“...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

"Take me down to the paradise city..."

Ladies, gentlemen, and other assorted grasshoppers,

After three transfers - 18 weeks - my stay in Buffalo, Wyoming is coming to a close. It is time to open the next chapter, where I will serve in Montana, the state in which I was actually called to serve. (Montana is a lawless, yet God-fearing state. God, of course, having been introduced to Montana in 1874. Montana's main export is rocks. Germany was discovered in Montana!) More specifically, I will be serving in the Missoula 5th Ward, where I will continue as a district leader. I have heard many things about Missoula, ranging from, "Oh, you're going to the zoo!" to "It's really pretty there," to "Have fun with all the college students." We'll see how this goes. Google Maps tells me that Missoula has three record stores, though, so that will be an adventure. (Pls send money.) Missoula is a city of something like 70,000 people, which is much closer to my speed. I guess we'll see how I like it after being in sleepy Buffalo for so long. Regardless, I am both excited and not excited for the nine-hour van ride. Pray for the people of Missoula - they won't know what hit them!

A quick eulogy to Elder Campbell: Elder Campbell has made this last transfer an absolute joy, and I am so grateful for the fun that we have had serving and working together. Buffalo will flourish under his stewardship, I am sure. I feel a little gypped that we only get one transfer together, but I guess good things must come to an end. I'm sure President was considering transfers, came across our companionship, and though, "Oh, heck no, that companionship is far too much fun to last!" Sigh. If only, if only...

Alright, so for this week: We had exchanges. That is all.

For Elder Campbell's kindabirthdaysortof (he was born on February 29th), we had dinner with the Thomas family. They make pulled pork sandwiches and we had an awesome cake! It was a good time. I am sad to be leaving the Thomas family.

Elder Campbell and I had story time and read a book called Because Jesus. Shout out to the lovely person who sent said book my way! It was a good time. We now feel a renewed sense of purpose for serving our Lord.

Elder Campbell won at Scrabble (finally, also again), making the record for this transfer Bette: 3, Elder Burch: 2, and Elder Campbell: 2. This is significantly worse than last transfer against Bette, where I used my superior skills to best both her and Elder Ferrara six out of ten games. I guess one has to share the wealth a little bit.

We had a lesson with Megan and Branden. (Side note: Megan and Branden are one of the major things that make leaving hurt a little. Sure, I'm ready for a change of scenery, but Megan and Branden are not only progressing investigators, but they're my friends. Continue to pray for them, please.) We had a lesson with them where we read from 2 Nephi chapter 2, and we discussed the miracle of Christ's atonement and what it means for us. We then talked about baptism, and the blessings which come from following this commandment from God. Along with that, we detailed for them the requirements of baptism, and what the promised covenant entails for them. After this, we left them a challenge: Pray together and separately, and come up with a date for baptism. Once you do, we'll set goals and make plans to help you to progress towards baptism on that date. They accepted, and I think that they are quite sincere in their desires to follow Christ. They accepted, and mentioned once again how us teaching them has been a blessing in their lives. We will be eating with them tonight. We have been commissioned with bringing the rootbeer floats.

We took a hike! It was very nice!

The church got all smokey toward the end of sacrament yesterday. It was quite odd.

Aiden, the kid of a returning less-active family, is progressing as well.

I think that is all I have for now. Spiritual thought: The atonement is sufficient to help us to change and become the best people we can be if we are willing to let it change us. "Let it change us" sounds like a passive invitation, but it is the exact opposite: It requires effort on our part to bring our will and action in line with the Lord. Josiah in the Old Testament was appointed king at 8 years old. Eighteen years into his reign, he found the book of the Law of Moses - the law that Israel was supposed to be following. Josiah looked around at the wickedness and idolatry of the people perpetuated by decades of unrighteous kings, and decided things needed a change. Through his efforts, he was able to return Israel to following the Lord, if only for a short time. No matter how far you feel like you've sunk, you can always return to the Lord and He will accept you with open arms, just like the Israelites.

I realize more and more how proud I am of my home state. Whenever anyone mentions Arizona, I give the "rock on!" hand sign and mention something about how great it is or how it is the promised land. Elder Campbell told me the other day, "You are so proud of your stupid state that I bet you bleed red, white, and Arizona." To that, I say simply this: Heck freak yeah I do!

Keep being awesome. Rock and roll ~

-Elder Burch π

"... Where the grass is green and the girls are pretty. Oh, won't you please take me home!"

