1-8-2018 - Algonkian

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 8, 2018 3:58 PM
To: Kathy Junk
Subject: Algonkian

First off, shout-out to Christian and getting ready to finish his chemo! I love you brother, thank you for the great strength, faith, and example!

It has been an incredible, great last week here in Woodbridge 1st. I am getting transferred and man am I going to miss this area and Elder Miller but I'm excited for the new opportunity ahead of me. The 6 months has been well spent here and I have learned so much. I am getting transferred over in Sterling to the 'Algonkian Ward'. A lot of people aren't familiar with Algonkian but it is right off of Sterling and borders Maryland and is just separated by the Potomac River. I have been called to be the District Leader as well. I'm super nervous but very excited! My companions name is Elder Jacobs and he has been out for 3 months and just finished being trained. We are on bike and I'm tackling that again so my dream of gaining weight is still not in grasp....yet. In other good news, my knees have been hurting me a little bit lately and I'm taking that as a familiar sign that I will be growing this transfer...In all seriousness and to stop trying to be funny, I'm going to miss the incredible people, ward, and diversity here in Woodbridge. It has been an amazing 6 months here but I am very excited for the new opportunity ahead of me and being able to serve in Algonkian! I have a new sense of urgency to do the Lord's work and a different kind of motivation going into a new area, new routine and new opportunities. 

It has been a crazy last week - to say the least. I went on exchanges Wednesday with Elder Sorenson the Spanish Elder in my area. He came out 3 weeks after me and is an awesome missionary. He's from Riverton, Utah and loves basketball. We had a great time and a great day set up for us. Samuel Saidu, the recent convert who I sent some pictures of in some of my first week's in the mission (He's from Sierra Leone and he went to some lessons with us) visited before he heads off to BYU, Idaho. He's a great example of a hard working man. He originally came here on a visa and was paid through his Catholic church back home. After 3 weeks in the states he requested to meet with missionaries and was baptized. Being LDS, he was no longer paid to stay in the states and work. He then got a job and worked in Pennsylvania to make money to pay for BYU, Idaho and now he has made it! It was great seeing and visiting him again. In the morning it was Elder Sorenson's birthday and we made some breakfast and celebrated. Then we got a text message that we weren't able to go out for the day because of snow, cold temperatures, and extreme wind. THEN we got proseltying limited from 12-7 from Friday until Sunday so it was crazy. In that time I delved into The Book of Mormon and I have 10 pages left. I have loved reading The Book of Mormon and gaining so much more insight while reading it. 

Friday was CRAZY. Brother Byron Brown took Elder Miller and me out to lunch at 'The Old Country Buffet'. About 10 minutes into eating a 75 year old man named Bob came and pulled up a chair next to us 3. He recited a scripture in Mormon Chapter 8 and referred to faith and grace and said he knew some Mormons. We started a conversation and we asked him about his beliefs. We talked back and forth for about a half hour talking about what we believed. It began peacefully, then escalated quickly. Bob is basically a nomad Christian and goes around different churches and gets kicked out of them speaking "the truth" . He said we weren't Christians and we were going to Hell. I tried to be as respectful as I could to this 75 year old man but I was holding my ground and standing firm in my testimony. He said some pretty bizarre things and eventually just led into Bible Bashing and attacking our religion. The poor fellow was in for a treat and was surprised how well I knew the Bible in particular. Brother Brown backed us up well. He knows his bible like the back of his hand, he also bore powerful testimony of The Book of Mormon and The first vision. He also talked about The Scattering of Israel and The Priesthood authority.  It was so awesome! 

After about an hour and a half Bob then said that the world will end on May 21st (mark his words). The conclusion of this bash was some sad stuff. We talked about the after life and Bob had some strong opinions about Heaven and Hell. He said he has been happily married to his wife for 50 years but that she was straight up going to Hell because she doesn't read the Bible. Now I don't like that belief so it really made me realize how thankful I am for the Plan of Salvation and the knowledge I have to know that families can be together forever.  Also that there is another chance for those to hear the Gospel that didn't have the opportunity and that it isn't just a straight shot to Hell. I am rambling on, but I have to finish the story. Elder Miller pulled out a picture of Jesus and Bob said, "That's your depiction of Jesus?... I'll let you in on a secret...Jesus isn't that handsome." Brother Brown jumps in and says, "Well then does he look like you?" I about died on the floor because that is just Brother Brown's personality to joke with people.  Then Brother Brown finished and invited him out to Stake Conference on Sunday and said he was going to pray for him. We shook hands and were on our way. I didn't even get to eat much but hey, learned a lot. 

Woodbridge Stake Conference was on Sunday and it was an incredible meeting. We had Elder Vern P. Stanfill of the 70 come and give an excellent talk. He mentioned the passing of Thomas S, Monson but was very hopeful. He said it was his time and the Lord knows what he is doing. He bore a strong testimony about the Lord having a perfect and infallible plan and that President Russell M. Nelson has been prepared by the Lord to become the next prophet. It was awesome. Another thing he said that I really liked was simple: DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF.  We must focus on The Savior and gospel of Jesus Christ. Don't worry so much about the worldly things. Great talk. Towards the end of the meeting - and you won't believe it, Bob the Basher comes and sits right next to us. He came to the last 45 minutes of the meeting. While leaving he gave me a huge package of material. He said, and I quote, "None of it is anti-Mormon material". I got home and took a look, and it was stacks of paper ALL anti-mormon material. Lol. what a funny man. 

I love you all, sorry for the long email. It has been a crazy day this so this is about the only email I will write today. I have been packing, played basketball, got a haircut, and just did some stuff around the apartment. I am going to go say goodbye to some members tonight then I am off! It has been amazing here in Woodbridge. On to a new beginning. I hope you all know this Gospel is true and I love being a missionary. Please do your best at focusing on the Savior versus materialistic things, and please know that I love all of you and am continuing to seek what's good. The mission is amazing. 

Love,

Elder Hoodbridge Junk 

The District at Stake Conference

Elder Sorenson and I with THE MAN Samuel Faraday Saidu

The beautiful "Bayside" by Veterans Park. Frozen Potomac River in the background

On Friday (December 29th)  we had a designated time to clean out old "junk" out of the apartments. Of course I had to jump in the photo because I'm Junk...... Okay bad joke

Package from The gang - December 31st

My New Year's Resolutions/Goals