Glad your kit got to you quickly so you could get started. Starting small like you did with just a partial shave is a good idea.

You really should not hear a rasping sound on the strop. It does not sharpen really, it just aligns the edge via friction and resistance of steel against the leather. Your strop is one of my newer ones with the golden color natural leather which will make a fine finishing strop. I now also offer the same leather on my #1 Best as an alternative to the Red Latigo.

Go slow, keep the razor flat to the strop and go at least 25 passes on both linen and leather. A pass is one trip up and back (2 strokes actually).

Best,
Tony