“I am a visitor here, I am not permanent...”

Everyone,

Alas, my time in Missoula is about to come to an end. Wednesday morning, I will drive the Man Van for the last time to Helena, where I will meet up with Elder Lester, and head up to Great Falls to spend the next part of my missionary service. Cool thing, Elder Lester was my best friend in 4th Grade. Check that out! My new address will be: 1109 9th St. NW #7 Great Falls MT 59404

Saturday, we had the awesome opportunity to attend the baptism of Gary, the guy we interviewed last week. It was awesome. There was definitely a strong feeling in the air - easy to tell that the Spirit was there in abundance. I mentioned in the last email (I think?) how it was obvious that the Lord had been preparing Gary to receive the message of the restoration of the gospel, and the baptism felt so natural - like any other step, he was taking his next step in progression on the path of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He started the journey home to our Father. And, it will be a journey full of joy, because God wants us to be happy here as well as in the life to come. It was a powerful experience. “There must’ve been something in the water...”

We talked about Christlike attributes in MLC, and the takeaway I received was about how we can identify Christlike attributes in others, and when look for those positive things, it naturally increases Christlike attributes in us as we increase in love through focusing on the positive of others. Seeking out the good in others is an important thing to do. So, this week, take an extra effort to identify positive things about others, and point them out! It’ll be a good change, I promise. (See the picture I made down below for a list of Preach My Gospel’s identified Christlike attributes. There are more, but this is a good start.)

Love you all! It’s getting colder here. Christmas will be here before we know it!

Rock and roll ~

-Elder Burch π

“... The district sleeps alone tonight.”

Frozen Yogurt with some awesome Elders

At Gary's baptism with Elders Zitto, Ritchie, and Wheeler 

With Elder Ritchie

Saw the Kambale family again!

Look what we did. Feel proud.
I actually ate two. It’s better the second time. 

We watched the Testaments one night on the little portable
DVD player we have.It was a good time.
(No, Elder Wheeler is not flipping you off.)

"Now the lights go low in the avenue..."

"... And the cars pass by in the rain ..."


Good morning, acolytes!

This week saw even more rain. The last two days, specifically. Also, we woke up today to find that the rain on our car has turned to frost overnight. So, that means that this week had a day with a high of 86, and also a night where it froze. Great. Montana and her darned inconsistency. The warm day was nice, though. It felt downright hot after the weather we have been getting, but it was welcomed anyway.

Earlier this week, we had exchanges with the zone leaders. Of note from the exchange: Friendly less active family, puppies, and I GOT SUNBURNT. I thought that was a thing that didn't exist here! (Not really, but seriously.) I can't believe I got sunburnt.

We were called upon by a member of the ward to help them paint the home of one of their relatives who had just passed, in preparation for the selling of the home. We spent quite a bit of time on that on Thursday and Friday. It was good, though! There were some older gentlemen working with us, and I am not sure... well, I just don't know if the lights are on and nobody is home or what. It was fun. 

We decided that we needed a mix-up of the finding techniques. We bounced around a few ideas, and we have plans to use some of them in the upcoming days, but we settled on one for this week. So, Saturday, we did some service tracting, which yielded some solid results. We put on the regular clothes and went door to door, letting people know that we are part of a service-oriented church, and that we were looking for service opportunities. We were able to rake the leaves of a former investigator and was given a return appointment before even asking. It was awesome! 

Justine's baptism is set for the 27th of May. Bishop is looking to get Joel the Aaronic Priesthood so that he can baptize her. How rad is that? We're excited for them.

Spiritual thought: I was listening to a talk given by McConkie called "The Teacher's Divine Commission." He describes that, as teachers, "We are appointed 1) To teach the principles of the gospel 2) out of the standard works 3) by the power of the Holy Ghost, 4) always applying the teachings to our needs, and 5) to testify that what we have taught is true." As such, I've begun to evaluate my teaching methods and what I can improve. Instead of answering questions off of the top of my head, with vague references to scripture and having some moments of flipping my tie back to signify speculative doctrine, I should instead take questions, expound relevant verses from the scriptures, apply that doctrine to the life and needs of the investigator; and bear my personal testimony of the truthfulness of the principle just explained. As a crutch to help me with this, I have begun studying by topic on various common questions, and creating a quick reference guide to lead me to the scriptures, and explaining the relevance of the doctrine to us, and then writing a short testimony on the matter. Here is an example:

Faith, concerning works (see also: Grace)
James 2: 14-26 Faith without works expounded
Mat 7:21 "Doeth the will of my Father"
Mat 19: 16-17 Keep the commandments to inherit eternal life
Romans 3: 22-31 Salvation by grace through the Law Faith
Alma 34: 32-36 This life is for men to prepare to meet God
2 Nephi 25:23 By grace we are saved after all we can do
       The truth that salvation is achieved through the grace of God and by following His commandments is important to us because 1) our works are how we truly "accept Christ" and allow His sacrifice to save us, 2) following God's law prepares us to abide under heaven's law and in the presence of the Lord, and 3) our works confirm the reality of our faith in Christ.

