Mission Field: Week 2

Date: Mon, May 27, 2013 at 5:20 AM

  I'm glad things are going good at home.  Things have been good here!  It's really fun here and I'm learning, but its slow.  I can understand most everything now, but there are a few words that I still don't get some words though. 

  Elder Gilbert is a fun guy and we are working really well together.  We speak in Portuguese, but there are one or two words in Creole.  Tell Kaylee I'm happy for her and Chantille and Malin, too!

  I'm excited for Emily and can't wait to see pictures!  Say hello for me to everyone and tell them I'm doing good!  We are going to go have some lobster today :).   Well, I got to go I love you all and miss you!  Talk to you next week !

Love Elder Stratton

Mission Field: Week 1

Week One.
Mon, May 20, 2013 at 3:11 AM

  OK, so this place is just crazy!!!  It's so cool and scary all at the same time.  I have no clue what to think of it.  The food is rice and whatever else you can find to eat.  My comp is Elder Gilbert from Idaho.  He has been out 10 months.  And regarding the language I need all the help I can get for that.  It's going to be really hard!  P-day is Mondays.

  So the flight was the scariest thing I've ever done cause a barring or something in the turbine was
going out so it grinded the entire flight.  It was pretty sketchy... ocean was cool and we saw the sun rise, so that was fun! :)  We got picked up by the President & his wife, and 2 elders.  They are really nice and are full of energy!  I'm in Sal for the first transfer, in one of the best houses in the mission I guess!  The food is pretty average and has hardly any taste.

  Cape Verde is a mix of Africa and Europe.  Soccer is huge.  The two big teams played last night and it was crazy outside!  I don't even know how to explain it, but people are really wild about it. But yes, this place is cool and I'm going to have fun:).  I'm still trying to get a hold on all of it.

  The language is really crazy, (ha ha), they just start talking and then smile and laugh at you and you just smile back!!  (ha ha)

  Well, time is short, so I have to go.  I love you all and hope your doing well.


Love, Elder Stratton

Made it Safe and Sound

Wed, May 15, 2013 at 8:05 AM


     Well I made it to Cape Verde safe and sound.  It's really fun and I can't talk to you guys much right now, but I love you all.

     It was nice to talk to you all!  It's so nice here, its strange, but cool!  Well, I have to go I will e-mail on p-day, (I don't know when that is), but love you all!

Love Elder Stratton!! :)




Wed, May 15, 2013 at 8:09 AM


     Thanks, son, I am glad you made it OK, love you!

mom:)~

Last E-Mail from Mission Home

	Mon, May 13, 2013 at 3:00 PM
Just the Cape Verde people. (See Picture Tab for full size pic)

	Mon, May 13, 2013 at 3:02 PM
Great picture!  How are you?

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	Mon, May 13, 2013 at 2:59 PM
Sorry I didn't get this to you yesterday, I send that first one on Saturday, I don't know why it got there on Sunday, but Happy Mother's Day:)  love you,  Elder Stratton (See Picture Tab for full size pics)

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	Mon, May 13, 2013 at 3:08 PM
Oh, now you made me cry again!!!  Thank you!!!  I love you, too, son!

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	Mon, May 13, 2013 at 3:11 PM
Hey, I have to go, but I will call you tomorrow morning, when I get to the airport!  It will be after 6 your time, but I don't know when, so just be ready:)  I love you and will talk to you tomorrow:) Elder Stratton

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	Mon, May 13, 2013 at 3:12 PM
OK, we will be ready.  Love you!  Did you get the c. rolls? love mom:)~

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	Mon, May 13, 2013 at 3:14 PM
No, we haven't got mail yet, but we are going to get them right now, thanks!!:)

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	Mon, May 13, 2013 at 3:14 PM
OK, thanks, I got to go, bye!!:) love you:)

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	Mon, May 13, 2013 at 3:15 PM
Sorry to spoil the surprise, hope you enjoy them! mom~

Week 6: MTC-Last Day

Well it's my last day in the MTC and I have tons to do!!  We are having a packing party today and its crazy! It's so hard to think that in 48 hours I will be half way around the world!!!  It's kinda scary and cool all at the same time!  I know how to do my testimony and the first lesson in Portuguese.  I don't even know what to think of it all!  I've met some people that have served in Cape Verde, they say it has the humblest people on earth and even though they have nothing they would give you anything!  It's so crazy!  I just can't wait to get there!  Oh man, I just don't know what to think!  Well, the church is true and nothing will ever change that! Everything we go through, we go through for a reason and somethings we don't know why, but God knows and that's what really matters, cause He will never forget us!

