This email was sent July 27, 2009
dear family and friends,
the shift key on this keyboard is broken and it is very hard to push. because i need to write this email quickly none of my letter will be capitalized.
life is going good. we have zone council tomorrow in kingston and zone meeting on wednesday. this week is going to be very busy.
we went out with this amazing family to go find less actives this week. their son is on a mission on the other side of the island. as we went to go see these people 5 of them came to church this sunday. 3 of them where priesthood holders. i am really excited about that. building the foundation of the church in jamaica is fun and i know that president graff is really inspired.
we had a very effective day on saturday however our friday and sunday needed improvement. i love you all so much. bye.
love,
elder dan mason
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Breaking News
This email was sent July 20, 2009
Dear family and everyone,
I am doing well. My first week as a Zone Leader is going well. It seems to be filled with trials. The Lord seems to always push me. Exactly when I felt comfortable in the office I was sent out here. Everything seems new. However because of my testimony and the experience that I have gained so far in my mission I can handle it. It feels great.
I knew that Dave went home soon but I did not think that he was already home. Wow, that is surprising that he is already having his homecoming. It is hard to imagine. Clark goes home soon also.
Today we also got a call from the assistants telling us the the Prophet has just announced that Preparation Days end at 5 pm instead of 6 pm. It sounds to me like it is a world wide thing but I am not certain. We are also moving out of our old house and into a new house with 2 other awesome Elders.
We are going to have a baptism on the 9th and then 2 on the 30th. The two on the 30th are getting married the day before.
I again need all your prayers. They always seem to work.
Keep up the hard work my dear beloved family. Laugh!
Love,
Elder Dan R Mason
Dear family and everyone,
I am doing well. My first week as a Zone Leader is going well. It seems to be filled with trials. The Lord seems to always push me. Exactly when I felt comfortable in the office I was sent out here. Everything seems new. However because of my testimony and the experience that I have gained so far in my mission I can handle it. It feels great.
I knew that Dave went home soon but I did not think that he was already home. Wow, that is surprising that he is already having his homecoming. It is hard to imagine. Clark goes home soon also.
Today we also got a call from the assistants telling us the the Prophet has just announced that Preparation Days end at 5 pm instead of 6 pm. It sounds to me like it is a world wide thing but I am not certain. We are also moving out of our old house and into a new house with 2 other awesome Elders.
We are going to have a baptism on the 9th and then 2 on the 30th. The two on the 30th are getting married the day before.
I again need all your prayers. They always seem to work.
Keep up the hard work my dear beloved family. Laugh!
Love,
Elder Dan R Mason
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Dear Family,
How is everything going? I am having a good week. I love trying to find less-active members all over Kingston. It is like we are on an adventure every time. We went all the way to Harbor View, which is by the bay 30 min outside of Kingston. When we got to the member's house we noticed that all the neighbors' houses were blown down and there was sand all over the place. His house was actually boarded up. There was a homeless man living in one of the houses. We ended up finding his phone number from a neighbor down the street.
My companions are both great. At times there are some challenges but we overcome them.
The weather, like always, is still hot. I don't really notice it as much because I am usually in the office or in the truck during the hottest time of the day. I have noticed that I have gained a little weight and I don't like it. I plan on running every morning possible.
The Senior couple at the office is awesome. They both are so funny. Elder Cheesman (pronounced Chessman) and I went around town doing office things. I had a fun time. He told me about how he met his wife and how he just saw Transformers 2. But do not worry he did not tell me about the plot or anything. He keeps trying to get us to listen to radio stuff on his computer and we keep having to tell him that we can't listen to it. It makes us laugh every time.
I also want to express the importance of goals and planning. I have had two types of planning recently. Planning out the day and then setting goals as opposed to setting goals then planning out the day. One is not as effective as the other. Setting goals then planning is so much more effective. I think that is how life is. We can't just make plans then goals. We have to make goals and then work for those goals. An apostle (don't remember which one) is quoted in PMG as saying that if goals are not made and accomplished one will live life and look back at a life that was not used to the fullest. When we made goals and then planned on Thursday night our Friday was amazing. We got so many things done and I could see the Lord blessing us for our diligence.
Elder Dan R. Mason
How is everything going? I am having a good week. I love trying to find less-active members all over Kingston. It is like we are on an adventure every time. We went all the way to Harbor View, which is by the bay 30 min outside of Kingston. When we got to the member's house we noticed that all the neighbors' houses were blown down and there was sand all over the place. His house was actually boarded up. There was a homeless man living in one of the houses. We ended up finding his phone number from a neighbor down the street.
My companions are both great. At times there are some challenges but we overcome them.
The weather, like always, is still hot. I don't really notice it as much because I am usually in the office or in the truck during the hottest time of the day. I have noticed that I have gained a little weight and I don't like it. I plan on running every morning possible.
The Senior couple at the office is awesome. They both are so funny. Elder Cheesman (pronounced Chessman) and I went around town doing office things. I had a fun time. He told me about how he met his wife and how he just saw Transformers 2. But do not worry he did not tell me about the plot or anything. He keeps trying to get us to listen to radio stuff on his computer and we keep having to tell him that we can't listen to it. It makes us laugh every time.