       I have a testimony that Christ died for me, and that because He died for me, I have the ability to follow Him, better myself, and reach my potential. I am grateful for His sacrifice that will allow me to return to His presence if I prepare myself, follow His commandments, walk in His ways, and strive to be like Him.

I really think that this method, which is referenced in the handbook "Teaching In The Savior's Way," will help to make me a more effective teacher, and someday I'll know the scriptures well enough to not need a quick reference guide. Teaching is such a joy! 

Thank you all for your continued support and love! Keep being awesome. 

Rock and roll ~

-Elder Burch π

"... The university boys and the girls fill the bars while I'm just waitin' on the light to change." 

You can't really tell, but that  is a police car behind us.
I was going way too fast. There is only one speed limit sign,
and it's almost hid! I got off with a warning.
Elder Ray: "I leave you alone with the car for five minutes!..."

Arrow'd!

Candid Puppy Shot

Elder Smith blessed both district meetings with doughnuts

Missoula is hilarious

Kambale family selfie, per usual

A Lotus Elise!

Oh, the world 😝

Breakfast this morning at Paul's Pancake Parlor, feat. YSA Elders

Relaxing in our room like ballers

District greatness. Missoula District, best district.

"Sometimes I think this cycle never ends..."

Soldiers of all rank,

This week was a little hazier. I will relate some good stuff and some funny stuff and move on.

We put Justine, Joel's wife, on date for baptism! We're looking at May 20th, so hopefully that will go through. Teaching her goes alright, reading from the Swahili pamphlets and asking questions through Joel, who translates for us. On a totally unrelated note, she has the coolest dresses. I imagine that they are from Tanzania. Maybe. Anyway, they are different and look cool. 

We visited some other people. It was kind of worth. Oh! I know what I can talk about! (About what I can talk.) Elder Ray and I have started doing a thing where, for our journal, we have a quotation of the day and a proverb as well. (By the end of the transfer, we will have written Proverbs 32 and 33.) One of our proverbs involves one of the people that we work with. (With whom we work.) It reads, "If thou smoketh weed, yet read thine scriptures, it profiteth thee not." I'm slightly embarrassed that I shared that with you. Sorrynotsorry.

Oh! Funny story! So, Joel. Speaks English, but not too well, you know? Enough to have a conversation, but not enough to fill out a 1040. Anyway, we got a text from him which read: "can you come home now i received a letter from Missoula Federation credit union.come and translate for me.i am at home." Okay, sounds good. We headed over there, and he brings out this letter. We think it is going to be an account balance or something, but as we read the two pages it becomes quickly clear that it is a simple advertisement for car insurance through the bank. He was freaked out, because there was a section in the ad that says how you can save $552/yr compared to Allstate, or $398/yr compared to Geico! He thought it was a bill! It was funny, and we assured him that it was just an advertisement and he had no money due. He thanked us, and expressed how he was scared and how he called us because "It was from the bank. I had to show it to someone I trusted!" It was awesome.

My legs have rarely been more sore. So much walking. 

We have a mission tour on May 17th, which means an area seventy will be at our multi-zone conference in Helena. How cool is that?

My only spiritual thought today is that the Song of Solomon is garbage. Read the Book of Mormon. Let me know what your insights have been recently! 

Rock and roll! 

-Elder Burch π

"... We slide from top to bottom, then we turn and climb again."

Kambale Family!

I'm so heroic. This picture will likely be featured in an
upcoming Facebook post. Any puns based off scripture
or General Conference will be considered.

"When I think that I can't do this, you promise me that I'll get through this..."

Today Jimmy Eat World is playing here in Missoula. At the Wilma. And I won't be able to go. *cries*

Sandwiches of all kinds,

This week, all the new missionaries got moved to their new areas. In this district, we are now blessed to have the incredibly excited, diligent Sister Arnson serving with the ever-smiling Sister Lystrup, the laid-back Elder Smith now serving with the dignified Elder Stone, the sincere Sister Lewis serving with the optimistic, humble Sister Hymas, and Elder Clement of Mesa, Arizona, Westwood High School serving with the stylin' Elder Wright. In short, this district rocks. Amen, and amen.

