11.months 9.days

Well as her mother I have to say I know. . . I am behind! But I will share a few most amazing snipits from her last couple of letters. Just so you know Sis. Caitlin Fran is doing SO well! She is in tri-cities right now and she is a trainer, and has been opening a new area the past several weeks. She is seeing miracles every day, well let me share it in her own words!

Oh last tuesday I felt as though we experienced another miracle! There is a
PMF that I believe I heard the elders recently stopped by and they said
don't come back. But I go back anyway. We got in and the husband who isn't a
member was loving everything we said. It was like a light bulb kept turning
on. I just kept teaching and testifying of the BofM and we committed him to
start reading it again and he said he would! AAH!! It was so great. I think
he really enjoyed Sisters.
I think this may be a long e mail about all the miracles of this week.


We showed up to dinner the other night and I had this feeling that a friend
they had was a non member. They didn't tell us they were going to have one.
I like when they tell us. But the spirit was really working on me to ask him
if he was? I was stressing out he grew up with this LDS family I was certain
he has probably had the lessons a million times, maybe he was LA and I
didn't want to offend him. But the spirit was very persistent. I finally
just blurted out...Are you a member? he said no. I said do you want to be? I
mean we could make that happen. He just laughed the family went silent and
we started talking about taking the missionary lessons and he completely
agreed to it! Then there was a Christmas Concert that we were heading to so
we invited him and he came! It was so neat! The next day at church the dad
of where we had dinner told our WML that Marvin is his name has had the
lesson many times but it just has gone no where, but there was the biggest
difference last night and the whole family was so impressed. It made us feel
great! So we are so excited for Marvin!!

This Christmas Season is so full of Miracles!! I have always heard rm's talk
about how much they loved the holidays on their mission and I was just so
nervous and worried, but the Lord always provides and never ceases to bless
his children! I am thrilled to be serving the Lord during the Christmas
Season! It has really allowed me to reflect on the wonderful things the
Savior has given to each of us! Without Him we could not return home. I
would not survive lets be honest! I love sharing this JOY with all those
around me! It has been so fun to talk to those in the streets about Christ.
Hearts are open!
I LOVE you all and pray you also can remember the reason for the season!!
Have a great week!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Cait~

There it is my amazing girl, she is happy and healthy doing the work of the Lord. I can just feel the strength in her letters. She makes me proud!

month 7 TODAY!!

I thought I would do a little catching up since I am way behind on Caitlin's blog! She is now in Yakima, with Sister Hart. They have been together for 3 transfers, I think they are excited to move on to new companions! Grandma Ora always said a change is as good as a rest! So August 25th is the new transfer date we shall see. Caitlin has grown so much and learned amazing things about herself and the gospel. Her Love for the Savior is evident in her letters. Her mission is challenging, but it is certainly a blessing to her and to us. So a few excerpts from recent letters!!

During district mtg we watch on the Lord's errand the life of Pres Monson. Holy Moly what an amazing man we have for a prophet!! But he said something that was profound he said if the Lord ever needed an errand ran he knew who to ask. So I decided to pray and tell Heavenly Father the same thing. I love running errands for real! Well that day we were running out of our plans with all of them not working and so I said a pray and asked what errand needed to be ran. Well I felt like going to this potentials house that has canceled every appointment since we met her. She let us in!! We taught her a bit about the restortation, she loved it! Knew all of it was all true and was so greatful for us stopping by! It felt so good!

Wonderful news of the week! Britteny who I told you about last week is on date for baptism! Best lesson I have ever been apart of! I tell you what! She has no idea who we are and so we really focused on her being a daughter of God. I have also been working on asking more questions to have the investigator talking more than me! And wow miracles happen! I taught the lesson with all questions and she testified of the gospel in answering and I was astonished! Then the spirit said put her on date! I thought oh it has been so long since I have done this, she will say no. Then the thought came you miss 100% of the shots you don't take. So I said ok! Your right, when? Then the 21st popped into my head! So I prayed for the time to do it! I felt that if I didn't do it in that lesson it wasn't going to come up for a very long time! So I did it and she tearfully accepted! Then we got down on our knees and she prayed and I was bawling by the end! The spirit was SO SO strong!! This was another time in my life where I realized how much HF is aware of me! The last few weeks have been so rough with the work and I have been getting discouraged which I know that I shouldn't but I did nonetheless and I was really wondering what I was doing here in the mission and then that happened that night! I just cried and cried because I remember why I am really here! To help wonderful daughters of God like Britteny come closer to the Savior!

