Mission Field: Week 11 Transfers, Baptisms and Pics, Oh My!!!

Well, this has been a week....

But it has been soooooo good!  So we got José baptized and it was sooo cool!  He has such a strong testimony and his conversion it amazing, just a golden guy!  

We also had some early transfers this week and I now have Elder Taylor.  He is a pretty cool guy and he teaches really good!  I think we will have lots of fun!  Santa Maria got opened up this week, so we have elders there now which is shiky!   Nho e Armanda (Mance and Armanda), are still working on papers, so it’s a process...

Noah’s letter should be coming in 1-2 weeks.  I found out they have a mail plane that takes everything over so his letter is still in Praia :(  But I heard it leaves today, so that’s good! 

We have Simony, which we are teaching, he is 18 and he is really interested in the church!  We had a really spiritual lesson with him the other day.   We marked a date for baptism, so we will see how that goes :)

It sounds like you guys are having lots of fun at home and have fun at Tim McGraw! (Noah won tickets this past week to his concert in August). That’s pretty cool!

I know this church is true and that the Lord loves all of us.  When we need help he is right there for us!  We just have to ask!  Well life is good and the church it true.

love Elder Stratton

     Elder Green, Jose and Elder Stratton

PS:  We put more pictures and videos under the 'Pictures Tab'.  Scroll all the way to bottom to 'Mission Field: Week 11'.

Mission Field: Week 10

Hello Familia!!

  Well this week has been lots of fun and we got lots done!!  We are teaching Nho e Armanda (Mance and Armanda).  We are just waiting for Nho's (Mance's) papers to come through, so they can get married.  Then, we have Jose he is a golden guy!  We went through all the lessons and he accepted everything and will be baptized on Salbado (Saturday).  So that will be really cool.   Next, we are really trying to get inactive members back to church so we have 15 of then we visit and teach and help out.   They are all so different its really cool! 

  So the culture over here is a mix of deep Africa and American.  The people love America, so they play music all the time and they play it sooooo loud!   We have lots of people that sell stuff in the streets and fishing trucks are everywhere.   There are women that walk down the street with stuff stacked on their heads, all the time, so ya, you get the picture, it's fun.

  Ha ha funny story, we went in a little shop to get some drinks and as we were in there, we realized it was a bar!!!  Ha ha, sooo funny!   We are just like "all man, this looks really bad!".   But it was OK:)   We shop all over the place.  I will send some pictures of the shops next week, but its cool!   

  We have a church building, it's rented and 3 stories tall, but its really nice!   Oh, and I found out that I live in the best house the mission has.  The only one better is presidents house, so that's cool:)

   By the way, if you plan or are thinking about serving a mission, know 'Preach My Gospel'.  (This guide helps missionaries learn about service).  It is so important in missionary work.  Also, know the scriptures and get used to being tired.  You will be that way for 2 years. :)

Well,  I know this Church is true and I love this Gospel.  We can learn so much just from reading the scriptures and our lives will change for the better, the more you have the desire to do good! 

Well, I have to go, so have a good week and do a good turn daily!  ;)

love, Elder Stratton

Mission Field: Week 9

  IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'm an uncle!!!!!:):):):):)

  Well I'm excited!  Eden is a good name :)

  Well, this week has been pretty normal and life is good. :)   We are still teaching a lot!   Well, Santa Maria was fun and we had some good food there.

  Wow Eden is cute:)   ha ha   I still can't get over it:)

  This might be a short letter this week, but I cant think of what to write.   We got hair cuts today in an old fashion barber shop.   They shaved us with a straight blade and cut just like the old fashion movies.  It was cool.  Well, I think we will shop today and rest.   Hope everything is going well at home!

love Elder Stratton

ps. fogo e sabe e amo voçes e ten e bom dia hoje! i love portugese:)

PS: Stay cool, know that I love you and try to have a good day today.  I love Portuguese :)

PSS:  Our daughter, Emily and husband, Bryan, delivered our first grandchild to us yesterday morning.  Everyone is doing well! 

Eden Mae

14 July 2013

6lbs 9.2 oz.

19" long

Mission Field: Week 8

Well Hello Family! 

  This week we had another normal week here in Cabo Verde!  Elder Camargo is teaching me how to speak Brazilian Portuguese, so that's fun, but other than that, nothing has changed.

  We have a batizmo (baptism) on Salbado (Saturday), so that's fun. :)   A kid named Mario, he is 14 and hes is pretty fixe. (cool) :)

  Well I have to go.  We are headed to Santa Maria today!  (Santa Maria is on the South end of the island of Sal).

