Black and White

The YSA 1st ward in Manakau had a go-all-out-and-dress-your-best “Black and White” Ball (and again we got to teach a dance).  We had never seen them looking so smashing! It was pretty dramatic, everything was black and white.  

 Bishop and Sister Tu'Tai and his counselor Brother and Sister Taniela.  These folks (with other counselor Bro. and Sis. Ezekiela) keep some pretty late hours with YSA's, and if they had a dollar for every YSA activity they go to, they would be millionaires...well rich and blessed for sure, at least. 
Had an incredible food spread that went on and on...was actually in color but here it is in black and white.
The old black and white dance teachers.
Took us back to being little kids when our first TV was black and white, and photographs were black and white too.   I only remember movies at the theater in color, but there are heaps of movies that were originally made in only black and white.   It wasn’t long until we welcomed color into our TV sets and printed lives, but images of black and white are still everywhere.  They are dramatic.  
The clarity of the ebony and ivory piano keys.  


3 above web photos
When many refer to "it's black and white", they mean it's clear, plain, and not hard to decipher and to see.


 White needs black and black needs white to have a dichotomy and be seen clearly. 
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 There would be no "ying and yang" sign if the paper was all white or all black. 
There is a saying that says ‘In order for the Light to shine so brightly the darkness must be present’.  
You can’t judge something is white unless you have black to compare it to and vice versa.  How would you know light unless you understood about dark. You can’t have bad unless there is good to compare or judge it by.  We’ve found its impossible to really know happiness and good days unless you’ve had misery and bad days in comparison, you can't have punishment if there is no law.  Opposites really do clarify each other, and “there must need be opposition in all things.”  
(2 Nephi 2:11)  

 Opposition in all things...from the weather to our relationships, from our health to all of our daily choices.  It doesn't make life easier, but it can make life clearer and us stronger... 

web photo   
White dog, black stick...wet beach.



White dog in wet water

Black and white dog who couldn't stop jumping for a slimey tennis ball...easily could jump 3 feet!
This dog could have been in the circus! 
This picture is a bit fuzzy of the moon over Auckland as Vance was "flying" us down the motorway to the Black and White dance.
But it helps you see the difference between white and black, dark and light.  
An all black night or all white picture would have no composition.  Opposition helps us see better.

More black and white...not sure but maybe Maori hitching posts?
It's black and white where these pretty ladies will be every Thursday night...at Institute!  On a dark winter night they are full of light (and smiles and make us feel loved). 

Inspecting Missionary Flats - 

We get to help inspect missionary flats every 6 weeks.  Many of the missionaries are from the surrounding islands of Tonga, Fiji, Samoa and the Philippines. 
Some of the black and the white we found...
Checking their closets as part of the inspection THOTL taught us a lesson.
This is a typical sister missionary closet, clean, and fairly full...  
Taken back when we opened this little "black and white" closet belonging to a humble sister newly called to the mission field from Fiji...her full selection of clothes.

The great Lincoln Ward YSA Sunday School class on Sunday.  Teachers Nga and Sandra Hirinuki.  Their love for these YSA was pretty clear..black and white.  After Sunday School they then invited us to...


..their Lincoln Ward YSA FHE night at the Hirinuki's home later in the week.   Israel took the selfie, he's only 13, but he and Elder Downs talked NBA forever.  He knew all about the old guys like Larry Bird and Karl Malone, sweet!  Made Vance feel young.

More with the Hirinuki's...even when its freezing cold inside and out you'll see a lot of bare feet.
Institute at Manakau Stake, holding favorite chocolate bars.  Elder Downs and I got invited to teach the institute class when we arrived-maybe THOTL that we were there when the teacher didn't come. (Scout motto is true...be prepared...yikes). 
These were the YSA who later that week transformed into Cinderella and Prince Charming's for the "Black and White Ball".  Should have taken a shot just of them at the dance.  You wouldn't have recognized them.

OF NOTE...  HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Today, July 1, would have been Lou's dad (Wendell Hess)'s 90 birthday.  Happy heavenly birthday to angel and grandpa whose influence we still feel.
web photo
And this week marks the 242nd birthday of our homeland, the USA!
  Happy birthday as well!

Institute Winter Graduation

Auckland (Takapuna) YSA 2nd Ward provided the amazing choir for the graduation.

Our graduates front row left to right: Tala, Urim, Kate, Foeata, Horowai and Tetoki.  Back row: Nancy, Laura, Tahir, Caleb and Ron (+two missing, Amanda and Halamana).  Great YSA's!

Probably one of our last trips to this wonderful place of light, the Hamilton Temple.  A light in the dark of a rainy day.
With all of the darkness of the winter rain storms it was nice to get a New Zealand spectrum of light ... we've seen a few of these lately. 
Often we hear tell that the Lord's laws and commandments are not vague or shades of gray, but pretty "black and white".  That really is a delight if you are wanting to follow Him and need to know which way to go. 

God's Plan insured us agency and freedom to choose.  Christ sacrificed much so we could make choices, even mistakes and blunders, and still get back on track and make it home.  
In the wake of all the recent voting at home, its a good reminder that it really does come down to our choice-our vote, we have the freedom to decide which way we will go...
We know some choices are black and white and some take some pretty serious pondering, prayer and patience for answers and direction.  Hang in there, the clarity and the "black and white" will come.  You can know.
He lives.
All our love,
Vance and Louenda
Elder and Sister Downs










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