“...I will follow you into the dark.”

You only get five more weekly emails from me after this point. That’s kinda sad, don’t you think? The last one will probably hardly be an email at all, just pictures commemorating all the time in glorious Montana and Wyoming. Oh, yeah, transfers. You probably want to know about that.

I won’t tell you.

Just kidding. I can’t not give you my address. I like mail too much. The assistants to the president called Sunday morning to give us all the inside scoop on who is going where and with whom they are going to be. Elder Ash will be taking my spot as Zone Leader here in the great land of Powell, Wyoming. I’m going to miss this place. There are a lot of people here who have made a major impact on me, for which I will be eternally grateful. Also, Elder Craig has been a great companion, and I am grateful for the things he has taught me, specifically involving how to talk with people more, and more effectively. So, thank you Elder Craig for this transfer. Enjoy the next one with my old counterpart, the Ashman. 

My new address will be:
820 4th Street #405 
Havre, MT 59501

Don’t know where Havre is? Don’t worry; most people don’t. It’s about two hours northeast of Great Falls. I will not, however, be in the same zone as I was when I was in Great Falls. I’ll actually be in the Great Falls East Zone. Technicalities. And, chances are I’ll only see the light (?) of the city of Great Falls maybe twice in my whole stay there. When you get banished on the mission, you are super banished.

But I’m not banished without good company! Or, I don’t think so. My new companion will be Elder Taylor from North Carolina. He hasn’t been out too long and seems like a really swell person from what I have been told. Here’s to the adventure!
_______

This week was quite good. On Tuesday, it was a nice, warm day, so we elected to have our companionship study at a park in town. After doing companionship study, and Elder Craig helping me to learn how to better help other missionaries that might be struggling, we felt like we should hang out at the park for a little bit. So, we started kicking around a soccer ball, and talked to a few people that walked by here and there, but not much. Before too long, this eighteen year old boy joins us and starts kicking the ball around. We get to talking, and it turns out that he actually grew up in a member home, not been baptized, but things went sour there and he ended up here in Powell. He still holds many of the same morals, and has a belief in God and said he’d like to learn more! We invited him to the Ultimate Frisbee activity with the YSA and Elders Quorums, and he came! Looking forward to more from that. 

Miracle 2: We were pulling into the church to have a new-member lesson with Kaili Sondrup, the YSA (well, not anymore - marriage) member that was baptized my first week in Powell. As we pull up, we notice this girl sitting in one of the trees on the church yard, and she looks like she was having not a great day. As we sit down with Kaili for the lesson, the girl in the tree came to mind again, so we asked Kaili if she could go see if the girl was okay. Kaili, being the most friendly and excited person I have ever met (there is no exaggeration there) leaves, and twenty minutes later comes back with this girl in tow. We visit with her, and end up teaching the first discussion to her! She is young women’s age, and her name is Sonya. After the lesson, she expressed that it made her feel better, and she took a Book of Mormon, a Restoration pamphlet, and a For The Strength Of Youth. Later that night, she made a post on Facebook (picture below) that made us so excited! Sonya is awesome. Kaili has been wonderful at being a fellowshipper, and helped her get to both a YSA activity (even though Sonya is a little young for the YSA) and to church for 2nd Ward. There, Kaili and her husband Logan gave talks, and after sacrament, the Young Women welcomed Sonya right in. I’m sure it was a little overwhelming (Mormons can do that sometimes), but she said that she felt good. I’m so excited for Sonya and to see where she goes! 

Last miracle: Cancelled lessons lead to finding two new investigators. How about that? We talked with a really nice lady, then met a Seventh Day Adventist that shared with us some of her faith building experiences and invited us back to teach her, and then met a nice YSA aged gentleman that was excited to go to family home evening with the YSA. Here’s to hoping!

This all reminds me of the scripture in Moroni Chapter 7, verses 35 and 37, which read:

“... Has the day of miracles ceased? ... Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain.”

Today is a day of miracles. Or, it can be if we have faith. If you don’t see miracles in your life, I would exhort you to turn to God and spend a little more time doing the things that He has asked of us. Doing so will increase our faith, and faith is the means by which God can work miracles among the children of men. 

Thank you for all you guys have done in supporting me on the mission and helping me to do my best. Hurrah for Israel!

Oh, and rock and roll ~

-Elder Stephen Burch π

My New Area

Determined bike thieves are determined

Sonya’s Facebook post

“I pictured it just right...”

This week was really, really good. Three main things: 1. Kathy, 2. Baptism, and 3. Testimony. Bueno.

