Early Homecoming: Insights From Missionaries Who Returned Early podcast

#Religion #Christianity #Kristen Reber #Latter-day Saint Missionaries #Early Homecoming #For EarlyReturned Missionaries #Home Early From Mission

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We’ve turned intuition into a buzzword—flattened it into a slogan, a gut feeling, or a vague whisper we don’t always know how to hear. But what if intuition is so much more? What if it's one of the most powerful tools we have—and we’ve just forgotten how to use it? In this episode, I’m joined by Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir , Icelandic thought leader, filmmaker, and author of InnSæi: Icelandic Wisdom for Turbulent Times . Hrund has spent over 20 years studying and teaching the science and art of intuition through her TED Talk, Netflix documentary (InnSæi: The Power of Intuition), and global work on leadership, innovation, and inner knowing. Together, we explore what intuition really is (hint: not woo-woo), how to cultivate it in a culture obsessed with logic and overthinking, and why your ability to listen to yourself might be the most essential skill you can develop. In This Episode, We Cover: ✅ Why we’ve misunderstood intuition—and how to reclaim it ✅ Practical ways to strengthen your intuitive muscle ✅ What Icelandic wisdom teaches us about inner knowing ✅ How to use intuition during uncertainty and decision-making ✅ Why trusting yourself is an act of rebellion (and power) Intuition isn’t magic—it’s a deep, internal guidance system that already exists inside you. The question is: are you listening? Connect with Hrund: Website: www.hrundgunnsteinsdottir.com TedTalk: https://www.ted.com/talks/hrund_gunnsteinsdottir_listen_to_your_intuition_it_can_help_you_navigate_the_future?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare Newsletter: https://hrundgunnsteinsdottir.com/blog/ LI: www.linkedin.com/in/hrundgunnsteinsdottir IG: https://www.instagram.com/hrundgunnsteinsdottir/ Book: InnSæi: Icelandic Wisdom for Turbulent Times Related Podcast Episodes: How To Breathe: Breathwork, Intuition and Flow State with Francesca Sipma | 267 VI4P - Know Who You Are (Chapter 4) Gentleness: Cultivating Compassion for Yourself and Others with Courtney Carver | 282 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Early Homecoming: Insights from Missionaries who Returned Early

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Kristen Reber, author of Early Homecoming: A Resource for Early-Returned Missionaries, their Church Leaders, and Family, shares stories and insights from returning home early from her Latter-day Saint mission that provide healing and hope to those experiencing the myriad of emotions that come from an early return. Also included in this podcast are interviews with other missionaries who have returned home early, parents, church leaders, and experts.

60 episodes

Early Homecoming: Insights from Missionaries who Returned Early

updated 2 years ago

Series home•Feed

60 episodes

#Religion #Christianity #Kristen Reber #Latter-day Saint Missionaries #Early Homecoming #For EarlyReturned Missionaries #Home Early From Mission

Semua episode

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061: Josie shares her raw feelings about returning home early due to a difficult adjustment and stress hives 49:16

2 years ago49:16

49:16

At the time of this recording, Josie had been home from her mission for only eight months. Her feelings are raw and poignant as she shares the ups and downs of her mission. She struggled adjusting to mission life and would frequently call her mom to connect and feel better (which wasn't allowed). She developed chronic stress hives and frequently felt like she wasn't a successful missionary despite all the service she was doing. Josie eventually decided to go home which was another adjustment for her. She suffered from some PTSD and had a hard time with church and mission related stuff. She went to therapy which helped her process a lot of what she was feeling. Josie is still working through much of the emotions and feelings of an early return, but she is also moving forward with her life in productive and healthy ways. This is a great episode for anyone else experiencing the raw emotions of an early return, looking to know that they are not alone, that things WILL get better, and that God absolutely still loves them!…

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060: Amanda shares her story of hope and healing after having her leg amputated below the knee after getting hit by a car on her mission 39:20

