More MTC

April 22, 2013

A few days after the first email and pictures we received a letter from Sister Lewis in the mail. She had to wait for a computer on P-Day so she had started writing this letter first. It has a lot more details!

Dear family,

My week at the MTC has been crazy! My companion, Sister Landeen, is awesome! She's from Riverton, Utah. She likes basketball and lots of other sports. 

So, I want to tell you so much, but I don't have a lot of time. I'll tell you about the first day though! When grandma & grandpa dropped me off at the MTC, there was another sister that had gotten there late as well. So the check in people were like, "Okay, you can be temporary companions!" She had the cutest accent ever. Her name was Sister Mims and she was from Texas. So it made me feel a little more comfortable to have someone else who was late.

This week I've seen so many people I know! The first day, I saw Sister Grigg and it was super funny because we were in the bathroom and she was washing her hands. She turned around to grab a paper towel when she saw me and cried out, "NO WAY!" So that was fun. 

I have also seen Sister Loveless (her friend from cross country at BYU Idaho) and Sister Church (Morgan's sister)! I saw Elder Crop and I've seen Sister Roubicek multiple times! Some tender mercies from Heavenly Father.

I like the MTC, but it's super different and doesn't feel like home at all. But that's okay! We were able to go to and do a session at the temple this morning and I just felt super peaceful and at home. I needed it a lot. :)

I got your package and all your letters! Oh! and one of the sisters in my residence hall saw my Tardis blanket and said, "I LOVE your blanket!" So she's a Doctor Who fan too. :)

The elders in our district are really funny and super nice. We taught our first investigator on Friday. Her name is "Claudia" and she is super cute. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my teachers!! Sister Mullen and Brother Corbitt. They are really nice and helpful. :)

Oh! Also, my roommate, Sister Morgan was at Kerr Hall my first semester! So that was cool to find out. We both said that each other looked familiar.

The other day we had a Zone teaching that was super amazing. We had to find another person in the room & talk with them for a couple minutes and ask questions like, "What's your favorite part of the MTC?" and "So what are some worries that you have?" Then after that we had five minutes to study something that would help our new friend. I talked with a sister name Sister Lee! She is from Orem, UT, but is originally from Korea! She was super cute and we found out that we both got to BYU-I and are on the same semester track! She asked me how my week was so far at the MTC, and I told her that I liked it, but that I was feeling super homesick. And I asked her some questions and then we went to study (obviously, we talked about more than that, but this relevant to the story). After we studied for 5 minutes, we met back together and told each other what we had studied. The scripture that she found for me was D&C 98:1 (Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks) She said that I just need to pray and ask God for help & He will answer me. She also said that we should get together sometime when we get back to school and make Korean food! It was just amazing to see that someone I had known for 5 minutes, knew exactly what I needed to hear. She said that she was having trouble saying things because her english is very good. So I looked up Ether 12:27 (And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them) and I told her that she didn't need to worry about saying the wrong thing, that Heavenly Father know that she is having trouble and that He allows us to have trouble so we can rely on Him. She just needed to have faith and pray that Heavenly Father will help her to say the right things.

Anyway, I've told you a lot and a lot of it is jumbled and out of order. But just know that I love you all so so much and I am doing well. 

Love, Sister Lewis

First Pictures!

April 23, 2013

In our first email Sister Lewis had not been able to upload pictures to send to us. But just a day later we got this surprise post on Reed's facebook wall. It made her mother cry with happiness!

"Sister Lewis is alive and well. I went in to help another district because I am currently without any missionaries and I walk in and see Ashleigh! She was teaching great and she's a great support to her companion. She seriously is doing great!"

Bless Ryan Smith's heart!!! He is currently teaching at the MTC and stumbled upon our missionary. This is also our first picture of her with her nametag!

We also got this picture from facebook - Sister Lewis and Sister Roubicek! Awesome!

Sister Roubicek is going to the Czech Republic Mission

First MTC Email!

April 22, 2012

From what we had heard, it would be at least 10 days before we would hear from our missionary. Because we knew that Sister Lewis would only spend 10 days in the MTC, we weren't sure how that was going to work out. We were happily surprised to hear from her only 5 LOONNGG days later! So without further ado - Sister Lewis' first letter:

Dear Family,

Just in case you were wondering, I am still alive. (do not laugh at me for writing weird, this keyboard decided to have a personality, which is why I am not using any contractions or colons, etc.) This last week has been a total roller coaster of emotions. The first day, I barely had any time to unpack, which was okay because I realized that I could probably not get everything unpacked-our room is NOT bigger on the inside! I am having trouble having time getting ready in the morning. I am super tired all the time. I do not want you to worry about me too much though, I am doing better now.  Also, there will be a lot more specifics in my handwritten letter to you, mostly because I was writing it before e-mailing you since all of the computers were being used.

