Letter from 6/3/13

So I'll start off with transfers, Elder J is heading back to Wanica where he started his mission. He is excited. As am I for him. He is a great missionary and it has been such a pleasure to serve with him. Elder G went home yesterday we were up till 6 in the morning driving him to the airport. He was a great missionary and a blessing and example in my life. I will be staying in Kwatta. I am still the ZL and I will be training the new ZL, Elder N. He has been out for about 8 months. He is a great kid and I am excited to serve with him.

     The Mason discovery is going well. I have learned so much this week. Things that I like, things that I love and things that I need to do better. I am so thankful for the spirit and what he has taught me. But as you said looking back I have learned so much and have been able to sanctify many things in my life and become a better person. A more faithful Latter-day Saint, priesthood holder and a truer disciple of Jesus Christ.

I want to share an experience with you that took place yesterday in priesthood meeting. R is our most recent convert. He is 13 years old and was ordained to the office of deacon yesterday afternoon. But how it took place was truly a miracle. As we have taught R and his mother the entire family has become more active. They have felt the spirit and have seen so much change. R asked his grandfather to ordain him, but his grandpa has many physical limitations that do not allow him to stand for walk for long periods of time. But he was determined to help his grandson. So as we practiced the words together, we came to the conclusion that i would support some of his body weight, so that he could stand long enough to give the blessing. And as we stood in a circle around this young boy, our right hands on his head, and my left around his waist, we began to speak. And as the words became to come, he began to cry. As he sobbed with his hands upon his grandsons head, i felt the spirit of the Lord so strongly. It was truly a special experience that I will remember all of my life.......
Life is great!! I am looking forward to the miracles to come!! 

Love,

Elder Garcia 

Letter from 5/20/13

How are you?? I am short on time today so I will have to keep it short, however I would like to share one thing that touched my heart today.. President Gamiette was back in SU this past week and he spoke at a fireside and he talked about what he learned from the 12 as he was being trained as a new 70. He talked about prayer, and how we must learn to TALK with our heavenly papa! He never knew his dad, but expressed such a great gratitude for the love and guidance that he had received from his Heavenly Father. He learned to talk with him and understand what he desires of him and it has enriched his life. I am applying the principle in my life and as i talk with my papa in the heavens, I feel of his love and know he cares. I hope we are all doing this.. IWe are loving life!!

Love,

Elder Garcia

Newspaper Article

This picture is taken from a local newspaper (Dated:  11-May-2013) in which an article -  "In this world, Not of it" - was published about the church.  

Letter from 5/6/13

I have time to give you a quick update... This past week was my last zone conference... I can not believe how fast the time is flying... It scares me a bit.... I had the opportunity together with the other departing Elders to bare my testimony. And as i stood in front of the other Elders, i now understand, why i came out on my mission. I now understand why dad always pestering me and encouraging me to go on a mission. I discovered a testimony on Thursday that i have slowly developed over the past 23 months.. I felt the pure love of My Savior and i testified of Him. And as my father in Heaven communicated with me spirit to spirit, i knew and now know that He witnessed unto me that this is His work. I know with out a doubt and i can now stand on my own spiritual 2 legs and testify that this is the Lord's work

Letter from 4/18/2013

How are you?? It was wonderful to hear from you and to hear how things are going back home!! We had a good week!! We have 2 investigators that will be baptized this coming Saturday. D.A. and M.S. They are both sweethearts and have really progressed in the gospel.. It has been interesting to see the Lord bless our daily work and bring to pass miracles in our area...