Disclaimer: The grass may be green in Missoula, MT, but the Arizona skylines and desert vistas are still unmatched. Also, Arizona girls.

Look at that handsome face.

Some rad people we met on our hike!

Because Jesus.

Look! It's old Uncle Sam, wielding the
slightly-faded-but-oh-so-American flag!

Goodbye, Sheridan. It's been a good run.

"These things will change. Can you see it now?"

Welcome to transfer number three in Buffalo, Wyoming, and transfer
number one with Elder Malcom Campbell. Before you ask, yes, he falls
in the middle.

        The last few days with Elder Ferrara were good, though a little sad.
He was leaving his first area, a place where he'd been for a solid
four and a half months, so I don't blame him. He is now off to the
land of Thermopolis, home of the world's largest natural hot springs.
Too bad missionaries can't go swimming! I told him to just have a
baptism and do it in the springs. That'd work!

        Transfer days are always really weird. Elder Emms, Elder Christensen,
and I were in a trio in Sheridan for the day until the transfer van
showed up with Elder Campbell, my new companion, in tow. Elder
Campbell is an author and a world-builder, and his constant cynicism
is both entertaining and occasionally worthy of an eye-roll. Elder
Campbell and I have been doing quite well! We get along and all that,
and all that. We've been making too many references to Homestar
Runner, an internet site of our youth. "Yous was tryin to jank me!"
and "Yeah, *shaped* like there's a bite taken out of it!" have become
popular phrases in the apartment. It's been good.

        As far as investigators go, things are pretty much going as well as
they have been. Not many new developments to mention as of now, but
that will change! See, I've entered that stage of district leadering
where I have decided to talk with each companionship in the district,
have them set a goal or two for the transfer, and that I will attempt
to match their goal if at all possible. The idea being that this might
create more unity and be a good way to encourage all in the district,
as well as make it easier to keep each other accountable. So, the
Sheridan 3rd elders set the goal to give away an entire box worth of
copies of the Book of Mormon in the transfer, which translates into
about forty books. That is a difficult goal, I think, but I'm
committed if they are. So, here we go! The missionary work in the
Sheridan district is going to be the hottest in the entire mission!
Here's to a brand new vision!

        Spiritual thought: Israel can't seem to get it right. They're wicked,
are put into bondage, repent, and are delivered, and then it happens
again. In reading this, I get really frustrated with Israel and how
quick they are to forget, but then I think about us. We hear a general
conference talk that touches us deeply, but how long do we let the
ideas and teachings become part of our everyday lives? The talk on
refugees, Holland's talk on home teaching, or others - how quick are
we to forget these things? Let us not be like Israel, and let us
remember and observe the things we are taught.

        Keep rocking and rolling.

-Elder Burch π

        "... The walls that they put up to hold us back will fall down..."

Bette at the care center! We just finished a game of Scrabble and
she won, making the record 6-3 in favor of Elder Burch π.

Off in the distance...

Elder Campbell and I

"All he kept talking about was glory days..."

Good day to everyone!

        Transfer news is in, and I will be remaining in Buffalo, Wyoming, but
Elder Ferrara is heading off. To where, you ask? He is off to
Thermopolis! Elder Ferrara is a fantastic missionary, and I am excited
to hear of all the good work that he'll do on the west of the Big Horn
Mountains. We'll be dropping him off Tuesday night. It's been a good
run, Elder Ferrara. Thank you for all the good times and the things
I've learned from you.

        The other night, our friend John fed us escargot! It was a first for
both Elder Ferrara and I. I liked it a good bit, actually! I mean, I
probably wouldn't go out of my way to purchase and cook it for myself,
but if I came across it at a party or restaurant or something, I'm all
over that! Elder Ferrara, on the other hand, described his experience
like this, "It wasn't horrible, but I don't exactly like the taste of
dirt." John is cool. He's the French guy that has been mentioned in
emails past. (So, if Tinley is reading this, yes, his name is spelt
"Jean." Like Jean-Luc Picard, I think.) He isn't interested in
changing, so we don't spend much time with him, but we drop by here
and there to let him know that we think he's cool and that we're his
friends. Maybe in a future life he'll be able to take the seed we've
planted and grow it into a testimony.

        Also on the topic of new foods, I had crab legs with Bishop the other
day. That was actually way more fun and tasty than I had expected.
Kind of a weird dining experience, but worth it.

