MISSION FIELD: Week 80 Happy Thanksgiving!!

                                                         24 Nov 2014

Hello, Everyone!!

   This last week was super fun.  We had some great stuff happen here.  So, we started off the week slow, but on Wednesday, we were able to fly to Praia, (a long 7 min ride), then, we were able to have zone conference.  WOW, was it good! It was about consecration and how we can go and become closer to Christ, through giving him everything.  But how do we actually give everything, when everything we have is already his?  We are just renting it all!  Well, everything, but our agency, the only thing in this world, that He cannot take, but that he wants the most.  When we give that to him, we are really giving the gift we can.  It was such a great meeting and I enjoyed every minute of it.  It's amazing how the gospel helps us in ways that we don't even know, and how we are all prepared to receive things of God.  He lives and love us.  That's why we are here, so we can progress and become heirs to His kingdom.  I love what I do and I do what I love.

Love Elder Stratton

P.S. the volcano on the island of Fogo blew up, but we are all safe.  It shall be another fun week!!!

MISSION FIELD: Week 79 What A Week!

                                                             17 Nov 2014

    Well, I have had a crazy week here.  So, we started off this week a little crazy.  Some people got offended because of some things that were said in church and wow, it really affected the branch.  Satan is really trying to get into this branch and destroy it.  So, we are really trying to give all we have to help the branch and keep it from falling apart. BUT, we are learning.

    I'm really learning about sacrifice, and I would like to share a few thoughts that i have had.  So we have been looking at talks of the apostles and profetas (prophets) about what it really means to give your all to God.  We all think that, oh, it would be hard to give your life for something, but I think it's the other way around.  It is harder to live this gospel, than it is to give your life for it. We are tried at every turn and given the chance to learn and grow or fail and try again.  Life is hard, but it is through the atonement of Christ, that our trials are made light and that we can have happiness.  Look at the talk by Elder Christoferson, from the CES fireside, in October.  He give us a real good look at how we can save our lives, by sacrifice and giving our all to the Lord.  We are here to learn and grow and it is though sacrifice that this is possible.

   I love this work and know that it is true. I know that the Lord lives and loves us.  I have felt his love and know of the love he has for all his children, and he wants all of us to feel that love.  It's our job to help them feel it and that is through us, inviting them to hear that word of God.  Remember, the love that we feel and give it to others. 

Love Elder Stratton

MISSION FIELD: Week 78 What A Good Week!

                                                          10 Nov 2014

     OK, so this week was full of tender mercies of the Lord.

     So, I will talk about some of them.  First, was that we had President Mathews and his wife come and visit us here on Maio.  Super nice!  We had interviews with him and learned a little bit more about what we can do better at and then, they left back for Praia.   The week went on and we couldn't find Cisse, who was going to be baptized on Saturday.  Then, Saturday afternoon he calls us and says, 'Elder, when am I getting baptized!?'  We were like, 'What the heck, is this real!?'  So, we talked to him and he was already had the interview, and he was baptized on Sunday morning in the ocean.  The baptism in itself is a story.

   We had one of Cisse friends do the baptism.   Well, he was super nervous.  THEN, he throws him in the water and just jumps away and says YESSSSS!!!  Well, we had to do it again and elder Camargo got in the water to help.  Ha ha!  It was super funny, so then after a few more time we got it.  All good, and then we all noticed that my name tag was gone.  Well the water took it and so we spent some time getting it.  So that was the best part of the week. 

    I hope you all know that miracles happen and that God loves us.

love 

Elder Stratton

MISSION FIELD: Week 77 The Lord is Good!

                                                           3 Nov 2014

    Well, this week was a week of small miracles here in Maio.  We decide to go and see a reference, that we received.   They live in a place called Morrinho.  It's pretty nice there and we went and saw him.  He was super happy to talk and we taught him and he said, 'When can I get baptized?'  So, we marked him for a few weeks from now.  Then, he goes and asks if we want to talk to some of my friends here and we said, 'YES!'  and so, in the little time we were there, we were able to teach 4 guys, that live there.  It was so cool to see how the Lord prepares people to hear the truth and helps them accept it!

   Then, here in Villa, we are getting some guys ready to be baptized, so it should be good here in a few weeks!!  We sure are ready for them to be ready.  The Lord truly blesses his kids and we are lucky enough to receive those blessings.

   Have a great week and remember all the Lord has done for us all.

love 
Elder Stratton

MISSION FIELD: Week 76 Hello Again, Everyone!

                                                        27 Oct 2014

Well, Everyone!!!!

  This week was a fun week, nothing really big happened, but just small miracles throughout the week and blessings out the wazzooooo.

   We found some really good people this last week and we marked a few date for them and they are progressing very well.  Cisso, from Guinea, is doing great and decided that he wouldn't smoke anymore and is quitting.  He has gone 5 days now!!  He said to me, "Elder, its just a decision and you can't change you mind, if you want to follow God.  Super cool guy and he will be so good for here.  It's super nice.  We also are working with a kid named Se.  We are getting ready to be baptized.  It will be fun to see his progress.  

   But that's about all that's happened this last week.  We did go fishing this morning.  Caught and released an octopus and a puffer fish.  Super cool!  I hope everyone has a great week and I love you all!!!

love 

Elder Stratton!!

MISSION FIELD: Week 75 Well, One More Week Down... 5 months to go:)

                                                 20 Oct 2014

    Well, this last week was super busy here in the mission, full of stuff that we needed to do and teaching.

    So everything started on Monday.  I was walking in the road and some guy from the court came to me and said I was getting summons in court for something.  And I was like, 'What the heck!?'  So, we went to the court house and well, I found out I had to go see some judge about something.  They didn't say very much about it, so that night, I called up the Mission President and was like, 'I have to go to court for some thing', and he said 'Okay, I will call some lawyer in Germany'.  Then, the next day, I was talking to the lawyer and finding out what was going on.  I found out that it was about, when our house was robbed, they were starting an investigation about it.  I also found out that we have the best lawyer in Cape Verde, so I was happy, but it was all taken care of and I'm all good to go again!:)

   Then, at the same time that all was happening, I was trying to get all the stuff fixed for the old house we left.  What a mess!  So, some elder broke a tile on the bathtub and we needed to replace it.  So, I got a guy to replace it and well a little job turned into a big one.  Well, long story short, we replaced all the tile on the bathtub, 'cause it all started breaking, then,  we got the house cleaned and now its all out of my hands, thank heavens.  

   Then, we started our week and it went pretty good.  Found some new people and marked some dates for baptism including one Muslim!!  Super cool!  He changed lots and he wants to be baptized now.   

   I hope this week will be great and many miracles will happen.  I wish all of you a great week and remember that when we follow the commandments we are blessed.

love Elder Stratton

MISSION FIELD: Week 74 Another Great Week!! (and picture!!)

                                                          13 Oct 2014

So this last week was great!!!

  So, we had some good work done this last week. The best thing that happened was we found a guy named Lando.  He stopped us in the street and started talking to us and he is like, 'hey can we talk in my house?' and we are like, 'ok', but, we went in and we started talking and he just broke down crying.  He said, 'I hate my life and I want to change.'  It was such a great way to start a lesson.  By the end, we were all crying and the spirit was so strong and it was just good.  But then, he was like, 'I feel something in my chest', and he said, 'it feels good and I want more of it', and we said that this is the way that you can have it, by following Christ and keeping the commandments.  He hasn't drank since and he is doing great.  We will see him tomorrow, but such a good week and we all learned from it.  

   Have a great week and I love you all!!!

love

Elder Stratton