Week 1 at the MTC!!!

Hello my beautiful family & friends!!! I miss you all so so much and am so grateful for all the letters and package I got on my first time getting mail! (if Ian Patton is reading this write me a letter, I got a package from your Hawaiian friends and I need to tell you about it!)  I had convinced myself I wouldn't get anything just in case so I wouldn't be dissapointed but I was jumping for joy!!! I've only been here for 3 1/2 days but so  much has happened in that little time. I feel like I finally understand God's view of time here because here time does not exist. You wake up, get ready, study, have class, go to gym and eat lunch and it's only noon! I feel like it's the end of the day and we still have 9 hours left,  you just have no concept of time. My first day was a blur really, a bunch of people are just pulling you around and telling you where to go and what to do and where to pick up what and drop of this and next thing I knew it was the end of the day and time for bed! I'm finally getting used to seeing myself with a name tag on, and I can't express how powerful the word "missionary" is. Just before entering the MTC when I had just arrived in Utah I had total strangers start conversations with me, cry and even give me money just because I said "I'm a missionary". It is a title of honor and I am so proud whenever I have my plaque on. Without it I'd just be a girl who was way too over-dressed (haha) but with it I have power and authority as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

When I 1st got here I was in a trio with Hermana Cannon and Hermana Luccion (Sherlyn Hermana Luccion knows Cynthia & Mirta!) but then a girl from the beginers class was transfered to our district so now  I have my own companion Hermana Brewster from Bountiful and I am so blessed to have her. They assigned me to be the senior companion and I've been doing everything I can to serve and love her, helping her pack and move her luggage to our room, getting her mailbox & key changed, and helping her with her spanish. She was feeling sick so I took her to the clinic and then gave her some of my medication which the nurse said she should take. Nurse Gladys to the rescue!!! Our zone leaders gave her a priesthood blessing and after going to bed early last night she is feeling a lot better. I know heavenly father gave me Hermana Brewster for a reason and I find joy in helping her with whatever I can, we're a great team! We've taught out investigator "Martha" (who's really just our teacher) 2 lessons and today will be the 3rd and we will be inviting her to be baptized. These teachers are incredible, they should win an oscar for their acting skills, they play the role of investigators so well and really make it feel like a real experience, awkward pauses and all!

I've also ran into a million friends here from BYU and back home including Elder Gallo & Elder Workman who both send their love to So Fla.

Along with all my mail I got my flight itinuary!!! ALREADY!!! And I'll be leaving to Chile with Hermana Ostler in 9 days on February 25th!!! I feel so blessed because I've only been here 3 days and already know my departure date, most of the missionaries here have been here for weeks and still have no clue when they're leaving. So Keep sending me snail mail to the MTC until the 24th after that send it to Chile. I'll actually be connecting through MIA and will have a 3 hour layover there, but I unfortunately cannot have family and friends visit me so it'll be so hard! But I was made the group leader for the group of us traveling to Chile so I have to be an example to the other missionaries.

Well everybody stay tuned for week 2's e-mail next friday!!! I love you all so much and just want you to know that I have received many witnesses and confirmations while at the MTC and know  I am exactly where I'm supposed to be in my life right now and I couldn't be happier.

Peace & Blessings,

Hermana Ibarra

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