Happy SEVEN Months SISTER CAITLIN FRAN MILLER!!! I love my missionary!!!

notes from the letters of Sister Miller

We had read Moroni 10:3-5 and we told him he needs to ask HF with a sincere heart and real intent to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet and if the BofM is true! So he is praying and he was like "HF I have a sincere heart so will you tell me these things are true?" bah it was so funny! He said other things I can't remember but it is so neat cause we are kneeling and then we ask so how do you feel and he seriously sits there astonished like holy moly this is true! BAH it was epic!! He just sat on his knees for 5 min and I think just trying to take it all in!

I tell you what that is the power of the Book of Mormon. I have always known that it was true but I love experiences like that where you know with all your heart it is true! It was the most epic experience! The spirit was SO strong, Then of course we invited her to pray and man I almost lost it in hers to! She is so funny! And her prayers are so amazing!

4 months out

Well Sister Miller is no longer in Battle Ground, she is in Yakima. She describes it as a redneck area very similar to home, where the sun never stops shining! Her new companion is Sister Hart. It sounds to me like the name fits her well. Caitlin says she has a heart of gold and truly loves the people in her area. They get along great! They have a few investigators and are working hard to find more.
Sacrament meetings have been different on her mission than at home, she has spoken several times, witnessed the older man blessing the sacrament have a heart attack, and watched a 14 year old recite witch spells in testimony meeting. She's not in Utah anymore.
She hates tracting, loves teaching and is starting to preach the gospel wherever she is, most recently to the boy fixing her Subway sandwich. She loves her mission even tho she says at times it is the hardest thing she has ever done. To me, her mother, the things in my life that have been the hardest have without a doubt been the most worthwhile. I am so proud of her! You go girl!!!

Photo descriptions

Ok, the first one she is pointing at Mt. St. Helens. Then she is with her new companion, and biking and hiking, with her old companion. She is eating Indian food, Caitlin?? Wow I am so impressed,

Mission Photos

3 Months out!!

Well Sister Miller has been out for 3 months. She has had a wonderful experience watching a non-member take the plunge into the waters of baptism. She lives with an older couple which she loves. She has been embraced, loved, and cared for by the amazing people of Washington. She LOVED her trainer Sister Hendricks from Salt Lake, and now she is enjoying the challenges of a new companion who tries her patience. If you know Caitlin, you know she is kind and loving and generous, and compassionate, and organized, and hard working. . . . but she is NOT patient. So she has had a few weeks of increasing her patience!!! She can do it I know she can!! Surprisingly, she LOVES the Elders! I was worried she would chew them up and spit them out, but she loves the Elders!!! She loves the area, the members, the less actives, especially the 80 year old man who used to be a stripper! She loves being a missionary, she Loves the Savior and the gospel. Her mission so far is amazing for her and for us, (her family). So here are a few new pictures to share with you all!!!

MTC photos

January 4 2010

The drop off day. Good-byes!

Sister Miller in the MTC!

Just a few lines from her e-mail yesterday and a few of my favorite photos! Hey she is not here to complain so I can post what ever I want! Yea!!!

ok so funny story...my fav elder. e zollinger the other day we are eating
and he is getting up to put his tray away and in his high pitch female
english accent he is like."well sisters i am off to the common room" of
course right as i am taking a drink! and you guessed it it went out of my
nose and mouth all over my tray!! bah it was kinda funny at least 2 tables
saw it and they got a kick out of it!! then the obnoxious e streuling aka
the witch dr. he has all these alternative medicine things and has been
testing them out on all the elders and it is so funny!!! then the 2 that
tried it ended up sick the next 2 days!! it was hilarious i told them not to
do it and they were like oh sister miller you are to paranoid

oh another spiritual note on sundays in
relief society we have a sister tell her conversion story! and i loved what
this sister this week said. "never feel inadequate because the Lord has
called you so he has prepared you!" it gave me such a feeling of relief so i
decided i needed to trust in the lord have more faith because he is there to
help me and he believes i can do it!!

so every tues and fri we have a teaching appoint with a fake investigator
and let me tell you about tues!! i have really been struggling i fell like
sis garrett and i don't teach very unified so i have been prayin that we
would and sure enough we taught very unified i even teared up as i bore my
testimony on the atonement! the spirit was so strong and i could understand
what He was telling me to tell my investigator! it was the neatest
experience! I loved it!! I can't wait to get out to a real investigator even
though that guy is really good at pretending like he doesn't know about the
gospel!!

