Elder Hancock's Mission in Finland: Week 31

Hey, everyone!

I think a lot of you are aware of this already, but last week after meeting with the doctor in Espoo I received an immediate medical release from missionary work and returned to Rexburg yesterday. However! I'm not getting released until this evening so I can still write this email, right?

To get the elephant in the room out of the way, I'm not exactly sure what it is that sent me home. I've received a couple diagnoses of the same thing but to be absolutely sure (like really really absolutely) I'm seeing doctors in Rexburg, Idaho Falls, and Seattle in the upcoming month and should hopefully get the exact diagnosis and treatment right. The thing I was originally told was that if I had what I was originally diagnosed with I wouldn't be able to be out in the mission field. I've since come to believe (still kind of wary about it) is that if I get properly medicated I might be able to serve the months I had left in the States, Finland kind of being a stretch. But that's a huge if and for now, I am literally just living my path in faith.

I'm doing okay. It's been tough to return and walking around Rexburg today, I felt a little awkward (albeit when you walk around in dress clothes with a Finnish missionary name tag and no companion (except my mom!! I had her) then you're bound to get some looks, especially in the burg). But it's been way great to see my family again as well as my hometown.

I do plan on starting at BYU this fall, as was counseled me back in Finland, and if I were to return it'd be in a while, around 6 months to a year. I have to accept as well that maybe not returning is in God's plan for me, that I might have others things to do in this next year, I just don't really know what yet.

However, I did have a wonderful experience associated with my return just about half an hour ago! I went to the temple today (ohhh how wonderful the temple is! I missed it so much) and while waiting in the celestial room I saw a girl who was going through for her first time. I heard an older lady say "sister missionary" (it was funny because I couldn't hear anything else she said) and after she left, I felt really really really prompted to go over and talk to her, like I'm pretty sure I was made to go talk to her, I had no choice in the matter. I walked over and said 'hey, excuse me, are you serving a mission?' and she said 'yes, I am!'. I told her that I had just gotten back from my mission the day before and was actually still set apart as a missionary. I felt prompted to tell her some things about missionary work and then asked her where she was going, and she said 'the Minnesota Minneapolis Mission'. I paused for a second because I was a little overwhelmed with emotions, and told her that I had lived in that mission for three years and not to worry about it because the people and place were amazing, and I had such a love for it. Afterwards I bid her good luck and at that point I knew for certain that Heavenly Father knew where I was and still was willing to use me as a tool for missionary work.

I know this Church is true. I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know that Russel M. Nelson is God's prophet on earth. I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that we have a loving Heavenly Father.

I know this Gospel is true. I could absolutely never be convinced otherwise by this world or anything.

I love Finland. I cried when I left. You can't give yourself, truly all of yourself, to a place and a people and not fall in love with it. I miss Finland immensely. It's been the greatest trial of my faith in my life to leave, but I know I'll go back someday and I know that I was an influence for good there.

I love you all. Thank you for your support, and hopefully you'll get a Week 32 email sometime in the future. :)

All my love,

Elder Samuel Hancock

Finland Helsinki Mission

Vanhin Samuel Hancock

Suomen Lähetyskenttä