So my time should end on Monday. We unfortunately did not get our visas like we thought we would but hopefully they will have them on Thursday. The other three Elders in my district landed in the Netherlands on Monday. I cant believe they are already out!! We're next. I found Elder Shephard I think. You have been emailing his mom he is going to the west indies french speaking. It was really cool to see him. Its crazy to think i left two months ago today. I have been in the MTC for 9 weeks. And hopefully i dont have to spend too many more here. I might go crazy. But other than that. Things are great. Elder Jeffery R. Holland came and spoke to us last night. It was absolutely amazing to hear from an apostle of the Lord. The spirit he brought into the room was overpowering. He truly is an amazing man. A man of God.
Elder Sadler and i have our room back now! We had an injured elder in our room and he had knee surgery yesterday! 9 hours in a hospital waiting room for me. It was sad to see him go... He was bummed.. But i think it will be better for his recovery.
Dad sent me a picture in the mail today. I was 11 yrs old. And i noticed just how big my teeth were. I am gald that i finally grew into them.
So Kevin and i are the last brothers to remain in the MTC. Brent left on monday. He has been in Chile for almost two days. I cant believe it. Its crazy... Im next.
Send my love to the Family!! Till next week my dear mama! I Love you.
Love Mason
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Getting Ready to Leave the MTC
So I got my travel plans!!! And that means there's a very good chance that I have my visa! I'm going to Suriname! I leave on a bus at 5 a.m. on the 5th of September to drive to the airport. My first flight is from SLC to Dallas, then Dallas to Miami, and Miami to Port of Spain, Trinidad. I should land there around 11:05 pm.
I'll be in Trinidad for a few days. THEN IT IS OFF TO SURINAME! I can't wait! Please let everyone know, and send me everyones cell numbers so I can call them from the airports.
I love you Mama! Your boy is Suriname bound!
Jezus Christus staat central in God's plan.
Ik ben go de volgende maandag naar Suriname gaan.
Ik find mijn moeder heel mool.
Love,
Mason
*If mailing Mason anything to the MTC please make sure it will get there before Sept 5th, as he will no longer be there to receive it*
I'll be in Trinidad for a few days. THEN IT IS OFF TO SURINAME! I can't wait! Please let everyone know, and send me everyones cell numbers so I can call them from the airports.
I love you Mama! Your boy is Suriname bound!
Jezus Christus staat central in God's plan.
Ik ben go de volgende maandag naar Suriname gaan.
Ik find mijn moeder heel mool.
Love,
Mason
*If mailing Mason anything to the MTC please make sure it will get there before Sept 5th, as he will no longer be there to receive it*
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Letter from August 17, 2011
Hallo!!! Hoe gaat het met u??? Hopalijk alles is goed!!
My week has been good this week. Im sure you are getting sick of my emails, because they are the same thing week in and week out but not too much changes here in the good old MTC. We had a really good talk given to us by Elder Heet on Tuesday and about the gifts of God. He brought up an interesting point that I have never thought about before. He said that everything we receieve on our missions is a gift from God. Every prompt, every investigator, and every baptism. Nothing is because of us, and without the Lord we would be nothing. He told us this, " Elders and Sisters I want you to do absolutely everything that you can in the field, work as hard as you can to help guide others to Christ and after you have done this. After you done everything that you can expect nothing in return". It is when we do that we ask ourselves two harmful questions. 1. Am I good enough? 2. Why was my investigators so hard? The baptims we receive are gifts of both agency and God's power. And I thought to myself that if I can bring just one soul unto Christ. If I can help one person live a better life by living this wonderful gospeI i will be successful as a missionary. But hopefully I can help many more. But other than that not much is different, except maybe me. One of our teachers is getting married on Saturday. So this Friday will be the last time Elder VanRij, Mortensen,and Kunz will see him before they head out on their missions. It'll be a sad day when that happens. I've been reading the New Testament lately it is beautiful. The things Jesus taught, the miracles he was able to perform were amazing. I love the bible. But anyway i LOVE you my sweet mama!! Never forget that.
Love your Elder,
Mason
My week has been good this week. Im sure you are getting sick of my emails, because they are the same thing week in and week out but not too much changes here in the good old MTC. We had a really good talk given to us by Elder Heet on Tuesday and about the gifts of God. He brought up an interesting point that I have never thought about before. He said that everything we receieve on our missions is a gift from God. Every prompt, every investigator, and every baptism. Nothing is because of us, and without the Lord we would be nothing. He told us this, " Elders and Sisters I want you to do absolutely everything that you can in the field, work as hard as you can to help guide others to Christ and after you have done this. After you done everything that you can expect nothing in return". It is when we do that we ask ourselves two harmful questions. 1. Am I good enough? 2. Why was my investigators so hard? The baptims we receive are gifts of both agency and God's power. And I thought to myself that if I can bring just one soul unto Christ. If I can help one person live a better life by living this wonderful gospeI i will be successful as a missionary. But hopefully I can help many more. But other than that not much is different, except maybe me. One of our teachers is getting married on Saturday. So this Friday will be the last time Elder VanRij, Mortensen,and Kunz will see him before they head out on their missions. It'll be a sad day when that happens. I've been reading the New Testament lately it is beautiful. The things Jesus taught, the miracles he was able to perform were amazing. I love the bible. But anyway i LOVE you my sweet mama!! Never forget that.
