Opening my Mission Call

COUNTDOWN

Sunday, 22 June 2014

HEARTBREAK ON PALAU


With one of our investigators Vireeda and her family
The work is going really well. Palau is AWESOME! loving every second. Learning so much about the gospel. No baptisms yet. But this a next week there should be. 

Really sad news. There's a part member family that we go and teach a lot. The mum is a member and her son who is 9 is too and the other two kids are under age. The dad isn't a member but he's more active than most members haha. Well we taught them again this week and talked to them a lot about life and they fed us giant clam which was pretty good.  Anyway we love them and they hadn't been to church in a while so we made sure they would come this week!  And yesterday morning they came to church and I was so happy to see them and that they could hear me sing too in sacrament.  I was looking at Dativa (the mum) and thinking how nice it was to see her here and her little girl rubbing her mums arm.  And yesterday afternoon as we were about to go in to an appointment, a sister from the branch called us and told us that Dativa had just passed away.  I couldn't believe it.  So heartbreaking.  So we went to the hospital to see that family.  And Henio, the Dad was crying and holding his kids. And we went to give him support and he grabbed my hand and looked up at me crying and said, "I'm so glad she got to hear you sing in church.  She got to hear your voice." From that point all of us elders were in tears.  As they brought her body out and I lead us in "I am a child of god" and Henio said a prayer over her and kissed her on the cheek goodbye.  It was Heartbreaking.  I didn’t know how much it would effect me.  But it did.  But I know this church is true and she knew as well. And her last day on earth she chose to come to church.  And she was saying to us that all she wants is for all of her family to be baptised. That is going to happen before I leave.  I'll make sure of it. So sad for their family.

But yeah it was a good week, other than that. :) I love you mum and thank you so much for everything.  I don't what I would do without you!  I kinda forgot its my birthday this week haha.  In the letter I sent that you should get soon there's a lot of photo's and it talks about how grateful I am for you and Dad! But I really am.  I  love you guys and my most precious memories are with you and dad and blaze as a family. Nothing can replace those. :) Especially Christmas memories haha. 


I got the dear Elder package! THANK YOU! was awesomeeeeee lots of goodies to share haha. And then I got the two boxes on Friday :D SOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD! THANK YOU SO MUCH! I'll send you a photo of me with the stuff. So it was like all the food and fans and stuff. Haven't gotten the shoes or anything yet.  Maybe today :) we check the mail everyday :) Thank you so much Mum you always spoil me. I'm spoiled but I’m not a brat :P haha. 

I seriously was so happy when i got the packages and so grateful for a loving
mother :D I couldn't have asked for a better one :) I Love you mum :D I'll be sending you some stuff for you birthday soon :D  I'm so grateful for everything you do for me and that you went through pain to bring my spirit to earth. Oh and by the way our personalities have existed in us since we were just "intelligence" even before we were spirits. and it carries from then til now and after life. :D interesting hey!! 

I love you all.  Have an awesome week and stay safe and send my love to everyone.  I love you!

Elder Striplin Warrior

p.s.   Did you know that the God of Abraham and Isaac and pretty all in the Old Testament was Jesus not actually God?

Basketball with Investigators


Elder Striplin, Lewis Ham, Elders Murdoch, Dopp and Malais












A little stray puppy



Taking a Sister's cans to the recycle centre.  Rode on top of truck through town :D

With Elder's Quorum President - Arese

Crikey!  It's a Snake mate!
Seedy eyes with Hedio, a recent convert

Shaving the Golden Locks hehe

Elders Striplin, Murdoch, Dopp and Malais
P-Day playing a game
Doing Service
Service - moving rocks
Doing Service
All of us on Elder Dopp's Birthday at the Carter's


Leaving Guam for Palau

Monday, 16 June 2014

COLD IS NOT EVEN AN OPTION IN PALAU



Volleyball with some investigators
Everything is going reaaaaaaaaaaaaally good. :) the more I'm here the more comfortable I feel and the more I grow and love this church. I'm learning soooooooooo much it's crazy.  I love this gospel and God and Jesus Christ..