2 years ago39:20

39:20

Amanda Evergreen--also known as the One-Footed Phoenix--joined me to share her story of hope and healing after having her leg amputated below the knee after getting hit by a car on her mission. Amanda walks me through her struggles with mental illness on her mission before getting hit by the car, the negative response she received while on her mission when she couldn't continue to work, and then a 3.5 year struggle with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome before the decision to amputate was made. Amanda spent some time very, very angry with God for letting this happen and wondering why He had allowed this to happen. However, as she's healed, she has been able to see blessings come into her life as a result of being an amputee. She now has a platform where she can regularly help other disabled individuals and share her faith and testimony. While she still has hard days, she sees the Lord's hand in her life still and is grateful that she is still able to reach out and help others and bring them to Christ. Amanda's Information YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1qNp7VyV-hJ5E4iNUVZ4Wg Instagram: @one_footed_phoenix Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/One-Footed-Phoenix-100075115887812/…

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059: Cody shares his story of healing from narcissistic abuse while on his mission 1:00:36

2 years ago1:00:36

1:00:36

Cody endured bullying in childhood and in his teenage years at school and at church. Despite this, he has a deep love for the gospel and still desired to serve a mission. He served in the south and it was a very difficult mission--not only because he was serving in the Bible belt of America, but because he dealt with narcissistic abuse from many that he worked with. He was sent home after dealing with a lot of gaslighting, fear tactics, and demands of "perfect obedience." Upon returning home, Cody felt like a failure and began also dealing with health problems for which he met with many doctors. He suffered a lot of emotional (and subsequently physical) turmoil for years before he learned about empaths which helped him reach a hopeful turning point. He learned a lot about narcissism, how to identify it, and to protect himself against it and he shares his thoughts and some solutions in this episode. Cody and I also discussed church and mission culture and what changes/improvements ought to be considered and made to help Cody's experience not to be repeated by others in the future.…

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058: Edina shares her story of returning home early to help her mom with depression 37:50

2 years ago37:50

37:50

Edina lives in Hungary and was 27 years old when she joined the church. Eight years later, at the age of 35, she decided to serve a mission. It was not an easy decision for her, but she chose to do it because of her love and trust in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. After a short time, she returned early because her mother was very depressed. She chose to come home to help her mom. Mental health is not well understood in Hungary (or anywhere, really), and she had a hard time finding support. She began to struggle with depression herself and even suicidal thoughts. In the midst of all this though she recognized little miracles or inspiration from heaven that helped her move through her trials and she was able to help her mother become stable. She learned that the Atonement of Jesus Christ can help us to act when we are depressed and she gained a greater understanding that those suffering from depression need an extra amount of love and friends who will listen to their struggles rather than criticize their failures to act. Additionally, she realized that all returned missionaries (early or not) need time and love to readjust back into normal life. She very much hopes that by sharing her story, others will receive the hope they need to know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love them and to move forward with faith in a brighter future.…

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057: Brady shares his story of returning home early due to anxiety and depression 44:57

2 years ago44:57

44:57

Having been born and raised in the church, Brady was excited to serve a mission. He had a bit of anxiety in the beginning as he adjusted to Brazilian culture and the language. After he became a district leader, his anxiety increased quite a bit and depression came along for the ride. It was so confusing and frustrating to sort out what was happening to him. He had a great mission president, but unfortunately some other missionaries said some hurtful and unhelpful things. Upon returning home early, he visited with therapists and doctors (for medication) and continued to try to understand what was happening with his mental health. Nine years later, Brady still struggles with anxiety and depression, but he has many words of hope and comfort for those who are also struggling.…

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056: Wallis shares her story of returning home early to her dad declining from ALS after suffering from depression and self-harming on her mission 48:13

2 years ago48:13

48:13

Wallis served for four months in Calgary before coming home due to depression and self-harming. She had an amazing support group--including her companions, mission president, and parents (so if you fit any of these categories and want to know how to help your missionary, this is a GREAT episode for you!), but also came home to a heartbreaking situation with her dad being newly diagnosed with ALS. Wallis walks us through her journey of depression, self-harm, adjusting to her dad's declining state and eventual passing, all while trying to care for herself and keeping her faith strong. She talks about how she moved forward and how she is doing five years later and why others in similar situations can still have hope for a great life. Want to share your story? Please follow this link to fill out an application: https://bit.ly/3SBqDLr Interested in my book? Please purchase from this link with Cedar Fort . It's probably the least expensive option and I get a little extra kickback :). If you prefer audio or ebook, you can find it on Amazon .…

