ALLII FROM PALAU

ALLII MUMMA!

Thanks for your emails! love it! Well yeah I'm emailing you live from Palau!!

So crazy! It's beautiful here. But really reaaaaaally hot. Like all you have to do is exist to sweat. It's really cool here though. The people here live in really bad conditions tiny house-like things and it hurts my heart. But they're so open to learning more about God and Jesus Christ. I haven't met one person who doesn't believe in God.

My companion Elder Murdoch is AWESOME! yah. So i'll answer your questions now :)

Have you started taking your vitamins? - Yes I have been taking them,     although i may have forgotten today.. and yesterday hahah

What is your living quarters like? - So we live in an apartment.  It's really good. Well compared to everything else here, it is. I love it. We have a guitar, two ukes and a dart gun so it's all good.

Do you get to drive, bike or walk? - We have a truck (pickup) it's sweet. Yeah i'm gunna get my licence sometime this week hopefully

Tell me about your companion and what you like best about him. - Elder Murdoch is awesome. He's obedient and he loves music and yeah he's sweet.

How is your branch?  How many?  - The Branch has 300+ members but there were about 47 people at church on sunday. Crazy small. The baptisimal font is outside. pretty cool.

Will you wear your crocs on Palau or do you want me to send other shoes?

- I wore crocs the other day. Between them and my normal shoes I'm fine :)

Is there anything you need me to send cause I’m going to send something for your birthday, so may as well tell me - Ummm not really just maybe some weetbix and vegemite.

I love you Mumma....

A DAY IN THE FIELD ON GUAM

The first day in Guam in the first lesson with an investigator we had 5 elders all teaching this one lady. So it was a 5 way lesson. And it was half English and half Chuukese. So I'm not really sure what's going on sometimes. So I taught like twice. and then during a part in Chuukese Elder Luong turns to me and whispers "after this, invite her to be baptised" 

AND THIS IS HER FIRST LESSON EVER. ARE YOU CRAZY MAN?!

And then I remembered in the MTC they said trust your companion (in this case 4 other companions) even if you think they might be going down the wrong path.  And so I talked to her about her family and how being baptised will bring her closer to her family and to God and said "Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptised by someone holding the priesthood authority?" and she thought for a second and said yes. then I said, "we will be holding a baptismal service on the 21st of June, will you prepare to be baptised on this date?" and again she agreed. HAHAHAHA WHAT?!?! I walked out of the lesson still wondering what actually happened. It was a cool experience. 

MY FIRST ASSIGNMENT

I Arrived to Guam just before 1am on Wednesday 21st of May after 12 days in the NZ MTC.  

I spent two nights in the Mission Home before travelling with my new companion to the island of PALAU where President Mecham said I will spend a 'good chunk' of my mission.

Stephen F. Mecham

11 hrs

Elder Striplin will be trained by Elder Murdoch in Koror on Palau.

EN ROUTE TO GUAM

My lovely Aunty Kathy was able to catch up with me at the Auckland Airport while I checked in and boarded my flight to Korea.

I intend to sleep on the plane as I haven't had much sleep

 in the past 12 days :/ 

and I have 12 hours to sleep... hopefully

I have a one hour layover in Korea before my flight to Guam....

 which arrives at 1am!!  I wonder who will pick me up. :)

UP

UP

AND AWAY.......

LAST DAY IN THE MTC

I'm leaving tomorrow morning for Korea then Guam. It's so crazy. I've learnt a BUTTLOAD at the MTC - like so much. And how perfect the gospel is and how it connects to everything. I have a very different view on life now. Just how it is haha. I'm excited to go to Guam but I'm scared about where I'll be going and what language I'll be learning. But in the end its ok coz if I don't rely on myself and rely on The Lord then He'll provide a way. Exciting. I'm very very excited. :) 

I love it here. I got really close with my district and met a lot of amazing people. My district is just plain awesome. Oh and I'm the only one in the MTC going to Guam right now. Just got a haircut too - I'm bald!  Just kidding. It's just shorter now haha.

