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