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055: Haley shares her story of choosing to return home after four weeks due to physical illness 36:59

2 years ago36:59

36:59

Haley served for a total of four weeks--three in the MTC and one in the field--before choosing to return home early due to physical illness. While she had support at home, Haley still struggled with feelings of shame and loss, as well as anger towards God. In this episode she tells me her story of repairing her relationship with God, owning her decision to come home early, and working through the emotions of an early return. She also talks about how she recognized that returning to the field was not the right decision for her. This is a great episode for anyone struggling with the emotions that accompany an early return, particularly if the mission was much shorter than anticipated.…

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054: Psychologist and Life Coach, Cortland Watson, discusses the psychological and emotional aspects involved in returning home early from a mission 57:00

2 years ago57:00

57:00

Psychologist and Life Coach, Cortland Watson, joined me on the podcast to discuss many of the psychological and emotional aspects involved in returning home early from a mission. Using personal stories and insights from his life, his career, and his education, Cortland guides the listener through learning more about emotions, identity, expectations, failure, shame, growth vs. fixed mindset, and so much more. He offers strategies for moving forward in life with connection. Cortland also addresses those struggling with abuse from others due to an early return and those contemplating suicide. This is an amazing episode for anyone struggling with returning home early from a mission. Want to learn more about Cortland? Perhaps schedule a free consultation for life coaching? Please visit his website at everonwardcoaching.com He will be presenting at BYU's Life After Loss Conference on March 18, 2023: https://lifeafterloss.ce.byu.edu/home Want to share your story? Please follow this link to fill out an application: https://bit.ly/3SBqDLr My editor, Brandon Kellogg, is great! If you are looking for an inexpensive audio or video editor, please reach out to Brandon at brandon.kelloggrm@gmail.com. Interested in my book? Please purchase from this link with Cedar Fort . It's probably the least expensive option and I get a little extra kickback :). If you prefer audio or ebook, you can find it on Amazon.…

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053: Meg shares her story of deep depression due to hiding her sexuality and experiencing chronic pain 38:23

2 years ago38:23

38:23

Meg returned home early after three months of service in Fresno, California. She spiraled into a deep depression due to hiding her sexuality and experiencing chronic pain. Her mission president and his wife did the best with the information that they had but left her with trauma because they didn’t understand how to address mental health. In this episode, Meg talks about her journey of self-acceptance, better understanding the Atonement, helping others on their journeys, and the importance of better mental health trainings for leaders. My editor, Brandon Kellogg, is great! If you are looking for an inexpensive audio or video editor, please reach out to Brandon at brandon.kelloggrm@gmail.com. Interested in my book? Please purchase from this link with Cedar Fort . It's probably the least expensive option and I get a little extra kickback :). If you prefer audio or ebook, you can find it on Amazon.…

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052: Nicholas shares his story of returning home early due to trauma caused by abuse from a member 42:40

3 years ago42:40

42:40

Growing up in the church, Nicholas never knew if the gospel was for him and he struggled to go to church because of his anxiety and lack of desire. After receiving his patriarchal blessing, and being amazed by the things stated in his blessing, he developed a testimony of the church and decided for himself to serve a mission. He served in Denver, Colorado but soon suffered from pain and verbal abuse, which caused him to suffer from mental health issues. He also suffered some verbal abuse from his mission president, which he was later able to confront his mission president about, resolve, and forgive. He eventually decided to go home. By staying firm in his commitment to God, Nicholas has stayed firm in his testimony and been able to move forward with his life and help others. My editor, Brandon Kellogg, is great! If you are looking for an inexpensive audio or video editor, please reach out to Brandon at brandon.kelloggrm@gmail.com.…

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050: A chat with author Destiny Yarbro who returned home early twice for physical and mental health reasons, and now helps early-returned missionaries all over the world 44:45

