Hi, this is Caitlin’s Mom and she asked me to update her blog.  Wish me luck!

Caitlin made it to Mexico City on August 26^th  and was immediately immersed in the culture and the language as well as surrounded by a lot of 19 year-old missionaries, many of whom are away from home for the first time.  She has become the “madre (mother)” of the district, because anytime someone needs something she pulls it out of her purse, Band-Aids, scissors, sticky notes, you name it she has it. 

Her travel to Mexico City was typical Caitlin, At 4:15 am  the morning she was to leave I found her throwing up.  Ugh, you've got to be kidding!  Trooper that she is, it was determined she didn't have a fever, so with a bottle of water, anti-nausea medication and a "barf" bag off  to the airport we went. She had survived cholera, she wasn't going to let a little nausea stop her. So after delaying the start of her mission twice, she finally made it to Mexico City.  The pictures below are from her first week in Mexico City.

Caitlin at KCI airport at 5:30 am and she's smiling.  If you know Caitlin, she's not a morning person

Missionaries at Mexico City Airport with all their luggage waiting for the bus to the MTC

Caitlin with her companion Hermana Kneip

Caitlin and her "district"

Living quarters for the next six weeks

Yes, she has bottled water.  They must have known she was coming.

The fence around the training center and their living quarters

Okay, so good news first. I’ve been cleared by all 5 of my doctors (not to include the 3 clearances I had to get before putting my papers in...so a grand total of 7). I’m pretty sure the endocrinologist is trying to kill me. She had to cancel the appointment I had Friday and reschedule for today (monday). I finally got her clearance yesterday at around 4:30 pm...you know, the day i was scheduled to be set apart as a missionary. My family doctor was funny and in his note, he cleared me to travel to Mexico only, and stated I was “clear of any communicable diseases at this time”. Anyways, I’ve been super stressed trying to get everything packed and ready to go. Lots of prayers and tears. I want nothing more than to be a full time missionary. Saturday, my brother and his wife got to go through the temple for their own endowments. It was a crazy day full of lovely family drama. I had been praying to be prepared to leave on my mission, but didn’t have a “warm fuzzy” feeling about it. Yesterday before church I was still feeling uneasy. I lost it in sunday school, when the lesson was on the Atonement. Ugly cry lost it. Then the answer hit me. Not an answer that I wanted, but an answer. I need to postpone one last time. I’ve run into several tie ups in getting my insurance straightened out with the hospital. My mom is so stressed out dealing with my brother and his wife I can’t leave that for her to do. I would be so worried about it that I wouldn’t be fully committed to serving as a missionary. I want to be able to give 110%, but can’t until I get finances straightened out. The answer devastated me, but I know in my heart it is what I am supposed to do. I’m not sure what is coming in my future that requires all these trials to prepare me, but I know there is a reason. Heavenly Father knows the desires of our hearts and will grant them in HIS time. The last few months have been some of the hardest of my life, and have tested how strong my testimony is. My testimony of the Plan of Salvation has grown more than I thought it could. I have grown to rely on my Savior and Heavenly Father because I couldn’t have done it on my own. I know I will be a missionary soon and I can’t wait. It will mean more to me that it ever has because of what I have had to overcome to get there. Now...to find a place to stay in August as my apartment has already been rented out.