LEHI DISTRICT (NEW ZEALAND MTC)

I wrote a letter about the meaning of life to home :) and Just absolutely everything about the gospel and after life and pre-mortal life. NOT pre existence because we have always existed for eternity. 

The meaning/reason for life

Okay, So in short, The Meaning of Life (or the reason we exist) is that we might have Joy. Keyword being MIGHT. It's according to our works and faith. If you think about it, it's within everyone to seek joy. We seek and find everlasting joy in the gospel which will lead to the FULLNESS of Joy which is what God haves. Which is an unfathomable joy. People try and find joy in drugs and alcohol and even in messed up things like murder. But in the end they're all longing and looking for Joy. That's why they get addicted coz it never lasts and they need to go back for more. That's why this is an everlasting gospel that's joy is also everlasting. SO yeah. That's The short meaning and reason for life.

WHILE IN THE MTC

11 May 2014

I'm good :) verrrrrrrrrrry tired haha. we have to get up at 6 which is 4 my time :( but its all good. Im learning a butt load haha. So great. I m loving it. All the samoans call me 'driplin' coz of their accents hahaha. Going to the temple on thursday :D 
 I have made heaaaaaaps of friends (Samoan and Palangi) haha. My companion is samoan. He's awesome.  No idea where im going or what language yet. still a surprise :P hahaha i'm scared though. haha.  I haven't had time to excercise on my own yet but we play sport for 46 minutes everyday.

I miss Nauvoo. Im so reminded of it here. I am volunteering as much as possible - its one of my goals. 

So it's basically food and classes. hahaha. I've been giving a lot of spiritual thoughts in meetings and feeling impressed to share thoughts with my district.   Never thought I'd be like that but I do it in a loving way. I'm just sharing something I think is cool. Favourite part is probably the classes and teaching the "investigator" and learning how to do it better. So fun and exciting. :D 

ARRIVING AT THE MTC

The MTC T's President and Sister Tarawhiti

LEAVING FOR THE MTC

I left for the MTC New Zealand at 0630 8 May 2014.

A CHILD'S PRAYER

My bro (Graeme Purcell Isaako) and I sang a song the night before I was set apart.  Was so awesome and so glad I got to hang out do this with him before I left...  He came up from Sydney on his days off especially to spend time with me before I leave on my miss.....

BEING SET APART AS A MISSIONARY

I was set apart as a Missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the night before I left for the Missionary Training Centre (MTC) in New Zealand.

I was set apart by my Stake President (President Dale Maurer) who has the Priesthood Authority.  I also invited worthy priesthood members of my family assisted in this blessing.  My Dad Wayne Striplin, my brother in-law Aaron Anderon, my Uncle Hazen Rota and my cousins Bishop Jeremy Rota and Timothy Rota.

With this blessing I received the right and privilege to represent the Lord.  I received a ministerial certificate that verifies that authority to the word.

The blessing I had is conditional upon faithful performance.

Along with the authority I obtained comes responsibility to live worthy of my calling.  As the Lord's representative, I am to be 'an example of the believers'.

I will strive to live according to God's commandments and keep covenants I made in the Temple, to know the scriptures, be courteous, on time, and dependable; to follow missionary standards of conduct, dress and grooming; love the people with whom I serve and work and honour Christ's name by my actions.

In addition to authority, I am also to exercise power in my work.  The Spiritual power is a gift that makes it possible for me to do my work more effectively.

TOMORROW I LEAVE FOR MY MISSION

This is it. Tomorrow I am leaving to serve a 2 year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I'll be serving in the Micronesia, Guam Mission. I'm doing it for my Heavenly Father and for those who may need me. I won't be able to be on Facebook, have a phone, watch tv or movies or listen to secular music. And I'm ok with that.  I'm doing the Lords work and I'm so excited. You can reach me on Dakota.striplin@myldsmail.net. I'll look forward to your emails. 

"Trust in The Lord with all thine heart; lean not to thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." 

-Proverbs 3: 5-6