3 years ago44:45

44:45

Destiny Yarbro returned home early twice. The first time she returned home early from the MTC for physical health reasons. The second time, she went to the mission field and then returned early for mental health reasons. She not only felt like she had failed the Lord upon this second return, but she truly felt like she had committed a transgression (even though she hadn't) because the Lord didn't heal her and so must not want her in the field anymore. Destiny experienced a chronic illness where she had to lay horizontally for months on end. This was extremely difficult emotionally, but eventually she began to feel peace and joy again as she made goals for herself and accomplished them. She called them her "horizontal goals," and they included spiritual goals and secular goals. As she worked towards these goals, she began to see miracles in her life, some of which eventually led to her serving a service mission while at home. Destiny has since gone on to write a book to help early-returned missionaries, work with the Church's missionary department to make the service mission program what it is today, and serve members of the Church all over the world. She does all of this while still dealing with chronic physical and mental health issues. Destiny is absolutely incredible and literally anyone and everyone would benefit from listening to her story. Destiny's Book: https://amzn.to/3pGslNO Destiny's Email Address: yarbro.destiny@gmail.com Kris Doty-Yells's article for parents: https://bit.ly/3EyylOK…

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049: Addie shares the many emotional, mental, and physical health trials she experienced on her mission before ultimately being sent home due to COVID-19 44:07

3 years ago44:07

44:07

Addie had always desired to serve a mission and when her call came, she was excited to go! However, a few months into her mission, she was emotionally abused by her companion and housemates. It was a very isolating experience for her. She also began having some physical health problems due to allergies. And, to top it off, she suffered a lot from OCD as well. Despite these things, Addie did manage to continue on until the COVID-19 pandemic struck and she was sent home along with thousands of other missionaries. She talks about her struggles on the mission as well as what it was like to go home due to the pandemic and the emotions and struggles that came with that. Furthermore, Addie told me that she didn't love her mission and we discussed the cultural implications of that. This episode will comfort anyone who had a rough time on their mission, whether they served the expected amount of time or not, to know that they are not alone and to find a path forward.…

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048: Jackson shares his story of returning from his mission early twice for physical health reasons 39:36

3 years ago39:36

39:36

In this episode, Jackson shares his story of returning home early twice. The first time, he served for eight months before physical health problems required that he come home. The second time, he served for seven months (in the same mission) before a different set of physical health struggles struck him and he again needed to return home early. Through all of this, Jackson had an amazing support system who helped him to talk kindly to himself and put things in their proper perspective. He tells me why he chose to stay home the second time, takeaways he learned from this experience that will serve him well in life, and gives great advice to those who have come home early for any reason.…

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047: Jacob shares his story of returning home early for physical health reasons, dealing with judgement, and ceasing his habit of seeking validation from others. 36:54

4 years ago36:54

36:54

Jacob started his mission journey long before he even got his mission call. Overweight and insecure, Jacob decided to make some changes. He got into body-building and realized it was a way from him to grow and push himself. He decided to apply this new mentality to all areas of his life, including spirituality, and eventually decided to serve a mission. However, as soon as he arrived in his mission, he began experiencing breathing problems, possibly due to the recurrence of a childhood illness, and then later had a hard time swallowing. He managed to stay for seven months, but finally needed to go home. He stated that he believes that if he'd been able to take care of his physical health more, especially through more exercise, these illnesses would not have bothered him as much, or perhaps not have occurred at all. His health improved dramatically once he resumed his workout routine. Jacob was lucky to have a lot of support from those around him, although he did also deal with some judgement which really bothered him for awhile. Ultimately though, Jacob learned to stop seeking validation from others and to love and accept himself as he is, to set goals for himself, and to understand more fully his divine potential.…

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046: Violet tells her story of returning home early due to depression and anxiety and then serving a service mission in the San Jose area 45:24

4 years ago45:24

45:24

Violet was born deaf and wears two cochlear implants. She served a mission to Washington D.C. speaking ASL. She came home early due to depression and anxiety after much consideration, prayer, and counseling with her mission president. She later served a service mission in her hometown area of San Jose. She shares with me her strong testimony and faith in God despite her trials (including the depression and anxiety that still plague her). She is a bright beacon of hope for anyone else struggling to know how to get through the dark night of depression. Finding Joy in Healing: Facebook Page and Instagram Page…

Early Homecoming: Insights from Missionaries who Returned Early

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045: Summer shares her story of returning home early from the MTC due to depression and anxiety 38:04

