Ashley’s first email from the MTC

Date: April 16, 2013
Area: MTC
Companion: Sister Etsitty

Hello Family,
The MTC is amazing! The spirit here is so awesome! It is always here. There is never a time that I don't feel the spirit. My testimony has grown so much. Well, the flight up here was awesome. As you saw at the airport there were so many missionaries that were on my flight. It was fun to be able to talk to them and get to know them. There was a guy on my flight that I know and he was talking to us all and we all decided that we had the perfect missionary opportunity, and so what did we do? We got pass along cards and we decided that we were going to hand them out. I thought, how am i going to hand this out? I don't know what I am doing. Well I was on the plane and the guy I was sitting next to asked me a lot of questions about the church and i answered them as best i could. He asked about the temple and on my pass along card that I had, had the temple on it. So what did I do?? Well sir, look at this temple, it is the Salt Lake Temple. And on the back of the card there is a website that you can visit and it talks all about our church. It was awesome! When getting off the plane i realized that none of the missionaries sat next to each other. We all had a chance to share the gospel with someone. Its amazing the way the Lord works. After my flight I went to the shuttle and I had no problem finding it.

Getting to the MTC, everything was crazy!! It was so overwhelming. But I didn't get lost which was good. They take good care of us here. My companions name is Sister Etsitty, she is pretty cool. We get along pretty well. :) Our schedule here is crazy. We have no down time. We are in classes for about six hours a day and we study for another six and we only have about thirty min at night to write in our journals. So we have no alone time. The only time we have alone is in the showers and when we go to the bathroom. Other than that we have to be side by side with our companions. The food here is great! But I feel like we are eating ALLL the time! Im getting tired of eating. Didn't think you would hear me say that did you? So I found out that I am not the only one going to Idaho. There are about six Elders and then my companion is going to Idaho as well. So she and I are the only Sisters. I leave for Idaho next Tuesday. I can call you before I leave. I don't know your number though so can I get that from you and could you send it through email or dear elder just in case I dont get to check my email  before I leave. Send me dad's, yours, and your work phone. :) That way I can for sure talk to you :) So you asked if I need anything. Well the stinky feet stuff isn't working. I don't like the spray, so maybe if you could send some powder stuff that would be great! And also, I didn't bring my eye makeup remover, so if you could send that too that would be great. :)
So its pretty cool, I have been asked to be the music coordinator in my branch. :) I think its so cool that I get to have a calling here at the MTC. And I am also Senior companion. :) It was way cool, We had R.S with all of the sisters here in the MTC (about 2000 sisters) and I was asked to say the opening prayer. I was so nervous but I kept a prayer in my heart and I felt the spirit guide me in what I needed to say. The spirit is an amazing thing. If you pray for guidance and have enough faith, guess what, you will have the spirit with you. I love the feeling when I teach by the spirit. 
I was reading in john 15 and verse 14 it says... "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." How fun is it to know that we are Heavenly Fathers friends. We just have to do what he commands us and we can be his friends, I thought that was really comforting to read. I was also reading in D and C 109 which is the Kirtland temple dedication and I was looking for all the blessings that come from going to the temple. There were over 25 blessings that I found and I am sure there were even more. I love going to the temple and I love the feeling that I get when I go there. We get to go to the temple today which I am so excited about! :) Well, I am sorry that this email is so short, We only have 30 min on here and I am not very fast at typing. :( I will write you a letter later today to tell you more about the MTC. I love you all so much and I miss you like crazy.
Love, Sister Halbison
P.S. If you havent noticed, my P-Day here in the MTC is on Tuesday :) LOVE YOU!!!!