  I know the Gospel is true and Joseph Smith is a true prophet.  If you want to know, you can find out for yourself, by reading the Book of Mormon.  It is the most correct book on this earth and it is either true or its not,  that is the only 2 options.  All you have to do to know is read and pray about it and you WILL get an answer.  If you already know, do it again!  Reconfirm your knowledge.  I know Heavenly Father lives and loves all people here on earth, no matter who they are.  I love this Gospel and Jesus Christ. 

  Have a good week and remember, I LOVE YOU ALL :)

Elder Stratton

PS:  I get one of the drinks every day!  They are so good.  :)

Conversation Elder Stratton and Mom had today:

Mom (M) :   Are you doing anything today? 

Elder Stratton (ES):  Going to Santa Maria for some lasagna and sleeping.

M:  Have you been pretty tired?  Just from tracking?

ES:  We don't tract at all.  We are a completely referral and reference mission.  I have never knocked on a door that I don't know who lives there.

M:  That's interesting!  Do you get a lot of referrals?  Is it the same on all the islands?

ES:  Yes, we do mostly from members.

M:  So what do you do when you have down time?  Are the lot of referrals?

ES:  We talk and teach members and lots of less actives.

Mission Field: Week 7

Well, Hi Again Familia!!:)

  Ok, so this week was a pretty good week nothing crazy, but we had fun:)  We taught a lot and that’s about it.  Nho (Mance), and Armanda did feed us yesterday though! It was good!  Nho is a fisherman, so he brought home some tuna and we had tuna with potatoes and rice!  Really good!   

  Well we got Elder Camarrgo as our new house mate. He’s cool.  He is from Brazil.  We have lots of fun with him. :) and he has tons of fun with us ha-ha.  We found a place in Santa Maria that has Oreo milkshakes, so we are going to get those today!  

  President Olivera, (mission president), is coming to Sal in a week or two, so that will be cool.  We are happy for that :)  Other than that, stuff life is pretty normal.

  Still getting over the fact I won’t have a good hamburger for 21 months, but they say the wait just makes it better so I’m looking forward to a REALLY good hamburger when I’m back ha-ha. :)  The papaya is coming on so we can start getting that soon.  We have mangoes right now and pineapple. The fruit is usually really good here, so I’m happy for that.  I got Noah’s letter back so I’m sending it off again.  But, ya life is good here and I can’t wait to see what the other islands are like!

Well boa sorte and have a bom dia!   (Well good luck and have a nice day!)

Love Elder Stratton 

Sent from

NO STRESS CABO VERDE :P


More of our conversation this morning through emailing:

MOM(M):  So, what new happened this last week?

ELDER STRATTON(ES):  Oh, nothing much just another week, so its fun!  I went to the beach that was cool !:)

M:  What did you do at the beach?  What did you see?

ES:  Well, we were doing service and cleaning up trash, and it was really hot..... the beach we cleaned up is where the sharks have there babies, so that's cool.  We didn't see any sharks though. 

M:  What is the beach called?  To bad you did not see any sharks FROM SHORE, :)  Do they have their young near the shore then?

ES:   I don't know if they have their kids near the shore...

        M:  Hey, what was the name of the gal that got baptized?  Was that her mom in the pic?

         ES:  Cloudia and yes, her mom is Armanda.

M:  It's good to put a face to the name. 

 M:  Noah wants to know what you eat besides rice and beans and fish?  

ES:  Noah, I eat popcorn, fruit, and whatever else i can find that looks good. :)   The juice here is delicious.

M:  Your letter just came through.  So, Pres. Olivera is coming, that is exciting?  Will all the missionaries on the island have a conference with him?  / Noah wants to know if the water is really orange?  /  Wish I had some juice right now, I'm jealous!!

ES:  No, he is coming to start a branch. / The water is orange in Praia, but pretty nice here, we still filter it though.  / There are 8 missionary's on this island, so we will all see him

M:  So, is Elder Camarrgo going to be getting a companion?  /  Sorry about the burger, (see WEEK 7 above).   /  Was the right address on Noah's letter?  Why do you think it came back?

ES:  No, he is Elder Bruce's comp.  /  It was my fault on something though, so I will send it again.

M:  Does Elder Bruce live with you guys?  How many are in your apt?  /  Is the new branch in your area?  

ES:  Yes, he does and 4.  Hey, I have to go, love you all!

M:  We love you too, Caleb.  Have a good week!

love, mom :)

ES:  OK, bye love you all:)  Have a good week:)  More next week!

M:  We will be here!  Maybe you will be Uncle Caleb, too!!!   love, Mom :)~