Enlisted

First of all apologies for typo's and a scripture that should have read Roman's 8:16 (not 15)

And many thoughts and prayers to friends who laid to rest dear ones (Yvonne, Jeanna, and Sonia and others)

💗💗💗

Enlisted!

Through the course of a lifetime we make many choices to enlist (to join or sign on to ventures or causes). We enlisted in the ranks of human beings when we chose to follow Christ and come to this earth.  We started enlisting in ventures and causes from the moment we took our first breathe: to learn to walk, talk, to get an education, a job, be on a team, or even a team fan, achieve, excel, or just survive.  We all find the causes we feel are worth fighting for and we enlist.

We were “enlisted” this week in a YSA 1st Ward camp at Parua Bay in Whangeri, “His Royal Army”.  It was a pretty amazing experience given it rained heaps and they don’t make 6’8” bunks.  

A bit of color at the camp

We even had obstacle courses and drills (feeling our age). 

Our Unit was Unit D and we loved them all!  Here we are conquering the kayak carrying hike.  The hike was possibly a mile through water and then a hard gravel road.  Notice how many are wearing shoes... youch! 

Unit D ....stands for DISCIPLES

They love Elder Downs to teach them new dances and they love to dance with everyone…no one sits out and they make sure of that.  They really like each other.  And they are great dancers! 

The wharf and boats near the camp.

In addition to the physical challenges we had some incredible workshops.  There were some tender personal stories of immense struggles from mental, spiritual, lifestyle, and physical challenges to addiction recovery. These young people are inspiring, and from the word of the Lord and personal experience they advised us to:

-Keep on your “armour” (Ephesians 6), don’t take it off even for a moment, the enemy is waiting to move in when you are unarmed and vulnerable.

Our banners

-Be willing to bury your weapons of war, your weapons of rebellion (quit fighting against God). What are your “weapons” that need to be buried for good?

-A great captain in the scriptures hoisted a banner of what he and those who enlisted with him were fighting for. (Alma 46:12-13. And Alma 60:36). Then came the haunting question: 
WHAT ARE YOU FIGHTING FOR? 
Is it a thing, a selfish motive, power, position, fame, fortune ...?

 This great YSA teacher shared a very personal story of a time when she was ready to give up the fight, physically and spiritually.  It was all too hard and she stopped, literally, in a heap on a path she was hiking and said out loud she was DONE.  She felt she had nothing left in her.  Physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually she was exhausted.  At that moment she was given a sweet vision of her future, a glimpse of what could be if she didn’t give up. She was told to get up, that she could do it.   Pretty tender.  The Lord will do that in one way or another for all his “recruits” if you trust Him.  He will help you SEE beyond just this battle. 

We each made our own banner of what it is we’re fighting for. Really made us think and gave us a perspective of what the future can hold if we are committed and fight for the right things. 

Unit D

THOTL: We were also reminded that when you enlist you are not alone, and in the right army, your captain and comrades will “have your back”. 

On our mission we have dubbed it “The Hand of the Lord” THOTL. 

As we got into the car to leave camp and drive the 2-3 hours home we did what we and many of you do, we said a quick prayer. ... and started to drive. Checking our phones we noticed a call Vance had been anticipating and we felt we should stop to call this person back.  Took us only 10 minutes and we were back on our way.  As we were driving out of Whangeri and getting on the motorway we began to be passed by 10 or so police cars followed by 5-6 ambulances. Then about 10 minutes down the road we came to a dead stop. There were maybe only 20 cars stopped in front of us and then the army of emergency vehicles. There had been a terrible accident just around a bend in the road from where we were stopped. The accident had happened about 10 minutes earlier.  We waited almost 1 1/2 hours. We talked to one gentleman who had witnessed the aftermath. There were multiple fatalities (at least 2 he knew about). When we finally begin moving  again and we were allowed to pass the crumpled guardrail, it became very real that had we not stopped to make a phone call, our timing would have put us at exactly the place and time of the accident ....this would have been us. The reality of THOTL was real and sobering.  We stopped to thank Him.  Have you ever wondered how many times you have been protected unawares?

Adding some photo's of the green countryside after heaps and heaps and heaps of rain.

A little pied cormorant on fish patrol.  These birds can dive as deep as 45 meters for fish dinner!

Never cease to be amazed at seeing Pine and fern and palm together on the same hillside.

It's a "Find Waldo" game.... can you find the bananas in both pictures?

NZ makes hiking pleasant with very well-kept trails and even handrails and steps.

The flora and fauna on the hike down the Waipu Gorge to Piroa Falls

Piroa Falls

There were only 3 of us on the trail that day, but only the two below made it to the falls...the guy above was just too "chicken"!

Another great meeting with old friends, Elder and Sister Blackburn have enlisted as missionaries to teach Vocational Ed. at the church school in Fiji and leave as soon as their visas come through.  Vance and Brent Blackburn taught school together for years at FJH!  Small World.

Caleb and Avea, two of our wonderful YSA's at the Institute got married this week.  They have officially enlisted in the ranks of "married" folk.  We went down to the Hamilton Temple for their wedding and sealing, and then....

Came back to join them at their reception, a SAMOAN wedding, with heaps and heaps of food, entertainment, family, and fun.

Avea's dad gave a sweet tribute to his daughter, followed by a challenge to enlist his skinny son-in-law to eat more.  He was cute. 

Wedding cake made by the bridesmaids.

Some of the entertainment.  Samoan dances are softer and more "Hawaiian" feeling than Maori Haka type dances.  The women have incredibly graceful hands.

We were given the top of the cake to share with all of Caleb and Avea's YSA friends at the Institute.

"Eons ago we all enlisted to leave heaven to come to this earth to get a body, be tested, and prove we would follow the Savior, our great Captain.  We heard a catchy but true saying once: 
"The MAIN thing is to keep the MAIN thing the MAIN thing."  
Have we forgotten the MAIN thing?
Who and what is right now your MAIN focus, your MAIN thing?  
The thing you are fighting for?  
 Don’t lose sight of that and stay enlisted...keep fighting the good fight.  
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12 

You can do it, enlist and (2 Tim. 4:7) Fight a good fight, finish the course, keep the faith.

We love you for your examples of courage and commitment to the good fight.

Vance and Louenda

Elder and Sister Downs