Sister Jakobi and I stayed put in our flat and tried to pass time by contacting members and friends we were teaching, family history, facebook prostelyting, etc. Each morning and night President Green would have a video conference with our mission to give us further instruction. By Friday, he sent the list of the first batch of missionaries going home. I happened to be on that list.
By 4:00 Saturday morning 60 of us headed to the airport. Whether we will be able to go back to England, reassigned, or released permenately I do not know. I am on a plane now to Salt Lake. This has been a very difficult day for me. Elder David A. Bednar once asked a young man requesting a blessing, "do you have the faith to submit to His will and NOT be healed?" I've been reflecting on this question over and over. I had the faith that Heavenly Father would give me the strength to complete my mission. But, do I have the faith to go home and trust in his will? I am confident that Heavenly Father knew what would happen as I was called to England. The virus affecting my mission wasn't plan B, it was plan A all along.
I will continue to trust in the Lord and his plan for me. Whether that is going back to serve in beautiful England, being reassigned, or completing my mission I do not know. But Heavenly Father knows.
I shared a hymn last week that has resonated with me over the past few months- Lead Kindly Light. "Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see, the distant scene—one step enough for me". No, I'm not sure what will come next for me. But I do know that Heavenly Father has a plan for me. It may be different than the plan I had for myself, but he will shape me into who I need to be as I submit to him.
I am grateful for this gospel. It is my joy and my light. Even when the whole world seems to be in utmost chaos, we can find peace as we immerse ourselves in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that God loves me. He answers prayers. Being sent home due to the Corona Virus wasn't part of my plan, but it was part of his. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity I had to represent Jesus Christ as a full-time missionary. Whether I get that opportunity again I do not know, but I will trust in his plan for me.
I love you all. Thank you for the support you have given me, and the prayers that have been said in my behalf.
Cheers! Sister Eliza Jones 🇬🇧
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| Elder Trey Stewart. Sat by each other on the way to and from our missions to England |
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| Coming home March 2020. Covid pandemic caused the UK borders to shut down 48 hours after I got back into the US. I was sent home among dozens of other missionaries in my mission due to my health concerns. I struggled with sleep and anxiety towards the end of my time in the mission field. Coming home after 9 months was really tough. Not what I expected or wanted to do, but I will trust the Lord even when I don't always understand why things happen the way they do. |