I love you all and miss you!

Love Elder Stratton

Mother's Day from the MTC

This made me cry when I opened after church today.  Nothing could be more touching or fitting!

Mother’s Day from the MTC
Message Reads:
"Ye and they did OBEY and OBSERVE to perform every WORD of COMMAND with EXACTNESS;  yea even . . . according to their FAITH it was done unto THEM, and I did remember the WORDS which they said unto me . . . that their MOTHERS had TAUGHT THEM."
~ Alma 57:21

(Elder Stratton is in the center back row)

Week 6: MTC 6

Oi Familia!  (Hello Family!)

This week has been muito bom (very good) and nos (we) have enjoyed todos (all) of it!  Well, I leave on Tuesday and I go into the open world which is so shiki!!  Ha ha, it's getting closer and closer!  I have 1/24th of my mission done!!  That's so loco!  It went by so fast and the rest will only go by faster!!

Well, I'm glad dad is having fun on his lawn mower :)  Noah sounds like he is having fun in his play and it is so strange they only have 1 week left of school!!  Time went fast!!  That's cool for Chantalle and Malin!  It is getting so exciting aqui (here) and we have to pack.  I will be on at 1600 hours and I have 1/2 hour!  So, that's when you have to get on!   Well, I will talk to you guys again on Monday for my p-day, then, to and give you any last minute updates and stuff, but I love you all and will talk to you later!

Love Elder Stratton!!


1600 hours = 4:00pm


LATER, 4 pm:

Are you on?

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	Fri, May 10, 2013 at 3:21 PM
Mom I'm here.

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Did you get shoes and did you get box from us?

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	Fri, May 10, 2013 at 3:25 PM
Yes I got the shoes and the box! thanks for everything that was in it!!:) and I got Sis Beals box to:)

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	Fri, May 10, 2013 at 3:38 PM
That will be good.  How are things going?  What are you doing for your last weekend at the MTC?

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	Fri, May 10, 2013 at 3:40 PM
Things are going really good:)  its been really hard, but really fun at the same time.  And we are just going to classes and packing up.

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	Fri, May 10, 2013 at 3:41 PM
How many of you will be leaving on Tues.?   Are you heading off with the 3 sisters also?

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	Fri, May 10, 2013 at 3:44 PM
We have 43 people going to Portugal and us 4 going to Cabo Verde so we split up at 6 in the morning.

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	Fri, May 10, 2013 at 3:46 PM
Wow, that is alot of missionaires.  So, you're kind of the bodyguard for the Sisters, Yuh?  Sis. Beals called yesterday and said Bro. Beals' count went from 30 down to 13!!!!!  He is very relieved.  They both were very happy.

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	Fri, May 10, 2013 at 3:49 PM
Yes!   It is alot, the mission home has been preping for 6 monthes for them.  Every sister they have is now a trainer! and ya i guess so:)  That's way good!!:) I'm happy for them!    Hey, I have to go. but I love you and have fun tonight! love caleb:)

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	Fri, May 10, 2013 at 3:50 PM
Love you too, son, have a good evening also. love, mom :)~

Week 5: MTC 5

Well, Hi Everyone!!

Nothing much has changed since Monday, but I did get a companion, his visa is not here, so he gets to stay here a while longer. Oh, and I might get travel plans today tomorrow or Monday!  So that's fun too.  I will get on later to send you some pictures!  (see Picture Tab in blog)  But life is pretty good here and nothing much has change, so that's good I guess!  Well, I have to go, so good luck with the day.  I will be back on at 3 pm your time! and I'll send pictures then to!


Elder Stratton