Love your Elder,
Mason
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Email from August 10, 2011
Hoe gaat het met u?
Well I am now starting my 7th week in the MTC. Only 2 1/2 more to go until I am out of here. I am so excited, but I have loved my time here. I have
grown and learned so much.
I had a cool learning experience during the devotional last night. A member of the 70 gave a talk of an experience he had while serving as a mission president. He talked about a women who worked at a small deli in the heart of her city. And every couple of days the missionaries would stop by and purchase a drink or a treat. And she soon became interested in them. Also she had been talking to one of her friends who was a member, they had been talking about a book called the Book of Mormon. So this woman finally built up the courage to go and speak with the missionaries. So one day they stopped by the deli made a purchase and left, the woman hung up he apron and followed them. But when she was following them she overheard them talking about a woman in a way that wasn't appropriate for anyone to talk about a woman. And she turned around and didn't talk to them and he wasn't sure if she ever tried again. It was just an eye opening experience that as missionaries we are being watched 24/7 regardless of time or location. People notice the things that we say and do, and it not only has an impact on how they view us and our message, but it also has a positive or negative impact on the church. As missionaries we are the face of the church. And we need to act accordingly.
So we get 30 new missionaries in our zone this week. 8 new Dutch elders too!! I'm pretty excited! Its weird to think that we are already at this point. It seems like only yesterday I was entering the MTC. Time is flying by. I don't have much to report today. Tell Kaiah that I love her and that her art is hanging up on my wall!! I love you!! Sorry this one was short!! Ik houd van jullie!!!
Elder Garcia!
Well I am now starting my 7th week in the MTC. Only 2 1/2 more to go until I am out of here. I am so excited, but I have loved my time here. I have
grown and learned so much.
I had a cool learning experience during the devotional last night. A member of the 70 gave a talk of an experience he had while serving as a mission president. He talked about a women who worked at a small deli in the heart of her city. And every couple of days the missionaries would stop by and purchase a drink or a treat. And she soon became interested in them. Also she had been talking to one of her friends who was a member, they had been talking about a book called the Book of Mormon. So this woman finally built up the courage to go and speak with the missionaries. So one day they stopped by the deli made a purchase and left, the woman hung up he apron and followed them. But when she was following them she overheard them talking about a woman in a way that wasn't appropriate for anyone to talk about a woman. And she turned around and didn't talk to them and he wasn't sure if she ever tried again. It was just an eye opening experience that as missionaries we are being watched 24/7 regardless of time or location. People notice the things that we say and do, and it not only has an impact on how they view us and our message, but it also has a positive or negative impact on the church. As missionaries we are the face of the church. And we need to act accordingly.
So we get 30 new missionaries in our zone this week. 8 new Dutch elders too!! I'm pretty excited! Its weird to think that we are already at this point. It seems like only yesterday I was entering the MTC. Time is flying by. I don't have much to report today. Tell Kaiah that I love her and that her art is hanging up on my wall!! I love you!! Sorry this one was short!! Ik houd van jullie!!!
Elder Garcia!
Email from August 2, 2011
So another week has come and gone. It's crazy to think that I have been out for 5 weeks...I only have 3 1/2 left!!! I am going to Suriname!!! I had a really good week. I finished the Book of Mormon yesterday! It was a great spiritual experience to have finally done that!!
James left for Russia yesterday. Espen leaves on Monday. It's crazy that all my buddies are starting to leave.
I don't have much to report this week, so sorry this is so short. Anyway, things are going well with Elder Sadler. A lot better than before. I am the new District Leader and things are going well! I love studying now! I love learning the language and Dutch is starting to click. My vocabulary still needs a little work but that will come. My teacher told me something pretty cool yesterday! He said, "you come to the MTC to learn about the gospel and to learn how to teach. You just happen to be learning to do those things in another language." I know the language will come...And if I just continue to do what I'm supposed to do the Lord will bless me. I had an awesome time at the temple this morning! I love the peace that is in the temple.
I'm sorry I don't have more to say! This week has been kind of a blur!
I LOVE mail more now than I ever have or ever will in my entire life!!
Ik houd van u! Met all mijn hart!
Love,
Elder Mason Garcia
James left for Russia yesterday. Espen leaves on Monday. It's crazy that all my buddies are starting to leave.
I don't have much to report this week, so sorry this is so short. Anyway, things are going well with Elder Sadler. A lot better than before. I am the new District Leader and things are going well! I love studying now! I love learning the language and Dutch is starting to click. My vocabulary still needs a little work but that will come. My teacher told me something pretty cool yesterday! He said, "you come to the MTC to learn about the gospel and to learn how to teach. You just happen to be learning to do those things in another language." I know the language will come...And if I just continue to do what I'm supposed to do the Lord will bless me. I had an awesome time at the temple this morning! I love the peace that is in the temple.
I'm sorry I don't have more to say! This week has been kind of a blur!
I LOVE mail more now than I ever have or ever will in my entire life!!
Ik houd van u! Met all mijn hart!
Love,
Elder Mason Garcia
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