4 years ago38:04

38:04

After a period of inactivity, Summer returned to church and began receiving promptings and dreams about serving a mission. She followed these promptings, but upon entering the MTC she developed terrible anxiety, including panic attacks, and depression. Her mental health became so bad that her physical health began to decline as well. She returned home from the MTC feeling confused and defeated. She soon discovered the reason for her early return though when she was able to help a friend embrace the gospel. Summer also talks to me about how she hears the Spirit and how that has helped her make decisions in her life. She still struggles with depression and anxiety today and talks about what helps her through this ongoing trial.…

Early Homecoming: Insights from Missionaries who Returned Early

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044: Jake shares his story of growing up with cerebral palsy, becoming inactive, discovering himself as an LGBTQ+ individual, returning to church, serving a mission, and returning home early due to… 56:01

4 years ago56:01

56:01

Jake was born with cerebral palsy and as a result was often excluded from activities as a youth in the church. As a result of this exclusion, and a falling out with a friend, Jake became inactive during his later teen and young adult years. He is part of the LGBTQ+ community and identifies most closely as queer. While he was away from the Church, Jake had a close brush with suicide and felt the Spirit tell him to "come home." Jake contacted the missionaries who helped reignite his testimony and desire to come back to church. Shortly after coming back, Jake decided to serve a mission despite his physical limitations. While on his mission, Jake realized that there were things from his past that still needed to be cleared up, particularly related to homosexual immorality, and he opened up to his mission president. Jake was sent home, which he initially felt peace about, but upon returning home was treated in a way that led him into inactivity again. Jake is currently trying to find peace again with the Church, but in the meantime is also doing what he can to deepen his relationship with God and Jesus Christ. He shares with me his insightful perspective on church policies and discipline, as well as how being different in the Church can be extremely difficult. Jake is very open, raw, honest, and vulnerable in this interview and anyone would benefit from listening to his story. Jake's episode on Listen, Learn, and Love: https://soundcloud.com/user-818501778/episode-361-jake-berry-child-of-god-lds-cerebral-palsy-lgbtq…

Early Homecoming: Insights from Missionaries who Returned Early

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043: Kate returns home early due to emotional and physical abuse from companions 53:39

4 years ago53:39

53:39

Throughout her childhood, Kate was emotionally and physically abused by her father, and then later by her stepmother. While on her mission, Kate experienced anxiety and undiagnosed ADHD. These mental health struggles were not understood by her companions and they became exasperated with her and abused her emotionally and even physically as well. This re-traumatized Kate and brought up a lot of PTSD. She was given a sedative to calm her, but eventually things came to a head and she decided to go home. Upon returning, Kate felt "broken, undignified, and like a complete failure." She transitioned to a service mission shortly after returning home and the healing began. Her family also rescued a dog, which became an emotional support animal for Kate. During this episode, Kate shares how she has been able to turn negatives into positives her whole life, and this experience of returning home early from her mission is no exception.…

Early Homecoming: Insights from Missionaries who Returned Early

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042: Genisse's story of coming home early due to depression and anxiety and then returning to her mission 27:44

4 years ago27:44

27:44

Genisse is the first missionary I have spoken with who came home early due to mental health reasons and then returned to her mission. In this episode, she shares with me her journey of choosing to come home and then choosing to return which includes the ups and downs of therapy, moving forward with life during the 16 months she was home, keeping the desire to return to her mission alive, and going through the required process to return. She also shares what it was like to return to a mission, how she coped with her mental health upon her return, and what has happened in her life since then--including working on a book about this subject and owning a small business, all while still dealing with her depression and anxiety!…

Early Homecoming: Insights from Missionaries who Returned Early

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041: Pascal Friedmann shares his story of returning home early due to severe thyroid dysfunction 30:59

4 years ago30:59

30:59

In this episode, Pascal tells me his story about returning home early due to a prolonged illness that started about a month after he arrived in the field. It was misdiagnosed as depression and homesickness, but turned out to be severe thyroid dysfunction. Pascal shares how he was ostracized by many in his ward back home in Germany and how that led to a period of inactivity because he felt like he didn't belong. When he moved to Utah for school, he felt like he was able to start over with the church and found fellowship and understanding. Pascal also shares his story of conversion to the church and how his testimony helped him to stay in the church even when it was hard. He also tells me about the miracles that happened during this trial and shares wisdom he's gained for anyone going through something similar.…

