“Coming out of my cage and I’ve been doing just fine...”

Welcome to Great Falls!

The land where the wind blows cold and doesn’t stop. We live in a cozy apartment right down the street from the church. We cover the Two Rivers Ward here in town, and we cover the Cascade Branch, which extends almost to Helena. A picture will be included. 

Elder Lester is a fantastic companion. He is all about getting out there and getting the work done, doing his best to achieve goals. It’s been good. We’ve talked to quite a few people and invited them to come to Christ. We’ve met quite a few of the investigators and less active members that they have been working with in this area, and there are a lot of awesome people here! (Cool people named Chuck seem to be constant across all my areas. Weird.) Overall, I like it here! When we were going to visit an investigator, a guy called over to us and asked what we were doing. “Just visiting our friend across the street.” “Oh, okay.” And then he started trying to bash. I mean, c’mon! “Do you still think you have to work to get to heaven? Why don’t you have a cross on your church? The Bible says not to add! I’m just afraid you don’t believe in the right Jesus.” Seriously? “Sir, we believe in the Jesus spoken of in the Bible who died for our sins and was raised on the third day.” I am pretty okay with holding my tongue, but when people tell me I believe in a “different Jesus,” it bothers me. Ah, well. All’s well that ends well. 

Thank you for reading! Y’all are cool. Happy Thanksgiving!

Rock and roll ~

-Elder Stephen Burch π

“... gotta be down because I want it all.”

Elder Lester and I!

My area

The real Missoula OGs. Sister Miller is the only missionary
that was in Missoula when I got there and when I left.
We both served Missoula for 6 transfers, or almost 9 months.
Good times. 

Missoula’s Ward Mission Leader and his wife.
They were an awesome part of the Zoo, and will be missed.

“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.)

"I don't mind the weather..."

All creatures of our God and King,

This week was marvelous! It was actually really, really good.

I did an exchange in Polson, about an hour and fifteen minutes north
of Missoula. We had some good visits, helped a random woman rake her
lawn, and spent Halloween night with some recent converts handing out
candy. I didn't realize it until right before we got there, but I knew
the recent convert, because I had interviewed him for baptism a couple
months ago! It was cool.

We put two investigators on date for the 18th! Transfers are on the
14th, so we'll hope that I'm still around... I love Missoula.

Bible bashes are awful, even (especially?) when you feel like they're
going well. They are just always awful. That is all.

Overall, things are going well. I am really seeing myself improve more
and more each day. Thank you for all your prayers and support.

Rock and roll ~

-Elder Stephen Burch π

First real snow of the winter

We all got CPR certified at the Missoula Preparedness Fair!

The district

Painted power box

Winter Wonderland

Absconding with I'm A Mormon cards

"There goes my hero..."

All,

This week was really good. We had exchanges with the Ronan elders, and I was privileged to spend time with Elder Griffin, the new district leader. Elder Griffin has been out three transfers and he is an awesome missionary. We did a lot of good finding, including offering to rake peoples yards. Most of them were kind of confused, and some of the reactions were funny. "Hey, we're missionaries, and it is a beautiful day, so we are going out and doing service, because service is good. Can we rake your yard?" "..." "... for free?" "Oh, you don't have to do that!" (In my head) I know I don't have to. I'm dressed up in Sunday best, and I knocked on your door to ask you if I could rake your leaves. I understand that I don't have to do it. Now, can I rake your yard? It was a good time.

Later in the week, I went on another exchange with another Elder in the district. We did some really good finding, and found a potential or two. Finding has been slow, and we are looking to improve how we find people to teach.

We were asked to speak last minute in church, and so we had to prepare haphazardly. This was not made any better when the spirit told me that what I prepared was not good, and I needed to start from scratch and do this other thing. So I did. And I rambled. So my 12 minute talk turned into 20 or more. It's OK though. It went well. Our topics were on the priesthood, and so Elder Wheeler taught the restoration of the priesthood (basically the first missionary lesson) over the pulpit. It was great. I taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ, because baptism and confirmation and priesthood ordinances. Tangentially related, right?

Then the primary dressed us up. It was great. Elder Wheeler was Moses, and I was Dave Grohl. Elder Wheeler pointed out the similarities. He was right. I must've missed the part in the Old Testament when they talk about the Foo Fighters.

Jk, when my side of the primary sang the best, they were able to put on another piece of my costume, and I gave them one hint as to who I was. Let's play that game here! See if you can guess.

1. I was wise
2. I was a king
3. I was the son of David
4. I built a cool temple
5. I was a little too good with the ladies
6. I was a pretty solid king until I started worshiping idols...
7. ... And way overtaxing my people #taxationistheft
8. My name starts with an 'S' and ends with an 'olomon.'

Love you all! Rock and roll ~


"... watch him as he goes."

Backstage Picture

Us!

"Don't break character..."

Everyone!

Today was a good week. The signs of snow are upon us, as they creep their way down the mountains surrounding Missoula. It's like imminent death! 

On another note, I love Christmas time and everything that surrounds it and I can't wait for it to be here yay!

We had a lesson with the family with the two unbaptized kids that are working toward baptism! It was awesome. We taught the Law of Tithing, and the Spirit was strongest as the parents recalled their experiences with tithing and the blessings thereof. I'm excited to see how they progress.

I am having a much better time finding now. Good times. 

Overall, things are going much better than last week. This coming week sees many more transfers. 

Thank you all for what you do. Keep being awesome. 

Rock and roll ~

"So here I am struggling out in the mighty jungle..."

Someday I'll write more than just pictures. Ah, well. A picture is worth a thousand words, right?

Road back from MLC. Photo taken in Mullan Pass.

I looked out the window, and what did I see?

Zone conference!

Jason was baptized!
I had worked with him in 5th Ward for a long time.
It was a sweet moment.

Reunited with my assistant! I mean, companion.

-Elder Stephen Burch π

"...moving eighteen miles a minute but not slowing down for nothing."

"You wanna start over but never start over..."

What a week! Oh, man.

Transfers came, of course. Almost as sad as dropping off Elder
Rickenbacker, was driving the Man Van to transfers with Elder Ash
sitting in the co-pilot's seat, just like old times. Elder Ash inspires me 
to be my best. On top of that, he is just such a funny person, and I feel 
like I grew quite close to him in our two transfers together. Now, he's 
off on some adventure being the district leader over an area in Billings. 
Elder Ash is a shining example of Christlike attributes, and will do 
marvelously as a district leader. It was really rough to see him leave our 
zone, but I guess that other people deserve to experience the greatness 
that is him.

So, we drove to Helena on Wednesday to pick up the missionaries coming
to this area, minus the ones fresh from the MTC. (That comes later.)
It was a good time. I am a little concerned about one or two of them,
but I know that they have great companions, and that the Atonement is
real, and that we are all at different stages of spiritual
progression, and that the Lord will bless them as they seek to do
their best. After getting back from Helena (a two hour drive both
ways), my companion and I hardly had any time, because we had a dinner
with the Frenchtown stake president in Polson, so we had to drive
there and back (another three hours, total). Then, on Thursday, we
returned to Helena to get the new missionaries. THEN, we realized that
a missionary in Butte had put his stuff in one of the trucks going to
Missoula, so we had to meet them halfway to Butte on Friday, which was
another two hours of driving. In short, I am done with driving, and we
have MLC in Helena tomorrow. Great. And, I mean that both in reality
and sarcastically. Yes, I am not terribly excited to drive more, but I
do love the revelation and spirit that is present at MLC. And, it's
good to see people again.

Love you all. Rock and roll ~

"... So pull the trigger, it never gets closer..."

The MTC district, reunited at transfers

Helping people move

Stake breakfast

Elder Wheeler and I

One of the creepiest things ever

"Be still my heart, I age by years..."

All,

A stressful week full of stress, but also blessings. In short,
conference and a new investigator were proof to me that God is mindful
of me. 

I've been with the YSA Elders since Friday, after I took my Elder Rickenbacker 
to Helena and dropped him off with the mission shuttle headed home. 
That was one of the more emotional transfers of my mission. I loved 
Elder Rickenbacker. I guess I still do. Anyway, he completed his mission, 
and I'm waiting on transfers to roll around on Wednesday to get my new companion, 
Elder Wheeler. It'll be great.

For me, this weekend was honestly a weekend of answered prayers and
miracles. I've been a little down this week. Having a companion leave,
plus the additional thoughts of home because of his return, plus the
lack of success in my area, and my own self-defeating thoughts, I have
been not doing very well. Making the choice to go finding and talk
with new people has been a choice that seems grueling to make. So, I
went into conference with an open heart, and an open mind full of
questions that I felt needed answers.

As He always does when we have faith, the Lord showed me that He cares
about His children, and specifically cares about me.

