Week 52: 52 Weeks Later

 Week 52: 8/18/2025

52 weeks as a missionary, that's a year. Woah. 

That means it's been a year since I've seen all of you. I miss you. Please send me an email telling me how you're doing!

Spiritual Thought:  

One year on a mission is a wonderfully long time. 

A figurative start to a new year has left me contemplative. As Elder Holland said, “The start of a new year is the traditional time to take stock of our lives and see where we are going, measured against the backdrop of where we have been.”

I have changed a lot, but I am grateful that one year really is a wonderfully long time. There is so, so much I must do in this next year to become the person I want to be and the missionary I feel God needs me to be. 

Reflecting on this year, I realized that I've never been closer to Jesus Christ. 

I've never felt so happy before, and I wholeheartedly believe that it’s because Jesus Christ is becoming the most important thing in my life. 

Some people say a mission is hard because of everything you leave behind. Everything you give up. All that you cannot do. But I've realized it's not. 

I was given the choice between the Savior and the World. And for the past year, I've tried to always choose the Savior, and in so doing, I've gained a treasure greater than even the world. 

I've seen the literal fulfillment of the promise, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Mathew 6:33

The best decision I ever made was to give up something I loved for the God I love even more. And He has never forgotten me for it.

But it's not really giving up anything. Because in following Jesus Christ, I’ve gained so much more than I ever could have ever imagined. 

Short Version of Email: District P-Day at a member's lakeside cabin. Blueberry pies, service for crazy ladies. Playing piano in primary, a good split with lots of lessons yay. 

 Finnish Word of the Week:    “Isomahainen” means potbellied, but literally means big belly. 

5 Amazing Things This Week:

1: District P-Day in Mikeli was lovely. We went to a member's lakeside summer cottage. It was beautiful. Such nice weather and so peaceful. District council before was so fun as well. We made homemade pizzas. 

(I’m totally blinking in this -oops) 

2: We did service for a slightly crazy lady, which involved building furniture and moving existing furniture around. The catch was that inside this lady's house, there was already more furniture than could have possibly reasonably fit. We could hardly walk much less move more new furniture in. It was a good companion unity exercise. 

3: We were given some blueberries from members, and I made a yummy blueberry crisp. 

4: Splits in Kouvola. We filled our time with lessons and taught 5. Crazy that they all worked out and were productive. We also did some service for an old lady who fed us afterwards. So many shenanigans happened at that dinner table it was rather remarkable. 

5:  I played piano for the primary (1 kid who was visiting), but it was fun! I found my life church calling. 

Tender Mercy of the Week:

Our recent convert got the Aaronic priesthood this Sunday, which was the cause of much rejoicing amongst the branch members. He was interviewed by the Bishop, but we thought he didn't pass the interview all this week so we were pleasantly surprised when his name was announced in church on Sunday and he was sustained. Now the branch has enough priesthood holders to administer the sacrament without missionaries! 

Where I am/Who I'm With: I am serving in Kouvola. My companion is Elder Richmond.

Scripture of the Week:  1 Samuel 16:7

7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. 

 My thoughts:  One of my favorite gems of the Old Testament. I often find myself making judgments based on the outward appearance of people, but this was a good reminder that there is always more to a person than we realize. To look upon the heart helps me to have charity for all people. 

Talk of the Week:  

“Thou Shalt be Nice” - Hank Smith

My Thoughts: 

I love everything about this speech. If I could make a life goal, it would be to live by the Laura Larson Challenge because I think it's how Christ would have lived. 

Send me an email if you have any advice about life or how to make a year really count. I'd love to hear it! 

 -Elder Balls

Brother and Sister Balls 19 August 2025

12841 S Ashton Brook Lane

Draper, UT 84020

United States

Dear Brother and Sister Balls,

One of the greatest blessings I have as Mission President is to write parents to tell them about their

amazing sons and daughters who are serving the Finnish people with such dedication and

distinction. I am certain that you have already noticed that Elder Balls has reached his one-year

mark as a missionary. It is a significant milestone to have been completely dedicated to the Lord in

His full-time service for a full year. Sister Lehtinen and I are pleased to inform you that your son is

progressing well in truly becoming a converted disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ during his time

here in Finland.

This past year we have seen a continued increase in the spirituality and success of the Mission as a

whole. The missionaries, including your son, are beautifully devoted in assisting the Lord as He

hastens the work of salvation. The missionaries consistently and faithfully invite the Finnish people

to come unto Christ. More importantly, they speak and teach with the Spirit and with love. Miracles

of conversion are happening virtually every week all over the country, with future Church leaders

joining the Church or being reactivated.

This year, your son worked in Lappeenranta, Tampere, and Kouvola and served in the positions of

Junior and Senior Companion. Wherever he has gone, he has ministered faithfully and has truly

strengthened the Church in this wonderful land. We are grateful for Elder Balls’s dedicated service,

and that he has been willing to fulfill any task with a spirit of love, with a humble willingness to do

the Father’s will, to do so under the direction and influence of the Spirit, and with dedication, hard

work, and a commitment to doing his best.

We thank you for your dedication in raising such a fine son and for your continued love and

support. May the Lord bless you and your loved ones as we all strive to do the Lord’s work together

throughout the world.

Yours truly,

Juha Lehtinen

President, Finland Helsinki Mission

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints