"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.

"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..."

Howard and I. He was on a bit more medication than usual.

Me, Margie, Cathy, Howard, and Elder Andrews

The Approaching Curve of Winter

Elder Andrews eating cereal with chopsticks

At the Basin JH football game

Companionship goals

The loving family with Elder Andrews

Us and the Frame family

Sister George's cat thinks it is a parrot. We did not put the cat there, it just jumped up.