Right out of the gate, President Uchtdorf talked about how we are
called to bring our brothers and sisters back home to God. He talked
about how our lives will be better when we let the Lord guide us in
making the lives of others better. He talked about how blessings don't
come because of our abilities, they come because of our choices. All
of his words sunk deep into my soul, and I felt like the Lord was
answering those questions of mine: How do I motivate myself to do the
hard things I know I need to? How do I search for the elect? How do I
overcome my own weaknesses?

From there, it just got better and better. John C. Pinger talked about
how the Lord has a work for each of us, and if we follow God's will,
discover and develop spiritual gifts, make use of adversity, and rely
on God, He will bless us and lead us where He knows we need to be.
Elder Holland delivered the final blow to my doubts when he reminded
us of how the Savior is merciful, and He only expects us to get closer
to perfection each day. We need not feel discouraged because we aren't
there yet, because Christ has given us the unfathomable gift of His
grace to help us along. That first session answered the questions of
my heart so perfectly, and I knew God was hearing my prayers.

The final confirmation came on Sunday, when we had a lesson with a new
investigator of the YSA. Her name is Emily, and we had the privilege
of teaching her the message of the Restoration. As we taught, and
talked about the love of Christ and His Atonement, we asked her, "What
would it mean to you if God called a prophet in this day just as in
days of old, and that the Church of Jesus Christ was on the Earth
today, just as in times of old?" She responded, "It would change
everything. I would know that there is solid, factual truth, and when
I have a question, I don't have to go to a pastor to hear his version
of it, because I can get the full, unbiased truth from the source."
With a copy of the Book of Mormon, we left her with a commitment to
read 3 Nephi 11, and to ask of God if this is true. She left eager to
do so. After she left, I broke into tears. That lesson was the final
confirming witness to me that I am good enough through Christ, and
that the Work is marvelous, and that there truly are people out there,
prepared by the Lord, who are seeking for the truth. My testimony has
grown that the Lord knows me and watches over me, and that He does the
same for all of His children.

That's the latest.

Pictures are worth a thousand words. I'll try to explain some of them.

Elder Rickenbacker and I were fighting dragons, metaphorically as
well as the blow-up kind. I miss him. "I had the time of my life
fighting dragons with you."

The Missoula Carousel from last week.

The Griffins and Elder Rickenbacker and I out for ice cream.

Elder Andrews and I, reunited!

Awesome members in the YSA having us for lunch/dinner.

YSA's new investigator, Emily!

"I don't care what they say about us, anyway..."

All,

Good week. Short email.

MLC was the most fantastic meeting. I feel like I received a ton of
revelation on how to work effectively and help the zone to do the
same. We got an entirely new Chapter 8 for Preach My Gospel, which is
only in a few missions thus far. It has a completely new, more
streamlined, technology-integrated approach to planning, which is more
focused on the individual. Also, Technology is no longer a gimmick in
the missionary work. Need proof? The 5th Ward Elders taught a lesson
over Skype and then a lesson over Facebook messenger the other day. It
was awesome.

I had a few experiences with blessings this last week. Besides giving a
few blessings at the hospital, the Sister Training Leaders got in a
bad wreck. It was raining, and their car was totaled. They were fine,
besides some bruising. Understandably shaken, though. I was on
exchanges with another Elder a that time, and he didn't feel
comfortable blessing, so I gave a blessing to both sisters. I felt
really led by the Spirit in those blessings and it was really neat. I
like the priesthood.

Interviews went way over. Our mission president is one of the most
amazing people to have ever been born. He is personable, and he cares
for each of us in the mission. He is awesome.

1st and 2nd Ward sisters stole our Lego people that we put on our
dashboard. It is war.

Rock and roll ~

-Elder Stephen Burch π
1101 Greenough Dr Apt E10
Missoula, MT 59802

"... I don't care about that..."

"I know places we won't be found..."

Everyone,

Short emails are the worst, best, pizza.

Attended the first ever Frenchtown Stake Conference. Missoula 4th Ward
is a part of the newly created Frenchtown stake. It's cool. "Guide Us, O Thou Great Jehovah" was the opening song of the priesthood session, and it might be my new favorite hymn.

New investigator lesson tonight! We are really excited for it.

It has been raining, and the rain has been quenching the fires. It has
been a blessing.

Finished listening to the Old Testament today! That's exciting.

Loving the work, and realizing that there isn't a ton of time left and
I need to do my best with what I am allotted.

Rock and roll ~

-Elder Stephen Burch π
1101 Greenough Dr Apt E10
Missoula, MT 59802

Eating sushi with Elder Rickenbacker

Eating a ghost pepper hot wing calls for chocolate milk.

Lego people on our dashboard.