One thing I've come to find out here is just how cheap talk really is. Take that as you will.

Saturday was a day of miracles. I will be brief about it, because I'm still trying to take it all in, but, in short, we have two new investigators. We have a lesson with one of them tonight at five, and a we will be calling the other before too long to set something up. We tracted a lot on Saturday, walked about twelve miles, and were blessed immensely. I am impressed stronger than ever before that God is really, truly mindful of His children, and is willing to bless them. I am so grateful that I get to be an instrument in His hands to bring about this great work. I just.. yeah. I feel humbled, and blessed, and overwhelmed, and I know that I need to do better to improve daily at this whole thing. That's that. Sorry for being so indirect. 

We helped a less active clean up her horse's poop. That was fun. We played twenty questions, and one of the best ones was "a hobbit." 
Me: "Is it an animal I would see in a given year?"
Elder Ray: "Oh, no. No, no, no."
"Is the animal currently living?"
"No."
"... Has the animal ever been currently living?"
"Nope!"
"Ah! Gotcha..."

We went to a car show Saturday morning to get out there and be seen by the community in a more normal, less threatening situation. That, and we wanted to look at cars. I won't lie about that. 

Nice people are nice. And by that, I mean that members who feed us make the world go round. Thank you, people!

Elder Holland (who I'm coming to see more and more as one of the greatest orators in the Quorum of the Twelve) gave a talk at the MTC, and it appears in the March 2001 Ensign. It is called "Missionary Work and the Atonement." He talks about missionary work specifically, but I think it also applies to daily discipleship and living what we know. I will add a few little commentaries in the following excerpts. 

"Anyone who does any kind of missionary work will have occasion to ask, Why is this so hard? Why doesn’t it go better? Why can’t our success be more rapid? Why aren’t there more people joining the Church? It is the truth. We believe in angels. We trust in miracles. Why don’t people just flock to the font? Why isn’t the only risk in missionary work that of pneumonia from being soaking wet all day and all night in the baptismal font?

You will have occasion to ask those questions. ... I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are The Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him?

If He could come forward in the night, kneel down, fall on His face, bleed from every pore, and cry, “Abba, Father (Papa), if this cup can pass, let it pass,” then little wonder that salvation is not a whimsical or easy thing for us. If you wonder if there isn’t an easier way, you should remember you are not the first one to ask that. Someone a lot greater and a lot grander asked a long time ago if there wasn’t an easier way.

The Atonement will carry the missionaries perhaps even more importantly than it will carry the investigators. When you struggle, when you are rejected, when you are spit upon and cast out and made a hiss and a byword, you are standing with the best life this world has ever known, the only pure and perfect life ever lived. You have reason to stand tall and be grateful that the Living Son of the Living God knows all about your sorrows and afflictions. The only way to salvation is through Gethsemane and on to Calvary. The only way to eternity is through Him—the Way, the Truth, and the Life."

Missionary work isn't easy. Neither is living the gospel as a devoted disciple of Christ. It's rough. People mock. We question. We are downtrodden sometimes. Sometimes, though, when it seems like nothing you do is making any progress, that nothing you do is changing anything, remember that sometimes that thing that is changing is you. 

Keep being awesome. Rock and roll ~

-Elder Burch π

"... Its my life, and my right to use it like I should. Like He would for the good of everything that I would ever know."



(Mom insert - This is more about his "Day of Miracles" on Saturday that I thought was too wonderful not to share. God is so good!)

Saturday... We had just been tracting for a good, long while. We were done hitting up every door, and we were instead heading down the road to contact a potential investigator or something. As we are walking down the street, the Spirit hits me hard, and I stop. "We need to knock this door." So, we do. There is no answer, the house sounds quiet, and we can hear a dog barking on the other side of the door. Ah, well. Good for following promptings anyway. We head out, and start walking down the street. A little down the road, we hear a voice, yelling at us. We turn around, and the man from that house was out front, waving us back in. He invited us right in, we sat down, and he said, "So, what're you doing? Spreading the word?" "Um, yeah. Yes, sir." He motioned with his arms to go on, and said, "Well, what have you got for me?" The conversation that followed was incredible. The man had grown up Catholic, and believes in God, and knows that God is the way, but he is afraid because he feels like he only goes to God when he is in trouble, and he knows that he will sin and turn away from God again. He has been in a depressed funk for the last month - complications with his last relationship and his desire to be there for his two young daughters has been eating at him, and he doesn't know a way out. He expressed that he just feels like he needs to get out into the world, and that will help. Elder Ray bore powerful testimony of the atonement of Christ, and we talked about God's Plan of Happiness. "I really feel like you guys showing up today was a kind of sign." We exchanged numbers, and said we'd call him and come back to teach him more. I don't know what will come of this contact, but even if nothing else, I now have a burning testimony that God is mindful of each of His children in their needs. As we left the lesson, walking down the doorstep, I lost it. Tears came down like fountains and I bawled as we walked down the road to our next destination. I looked to the sky and marveled at His goodness, at His grace, and at His love. I know He lives. I know He loves us. 