 Elder F, my trainer, will be going home this week.. I had the opportunity to go on an exchange with him for the last time this past week... And he taught me something very profound that would love to share with you. We went to teach a Jehovah's witness together.. I do not know if you know much about them, but they are know for being very devout members of their faith. They tract door to door and are often times very argumentative.. His name was N, and he is wonderful, kind and open to learn the truth... Our purpose going in was to show him in the bible where in said that Jehovah was Jesus Christ, because we as latter day saints know that He is. And then invite him to study it out for himself and pray to know if it is true. And as we opened it was going well, but i drifted from our plan and began to butt heads with him a bit... And no longer knowing what to say, i looked at Elder F and he simply said, mogen wij verder gaan... May we continue.? And as we did the spirit returned and the very last scripture that we shared really got him thinking. The spirit was very strong and he openly took a long list of scriptures that we had prepared that morning, with the intention to search them out for himself. But the lesson i learned came after the lesson.... As we rode off, i was a bit discouraged at what i had done.. But my companion looked at me and said its ok.. Look at the changes he did make and the things he was able to learn. The Lord works through small and simple means to bring to past great things to come to pass. I was so grateful for his counsel. He opened my eyes to the many tender mercies the Lord had blessed us with during the lesson and the whole picture became more positive. I am going to miss him, I love him. Elder F has done so much for me.. But other than that i am working hard to finish my mission strong.

Love

Elder Garcia

ps we have 2 baptisms this week.. Ill talk about them next week!

Letter from 4/8/2013

How are you!! Thank you for your email!!! I did indeed watch conference and it was wonderful!! I loved it so much!! What was your favorite address? I came with a question to conference and this is an explanation for why. President Mehr in our last Skype meeting as zone leaders throughout the mission asked us what our priorities would be going home? And it was tough trying to set them. This is a talk given by Elder Ballard for how we can have a balanced life.

1. Establish Priorities

Think about your life and set your priorities.

2. Set Attainable Goals
Set short-term goals that you can reach.

3. Budget Wisely
Through wise budgeting, control your real needs and measure them carefully against your many wants in life.

4. Build Relationships
Build relationships with your companions and members through open and honest communication.

5. Study the Scriptures
Search the scriptures. They offer one of the best sources we have to keep in touch with the Spirit of the Lord.

6. Take Care of Yourself
Good physical appearance enhances our dignity and self-respect.

7. Live the Gospel
“teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom” (D&C 88:77), which will lead families to eternal life.

8. Pray Often
You can know the right decisions to make each day through constant, sincere prayer.

And this is what i came up with together with Elder J. As i sat to ponder this, i had no idea how hard it was going to be... The talk gives an exercise at the end to come up with 6 spiritual goals and 6 physical and then to set put them in chronological order according to priority. Elder J and i came up with

Physical

1. work

2. education.

3. a home.

4.physical recreation

5.transportation

6. Financial stability

Spiritual

1. Weekly sacrament attendance

2. daily study and prayer as individual and family

3. regular temple attendance

4. weekly family home evening

5. magnifying calling.

6 missionary work.

The order of priority came out as the following:

1 weekly sacrament attendance

2 daily study and prayer personal and fam.

3 Family home evening

4. temple attendance

5 work

6.education.

7 financial stability

8 missionary work.

9 magnify calling

10 spiritual growth.

11 working out

12 transportation.

Any suggestions..? I just really want to be a good husband and father.! I did indeed get my package thank you!! I get compliments on my beautiful ties daily!

Love,

Elder Garcia

Letter from 3/25/13

How are you? Thanks for the email!! This week has been a treat. J has not been baptized yet. This Saturday is her special day. She is such a sweet spirit.. She had a wonderful spiritual experience this past Sunday... She was so overcome with the spirit that as tears ran down her cheeks, she told Elder J and I how excited she was to be baptized I am so thankful that i have been able to take a part of this. The Lord is truly wonderful. He is so kind, so forgiving and so merciful. i love Him and am so thankful for the blessings that he has given me.

Elder J and i are doing well. i love this new area. The people are wonderful. And it was so good to see Elder B again!! It was so good to see him. He is going to be here for good i think.. He was reassigned to the Suriname south zone so i think he will be unpacking His bags.Thanks for the ties!! I do not know if i ever mentioned getting them, however i loved them!! Thank you!! But other than that Life is just swell.. I love my mission.

Love
Elder Garcia

Letter from 3/18/2013

Kwatta is wonderful!! I love it. The members are wonderful... Elder J is a great missionary. We actually came to the mission together. He is from Holland. And we will be leaving the mission on the same flight. It has been wonderful to be with him. We are great friends and have really looked forward to the opportunity to work together. I am still getting used to the city but i am enjoying a new area and new faces. We have 2 baptisms this March 30th and 5 total before the end of the month. Our mission is really doing some wonderful things and the Lord is blessing our efforts and preparing our ways.

     We had a wonderful experience these past few days. Our investigator J had not yet received a personal witness concerning the prophet Joseph Smith. So we invited her to pray to know. And when we came a few days later she had received her answer. She spoke of the feelings that she received in her heart. As if something was rising that was too big for her. It is such a wonderful work that we are doing.  Thanks for the updates on the family and Tjong-Ayong missionaries. I love them.. 

Love,

Elder Garcia

Letter from 3/11/2013

Thanks for C's email I have been meaning to make contact with her. This week was a different one.. Elder D his cut leg, which is healing, and has kind of slowed things down. It has been difficult to work at a fast pace but we have done our best to do what we could.. Transfers came as well. I am heading to the city to work in Kwatta with Elder J.

 I am so excited to be with him. We have been wanting to work with one another for some time.. We are excited for the opportunity.. 

     We had 7 baptisms this past week.. And that is the spiritual experience that i want to share this week..... I want to start yesterday in our gospel principles class i was giving the lesson, and we were discussing the creation of the earth.. And we somehow got onto the topic of responsibilities that we have or feel that we must fulfill because we have received this earth, this gospel, and this knowledge of a loving Savior who has given His life to atone for our sins... We talked of the need to share with others this knowledge, the need to raise our families in the truth and the need to be an example of gospel living. There are so many.. But one this week sank deeper into my heart than any other.. There was a man baptized this past Saturday, whose name i can no longer remember. As he stood to bear his testimony after his immersion, no words could be said as tears flowed from his eyes. He was said to be one who does not easily cry, but as he gathered himself in an attempt to express the joy he was feeling, no words could express the spirit that he felt... The entire chapel was in tears as this made radiated the spirit of God. When he finally did speak these were his words. " Words can not describe the way  i feel. But one thing i will say, before the end of my life, i am going to do everything i can to be sure that Suriname gets a temple.." This convert of about 15 min was determined as anyone in this church to receive the blessings of the temple not only for his family but for all those that have been accepted into Christ's family.... He took that responsibility upon him. And no one will deny him.. I pray that we may all be so dedicated, diligent, and determined to do the things which the Lord has commanded...
I love my mission. I feast upon the spirit daily and i love these people.. Elder P went home today.. It was a surreal feeling. The time is approaching. 

Love 

Elder Mason Garcia

Letter from 3/4/2013

How are you!! SO GREAT NEWS!!! J WAS IN CHURCH THIS WEEK!!! I am so grateful for the workings of the spirit. It softened his heart, and gave birth to the desire necessary to come to the church. According to what his fellow-shipper told me he had a wonderful experience. I am so thankful for the Lord's hand in my life. I love this man and am so grateful for his family and their progression.. His wife has come to the 10 o'clock sacrament service after having worked the 9pm-7am shift at the hospital. I am so thankful

I am currently no longer with Elder J. One of the Elders here in SU, Elder D, cut hiself with a long blade while we were doing service in the Jungle behind Br. T's home.. He needed 3 stitches and because i drive the car he was put with me. He is a wonderful missionary. He is very intelligent and has taught me many things in the 2 days that we have spent together. It is interesting how the Lord works. He knows where i need to be and with who. I know this is His work.

Sister S is doing well. She has a boyfriend who is addicted to alcohol and drugs, but other than that she is doing well. We also have a man named E who is golden.. I love him.. It is interesting how only in the service of others can we as individuals grow towards exhaltation. It is the paradox of heaven.

