Feeling Blessed


Can't help feeling blessed with our first little grandson, Greyson William Godfrey!  He arrived October 20 (4 weeks early but healthy), 7:29 a.m., 6 lbs. 14 oz., 20 in. long!  Those grandparent feelings of wanting to be there were quickly replaced by an assurance that the Lord had things in His hands, so let it go.  Besides, daughter Ali was on a plane within hours and she's the best "mom coach" we know!  Thank Ali!
Mary Ann and Greyson
Big sister Olivia with Aunt Ali, fascinated by baby Greyson

We are also feeling blessed that we get to be with these amazing YSA's and attend so many different wards, stakes and YSA classes.  On Sunday October the 15th we went to Aeroview Ward and met a tiny YSA sister from the Philippines who got her degree in and is working as a Traffic Engineer!  She's a powerhouse!  We also attended the Manakau YSA Ward.

Manakau YSA Relief Society beauties, love them!

Our last week of teaching Institute before Summer Break was full and filling in more ways than one.  Classes were rich with the spirit and events at the Institute were rich with edibles!  After our Tuesday night classes there were chocolate and cinnamon sticky buns and a huge fruit salad (not a crumb left).
Do they look hungry to you?

Wednesday Devotional where we rewarded faithful Institute attendees.
Jason, Ron and Isi filling (and eating) bags with "lollies" for awards at devotional



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.  Vance on our morning walk.  Never tire of the different scenes every day.  Came across another jelly who didn't quite make it back with the tide 
Visited Harbour Stake Institute on Thursday night.  One of our YSA's is Jordi Webber.  Got to know him better, he actually helped teach part of the lesson, really sweet and humble.  He just got back from Comic Con in New York because he is one of the Power Rangers. Used to be in the NZ band Titanium. (He'd be a great star in your next movie TC or Jared :) )

This weekend is LABOR DAY holiday here in New Zealand.  Everyone heads out of town for holiday, from camping to horse and car races, to the beach and beyond, though it is raining :(.  There was no Institute so we spent Friday morning with some of the Senior Missionaries from the Area Office going to the "Woodcarvers", a sweet little man from Bethlehem, a Palestinian Christian who left Bethlehem to raise his family in the safety of New Zealand.  Now his family is grown, he and his wife hope to head back "home" soon.  He carves wood just like Omar in Bethlehem.  He has an orchard where he grows olive trees to use in his carving plus a little flock of sheep and a big tropical orchard of taro, grapes, banana, aloe vera about 8 feet tall, mandarin, date palm,  lemon and __??quat trees .  He also uses Kauri and local wood as well.  Fascinating story and man and quite a craftsman.  Carves lots of LDS temple ornaments and Mori nativities.
Maori Mori Nativity carved by Jiries
Jiries Gicaman the wood carver
In the woodshop
In the orchard
Holding the new lambs with Jiries
Pretty sweet to watch as Jiries (the shepherd) has only to whistle and call the sheep and ... waa laa.. 
..they come to his voice
The 8 foot aloe vera plant.  I got a cutting.
This guy is the Ram.  He has been naughty so he's in "time out" away from the moms and lambs, not happy about it either.

Jiries picking us some kind of ____quat fruit to eat.  Small orange and like an apricot, really pretty good. 

We helped the Auckland 1st Ward in Manakau YSA's with their 4 day mini conference.  Friday night was a dance and who would have guessed that the 38 years Vance taught Junior High dance would have been training for our mission???  He taught the YSA's dance etiquette and how to waltz, cha-cha, and the Boot Scoot'n Boogie!  They especially LOVED the Boot Scoot'n Boogie (wanna be cowboys).  They had a dance the next night with another stake and they showed off all their new dance skills to the awe of the other YSA's!.  Now they have scheduled us again and they want MORE!  Too fun!
Coach Downs teaching the dance finesse 
 
We attended the temple with them on Saturday and then spoke at some workshops on Sunday evening.  Taught and learned even more from them about how service can lift you from your own pain and cares and heartache and suffering.  They had a choir sing for part of the meeting...wow, these Poly's can sing!  One of them arranged some hymns that were pretty amazing.  Afterward they had another "feast", the food kind.  They love to eat and we love to be with them!  We are discovering some of things the Maori love to eat...lots of meat and unique desserts.  We'll share more.  We are learning the Maori cheek-to-cheek hug/kiss.



Also on Sunday we attended the Takapuna Ward to hear one of our YSA's, Kate Hammond speak.  On the program speaking was also Elder Scott Seamons who is the executive secretary to the Area Presidency (and our traveling friend).  Because of that, the entire Area Presidency attended along with the Mission President, President Walker.  It was a powerful meeting and nervous little Kate did a great job.  Her message was to let go of the "things" that bind you down.  She asked us to imagine stuffing all of our "things" in a big backpack...clothes, computer, books, even our house.  It gets pretty heavy.  Now imagine that the backpack starts on fire.  What few things would you hope to save?  Our burdens would be much lighter if we quit trying to carry and take care of so many "things"

We love you all.  Happy birthday to many, especially Cindy Hess...realized there are many Cindy Hess's... our Cindy connected to Brad (this week), Jim (last month), Nate (not sure when her bd is), and on and on.  Happy to all of them and anybody else celebrating!
So blessed to be serving here and serving the Lord and these great people!  We really are SO BLESSED!

Love,
Vance and Louenda
Elder and Sister Downs

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