I am not sure how many get her e-mails but this one was so sweet, I hope you enjoyed!!!

I thought this day would never come....

& now it is here!!!! TOMORROW I will wake up, get ready for the day, put on an awful pair of nylons, a mid-calf skirt, & carnigan! Finish packing my bags & head to provo with my family for lunch! Then I am off to the MTC!!! Say goodbye to my family for 18 months & try not to look back or cry!! Which we will all know I will do!! I am about to enter an unknown world & I am nervous, anxious & probably a bit scared!! You hear about mission stories, how much people love them & how hard they are, but its not something you necessarily grasp until you get out there & you are one!!! I am about to understand what all return missionaries say!! It is a long, slighty rough road getting there. You sacrifice A LOT!! School, alone time, your car, boys, staying out late, sleeping in, not wearing nylons, not wearing skirts all day everyday, facebook, CELL PHONE, COUNTRY MUSIC!!!

WORK

AMAZING FRIENDS!!

MORE AMAZING FRIENDS!

& the hardest FAMILY!!!

I will miss all these things so very much, but the hardest will be the family!!! I really should be ok considering I have lived out of the house for 2 1/2 years & I don't really get homesick! But not being able to call my mom everyday & tell her how hard it is & how much I really can't stand my companion/how much I love my companion! How I met this amazing family & they are going to accept the gospel, how the elders drive me right up the wall & are all so immature, how they remind me of Colton & then I start missing all his annoying little things he does! Oh how I will miss my speed dial #2!!! Oh how I will miss TaeCee who I have grown so close to in the last few months & her silly humor & EXTREME blonde moments that occur multiple times everyday!! The little neices who are so funny & entertaining!!! & how I tell Sophie my name is Cait & she says meow back to me thinking I said Cat!! I will miss EVERYONE in my family OH SO MUCH!!! I have said my goodbyes to almost everyone I need to except my family!! The ones I really don't want to say goodbye to & leave for 18 months!!! TOMORROW that happens!! I am not ready for it!! I am crying as I type this & TOMORROW it is going to be even worse!!! But alas I must do it, I must leave this all behind & serve the Lord because he has asked me to & I love Him & trust Him! Although I may be trusting him a little too much, oh well it is happening TOMORROW I am leaving to serve the Lord whether I am ready or not!! I will go in with and open mind & heart & just try to love it!!! So farewell EVERYONE I will see you in 18 months!!!

PS my mom will be posting time to time so be looking for updates!!!

Long post about my last week in Utah

Well....I survived my farewell!! Barely!! I have never been so nervous in my entire life!!! NO JOKE!!! I remember sitting on the stand seriously thinking I was going to pass out/vomit!!! I felt like I couldn't breathe!! It was horrible!!! But as I looked out at the congregation to see an ENTIRE row of dear friends from Gamma, friends from high school, friends I don't know all that well & a TON of family what a great feeling that was!! To see the love & support poured out upon me!! I managed to look at the congregation roughly 5 times, then losing my place decided to not do that again!! But did manage to finish my talk without breaking down and bawling on the stand!!We then all headed to my home in for a delicious luncheon!! I have such a great family who put so so much work into that luncheon!!

Later that day we had our family pictures taken in the freezing cold! But since I was leaving I really wanted new pictures to take on the mish!! Hopefully I will see them before I leave!!!

Then Tuesday I headed back up north to spend some time with my dear friends in the SLC!!! oh how I wish I would have remembered to take pictures! I am so bad at that!!! That evening we went bowling at Fatcat's then headed back to Jessica's for the beginning of many slumber parties!! The next morning we got up early & headed to the old KENWOOD RESIDENCE to do the final cleaning since we have all moved out!!