Kambale Family and Sis. Gee

The first (and currently the only) short
sleeve shirt day since September-ish

Big Dipper Ice Cream to celebrate another transfer
of awesome with Elder Ray in Zootown, Missoula!

Earth Day selfie

Elder Ray made elk burgers!
They were "quite good, quite good."

Cleaning up horse crap

Weird little ice cream trucks like this make Missoula what it is.
This place was crazy! The lemon-dairy dessert was excellent.

***Awesome side-note***

Elder Burch and Elder Ray were able to hook up with 
Uncle Rick and Tom Linton before their concert!

With Uncle Rick - A p-day to remember!

"It just takes some time..."

Good morning, vast legions,

This will be a quicker email, because I am currently unaware of the location of my iPad, and I have limited time on this computer. Also, this means that the only pictures you'll be getting until I find my tablet will be this stupid selfie of me taken on my small, digital camera. If this thing has an SD port. Lovely.

This week! We did a few things, like go on exchanges with the YSA Elders. Elder Wells goes home on Friday! He was the assistant that welcomed me into the mission! How cool/weird/sad/happy is that? Also, I'm getting older. Gulp. 

We were tracting and got caught in the rain! We got soaked! Like, really soaked! It was lame, but also super worth it for the story!

We met some nice people. All of those nice people weren't interested. That is, until...

Tracting once again! We had picked a street that we were determined to hit in its entirety, so we did. While there, we met a six year old girl who challenged my faith.

Little girl: "What're you guys doing?"
Me: "Talking about Jesus!"
"He died, right?"
"Yes, but He lived!"
"... Liar. Liar, liar, pants on fire!"

The taunts were almost too much for my fragile little testimony, but I pressed onward in faith. We came across two women having a smoke on their front porch, and chatted with them for a little bit. They were quite nice, and were very receptive to the Easter video about Christ (https://www.mormon.org/). We asked if we could come back, and one of them said, "My aunt is LDS and will be here on Sunday - you can come back then!" Rad. More on that to come...

We just got a call from Walmart saying they found my iPad. Yesssssss. The Lord provides, guys. It's true. Also, nice people are nice. 

Joel and Wakati were baptized on Saturday! Getting the baptism to happen was a massive headache due to rescheduling and finding rides and way more than we should have had to deal with, but it worked out. It was out in Frenchtown, and it was marvelous. There were many of Joel's friends there, also from the DRC, and it was a neat thing to see the difference in culture. After the performance of the baptismal service, they gave some light claps and cheers of joy. It was awesome to see such excitement and joy over the gospel and the joy of Christ. The ward is so excited to have the Kambale family in the ward - so many people have told me that they just sparkle, and bring such a good spirit with them! Bishop Calkins is excited to welcome them in, and talked to us and said, "I think this is exactly what the ward needed. A little excitement over the Spirit of God and the gospel and missionary work." I'm stoked for teaching the wife through the language barrier, and I think many of his friends would also be interested. Pray for us...

That woman we mentioned who said we could come back? Well, we did come back! We had just missed her family, but she grabbed a smoke or three and joined us outside on the porch. We visited casually with her again, and then asked if we could share a message about the gospel. She accepted, and we were going to teach the Restoration, but she asked some questions, and we were ultimately impressed to share the Plan of Salvation instead. She said, and I quote, "I love this! You guys are awesome. This is what I believe, but better!" Yes, yes that is exactly what it is! She invited us back this evening to teach her again, and we left her with a Restoration pamphlet and an invitation to pray about the message. 

This whole week, I have been enthralled with the goodness of the Lord. He loves us, and He loves all of his children. When we are willing to do what we're supposed to do, He will provide. 

I've also been thinking about the relationship between virtue and power. The root word for virtue actually means strength. When we are virtuous, always abounding in good works and being filled with light, truth, knowledge, and goodwill, we are privy to the power of God. When Christ was on the earth, His miracles were performed through virtue. When we are virtuous, we are endowing ourselves with power from on high. I have more thoughts on this, but I don't know how to explain them, and I don't know if they're horribly important to eternal salvation. Ask me sometime, though! We'll have a conversation. 

