Home??

pictures:
*She arrived in Long Beach at 9:33pm on Sunday night
*She is doing lots of service projects here (she helped my mom make masks for medical workers)
*The only picture from her crazy travels. They were asked to not take any for safety reasons.  This was in the SLC Airport.

Her email remains the same: sydney.stewart@missionary.org

AHHH this has all been crazy! I have been sent home due to the corona virus outbreak and am now serving my mission from my very own home (or at least trying to--I'm not very tech-savvy). 

It all started last Tuesday with a text that said all foreign missionaries will be returning to their home land and should be ready to go at a minutes notice. I was in total shock! The next morning, after a sleepless night, we were taken in a shuttle back to the MTC and then one day later to a fancy hotel... all the while worrying about everyone we're leaving behind that we didn't get to say goodbye to. It wasn't until Saturday that we left the country. 

So now, here I am, in my own home surrounded by my family, with a nametag on, awaiting my future. What does the future hold? I could get reassigned to a mission in the States or just get released. I don't know yet. Right now, I'm contacting people from my old areas with FaceBook and whatever else I can figure out. 

I miss the Philippines so much and my heart is pained, but I know that God has a plan and that plan is perfect. I will return to the Philippines, but not as a missionary, and that's okay. I am eager to see what Heavenly Father has instore for me. He's always been good at keeping me on my toes!

Words can't describe how grateful I am for the opportunities that I have had in the Philippines. My heart is there with the culture and the people. Yes, I will still be eating rice as much as possible!

Thank you for your prayers. I will keep you updated on my reassignment or release.

I love you all!

Sister Stewart