1-1-2018 - Very Blessed (Week of Christmas)

Mail:

Elder Carson Lewis Junk

Washington DC South Mission

5242 Lyngate Court

Burke, VA 22015

From: Carson Lewis Junk [mailto:carson.junk@myldsmail.net]
Sent: Monday, January 1, 2018 1:28 PM
To: Kathy Junk
Subject: Very Blessed (Week of Christmas)

Hello everyone! I am going to give you a quick update of last week pertaining to Christmas and how incredible it truly was! I hope you all had a great Christmas and enjoyed it spent with family and friends! It was a little bit different being out here on the mission, nonetheless it was great and I felt very blessed after skyping my family.

Monday and Tuesday before Christmas were a little slow as I was still recovering from being sick. Wednesday, I was feeling back at a hundred percent and had the great opportunity to go on exchanges with Elder DeSchepper, the Spanish District Leader. He came out with me but has 3 weeks on me with him being in The Mexico MTC a little bit longer. He's from Temecula, California and is a big Skater and Surfer. He went to BYU Idaho for a year and then came out! I really love him and we had a great time. It's always fun trying to use some of my broken Spanish skills and I always realize how little I know and how much I respect everyone who learns the languages out in the mission!

Thursday, we had a great day. Brother and Sister Michaelis had us and Sheca Lovett over for dinner as well as a recent convert who moved into our ward. We had a great lesson with Sheca. The recent convert Isatu also gave a a great testimony of her baptism and conversion into the church.  I truly felt the spirit and closeness for us as members of Jesus Christ's church on the earth today and Sheca was very excited and ready to be baptized. 

Saturday was the best day of the mission as I had the wonderful opportunity to baptize Sheca. The water was a little bit chilly but the experience was very humbling. Sheca bore her testimony after the baptism and testified strongly about The Book of Mormon. What she said was perfect. She said that she has a lot to learn and is continuing her journey back to Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, but that she knew that what she was doing was correct and was a step closer. Although she says she has a lot to learn, she said she couldn't deny the feelings and the receptiveness she felt to the Holy Ghost testifying of the truth and how she had prepared herself for the church. It was so awesome.

Sunday, was well spent. Elder Miller did a great job confirming Sister Sheca Lovett and on top of it, it was a combined meeting with the Quantico Ward. Lots of people were there supporting her and it was a great meeting. We got to spend some of the night with The Brown family. It was great spending Christmas eve with them and felt like they were second family to me. 

Monday, was an emotional time. Unfortunately, Elder Miller got under the weather during Christmas. Luckily I still had the opportunity to Skype the family. I broke down right when I saw them but it was great. It felt like a blur and went by a little too fast for my liking, but I truly felt so blessed to have the family that I do and for the love I felt.  I am even more blessed to be on a mission serving Jesus Christ. I love you all so much and appreciate your love and support to me.

(Mom's note:  he neglects to say he had to stay in the apartment all Christmas day since his companion was very sick in bed.  He told me that after the Skype call: "Christmas was a little bit lonely but I ended up opening all my presents, built the Lego set you sent, caught up in my journal, tried on all my clothes and different socks and lounged around in them, started a tape for you, read our family favorite 'Why the Chimes Rang' and started writing some thank yous all while listening to some good Christmas music!")

I leave you with some of my favorite scriptures in The New Testament as we celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ. Matthew 10-13

                                    10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

                                    11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

                                    12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

                                    13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

I love that our Savior ate with those who were in need and reached out to those who needed him the most. It's always been humbling to me to see the Saviors example of humility towards others. He truly is the Savior and Master and I am blessed to be a part of his great church on this earth today. I'd invite you to reach out to those who need the most love and service this season. I love you all. 

Elder Junk