First: Kathy. There is a family in one of our wards that has been taught on and off by the missionaries for years. The husband is a long time less active member, and the wife is not a member. It seems like there is a slight lack of commitment, but the biggest issue has been divorce logistics. As we contemplated how to help this family, Elder Craig and I both felt like perhaps focusing on the wife’s mother, who also lives with them, would be the route to take. We show up for the first lesson after that decision, and it must’ve been inspired. Not too far into the conversation, Kathy (the mom) started talking to us about how she has been trying to quit smoking, and the positive feelings she has had toward the LDS church, and how she feels drawn to the Book of Mormon. We testified of the truth of the Book of Mormon, and the restoration, and the power of commitment and action, and she was down to act. Thus far, she has kept all her reading commitments (though, she needs to come to church with the family, those little punks). We have another lesson with them tonight, and we are excited for that. Pray for us and Kathy, please.

Second, we had the baptism of Amber! It was a good experience, and I felt good about it. Also, she bought a 2016 Subaru WRX STi. Midlife crises, and stuff. Anyway, we felt really good about it all after we had an interview with her beforehand. It was good. Impromptu talk on the Holy Ghost. Also, cool stuff happening with her son. Ask about that more later, or when I get home. But know that it is cool. Pray for him (Kyle).

Lastly, I wanted to bear to you all my testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I’ve had far too many experiences and seen far too many lives changed for the good to have reason to doubt that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the World. I testify that He is the promised Messiah, the Holy One of Israel, and that we can become the best people we can be if we turn to Him and abide by his precepts. His gospel is one of self-improvement and service, and getting strength beyond our own to overcome weaknesses through the grace of Jesus Christ. He has restored that gospel to the earth, along with all the blessings and miracles from God, in these Latter-Days through a prophet of God. God seeks to bless us, and He does so through giving us guidance on how to live and power to do it. I testify of Him who is mighty to save, and invite all to experiment upon the Word. 

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I beseech of you in words of soberness that ye would repent, and come with full purpose of heart, and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you. And while his arm of mercy is extended towards you in the light of the day, harden not your hearts.” - Jacob 6:5

Until next time. Rock and roll ~

-Elder Stephen Burch π

Baptism of water and of fire

A Chameleon!

Picture with the Bly guy

The king and I

Eat drink and be merry

“If I could write to the kid I was before...”

Everyone,

This week was solid. Highlights:

Zone Conference. It included the following interaction:

Me: “Hey, so what is your training on?”

Sister Training Leader: “What?”

Me: Oh, shoot. “Did you not get the zone conference email from the assistants?”

STL: “No! We have a discussion?!”

Me: “Rats. Um, yes. Thirty minutes.”

STL: “ELDER BURCH!”

Me: “It’s on faith and miracles. That’s easy enough to fake, right?”

STL: “Elder Burch, I’m going to kill you.”

Their discussion went really, really well, and I think we’re still friends. Think. I don’t know; sometimes they don’t forgive. They don’t forget, either. You can run, but you can’t... forget.

Honestly, the Lord keeps dropping blessings into our hands that we don’t deserve. I guess faith is a miracle producer. It must be Elder Craig, because I can be a faithless little punk way too often. The other day, after a lesson, we had some time before dinner, so we chose to knock some doors on the street we were on. No new investigators, but we had a solid conversation with a guy who runs a group for those with PTSD to help them recover through Christ. He gave us some referrals. It was cool. And then! We pulled in on Sunday after Stake Conference and there was a teenager outside our apartment who asked us, “Hey, do you guys know of any youth groups around here?” Of course we do. Had a good conversation with him. He wants to reconnect with Jesus because he’s been in jail for drugs since he was 13. We are going to be inviting him to the YSA activities. It was awesome. 

Blessings falling down, you know?

I think that is all for now. Thank you all for your support. Love you! 

Rock and roll ~

-Elder Stephen Burch π

“... I’d tell him you’ll get everything you’ve ever wanted, and you will still want more.”

Elder Craig, myself, Elder Carter, and Elder Giles

Zone Conference

Missionary work is tiring

"There's something about the way the street looks when it's just rained..."

We have talked to a lot of people. It's crazy how many people are outside when the weather is nice. We spent three hours on three streets, just talking with people outside. It was nuts.

And then it rained for two days. It is also crazy how many people are outside even in the wind and rain. We talked to more people. Hooray!

We gave talks in church on Sunday in the YSA Ward. It was Mother's Day. We spoke on the priesthood. Not sure the inspiration on that, but it was truly inspiration. Many people commented that it was just the thing they needed to hear. 

Elder Craig is awesome. Thought I'd throw that in.

Sounds like all is well on the home front. That's good. Skyping was fun. 

We went hiking this morning. I am likely really sunburned again. Oh, deceptive overcast.

Enjoy pictures! We need to take more. 

Rock and roll ~

-- 

Elder Burch π

Hiking

ZLC Facebook chat, feat. Elder Loran, Sister Bauer, Sister Russon,
Elder Hayes, Elder Burch, Elder Craig, and not Elder Carter

We are quite popular in the YSA.