Let it Go

All of us have weeks, sometimes months, even years where life is so full you forget to stop, look up , and even breathe (when you get caught in that, you miss heaps of great things, like sky and clouds and air).   Because its been one of those here, the wise man of this pair said maybe this is a good week to pick some things and  "let it go"...  So this blog may be more of a simple lick and a promise with some photos of NZ

web site lordani0512

The motto for the week, thanks Elsa.

Edward John Poynter artist 1867
Seemed an appropriate week to "Let it go" as we are studying the Exodus and working on hosting a celebration of  "LET US GO" and Passover at our Institute (hence some of the intense schedule).  Its all good, or will be soon.   

At first we tried this, thinking we could do it all if we stayed up all night... but the wise man Vance insisted we "Let it Go".

Let me Go.  Meet little 9 year old Isaiah from the Papatoetoe 1st Ward . He is trying to raise enough money (in the 6 figures bless his heart) for a special operation in June in the US that can give him the ability to walk.   

Our good looking YSA's in the Papatoetoe 1st Ward.  The Bishop is holding his granddaughter on the front row.  Great man!

Remember the old "singing mothers' groups...well this is the singing missionary mothers.  We sang at an evening meeting celebrating the birthday of the Relief Society. Was fun and we did okay, but no one asked us to sign autographs.  Let it go.

KoKo Rice, a Samoan treat.  Tafi served it after one of our devotionals.  We didn't let it go, we tried it.  Yummy and very very sweet and chocolatey. 

Devotional faithfuls at Institute, about to eat heaps of Koko Rice.

Beach at Wenderholm Regional Park.   Heaps of drift wood

This is a little blue penguin, native to NZ.  They swim in the ocean in the day and come ashore at night.  Around May they come inland to mate and to build nests.  This year the unusually high tides (that cover up their homes and nests on the shores) and rough waters (tough swimming and finding food) are hard on these little guys.  For some reason there have been lots of them not making it.  We found one such little guy on our walk.  Made us so sad. 
Had to change our thoughts and think about where he was now, swimming in a happy place...sometimes you have no choice but to "Let 'em go".

More drift wood (heaps of it) at Wenderholm.

Also trees that seem to beckon old ladies to "Let it go" and climb them.

Wenderholm, Couldrey house

Big doll house

Many hats...sometimes we try to wear all of them at once.  May be good to "let a few go"

Child's room with heaps of big toys.  Remembering as a mom how heaps of things doesn't really make life easier.  It just makes you tired trying to manage it all.  Let it go.

Fun old kitchen

Hey, is the glass container half empty of buttons, or half full?

Old people on the old porch of an old house.

Old people on an old beach where the Maori used to live.

Downs and Stosich's at Wenderholm

Brillant Old Testament students make us all study to keep up with their questions.  Fun fact: The girl standing is named Urim.  He cute brother's name is Thumim. 

Tamaki Institute class.  Dominic's (seated in front) father passed away 3 weeks ago, a great man.  Have had more YSA's than we would expect who have lost parents.

Couldrey house

 

We had a great experience with Rudy this week.. Rudy is a young man from India, who was going to school here in NZ.  When he walked by the AIB and the Christus statue, though Hindu, he said he was touched by something and felt he needed to come inside.  Rudy was seeking some counsel and we had two occasions to talk with him.  This was definitely THOTL...one of those experiences that you ponder but don't publish.

Sometimes we worry about posting on Social Media. Social Media posts can be a lot like having a nice flashlight on a dark path. If you use your light to shine on the path you can help the folks "following" you to see better where they are going.  That's good.  But if you shine your light in their faces it could be a path-, vision-, or footing-stopper.  Not so good.
We don't ever mean this rookie blog to be anything but maybe an encouraging word, a few old people pictures or a chance to see a bit of NZ.  We apologize if it's ever more or less (we know its often less).  We know that some days we are all vulnerable and even innocent posts might seem like Face Shiners (FS) instead of Path Shiners (PS) and make us feel less than or not as good as others (maybe there should be a rating scale for posts..."Beware of contents, this is rated FS" or "This post is rated PS and safe for the very low self esteem").
SO?  On the rough days you may need to LET IT GO, including Social Media.
Enough of our words.  A few of His that we'll try better to adhere to especially in the words we "publish"
"...and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tiding of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be." And maybe, as a parting shot, "beautiful upon" the beaches and in the sunsets too.
We love you and hope your week is full of peaceful things and LETTING GO of stuff that's not needful.
Vance and Louenda
Elder and Sister Downs