Keep being awesome. Love you all. Rock and roll ~

-Elder Burch π

"...Everything, everything will be alright."

"Depart from iniquity and journey to higher ground."
Joseph B. Wirthlin

Hood ornament

With Elder Wells

Snacking Selfie

"I'm through accepting limits 'cause someone says they're so..."

Good day to those from any and all tribes of Israel,

        This week was jammed packed full of learning experiences and
introspection. Let us begin with exchanges.

        Last Monday through Wednesday morning, I had the privilege of
participating in exchanges with the Zone Leaders. I went into their
area with Elder Stone, and the learning began from the getgo. Elder
Stone knows what is up. He works hard, and I think I truly learned the
meaning of the phrase "talk with everyone" found in Preach My Gospel.
In finding, teaching, and lunch, Elder Stone sought to open his mouth
to proclaim the truth of the gospel to everyone. A little awkward
sometimes? Yes, absolutely. Heck, he talked to a woman in Jimmy John's
about the gospel and gave her a Book of Mormon. Notwithstanding any of
the awkward, such attempts to open his mouth led to finding several
new people who are interested in the gospel. The example of diligence
and obedience was awesome to see. It'll be a bit before I fully
internalize it for myself, but now I know what it looks like and I can
strive to be that way in the future.

        District meeting was on Wednesday, and it was awesome! We got to know
one another, and discussed ways that we can better teach by the Spirit
and follow promptings to do the Work. I have always enjoyed
interaction in district meetings, so that's the way we do them - with
lots of crowd interaction and camaraderie. This district, too, is
amazing. Seriously, I couldn't ask for anything better. The perfect
mix of consecrated and personal, excited and humble, diligence and
desire. These Elders and Sisters really tear it up. I think the
district put three people on date for baptism in the last week! (Shout
out to the YSA Elders for having two of those.) I'm so stoked about
this district and can't wait to work with them more. This transfer
doesn't have too much longer, though! So lame! I hope that it'll still
be as awesome after things get shuffled a bit. I know they will be -
I'll make sure I have a loving attitude and make it awesome.

        The Kambale family is doing splendidly! We were able to help them
watch three sessions of Conference (from last October) in their native
language of Swahili, and they very much enjoyed it! Joel,
specifically, retained quite a bit from what he saw, and we're just so
excited for them. Interviews on Tuesday. Their baptism is set for
Saturday at one o'clock. It has been so long since I've seen one of
those that it doesn't seem real. Gah, so amped for that!

        There is a cute place around town called Big Dipper Ice Cream. It is
super good. Expensive, sure, but super good. Which brings me to my
next point: An eating plan. Elder Ray and I have decided to institute
a plan for eating healthier. Sure, this includes things such as
limiting eating out to once a week and adding fruit to our diets and
having salads for lunch, but one of my most favorite parts of this
plan is our Tuesday night reward plan: Tuesday nights is designated as
Big Dipper night. Worth it for the ice cream.

        General Conference was superb, per usual. It's hit me a lot more
since being a missionary. I'll share one of my many insights, and that
was from President Joy Jones. She commented that being able to resist
temptation and use repentance - and teaching these important things to
our children - comes in four steps. First, we must recognize the
importance of resisting sin and repenting when we mess up. Second, we
must understand the doctrine. An understanding of the doctrine of
Christ and the reality of His atonement puts repentance in its proper
light as a joyous way to help us become clean and better ourselves.
Third, we must practice personal daily discipleship. Each day requires
new courage and new strength to face the trials of our day, and
remembering the basic things like scripture study, charity, Sabbath
observance, family home evening, and giving service helps us to keep
our focus on what is important, and keeps us anxiously engaged in a
good cause. Remember that it isn't enough to merely not do bad, we
must actively seek to do good. Finally, fourth, she stressed the
importance of integrity in daily life and in making and keeping sacred
covenants with the Lord. Such covenants are promises that we will
strive to be our best each day, and to follow our Savior, and when we
are loyal to those covenants, when we have the moral integrity to
follow what we know to be true and right, we are blessed with the
Lord's promise of showers of blessings upon us in return.

        I love conference, when we are able to hear the words of the Lord
through His duly ordained servants. This gospel is true, ladies and
gentlemen. God is at the helm. We have no need to fear.

        Thank you for your continued love and support. Rock and roll ~

-Elder Burch π

        "... Some things I cannot change, but 'til I try, I'll never know."

Lunch at Hoagieville with Elders
Ray, Stone and Ison

The Kambale Family!
Look at them mimicking my 'rock n roll' hands!

Praise Kambale. Her name is Praise.
How cool is that?

Stop. Hammer Time!

My General Conference Facebook Post