I'm not really sick anymore.  I think I was having bowel and stomach problems which sucks. haha but it's okay now. Thanks for sending the packages :0 I'm excited.  I'm always tired but as Elder Camp always says, "we can sleep when we die" hahaha NOT - we will go to the spirit world and chill out ;)

Hahha cold is not even an option on Palau its either raining or hot or hot and raining. 

We have bunch of investigators. The main ones right now are Vorwinna who will be baptised this saturday. :) She's awesome and has come a long way and knows how important it is to be baptised so that's really exciting.  And also Fritz who has come to church the last two weeks and will be baptised next saturday. He is the man. So those two are the MOST solid but there are a lot more that will happen in July. It's so cool watching people come ot know for themselves that the Book of Mormon is true and in turn this is the only true church one earth - Jesus Christs Church.

There's heaps of awesome people. Teruo a young guy going on a mission soon. And wilbur a recent convert who has been through crazy stuff and has changed since being a member.  There's a man called Toby who carves pictures with wood.  I will have to buy some from him before I come home.  This one catholic lady every week feeds us on a Tuesday for lunch.  She's not interested in the Church but feeds us every single week - so nice.

I'm feeling good, The more Im' here the more i love it and the more i learn the more my faith grows. I'm reading true to the faith, jesus the christ and the lectures on faith and the Book of Mormon right now.  And It's just changing my perceptions on life haha. I love learning more about this gospel. :) 

I like learning and helping people the most

I love you and I'm so grateful for your support and love in this journey. i'm really happy here and i love love love serving people and it's really a tiny sacrifice. :) I look forward to coming home and being with family but right now I'm focused on baptisms and helping people to be happy. 

Thanks again for your emails I love it and keep it up! I'll be working hard here so don't worry. I'll send pictures from the baptism this week! my first investigator! :D AH! I LOVE YOU! 

Father's Day for Elder Carter

Language Study

Elder Murdoch during his Piano Lesson

Saying goodbye to President and Sister Mecham

Palau Zone with the Mechams

District Meeting

The Sisters and me

Volleyball

Sister Mecham, Elder Striplin, President Mecham

Learning from President Mecham



Tuesday, 10 June 2014

IT'S BEEN A MONTH ALREADY!!




Palau Zone
That's really awesome about the cottage evening! And hearing about those investigators warms my soul hehe. That's awesome. Send all my love and support to Our missionaries! Elder tarati emailed me and said how much he misses our family and that area haha aw. He is the man. 

Please tell her sister it wasn't me that inspired her it was the Holy Ghost through God. The Holy Ghost is the only teacher of truths. Not missionaries. We are just trying to be the best instruments we can be for that truth to be taught.

Last night I was able to sing with my uke at a branch family home evening for the Mission President and his wife coz they're going home soon. It was nice. It's amazing how well the spirit works if you do the right things to have it.  So awesome.

Hahah I am taking care of myself. I got really sick yesterday. Throwing up the runs and body and head aches. But I'm pretty much good now. Had a blessing from the elders yesterday. :) Just a bug that's pretty much gone. 

Oh so you already sent a package? I need letters and stuff coz it's so disappointing going to check the mail and there's nothing for me lol. Ask heaps of people to send me letters haha. 

oh and i chopped off all my hair lol

Can't wait for the packages. :)


And read Alma 24, it's my favourite.

Love Elder Striplin





Sunday, 1 June 2014

2ND WEEK ON PALAU


Sisters and Elders at the Carter's for Sunday Dinner
This week was really good. There's was 3 baptisms in our branch and I was able to confirm one of the new members. We taught a lot of people. We teach heaps at the college which is so cool! We sit around in a big group of guys who all have their Book of Mormons out and we read together and testify to them and explain things. A lot of them should be baptised soon. They need to stop chewing betel nut though ahah. 

The language is coming along well, I can pray and bare my testimony in Palauan and I can small talk. I can understand about half of what people say. But it's not too bad for 1 week 2 days :) It's fun learning another language.  Um it's very hot ALL the time. hahah I sweat so so much. It's really beautiful here. so beautiful. 