Early Homecoming: Insights from Missionaries who Returned Early

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040: What is the "rest" of a mission like? 1:28:28

4 years ago1:28:28

1:28:28

There are so many questions that run through the mind of an early-returned missionary, not least of which is questions along the line of "What is the rest of a mission like? Specifically, what is the rest of a proselyting mission like?" To answer this question, and several others, I have invited five missionaries who completed the expected amount of time on their missions to come on the podcast and answer questions from those who needed to return home early. These are people I've talked to before, many times, about their missions, and I know they would give completely honest, sincere answers about what the "rest of a mission" is like--the good and the bad. Some suffered depression, anxiety, companion issues, etc. but for one reason or another were able to complete the intended amount of time. Some didn't struggle with anything serious at all, but like all missionaries, they each had mission experiences unique to them. This is a longer episode for this podcast, so the questions are time-stamped below. 1:32--Introductions 5:16--I was out during the pandemic. Can you tell me about the MTC and being out during normal times? Specifically, I never got to knock. What's that like? 11:54-- Does a mission get better? It was so hard to adjust. If it does, when? I was only in the field for 3 months. 17:03--Did you ever wish that you were sick so that you could have a day off? 19:56--How did you persevere through the depression? 32:17--What's it like to go on splits? 34:37--What is it like to train? 39:51--What's it like to do the cool things on a mission like whitewash, shotgun, etc.? 44:24--What is it like to have a leadership role? 51:28--Conversely, what's it like to go your whole mission without a leadership role? 57:40--Did you ever have a companion go home early? How did it affect you? 1:01:52--Did you ever seriously consider going home early? Can you share why? 1:04:42--Do you see early-returned missionaries differently? Would it change if that person were in your immediate friend group? 1:15:38--Why do those who complete the intended amount of time like to talk about their missions so much? 1:22:05--Do you want to serve a mission as a senior couple some day? 1:26:22--Kristen's final thoughts…

Early Homecoming: Insights from Missionaries who Returned Early

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039: JT shares his experience of returning home early due to depression 41:35

4 years ago41:35

41:35

JT had never experienced depression before his mission. He recalls being bullied in the MTC by his companions for six weeks before finding relief in the field before the depression got worse. He stopped feeling his emotions, had bad insomnia, and eventually suicidal thinking. Upon returning home, he felt like such a failure. He was very confused about what had happened to his mental health as he began to experience panic attacks. He saw a therapist which was helpful and also eventually got involved with Mission Fortify and became and early-returned missionary coach which helped his healing process immensely. Although JT isn't overly fond of talking about his mission today, he wouldn't change anything because he feels like it's made him better.…

Early Homecoming: Insights from Missionaries who Returned Early

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038: Richard Ostler, former YSA Bishop, shares what he has learned about helping those who feel marginalized in the Church 42:09

4 years ago42:09

42:09

In this podcast episode, Richard Ostler (host of the podcast Listen, Learn, and Love) shares what he has learned about helping those who feel marginalized in the Church, including early-returned missionaries. Richard has served in multiple leadership positions, including as a YSA bishop for three years. Richard is also the parent of an early-returned missionary (due to COVID and OCD Scrupulosity) and shares his experience of going through that trial with his son. In addition to these things, Richard also shares what is challenging about leadership positions, gives good advice to those who return home early, as well as to leaders, and lay church members. He emphasizes honoring personal revelation, utilizing the gift of the Atonement, and loving everyone--especially those we do not understand. And, he tells of his great love for millennials. This is an episode you won't want to miss! You can learn more about Richard and his podcast by going to papaostler.com or listenlearnandlove.org .…

Early Homecoming: Insights from Missionaries who Returned Early

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037: Synne returns home early due to perfectionism and self-harming and becomes the first service missionary in Norway and Sweden 53:39

4 years ago53:39

53:39

In this episode, Synne shares her story of returning home early from her mission in France due to perfectionism, anxiety, depression, and self-harming. She felt like she had failed Heavenly Father and was devastated. However, because of her desire to continue serving, Synne immediately requested to become a service missionary upon returning home, even though there had never been a service missionary in Norway before. Synne persisted despite this and with the help of her leaders, she became the first service missionary in Norway and Sweden! Listen to Synne's story if you want to feel inspired and uplifted about how to continue doing the Lord's work even when things don't go as planned.…