        So, these investigators we're working with? One of the big things
that we were going to hit in a lesson with them is chastity - they're
not married. Guess freaking what? They showed up at church the second
time, and had rings on. They've got the papers and are aiming to tie
the knot soon! That makes everything so much easier for us. Phew.
Also, super exciting! They're progressing so well, and we love
visiting with them. Apparently we make good cookies (just add water
cookie mix, man), so we brought them cookies with the Restoration
movie the other day. More updates on them to come!

        Elder Ferrara is going to change the world with his inventions one
day. That's all.

        In the Old Testament, there are chapters upon chapters emphasizing
this simple truth: "And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken
diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do
all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy
God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all
these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt
hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God." -Joshua 28: 1-2
It really is that simple. If we are obedient, we will be blessed. The
Lord is bound when we follow His commandments (D&C 82:10). Look for
ways you can improve and follow God more closely!

        Rock and roll ~

-Elder Burch π

        "... Oh, they'll pass you by..."

The District. RIP

Puppies!

A child! (That I am definitely not holding
in accordance with missionary rules.)

The best investigators on this side of the Big Horns.

The Escargot Adventure

"It's a big world, that was a small town..."

Happy Halloween!

        First, if you have not read the other email - "Over the mountain and through the woods..." - please do so.

        On Saturday, after we had concluded bowling at the Wyoming Retirement Center, Howard came up to us. Howard is a resident there, and he talks fast. He likes to joke around with us. The week before, he refused to actually bowl because we didn't show up at exactly "1400 hours." So, Howard approaches us and tells us that he had taken a picture of me on his little flip phone and wanted to send it to us. We told him our number, which he quickly repeated back to us. We laughed, waved goodbye, and went to the other side of the center to do bowling in the south wing. While bowling there, I feel the phone vibrating with a call in my pocket, but I don't answer it because we're bowling. Minutes later, it buzzes again, and I notice that it is the same unknown number. Figuring that it must be important, I step aside and just barely miss the call. The caller had left a voice message, though, and so I listen to it... Yeah, it was Howard. He also texted us a few times:

        "THANK. JACK. 1400 hr on. 10 29. 30. CLIP"

        (Jack is Elder Andrews's first name. Howard insists on calling us by our first names. "CLIP" stands for Chronically Late Insane Person, which Howard began to call me after last week.)

        "KEEP. UP. THE FAITH. PLEASE. GOD. H. 116."

        "GIVE. JACK AND STEVE MY BEST. A. JOB WELL DONE! 10.29.16 14 hr"

        Oh, Howard. We love you and think you're awesome.

        Sunday was the dedication of the Star Valley temple, which we were privileged to view from the Worland stake center. Bertie, our recent convert and friend, was able to attend! She's excited to do family history work and go to the temple to perform ordinances that her ancestors are then free to accept or decline in the next life. I'm so grateful for her and her desire to serve Christ and to follow His ways. The gospel truly blesses individuals and families.

        Sunday morning was also the morning of the big call. We looked at our phone at 8:21 am and realized that we had missed a call from President Wadsworth at 8:03 am. Crap. I called back and got his voicemail, and left a hasty message that more or less consisted of, "Hey President! Sorry we missed your call; we won't miss your next one." Presently, he called back, wanted to speak with me, and let me know that I would be finishing the final six weeks of training of another missionary, and that I would be transferred into Buffalo, Wyoming. Transfers will happen on Wednesday. I hope I'm up to this. I'm positive that part of this assignment is to put me into better shape, too, so here's to me being better than ever with Christ's help!

        Thank you all so very much for your love and support and prayers. They are definitely felt. Keep being awesome, follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost, read your scriptures daily, and look for God's hand in your life.

        With that, I close mine epistle. God speed.

-Elder Burch π

        "... There in my rear view mirror disappearing now."

Elder Berrett and I went on exchanges on Tuesday!
Good to be back with that dude for a day.

The deer face off.

Dot's baptism from a little back.

Dot's new family!

District Picture!

Elder Andrews and I decided to have a sleep over in our living
room. I can't remember the last time I built a fort...

Homemade tortillas by Elder Andrews

Boo!

The Shelley family. I'm gonna miss them.

Halloween Costumes - Creativity at its finest!

We're handing out candy with our friends at 
Bonnie Blue Jacket. This is Royce. I tied his tie for him.