Getting Closer

Yesterday was  day of many emotions.  It was the day of all of my appointments with the specialists. The night before I was almost full blown freaking out. Those specialists are the ones that determine if I can leave on July 15 as needed. I was chatting with my sister in law, who was also on the verge of losing it. We were bawling together and she said. “I think I need another priesthood blessing…you should get one too”. Why am I so dumb with things like this? These thoughts never come to me. Why do we try to get through trials on our own. That’s just stupid!!! Our Heavenly Father gives us all the resources we need to get through trials, we just have to use them. Anyways…infectious disease has cleared me, my kidneys are working fine again, endocrinology was the one of the hiccups. The endocrinologists and neurologists are in the same office.  When I was discharged from the hospital they told me I would be seeing both at my appointment. WRONG. I saw the endocrinologist who wants an MRI of my pituitary gland before she’ll clear me. She also still wants me to see the neurologist…who is going to want an MRI of the rest of my brain. Well, after I’m done at my appointment, I go to the front desk to schedule the neurology appointment and they tell me the first opening is in August. I’m telling you it took ALL of my power to not break down there in the waiting room. August?!?!?!?! But I’m supposed to leave in two weeks? I was crushed. Well, per their policy, you have to call a specific person who schedules the new patient appointments. I left the office, gathered my wits and strength to drive home, all the while trying to figure out how I”m going break this news to everyone. I decided not to worry until it’s July 15 and I’m not released. God works miracles everyday, right? Well I called to schedule the appointment, and between the waiting room and the parking lot, there had been a cancellation and I got an appointment on July 10!!!! God really does answer prayers…even if they’re silent prayers we’re saying in an elevator full of people. The next hurdle was I needed an MRI of my brain, but the neurologist couldn’t order one until he saw me. I called to explain the time crunch I was in and I was transferred to the neurologist's nurse. He said that it would just make sense to do both MRI's at the same time and that I should check with the endocrinologist's nurse who schedules them...and he transferred me to her. I'm pretty sure I spoke with every single person that works in this office. LUCKILY the office was able to get the endocrinologist (who I already saw) to order both!!! Now I just need my insurance to pre-authorize the MRI and get an appointment before July 10. I can do this!!! That has been my mantra lately. I can do this. You know the saying “God never gives us more than we can handle”? I think that is completely false. God does give us more than we can handle…alone, but He has provided a Savior to make up the rest. I’m slowly building up my strength to be ready to FINALLY get to the mission. The stake president told me I need a note from the doctor, a note from myself, and he has to send a note to the mission department. I think my letter will say something like “I’m REALLY ready to go to the mission, and I promise to NEVER go to a third world country until AFTER my mission”. I am grateful for the support this church brings. Last night I had a much needed break and talked for a few hours with a sister from church that had come home early from her mission for medical reasons. We both talked about our missions and you would have never known it wasn't a full mission. We were able to just talk and laugh and it was amazing! (and a little exhausting once we realized it was almost 10pm. Friends are key to getting through this life. I have some of the best there is!

Cancer and Cholera in Kansas

My trip to Haiti was amazing.  I treated a bunch of people and vaccinated more children than I can count. I grew to love the people more than I already had. I was humbled, blessed, and felt privileged for the opportunity.  However, things quickly changed. While on my way to Haiti, i missed my flight. This, however was a blessing in disguise. I was able to get the phone call from my mother that my sister-in-law passed out at work and had a seizure.  In the ER they discovered she had a brain tumor. She would have it removed when I was in Haiti. I continued with  my mission and people were praying for her all over the world. I returned home and spoke in church, then had a little going away gathering.  When I got home, I wasn't feeling well and thought all the travel was catching up to me.  Long story short, one urgent care visit and two er visits later, I was admitted to the hospital of 8 days with cholera. The day I was supposed to be set apart as a missionary, I was in the ER.  I had to make the devastating phone call to my stake president to let him know that after all I had done to get to be a missionary again, I wasn't going to be able to do it. My report date has been moved to July 15 to hopefully allow me enough time to recover. While I was admitted, my sister in law got the confirmation that her brain tumor was cancer.  She will be starting chemo and radiation next week. It’s been a tough couple weeks.  I have barely been able to get out of bed for more than a few hours at a time because I’m still so exhausted.  The cholera leached almost all the water out of my body making me super dehydrated, then it took everything in my body to fight it off.  My adrenal glands practically stopped working, my kidneys were affected as was my immune system, obviously.  At one point they thought there was a blood clot in my lungs and I got to go to NUCLEAR MEDICINE to scan to make sure I was okay.  My body started getting back to normal, so the doctors felt I would recoup better at home.  In my follow up with my family doctor, I found a bunch of my lab levels are still low…which is why I am still exhausted. I was put on several medications and supplements and I’m now taking 23 pills a day for the next 2 weeks and then I will have all my labs retested. My family doctor is optimistic that I will be able to report to the MTC on July 15, as long as I do as he says and stay in bed for the next couple weeks, allowing myself to heal. I see all of the specialists on June 30 to get their opinion. I have to be cleared by endocrinology, neurology, and infectious disease…for some reason, they don’t want to let me into the MTC if I still have cholera in me. I don’t understand why? ;). It’s been tough.  I have had several times where I can’t fight the tears back any longer. I’ve come so far and gotten so close to my mission I can almost taste it! I’ve had moments when I’ve considered “maybe this is Heavenly Father telling you that you need to stay home”…but I can’t accept that when I still have this extreme desire to serve and feel a special love for the people of Seattle.  Every time I think about my mission, I know it’s the right thing to do…I just keep running into these hurdles.  I’ve learned a lot about the Atonement.  I’ve been super worried about how my brother will handle seeing his wife fight for her life, and possible lose it. I tear up when I think about his pain, but I’m an imperfect person.  Our Savior, who is perfect, feels that way about all of us when we are going through our struggles.  He’s right next to me crying in the tough times, whispering to me “when you get through this, you’ll have learned so much and grown more than you could have even imagined.” I’m grateful for that knowledge and my experiences make me want to go on a mission even more.  So I can find those who are crying and struggling to just make it through life, and teach them that there is someone there to help them and comfort them.  In my farewell talk at church, I mentioned that Christ is there for those moments in life that have “no words”. No words that anyone says can comfort you. There are moments when there are no words to describe the joy or sorrow you are feeling.  Christ is there in those moments.  He is there when there are no words, and He speaks to your heart. He can comfort you when there are no words. He rejoices with you when you are so excited you can’t explain it.  He silently comforts you when you are crying and just need the support. Our Heavenly Father loves us so much that He provided that for us.  He allowed for His son to go through everything, so that there is someone there for us in our moments of life “without words”.