Here are the Kenwood Girls at my farewell!!

Jessica, Me, Hailey & Kate

Oh how I love these girls with all of my heart!!! Living with them has been the greatest ever!! I couldn't have asked for better roommates!!! What great adventures we have had!! Long live JC III!! You will always be near & dear to my heart! Please look for 'How much your neighbors do watch you inspired by JC III' on the book shelf in the near future!! But our late night chats, our monthly eat outs & our sweet dance parties that ALL the neighbors envied I will never forget!!! These girls will always be near & dear to my heart as well as Kenwood Street!! I see myself 10 years from now driving down that road & tearing up as I think of the wonderful memories that took place there!!

Now Jessie & Jessica were so good to me, I had many errands that I needed to run & they tagged along just like little children!! haha! But they blocked out their week so that they could spend as much time with me as possible!! What great friends!!!
That same day I traveled down to Orem to meet up with one of my besties from high school, that was unable to attend my farewell, for a little lunch date!! oh how I love Kelsie!! There were 4 of us in high school that were the best of friends! Well Kels & I are the only single ladies left so we relate oh so very well!! It is always so fun to get together with her!! Thanks for lunch Kels!!

Later that night we did what we do best....put on our pjs, veg out, make embarrassing videos, listening to music & falling asleep watching movies!! The next morning we woke up, watched the same movie we fell asleep to that night & chilled in our pjs until at least 12:30! Living the life is what I like to call it!!! But we decided to clean up & head out for another lunch date! (my 4th in 1 week!! oh how I love lunch dates!!!)

Hailey, Jess,Me & Leah

At my favorite place....Macaroni Grill!!! & yes that is cup #3 of Diet Coke in front of me!!!

LOVE these girls!!!

Well that night being New Year's Eve & me going on a mission felt it was appropriate to spend it with a member of the opposite gender, Jordan!! We began the evening by doing a little sledding up at Mtn Dell ( I think) up Parley's canyon! So much fun!! I LOVE sledding so much!! Then went to dinner at this Thai restaurant.....well any of you who really knows me knows that I am the PICKIEST eater on the face of this earth!!! I usually am good at trying new things but if I don't like it I will NOT continue to eat it!! Well since the restaurant was near closing they just started bringing us out these random dishes of food! One of which tasted awful, but Jordan force fed it to me!! GAG!! The rest was ok, super spicy, but I survived!! Then we headed off to the party at the U of U institute!! WOW was that a party!! There were a million people there!! It was the place to be I tell you what!! It also smelled awful, the gym was so humid from all the people that my hair seriously started to curl by just walking in it!! NASTY!! But we danced a bit & chatted with some friends!! Well midnight was fast approaching & I knew a certain something was going to happen & me being me began to panic!!! So after a bit of awkwardness brought on by me & a few minutes after midnight I received a little New Year's Kiss!! (the timing at midnight just wasn't working for me!!) We then watched a movie & I went back to Jessie's for my final night in the SLC!! Which I basically pulled an all nighter 5 am is long enough right?? minus the fact I did fall asleep through most of the movie!! meh oh well it was an all nighter!!

Then I got ready to head back to Manti! I decided that it is easier to just not say goodbye, so I didn't say goodbye to any of my friends, just see ya later & catch ya on the flip side sort of deals!!

Oh how I will miss my life in the SLC/801!! Never ever did I see myself where I am today!! I have had the best group of friends anyone could have ever asked for! I learned to truly rely on my Heavenly Father & on myself!! I have become someone I never thought I could be!! I am the happiest I have ever been!!

I have loved the idea of a mission & it has felt so surreal, but today it hit me pretty hard that I am in fact am leaving for 18 months! I am venturing into the unknown, Caitlin Fran Miller, serving a mission!!! WOW!! But I am so grateful for the wonderful opportunities I have had in SLC for the last 20 months!! I believe I will return! Who really knows my plan for once I return....I hope it is back to SLC!!!

Thank you to Jessica & Jessie for being the bestest friends ever & making my last few days before the mission so GREAT!!! I LOVE you both so very dearly!!! & will miss you with all my heart! Maybe even Jessie playing with my blinds in my bedroom may be missed a tiny bit!!