Elder Burch π: "It all began on a Monday morning..."

Dearest everyone,

Today, I will briefly describe a weekly service activity that we Elders do here in Greybull/Basin. Every Friday, we have the opportunity to go to Bonnie Blue Jacket, a retirement center between Greybull and Basin, and participate in a bowling activity with the residents. There is a long, blue carpet on which the pins are set, and a metal rail that holds a rubber bowling ball that the residents push down the ramp and aim to get a strike. Some like to position the rail themselves, some just push it, and some need help lifting their hands to the ball. The game usually lasts four or five rounds, with about ten residents showing up each week. One of the residents is Ted, a man who loves to laugh and loves his cigarettes. (Or, he used to at least. He told us last time that he had quit. I'm not sure if he's actually trying to quit or just out of money for the month.) Some others include Lorna, the ornery blind woman who refers to me as 'Mesa;' Lorna's husband Johnny, who needs to lift up his feet when we wheel him to the rail; and Patty, who blames her not getting a strike on us. It is such a fun time, and feels good to be bringing joy into the lives of some of these people.

We do a similar activity at the Wyoming Retirement Center on Saturdays, where Cathy always tells us, "I told them that you were going to come! I even drew you a picture!" after which she'll hand us a coloring page she did for us. "I even have my medal!" she'll say, proudly displaying her medallion won at the BBJ/WRC bowling tournament last month. Eva and her husband Lewis will come out for bowling, and so will Howard, who refers to us only by our first names. Margie comes out, as well, and she questions Elder Andrews about his native heritage. Going and doing this service brings such a joy to the week, and feels good to be serving children of God in their last years of life. We also have the opportunity to do a sacrament meeting for the residents of the Wyoming Retirement Center, where Cathy will tell us every time, "I even wore a dress! See, I told you I'd wear a dress!" followed usually by, "I even drew you a picture." Cathy doesn't leave without a hug.

Find something in your community that could use a hand, and then go help out. I don't care what it is, but anything you do that is giving of yourself will make you feel awesome, and will make someone else feel good, too. "When ye are in the service of your fellow being, ye are only in the service of your God." Keep being awesome. Do cool things. Rock and roll.

-Elder Burch $π$

"She loves the natural light, captured in black and white..."