I also want to express the importance of goals and planning. I have had two types of planning recently. Planning out the day and then setting goals as opposed to setting goals then planning out the day. One is not as effective as the other. Setting goals then planning is so much more effective. I think that is how life is. We can't just make plans then goals. We have to make goals and then work for those goals. An apostle (don't remember which one) is quoted in PMG as saying that if goals are not made and accomplished one will live life and look back at a life that was not used to the fullest. When we made goals and then planned on Thursday night our Friday was amazing. We got so many things done and I could see the Lord blessing us for our diligence.
Elder Dan R. Mason
Lots of Pictures
Daniel sent lots of pictures, but we are on vacation for the month and I am having trouble getting them and all his posts up, so look forward to some pictures when we get back home!
Quick-like from Jamaica
This email was sent July 4, 2009
My Dear Family,
Everything is going well. This week has been amazing.
Yesterday Elder Tanner and I got a new companion. His name is Elder Hill and he will be in the office for about a week.
President Graff, our new Mission President, has already started to change things for the better. We are going to start to restore the foundation of the church in Jamaica. We are going to work with members more than ever. The goal: Never go tracting again, and reactivate the huge pool of inactive members.
I have been thinking about how I can be a better person and missionary. Really there are so many good people in my life and around me and I want to emulate them. I want to be successful and I know that the Lord wants me to be.
Love,
Elder Mason
P.S. I don't have very much time today. Our water is out and we have to go to the mission home to go do our laundry.
My Dear Family,
Everything is going well. This week has been amazing.
Yesterday Elder Tanner and I got a new companion. His name is Elder Hill and he will be in the office for about a week.
President Graff, our new Mission President, has already started to change things for the better. We are going to start to restore the foundation of the church in Jamaica. We are going to work with members more than ever. The goal: Never go tracting again, and reactivate the huge pool of inactive members.
I have been thinking about how I can be a better person and missionary. Really there are so many good people in my life and around me and I want to emulate them. I want to be successful and I know that the Lord wants me to be.
Love,
Elder Mason
P.S. I don't have very much time today. Our water is out and we have to go to the mission home to go do our laundry.
ZELDA!
This email was sent June 27, 2009
Dear Family and Everyone,
My poor dog. If she does take medicine her whole life what will that do to her knee? I agree surgery would not be a good idea. The body is telling her brain that it hurts and she needs to stop using it. How will the medicine help? Will it get worse? Mom? Just cut off the leg. Most of the dogs in Jamaica get along without legs. But seriously. I feel bad for her. I hope that everything is going well and that she is feeling better. Do you think someone kicked her or something while she was out?
I am doing well. I like the mission and I am happy. Today is transfer day for the other missionaries. My new mission president has not gotten to the Island yet. He will get here on Monday at about 6 PM. I am excited to meet him. We are taking him to immigration on Tuesday morning. I think that the assistants and I are going to be driving him around for the first little while.
On Thursday I was driving with Elder Tanner in downtown old Kingston. The place was packed with vendors on the side of the road. There was this huge truck that we had to go around. Elder Tanner just knicked some guys pushcart and a huge box of cans feel out into the road. We went and helped the guy out. It was such a funny experience.
The Assistants drove the Kingston Zone leader’s car the other day and said they heard some weird noises. They told them to get it checked up. Reluctantly they gave it to us and we changed the brakes. They brakes were bad. They only had 3 days or one strong brake left. It just proved to me how in tune with the spirit our leaders really are.
The three girls do not have a baptismal date anymore. They are going to their father's house for the summer. We taught their mother the doctrine behind baptism once again but to no avail. She still was firm that her children should not be baptized until they came back. It just shows how success can seem to happen. However, when people choose to use their agency wrongly that success blows away like a cloud of smoke.
Thank you so much for your prayers. I am working hard and I need to start working even harder and more efficiently. I love you all and I hope everything is going well.
Love,
Elder Mason
Dear Family and Everyone,
My poor dog. If she does take medicine her whole life what will that do to her knee? I agree surgery would not be a good idea. The body is telling her brain that it hurts and she needs to stop using it. How will the medicine help? Will it get worse? Mom? Just cut off the leg. Most of the dogs in Jamaica get along without legs. But seriously. I feel bad for her. I hope that everything is going well and that she is feeling better. Do you think someone kicked her or something while she was out?
I am doing well. I like the mission and I am happy. Today is transfer day for the other missionaries. My new mission president has not gotten to the Island yet. He will get here on Monday at about 6 PM. I am excited to meet him. We are taking him to immigration on Tuesday morning. I think that the assistants and I are going to be driving him around for the first little while.
On Thursday I was driving with Elder Tanner in downtown old Kingston. The place was packed with vendors on the side of the road. There was this huge truck that we had to go around. Elder Tanner just knicked some guys pushcart and a huge box of cans feel out into the road. We went and helped the guy out. It was such a funny experience.
The Assistants drove the Kingston Zone leader’s car the other day and said they heard some weird noises. They told them to get it checked up. Reluctantly they gave it to us and we changed the brakes. They brakes were bad. They only had 3 days or one strong brake left. It just proved to me how in tune with the spirit our leaders really are.
The three girls do not have a baptismal date anymore. They are going to their father's house for the summer. We taught their mother the doctrine behind baptism once again but to no avail. She still was firm that her children should not be baptized until they came back. It just shows how success can seem to happen. However, when people choose to use their agency wrongly that success blows away like a cloud of smoke.
Thank you so much for your prayers. I am working hard and I need to start working even harder and more efficiently. I love you all and I hope everything is going well.
Love,
Elder Mason
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