How can one stop masturbating and [start] praying, knowing that I am not currently praying and plan to start praying when I return to my country where the mosque is close by?

Prayer is the greatest obligation of Islam after the two testimonies of faith. Allah commanded its observance, saying: "Guard strictly the (five obligatory) prayers especially the middle prayer (Asr). And stand before Allah with obedience." And Allah threatened those who neglect it, saying: "What has caused you to enter Hell?" They will say: "We were not of those who used to offer prayer." A person does not know when they will die, and prayer is the first thing a servant will be held accountable for on the Day of Resurrection, as stated in the noble Hadith. Therefore, one must hasten to repentance before it is too late, in accordance with His saying, the Almighty: "Until, when death comes to one of them, he says, 'My Lord, send me back that I may do righteousness in what I left behind.' No! It is but a word he is saying. And behind them is a barrier until the Day they are resurrected."