.  So I am trusting in that.  God knows better than I do. 

Well, I love you all

Sora Krissy Hall