This is Ashley Stone and you're listening to the Comeback Podcast.

If you listen to the comeback podcast frequently you know that we usually don't have

episodes that are not come back stories.

Typically the episodes that we have are stories of people who have gone through addiction

or faith crisis, some similar life challenge that has eventually brought them back to the church.

Alina's story, it's not a comeback story, but I found it so inspiring how she was so passionate

about her mission and how going home early from her mission was such a trial for her and how she found healing from that trial.

I just wanted to preface this episode by saying this is not a comeback story however every once in a while we just feel

inspired to share stories that are not come back stories I hope you enjoy Elena's story

she's such a special person and we're super excited to have her on the

podcast. Well it's so good to have you on the podcast. I know that you've kind of shared your story on a couple

other places like on Saints and

scripted and I'm excited to hear the the firsthand version of your story.

I am excited to be here. I am shaking.

So why don't we go ahead and just jump in?

Let's talk about kind of where it all started.

So my story kind of starts in 2017, really, but before that I grew up in the church.

I'm the second oldest to my family.

We did a lot of foster care and a lot of exchange students, so our home was always open to other people and we adopted my younger sister

Josie and we got sealed in the temple and ever since all of that experience and being

young I have always wanted to serve a mission. My dad served a mission in Canada,

and he always shared stories of his experiences, and I loved watching the best two years on repeat. I just always wanted to be a missionary.

...