Early Homecoming: Insights from Missionaries who Returned Early

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036: Sarah shares her story of experiencing covert abuse from a companion and her dad while also returning home early for physical health reasons 47:56

4 years ago47:56

47:56

Sarah was sent home during the COVID-19 pandemic because of physical health problems. She begged her mission president to stay, but he was concerned she wouldn't get the help she needed if an emergency happened and so after 15 months in the field, she went home. At the time, she was also experiencing covert abuse from her companion which brought up a PTSD response of abuse she had experienced from her dad. In this episode, she discusses that abuse, the trauma it inflicted, and what she has learned by going through this trial.…

Early Homecoming: Insights from Missionaries who Returned Early

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035: Josie shares her story of coming home early after 15 months due to stress, anxiety, and panic attacks, and going through a faith crisis 40:51

4 years ago40:51

40:51

In this episode, Josie shares her story of coming home early after 15 months due to stress, anxiety, and panic attacks that increased in severity. Gospel activities triggered large amounts of anxiety for her, leaving her scared and confused, and she began to abandon the truths she had always held dear. The gospel began to fuel her anxiety rather than soothe it. Through this trial, Josie is better able to help others who question their faith or leave the Church. Her testimony is stronger for having gone through her faith crisis, but she understands what it's like to be on the margins of Church culture.…

Early Homecoming: Insights from Missionaries who Returned Early

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034: Tyler talks about his journey of intense anxiety, leaving the church, and returning to full activity 43:40

4 years ago43:40

43:40

Tyler came home early due to intense anxiety and panic attacks after serving in the Spokane Washington Mission for 3 months. He actually loved being out on his mission, but his mind would not let him be stable. The experience of returning home early challenged his relationship with God and he left the church for a short time. He tells me that it was easier to think that God wasn't real at all. He has since returned to full activity and he talks to me about what happened to get him to where he is now--happy and even more deeply committed to the Lord.…

Early Homecoming: Insights from Missionaries who Returned Early

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033: Ruby shares her story of extreme depression, self-harm, and suicidal thinking 53:58

4 years ago53:58

53:58

Ruby began struggling right from the get-go on her mission during at-at home MTC (due to COVID-19 restrictions). Her struggle soon turned into extreme depression and shortly after arriving in the field, she began to self-harm . She recalls feeling temporary relief upon cutting herself, but then felt guilt and like she wasn't worthy and had failed God and her assignment as a missionary by self-harming. The depression continued though and soon she found herself making a suicide plan. She was sent home and felt like there was something irreparably broken inside of her upon returning home early. She felt abandoned by God and seriously considered leaving the Church. Her suicidal thinking and planning continued too upon returning home. In this raw interview, Ruby shares her pain and struggles openly, but also discusses how she has continuously overcome the worst of her depression and why she wants to live even though the pain is still there. She also shares poignant testimony of why she has chosen to stay in the Church and how she has deepened her relationship with her Heavenly Parents through this trial. The video from the Church that Ruby referenced: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPhCJaBqh74 If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, there is help! National Suicide Prevention Lifeline--speak to someone immediately! 800-273-8255 OR Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a counselor…

Early Homecoming: Insights from Missionaries who Returned Early

1
032: Jacob shares his story of returning home early due to belated confession 33:49

4 years ago33:49

33:49

Jacob had always wanted to serve a mission, but due to some mistakes made before he left, he was unworthy to go. He lied to himself constantly to convince himself that he was okay, which led to him serving for 9 months before the guilt became too much and he had a powerful experience that helped him to seek repentance. Upon returning home, he intended to repent and return to his mission, but life began happening again and he soon found himself committing the same sins. It wasn't until after a few more turning points that Jacob was finally able to forsake his sins, fully repent, and eventually return to his mission.…

Early Homecoming: Insights from Missionaries who Returned Early

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031: Elizabeth discusses returning home early due to OCD Scrupulosity and creating BeyondMyBadge.org 40:12

5 years ago40:12