 Anyway, Heavenly Father is sending me tons of tender mercies. The moment I got in the MTC, another sister had gotten there late as well. Her name is Sister Mims and she is from Texas and has the CUTEST accent and says the funniest things! It was really nice to be with some one with so much spunk because it helped me to take my mind off of things.

I saw Sister Grigg the first day and have seen Sister Roubicek multiple times! I have also seen Sister Loveless. I have been having lots of fun- my companion and my roommates are awesome. One of my roommates and I figured out that we lived at Kerr hall our first semester! So that was pretty cool. Her name is Sister Morgan, and I also found out that she is a Doctor Who fan! So that is fun. My companion is Sister Landeen and she is from Riverton, Utah. She likes playing basketball and a whole bunch of other sports. We are teaching an investigator named Claudia, and that is super great. We just taught her about the restoration, and it went really well!

I am really homesick, and I want to cry every day, but I know that I am supposed to be here. Thank you for your prayers-I do not know what I would do without them. Please please please continue writing me. I love hearing from you. I leave for Kentucky on the 29 and good news, I get to call you from the airport in Salt Lake before I get on the plane to go to Kentucky! Tell Parker that I like hiking, play volleyboll...all those things are my favorite things to do. Every. Day. Give dad a big hug for me and tell him that I love him. I love love love you SO much and thank you for the yummy cinnamon rolls! Let me know if you want more details in my next e-mail.

                                                          Love, Sister Lewis 

XOxooXxoo

 

On Her Way (Part Two)

April 17, 2013

Lots of cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents were able to pick Sister Lewis up from the airport to take her to the MTC. It was a great celebration awaiting her as she arrived at the Salt Lake City airport. 

Crazy, wonderful, amazing family

Kyle couldn't wait and had to meet her at the bottom
of the escalator. "Ashleigh, you're my best friend!" was
the greeting she got from him!

Jordan and Ashleigh. This was a hi and goodbye hug as Jordan
couldn't travel down to the MTC with her. These 2 cousins, born only 3 months
apart, have been always been best friends. I LOVE this picture!

Although the whole group didn't get to go to lunch as planned (due to mishaps in Fresno - see previous post), they did take a few minutes to take pictures at the Provo Temple.

Grandpa and Grandma Chatelain

Samantha, Grandma Chatelain, Kirstin, Amanda,
Joshua, Morgan, Uncle Aaron, Sister Lewis,
Aunt Mignon, Grandpa Chatelain, & Jaxon

Group cousin hug!! She is the oldest
cousin but most of them
have passed her up in height!

After this, they loaded up the van Uncle Aaron had rented and they all got to take her to the MTC. Because it was 4 hours after the bulk of the missionaries had arrived, they got to pull right up to the front and Grandpa Chatelain and Uncle Aaron got to take her all the way into the 

front lobby of the MTC!

On Her Way (Part One)

April 17, 2013

Departure Day! 

Is there ever a more happy and sad and exciting and anxious day than the day that a missionary leaves? 

This day brought a little more anxiousness than normal. We found out what happens if a missionary misses her flight to Salt Lake and the MTC! We knew we were cutting it close getting to the airport at 5:30 a.m. but thought we still had enough time. Well, they closed the check in counter a little early so Sister Lewis couldn't check in her bags and would have just barely made it to the gate in time. We were in a little, tiny state of panic. We didn't even have enough time to say goodbye and have last hugs. We said a prayer, calmed down, pulled her out of the security line and then Reed called the missionary travel office. They said, "No problem, happens all the time". They promptly got her on the then next flight out of Fresno, the 12:30 p.m. flight. Then I called the MTC and they said, "No problem, happens all the time". Even though she would be arriving 4 hours later than the bulk of the missionaries, they would have someone to greet her and take care of her. 

So we went back home and just enjoyed her for a few more hours and then came back to the airport (way earlier than we needed to).

Second time around, getting to actually check in her bags this time!

Grandma and Grandpa Lewis

Another nice thing about going on a later flight, she was  able
to hug and say goodbye to Sister Porterfield
and Kevin and Bailey Dill (and baby :)

These two won't see each other for almost 3 years. Parker
will leave on his mission before Ashleigh gets home. 

On her way to the gate - last glimpse of her.

And just proof that Heavenly Father makes all things work for His good, in her phone call to us after she landed in Salt Lake she told us that she started being a missionary once she got to the gate before she even got on her flight! An older lady saw her coming towards the gate and cleared her things off of the seat beside her so Ashleigh would sit there. She sat down and the lady asked where she was headed and was thrilled to hear that she was a missionary. The lady was headed to Salt Lake because her grandson is also leaving on a mission. The lady is not a member of the church and was very nervous to fly and about what her grandson was doing. They ended up "coincidently" being assigned to sit next to each other on the plane. Ashleigh was able to help her not be nervous about flying AND answered all her questions about what the lady's grandson would be doing. It helped Ashleigh to get her mind off leaving her family. It was a beautiful little miracle for Ashleigh and for the lady!