Love, 

Elder Garcia

Letter from 2/19/2013

 The week went well... We found the most wonderful woman this past Sunday .. We were contacting house, after house with rejection after rejection... And i was starting to get a bit discouraged... But i prayed that the Lord would soften my heart to what i was doing and allow me to see a miracle.. and He responded.. The VERY LAST house on the street was owned by Sister S... A middle aged Hindu woman sitting outside with her daughter visiting from Belgium.. And they welcomed us so warmly.. They let us right in and had the biggest open ear to the message that we had to share... She has had a tough life, pray for her.. Her husband is a drunk. And goes about causing problems unaware of the consequences that it is having on his family.. She has just overcome a major case of depression and is now on medication, regulating her hormones and emotions.. She is such a wonderful woman. Maintaining a garden, sewing clothes and cooking for eager buyers in her spare time.. She is such a sweetheart. I was so thankful to meet her and she has committed to be baptized on the 9th of March.. I love her already and we have only been by twice..

Elder J is doing well. His eye infection is completely healed. He is a great kid and has helped me to overcome my pride and learn to be helpful and humble... The zone is doing well, we are having three baptisms this weekend, which is wonderful. i hope it is the begin of something great... I can not say that life has become any easier this week, just a little happier..

I love being in the service of My Eternal Lord. And doing all that i can to give back my small nothing in comparison to what He has given, and will yet give me. I know that this gospel is true. I know that Christ lives. i am so grateful that i have had the opportunity to establish my life upon the rock of his redeeming love. I am proud to say that i am a devout disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ and am excited to testify of His name throughout the eternities. 

Letter from 2/4/2013

How are you? This week was wonderful. President M was in town and we had zone conference. We felt the spirit strongly as he taught with authority and power. But it was a busy week driving these Elders here and those there. It was wonderful to get to know them. We have one of the assistants with us on an trade off Saturday. Elder M is a wonderful missionary. He has a great spirit and really loves what he does. It really re kindled my fire and helped me to get going again.

 So i found out that i will not be able to attend Kelly's graduation. I am scheduled to land in SLC on July 18th!

Things are going well.  I am really working on letting the Lord work on me in my life on His time table. He knows me and will do with me what needs to be done. But we just need to go out there and be accountable for the goals that we have set, and for the charge we covenanted to keep when we accepted our call to serve. I am striving to learn how to use my body and god given free agency according to his will. I am really focusing on trying to be able to discern his holy spirit. But things are going well.

Love,

Elder Garcia

Letter from 1/21/13

How are you? Thank you for your email. I am sorry that time is short so i will have to keep it short again this week. Things are going well. Transfers came this past week. Elder J and i will be staying together again. I am thankful, it is what i need. I need to learn humility and simplicity. I need to learn from him. And show him that i love him. I know that challenges await. But i know that this is where i am supposed to be. We actually had 4 investigators in church this Sunday. The R family. They are wonderful. Sadly the father did not come but i know that he will with time. They have been doing wonderful and are truly embracing the gospel. Even the children read in between lessons. I am now legal to drive in SURINAME...scary eh? i am excited i will be driving a big 8 seater bus... But it is exciting. Tell Ryan S. that i love him. And we will play lacrosse together. 

We are doing well. Learning and growing. 

 

Love,

Elder Garcia

Letter from 12/24/12

Hey mama, and everybody else!!!

How are you today! I received your package, But I have to say I was not a nice boy at the time as I might have opened it a few days early.. I'm sorry i just could not help it! I am wearing one of the ties it contained right now. It looks wonderful i must say. It has been an interesting holiday season.. It does not feel, or i guess i could say, look much like Christmas here. Maybe because of the year round tropical weather, the lack of the traditional holiday festivities it has not felt quite the same. But regardless of it all, the spirit that accompanies Christmas has never been stronger. It has been such a blessing to talk with people on the streets, to look them in their eyes and to testify to them of the reality and eternal love that a loving heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ have for them. I know that those that i have spoken to have felt the spirit. I know that i have. And maybe nothing will come from the contact that we had, but they needed to know.

 For Christmas we are going to be going to a members home in the city, have a wonderful meal together and watching our annual movie. I think the choice this year is Brave a new movie that has recently come out. And i will be calling you!!! I am very excited. 

