A Tale of Two Missions: Chapter 74

So because next Monday will be my preparation to fly home day.. this will be the last email I’ll send from my mission. And so as we begin the Final Chapter of “A Tale Of Two Missions”.. I would like to thank a few people:

  • President and Sister Taylor for being awesome loving mission Parents when I was serving in the Mighty Texas Dallas Mission!! So many fond memories of that mission will stay with me forever 🙂
  • President and Sister Back for being incredible Mission Parents since I’ve been on the other side of the world. And for inspiring greatness hard work and miracles within each of us. For putting up with my craziness and loving me for it, and helping me to become what they and God see me to be.
  • Thank you to my amazing and “AWE”some family both immediate and extended. You have been my support, inspiration and motivation. I can’t wait to hug the heck outta y’all in a few days!
  • All my beautiful and incredible companions: Sisters Jorgensen (Texan Mission Mom), Stringfellow, Stott (Aussie Mission Mum), Procarione, Verances, Sekete, Nansen, Cramer, Heimuli and Niu!! What miracles we have seen together and what amazing things I have learned from each and every one of them! You all will have a special place in my heart <3
  • Heather, Karen, Amanda, Peta, Yvette, Sharon, and Siahn! The sweetest humans ever, that I had the blessing of knowing and being able to teach, love and ultimately work towards the waters of baptism! Whether I was able to physically make it to their baptisms or not, the time we spent learning together made the biggest impact on my life! They each have taught me a thing or two about faith, endurance and love for God, and how miracles happen according to our faith and hope. Stay strong!! And never forget who you are, I won’t 🙂
  • The members of the (former) Wylie 2nd/3rd Wards, Woden Ward, Wattle Grove Ward, and the Bathurst Branch. 🙂 Y’all are FANTASTIC! You’ve made such an impact on who I am now as a missionary and as a person in general. Thank you!! I shall never forget you or the time I spent with you all!
  • The other incredible people I’ve come to know and love as I’ve taught, fellowshipped, and visited them.. What amazing examples of faith you are to me(: Thank you so much! You will always be in my heart!
  • And last but not least, thank you to the angels in Heaven who’ve contributed and made this mission possible, and the most incredible 18 months of my 20 years of life so far. Great-Grandpa Porter, Grandpa Dave, my sister Olivia and even my sweet Roxy and Sneaker lol. I truly believe the promise found in Doctrine and Covenants 84:88 that says He sends His “angels round about you to bear you up.” It’s real and I am so grateful for those I have loved in this life and those who love me in the next.

Now as my time as a full-time missionary draws to a close, I am reminded of the quote by the Apostle: Elder Neil L. Anderson, my own Dad’s Mission President/Parent, which says “If you’re not a full-time missionary with a missionary badge pinned on your coat, now is the time to paint one on your heart—painted, as Paul said, “not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God.” And as much as I am dreading the not too distant day when I have to remove the missionary badge that has become so much a part of me.. I am so excited to paint the new one on my heart with the “Spirit of the Living God”!! For I know God lives! He sent His Son to walk beside me everyday in the last 18 months to see His work go forth among His children in Texas and Australia. How grateful I am for that. This truly is the hardest thing I have EVER had to do.. yet I know with all my heart, that harder yet will be to get on that plane and come home……. for a piece of it will forever be “Down Under”..

These things I have come to know: I am a daughter of God, and of my parents, I am a granddaughter, am a Sister, I am a friend I am a teacher, I am a student, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, I am a member of the “Fellowship of the Unashamed”, I am a missionary, I am a believer, I am a leader, I am a follower, I am a healer, I am in need of healing, I am a sinner, I am a saint, I am a Mormon. There are so many things more that I am.. but I know that God is not finished with me and I will continue to follow Him and become what He sees in me! <3

Since being on my mission, I have see SO many miracles both here, in Texas, and especially at home. God is so good, and He answers our prayers allows His angels to watch over us daily. For I know I had an amazing angel missionary sister by my side this whole time too. Well I love you all SOO much and I will see many of you soon! <3 take care, and remember “Miracles happen y’all!!”

Love always,
Sister Swan
Australia Sydney South Mission

​PS KEEP IN TOUCH YO! 🙂

Home email: susie.swan@hotmail.com
Home address: 632 Silvertop Rd. Arlington, TX 76002​ USA
Facebook: Susie Swan (Logan, UT)
IG: swanprincess_101

Catch ‘ya on the flip side! 😉

​Pictures: ​I FINALLY ATE KANGAROO! It tastes exactly like beef jerky.. that chewy too haha it was yum I must admit.. heaps better than lamb brains that’s for sure..
Conway, Sister Fisk, me and Adrian love these humans! (even when the boys break pinky promises… 👿)
panoramas of Katoomba <3

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