Stars: The
International Astronomical Union this week gave its official approval for 86 new
star names, Stars Wars reappeared this week, we found a star fish
on the beach, and the first Christmas over 2000 years ago that came with a
star.
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(Outside the Beltway image)
One of the things we love about serving the Lord is that we
are trying to focus more on Him. Though
Christmastime makes us lonely for loved ones back home, the music (thanks Clyde
for downloading us the music…we LOVE it) of the nativity has a way of transporting
you to the Who and Why (the “star”) of Christmas, and that brings us light. Listen sometime and see how many words refer
to “stars” or “light” of some kind.
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(KellieNetherwood photo)
Outside
of the city lights New Zealand has some pretty cool heavenly lights. |
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The mariners here in the southern hemisphere looked to the stars, but it was the southern
cross not the north star that guided them. But north or
south, east or west, all the true guiding lights and the stars are His, whatever heaven or whatever pure light you view.
We are finding a new kind of
Christmas here in New Zealand, snow-less and warm, but there are still stars,
and light, and a baby Jesus. And it’s
all right.
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The red Christmas"star" blossom of the Pohutakawa trees
In
all our walks we are smitten by the thousands of red blossoms of the Pohutakawa
(NZ Christmas) everywhere! |
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| Pretty amazing this time of year, and native to the volcanic soil of New Zealand |
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| We
spent the last few days with Kathy and Clyde, walking our familiar Takapuna
beach. One morning Clyde met up with his friend from the Correlation Department, Elder
Halek. |
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| Then
we drove to Piha beach so they could see the black sand and the Tasman Sea. Notice the Pohutakawa there too. |
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| Piha |
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| After walking at Piha Beach we found two hungry missionaries and Clyde bought them lunch |
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On a Monday evening the 13 Senior Couples that live in the Shoal
Haven apartments sponsored a Christmas party for all of the residents in the
apartment building. We had a big crowd
and got to know new friends from England, South Africa, Russia, Iran, India,
Germany, Korea, China, South America and all over the world! Vance hit it off with a guy from England that has played guitar in a band for over 40 years. They talked guitar-talk.
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| Sister Winnie Graham, the story teller lady |
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| On Tuesday we walked at Mairangi beach with its strange rocks. |
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| Nature did this "Y" ,but we thought of BYU . Maybe it's an sign that there's more hope in the basketball season ahead.. |
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| We found among the shells a little star fish. Sometimes stars fall or land out of their
element and it’s good to put them back in their place…so after a picture that’s
what Vance did. |
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| It
was also time to send the "stars" of the Williams family, Kathy and Clyde, back
where they belong in time for their granddaughter's wedding. So we drove them to the airport and
reluctantly said our good-byes. My, but
we had some amazing adventures! |
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| More of the strange rocks at Mairangi. |
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Tuesday evening Lou attended the YSA 2nd ward
Relief Society (all the girls, no guys) Christmas party at Bishop Dil’s home.
Lots of new ones, among them is Amelia (second from left on the back row) here working as a nanny from Riverton
Utah!
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| This
week we helped out the Mission President by going around to some of the
missionary apartments and doing inspections.
It was pretty sweet. Most were
pretty humble dwellings and these young people worked hard to make them “home”
and keep them clean. We surprised one
group and their flat was in disarray, but we were taken back to find their
fridge and cupboards EMPTY! THOTL: the
day before we had been given some cash “to help out some young person who might
be in need”…these guys were really in need and the cash was a blessing from THOTL.
We went back the next day and the flat was spotless. Good on them! |
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| Near one of the missionaries flats was a typical hydrangea bush. They are huge and even grow along roadsides and we've even seen them in the wild! Mine NEVER looked like that at home. |
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| More of our missionaries in the flat inspection adventures |
We had some really sweet conversations with
these great young people, they were all so kind and happy and wanted to help US
if they could. We sure love all these
young people.
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| A bit more flora and fauna as it is summer . The hibiscus are in bloom as well as the Bindweed (below). The bindweed is a version of NZ morning glory and this one winding its way around an innocent banana tree. |
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We love when we get to spend evenings with YSAs at Institute classes. This one was an Old Testament class at the Harbour Stake.
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| Saturday morning biking regulars are a group that ride hard and then spend an hour or two at a nearby outdoor pub having breakfast afterward. |
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| The Summer Saturday morning swimmers club |
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Shared a YSA Christmas party with the YSA 1st
ward, a Mexican fiesta. The two salsa’s were really good, the kind with chips
and the dancing kind they taught us. We
were definitely not the “stars” of the dancing, but got a good workout. Some of these YSA’s were amazing!
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Most of you who read this will have, at one time or another,
spent the holidays far from home somewhere.
We have decided that its one of those hard things that can change you
for the good, as you think about who and what you love most. We have a little string of Christmas lights
on our balcony, each other, a heart full of loved ones we miss, a tiny tree in
our living room and lots of stars in the clear night sky. And we have the music and scriptures to
remind us why He came…so we think we really have all we need. We hope whether you are alone, or surrounded
by loved ones and snow and food and music and stories and all the trimmings
that you have enough “light” for your Christmas. He is the Light… and He lives. We know it, that’s enough.
Merry Christmas and all our love,
Vance and Louenda
Elder and Sister Downs
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