Mission President

Sooo...the first time I was in the MTC, our first weekend was General Conference.  There was one talk that I loved. It was given by a member of the seventy named Yoon Hwan Choi. It was about a loud bunch of teenage boys and the impact they made. Well, I got my letter from my mission president and who is it? Yoon Hwan Choi!!! WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! I was so excited! Then I got my mission packet today, and unfortunately, he finishes his time as a mission president while I am in the MTC.  I will have a new mission president, but still I consider this one of those tender mercies that Heavenly Father gives us to confirm that what we are doing is right. Here is a link to the talk.  I still LOVE it.

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/i-love-loud-boys?lang=eng

The Call...part two

Again, I do NOTHING the normal/easy way...here's my journal entry from 3/20/15
So President Priday told me my report date will be June 3...still weird to me considering my availability wasn't until June 15. I am SOOOOOOOOO excited, especially once I realized that I only have 53 days left at my job. I report in 74 days!!!!!!!!!!! Holy cow, I'll only have 3 days between getting home from Haiti and leaving for the MTC. President Priday told me they still don't know which MTC I'm going to, and that I probably won't know until May. WHAT?!?!?!?!?! The anticipation is killing me!!! I could go to Provo (which would be nice because I've been there and know how it works) or Mexico City (which would be awesome because it's a whole new country and would be a GREAT way to learn Spanish). It's official...I'm going on a mission...to Seattle...Spanish Speaking. I feel complete!!!

The Call

From the Journal of Caitlin Hargis:

3/10/15

Okay, so it's been a little over FOUR WEEKS since my papers went in. As in one month...as in two weeks less than the longest time frame to get a mission call. I was a little bummed that I didn't get my call before coming to California. Courtney was checking my mail and still nothing. Today I had two missed calls from a Kansas number, and a voice mail that didn't have anything on it. THEN I got a text from that number that said "Please call. Thanks! Pres. Priday" WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? I was thinking "crap, something went wrong and they aren't going to let me go" or I needed more documentation, etc...i.e. STILL having to wait a while to get my mission call. I was at the post office with my nieces and nephew when I got the text. I went into the car (with kids there) and called him. He said he got a call from the mission department today. Generally, once someone has been home over a year, they go through the whole process again and can be sent anywhere. Let alone being home over five years!!!!! He then told me he had my mission call and asked me if I wanted him to tell me...what am I going to say? "No"? So I said absolutely. He then went to say "this never happens." But when the apostle reviewed my application, he felt strongly that I should go to my original mission...Seattle Spanish speaking! President Priday said "there must be someone, or a group of people there that really need you". This is so rare, you can rest assured that the Lord is behind this and Seattle is definitely where you need to be. You've been called there on two seperate occasions. When I asked about when I leave, he said 'there's a bit of flexibility'. They need you as soon as you can leave. Tomorrow is the first opening. Seeing as how I have three kids through the end of the week, that was out of the question. My availability date was in June...so this took me COMPLETELY off guard. I am in two online classes, need to sell my car and my lease isn't up until June. I still need to get some money together to pay off a couple bills. So he's going to give me a few options of dates and I'll see as soon as I can get everything together!!!! Prayers that I can get the money together quickly and get everything settled. It's kind of like mission calls in the early history: this is where you're going, now leave tomorrow! I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I may or may not have been praying for this mission call. I've felt a connection with Seattle since the first time I was called there. In my prayers I said so, with the caveat of "thy will not mine". Now to tell my family.