Physically I'm doing good!!! I ate turtle this week :P hahah don't hate me. I had to. hahah.  Mentally, my mind is just running constantly hahah. I think about EVERYTHING! It's good though. And emotionally I go through about 11029783430 emotions in a day haha. It's actually pretty funny. But it's good. I'm learning so much and my testimony is not even close to how it was before I left.


My testimony has grown like A LOT! studying everyday is a huge blessing. I'm learning more than I've ever learnt before. Jesus Christ's gospel is perfect. EVERYTHING makes perfect sense and everything is designed for our happiness or JOY. It's amazing. Especially God's plan - the plan of Salvation. It makes me so happy to know I'll be with you and everyone in our family for forever. And especially my future wife and kids. Awesome.

Knowledge brings faith and faith strengthens your testimony and that's soooo what's happening to me. And all the

gospel knowledge we learn we only know it is true through the Holy Ghost which is God's way of talking to us. AMAZING. I'm having a blast.  I'm doing really good, it gets hard but it's good. I'm growing.

Time is so short. Send me letters and send me stuff. It''ll help my week.  I love you and everyone!!!!! 

MA URIUL!  sulang for you emails.

Here are the answers to your questions:

Are you taking your vitamins?
YES TO ALL VITAMINS AHAH

Have you been bitten by mossies yet?
nope

Have you felt well?

feelin good


Is there any food you’ve been offered that you don’t like?
Nope haha but this week I ate TURTLE


Do you need me to send your big huge drink bottle?
No I'm good, heaps here

Is the water clean to drink?
we have filters :)

Have you got your license yet?
not yet, soon hopefully

Do you live on a residential street or?
We live above a shop and restaurant haha

I have to send your package on Friday so it can get to you in time. Can you please let me know if there is anything, anything, you need….
Ummm there's not really anything. Send me my capo. Umm just stuff I like?  hahaha oh and my black vans

Are you picking up Palauan?
I can pray and bare my testimony in Paulauan and I can small talk. I can understand a little too

Are you carrying one small bottle of hand sanitiser just in case so you can wash your hands?
Yep I AM haha

Is your bed comfortable?  
Yeah the bed is good  - I sleep well. 

Can you buy razors and stuff like that easily at the shops?  Have you had to purchase anything other than food yet?
Yeah we can get anything we need pretty much. :)

What kind of food do you purchase as missionaries?  Do you have a fridge?  Oven? Microwave?
Yeah we have a fridge and stove and microwave. I just have cereal meat and veges and crackers haha. 
Oh and apple sauce.

Are the power connections the same as American and do you need any more adaptors?
No I'm all good with my one :0

Have you used your go pro yet, and have you taken any photos at all?
Yep I've taken quite a few. I'll try send one hah internet is super slow

Do you think I should send you some USBs so that you can send USBs home with photos so we can see?
Yeah I have some here and I'll send one after next transfer :0)

Do you miss me at all? hahaha
Yes of course I miss you! It's hard not being able to just text you and ask stuff hahaha

Have you played ukulele yet? Music?
Yep me and elder Murdoch play music all the time. I play everyday.  We sing in our branch choir. I'll be singing in sacrament soon :) 

What do you do on your Pdays?
We shop, play sports, do laundry, workout and email and write letters :)

Do you wear sunscreen?  I just saw photos on Sister Carter’s blog awwwwwwwwwww you look a bit blacker lol. 
Hahah no way. I'm getting my tan on. Nah I just can't be bothered. haha

You are learning piano?  haha don’t you already know how to play?
Not well, haha. I'm learning how to play hymns

Do you get cold at night cause of the air con?  Shall I send you a blanket?
A little but it's fine I have my hoody and that blanket from the plane haha

What is the handiest thing that you had in your luggage that you have used thus far?
The handiest thing? My towel... hahaha. And My torch is flippen awesome hahaha we play with it a lot at night.

Companionship

Elders Murdoch and Striplin teaching Mission Prep

Baptism