 It is crazy to think that time has gone by so fast.... It doesn't seem like 12 months have come and gone...But i am grateful for the lessons that i have learned. And i am eagerly looking forward to the ones to come. I learned one yesterday that i would love to share with you... It strengthened my testimony to be as described in the scriptures, "like a little child", I was sitting in sacrament meeting yesterday morning, enjoying the spirit and talks that were being given. And looking to my left i saw Br. J.A. holding his daughter. She was standing on his lap, his arms wrapped just behind her knees. And every 5-6 seconds she would fall. Butterflies in her little tummy, an ear to ear grin, and oh she laughed. And as expected J.A. caught her, raised her to her starting position and the process repeated it self time and time again. But as i look and thought about what i saw deeper a new light shone in my mind. This young infant fell, completely unaware of what awaited her choice. Her innocence masked her fear, and her infancy all possible doubt that her loving father would not catch her. She trusted her dad, how we ought to trust of Heavenly Father. Sadly enough, as we age, our experience brings pride and fear. We believe that we know what is best. Our fear brings doubt, our pride, an inability to submit. I was filled with the spirit as i looked and little nunu enjoy the security of trust and faith. We too can enjoy this same security if we will only be willing to trust. This wonderful time of the year is a wonderful time to remember the Lord, and Savior Jesus Christ. And to REMEMBER the light that He brought into the world. A light that we can trust in. What will fill our hearts with warmth in we will not fear the dark patches of life.

 Remember His love for you. And give your heart to Him. And i can testify to you, He will never let you fall. He will catch you. I love you!!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Love 

Mason

Letter from 12/10/12

Thank you for your email, love and support!! It is wonderful to be your son!!! And a blessing to have you as my mama!! I loved the package!! I loved the letters and the ties!! They were great!! As far as the new packages goes i would love pictures and ties.... I need ties. I always can use more ties. I cannot believe how fast the time is flying... It has been a blur.. Days feel like weeks but weeks feel like days... Christmas is here again. What a wonderful time of the year. It is a great opportunity to feel the spirit of Christ and to share his love with others....Be a light and help those around you to remember the true spirit of Christ.

We have had some exciting changes in the zone this past week. Due to the increase of missionaries we have split the 1 zone into 2...and I have been called to serve as the newest zone leader... Together with Elder G we have been called to look over 10 Elders. I will still be working with Elder J and D in Wanica North.I have never felt more inadequate, but i know that this is just another opportunity to look for His guidance and to seek His love. It is an opportunity to humble myself and submit to his will. I am scared because of my personal imperfections, yet comforted knowing who is my support, my rock and my salvation.. I know that everything will be ok.

 The future is full of challenges, and trials both seen and yet to be seen. But, with the spirit of truth is it full of potential blessings and triumph. I eagerly await what is to come... I love you mama! And know that you have a son that knows that the Gospel is TRUE. It is true. and i will never be able to deny it. Christ lives and the Book Of Mormon is evidence of His divinity. Read it study it. And you will feel of its spirit.

LOVE,

Elder Garcia

Letter from 12/3/12

How are you!! Thank you for your love and your wishes!! They are needed!! This week mama...... I am in a rough patch of my mission... We have few investigators and no one is coming to church... It is so disappointing... I am really fighting to keep my head above the clouds of discouragement, but the rain is pouring....There was a beam of sunshine this past week. I received a call from Elder J yesterday afternoon after church, and he had an unexpected task for me. There are a few men preparing for missions in the near future, "B" being one of them. Elder J asked how I would feel about having him serve a mini mission with us for the last two weeks of the transfer. I was surprised. But i gladly agreed. It strengthened my testimony. And i could not help but laugh. I had prayed that same morning that the Lord would help me increase my faith. And not 4 hours later, there it was. It is going to be tough, but i am looking forward to the challenge. I will be training two Elders for the next few weeks.The Lord answers prayers... 

 

I am learning and growing in faith and hope... time is flying i just received an email from Dave that he is heading home too.... Can you believe that??

Love,

Elder Garcia