8-7-2017 - Cat Sitting

From: Carson Lewis Junk [mailto:carson.junk@myldsmail.net]
Sent: Monday, August 7, 2017 2:04 PM
To: Kathy Junk
Subject:

Group Email

Well this week has been an interesting and another eventful one. Full of heat, humidity, rain, sunshine, people trying to Bible bash, investigators, tracting and knocking doors, and an odd assignment of babysitting 6 cats and so much more! All apart of the amazing missionary experience here.  I would first like to start off by saying my concept of time is absolutely bizerk right now on the mission. I have been out for over a month now. It feels like I am a veteran and have been out here for way longer than a mere month. But at the same time it seems to have gone by fast and P-Day couldn't have been a week ago. It's just so weird, the memory of dropping me off at the MTC seems like ages ago. On the flip side, I now hear about all my friends about to leave on their missions and it seemed like they had an eternity time before they were to head out but their time has come! Once school starts for all the people back home,  my mind will be absolutely blown. Sorry for the weird contradicting thoughts and none of that probably made sense, but trust me it does to me and it is such a weird feeling.  

Countless times this week I would wake up at 4 and then couldn't fall back asleep. So the mornings have been a struggle. I have been studying the plan of salvation a lot and have noted scriptures in the Bible and book of Mormon all talking about the plan. It is honestly my favorite doctrine and I can't wait to teach a lesson on it. We have done a lot of different methods of contacting this week. We specifically have been reaching out to literally everyone in the area book calling them and leaving messages. Also, lots and lots of tracting. Which was good,  it finally gave me experience on the door to door approaches. I have a lot to learn especially when people say I am not interested, instead of just saying "oh okay."  I need to focus on building there faith and having them come closer to Christ and not be afraid to still talk to them about similar views. That is the whole purpose I am out here! 

We were riding back from tracting one night and we were close by the house and suddenly my bike exploded. The gear shifter or "derailer" broke off and the chain went flying. That was kind of disappointing but I wasn't too mad about the bike because it had 500 dollars put into it previously by the missionary before me and I only have to pay for the repairs. It just left Elder Roper and I on foot the rest of the time until it gets fixed. 

We taught 3 lessons in one day. My first three lessons of the mission and we ended up handing out three books of Mormon. We taught Aaron a 17 year old the restoration and gave him a book of Mormon he seems pretty interested. It would be hard for a 17 year old senior to be interested in lessons and take time out of his summer but he did! Our next investigator who I think is the most solid is named Claire. We had an awesome lesson. She asked questions and gave us a return appointment. She attends a Pentecostal church but said are views on Jesus Christ are very similar and she wants to learn more. Awesome stuff. Our last appointment was with this Muslim guy named Alli. It was a really good lesson on the restoration but he is just stuck on the prophet Muhammed being the last prophet. Other than that he believes everything we have said is true. He dropped the F bomb at least 10 times and it was pretty funny. But overall a very friendly and smart guy who wants to find out our truth and what we teach!

Whatever reason our smoke detector alarm has been acting up a lot lately. It decided to act up at 4 in the morning (surprise that I was up at that time again)That was rough and it scared the crap out of us. We opened windows and circulated air in the room just in case it was carbon dioxide but turned out the batteries were just dead. We weren't taking any chances on dying though ha ha. I just can't seem to get a good break on sleep. Elder Roper had to go to the urgent care. So we were picked up by Elder Saxton and Elder Clark, The Dale City elders. I love those guys and they are super funny, they always hook it up and give us rides everywhere. We had a nice lunch with them at Arby's and talked all about the funny experiences out here in the mission. Elder Roper was deemed officially pneumonia free by the doctors which is good news!

Elder Roper and I got suited up and all ready for the temple on Friday. That's RIGHT, the Washington, D.C temple!! I was so pumped. A senior missionary, Elder Riding took us and drove us there. First of all what a sweet guy. Him and his wife work for the military relations where they plan family home evenings and do all sorts of different work for the people in the military who want to become chiefs and higher rankings in the military. This is his second mission with his wife. He had some phone calls and business to take care of and wasn't even coming in the temple with us, but still devoted 7 hours to getting us there! He took us to Subway and paid for our meals. The Washington DC traffic was pretty bad, a 40 minute drive took us 2 hours to get there. Elder Roper's last ward, Prince William was there. One of his recent converts who he confirmed was going to the temple for the first time! So that's why we were able to go. Funny thing, his name is Andre and he is super super cool. His family is Catholic but he is fully devoted to his views and the LDS church! He's the same age as me and has started college classes. Elder Roper and I got to do confirmations in the temple for about an hour and a half. Sweet thing was Elder Roper confirmed Andre when he got baptized. He also got to confirm him after he did baptisms for the dead. Hearing experiences like that and seeing someone he taught personally make it that far gets me super pumped! I love the temple, specifically that one. It felt so dang good to be back there. The outside is beautiful and the inside is just as incredible. I will so have another opportunity.

Like I said, this week has been full of what I call "house keeping" we've been cleaning up this area and trying to find out who everyone is and see who is interested and who isn't about our message. It's been successful and keeps Elder Roper and I busy. I look forward to next week. We had a challenge of getting as many investigators as we could this week through the Book of Mormon. We got 7 which is awesome and look forward to talking to them more but getting more next week. I've been feeling a little bit angry and down on myself when people don't want to listen to us. For example a man saw us and started making signs like slashing of his neck and said that his dog would attack and bite us when we were barely walking to his door. Just random stuff like that and people being weird but I need to realize it's not my fault and I need to keep doing my best because that's all I can do! I find when I focus on getting lost in the work everything works out! Love and miss you all. Hope everything is great.

Ps we are going on exchanges tomorrow and I am going with a Spanish elder to his area. I will be listening to people speak Spanish all day. I'm pumped but won't be able to say anything. Be careful what you wish for ladies and gents! 

Pps we have been instructed by a family to take care of 6 of their cats and 1 dog. A Pretty sweet quest. They have an epic family picture with them and their cats. Love it! 

Love, 

Elder Junk

 WASHINGTON D.C. TEMPLE