Cans

It’s a new semester at the Universities, and for us at the Institute (AIB) as well. We set out on our mission thinking we could do and be everything, teach 10 classes each, climb every mountain and ford every stream the YSA's do, stay out late every night with them, go to every activity in all 13 stakes, write every night in our journals, eat 3 square meals a day and cook for the YSA too, change hearts, remember everybody's names and not miss our grandkids and all of you.   Well, we found out quickly we CAN'T.  We CAN barely teach 3 classes, we have bags under our eyes and we can't even pronounce most of their names, let alone remember them.
So we are learning to just concentrate on the CANS  The few things at least that we CAN do.    We can teach a bit (Vance is teaching classes on the Book of Mormon, Teachings of the Living Prophets, and The Eternal Family.  Louenda has Old Testament, the Restored Gospel and Christian History, and Teachings and Doctrines of the Book of Mormon), feed them, and we can love them.  We CAN do that.

And we looked around and found a few other CANS. 

A retention pond a block from our flat.  We're hoping we CAN retain more too...from names to living waters.

Vance was grateful he could say "I CAN" when Rick Periera (he had been sick for a long time) asked Vance give him a blessing.  (THOTL - a very quick recover and finally feeling good again)  That's one thing we CAN do.  And Sister Periera CAN cook...we know because we got to have dinner with them as well!

We said "We CAN help recruit for the BYU Hawaii fireside'", they planned on 20 but over 100 came and now heaps of YSA  know they CAN go to BYU Hawaii, in fact quite a few plan to do so.

Interesting to see how a little "bush" CAN climb a tall building.

You CAN find pink clouds in the quiet misty mornings around here.

Downtown Auckland has an ice skating rink in the winter with little red portable "ice walkers"...so everyone CAN skate  (even if its with a walker).  It's okay to get help.  If it some "thing"  or some "one" you need help with or from, get help.  You CAN and you should.

capecoddivingdog web
We've been swimming two days a week and one of us found we CAN swim better and a heap longer with the snorkle like this smart dog.   While finding your CANs, you have to let go of some of your CAN'Ts too.  We decided its really okay if we CAN't get to every stake activity or class, and its okay that our cooked YSA meals are sometimes PIZZA HUT pizza.  We do our best,  keep trying and focus on what we CAN do  (wish I looked as good as this dog in my snorkle).

We're glad these guys CAN go up skyscrapers and clean windows (right above our building)...but we are satisfied that we CAN't. and don't.  We do have fun talking to them though, great guys.

Kamal is one incredible friend.  She's a checker at our closest grocery store, is from the middle east (and devout in her faith) and has the cutest family.  We love her.  When I ask her how she is, she CAN and always does think of something positive to say even though I know things may not be easy for them.  Yesterday when I asked she said, "How can I be anything but good, I have my family, I have God and my faith, and I'm alive in this beautiful country of New Zealand!"  We may not have it all but anyone CAN have a good attitude.

Another CANNED sunrise on our beach walk.

More ...

You CAN tell a tree by it's "fruit".  If people were to look at your "fruits" what would they call your tree?  "By their fruits ye shall know them."  (Oranges, pink camillas and calla lillies)

The morning sky CAN be mezmerizing...love it!

Sylvia (right) determined that she CAN get her cousin excited about coming to AIB and the University by bringing her along for the day and showing her the "ropes".  Her cousin is comfortable and thinking now that she CAN come to both Uni and Institute (AIB).  Sylvia is producing good fruit.

This is our "we CAN come to lunchside" group who came to listen to President Jeffrey Nikoia (standing to the right of  Vance) from the University speak about leadership.  They not only eat fruit at lunchside, but they are working on the "fruit" their lives are producing too.

This young man Immi (spelling??) is here from Nigeria. Like Anderson from Brazil and others, he has determined he CAN get the work and education here to someday bring his wife and daughter over to New Zealand to live.  He saw the Christus in the window and the lights on, is looking for a ward to attend on Sunday, and came in to see if we could help him.  

Just wondered if any of you ever feel like this is your lot...to wrestle elephants.  Yikes.  But if elephants are what you have to wrestle, then there must be a way you CAN.  Go for it.

Our favorite Farro's store where we CAN find the fresh and healthy... from flowers to bread ...

but very few aluminum CANS.

While we CAN, we still love to breathe the fresh ocean air.  Met the Buckner's on our walk, after more than 3 years here in New Zealand they have just one more week of beach walks before they go home to the states.   They reminded us to do all we CAN to enjoy it now. 

We CAN never get enough of the canines who love and share the beach with us.

Found you CAN teach a four year old to ride a bike and his puppy to heel on the same walk...or try.

If you swim at Takapuna Beach you CAN depend on St. Johns ambulance service team to rescue you.  

The heaps of paddle boarders say you CAN do it.

This "Agave attenuata" or Lions Tail is everywhere here, looks like a huge "mother hen" plant from back home.  Their flowering stems you see here CAN get up to 10 feet high.  They are sure pretty.

You CAN never get enough of the flowering  camillas.  We CAN't anyway.

There is often a mist in the winter morning but it CAN and does burn off when the sun comes out.  Not unlike us, if our life gets a bit enshrouded and misty, when we get the Son back in it, things clear up.

Carol Thacker Facebook post
This was originally posted by Vance's cousin Carol Thacker  It was a sweet reminder that
you CAN always find ways (thank you Brock for the reminder) to be grateful for the sacrifices others make for you, and you CAN and should find ways to show it. 

Andrea Gregerson Hess FaceBook Post

So because we CAN (and should) we re-post a sweet picture of Louenda's nephew Matt Hess (US Navy) making a great sacrifice to leave home and family and serve his countrymen many months at sea ... again.  He, and all of the great service men and women give so much!  So do their families.  They are a major reason for the our continuing liberty.  Thanks to Matt and all who serve the cause of freedom.

I grew up loving this picture that hung in my little-girl room of the Ultimate Sacrifice.  The greatest act of lasting liberty.  He was the only one who could say "I CAN, and I will" - give ALL to understand and free ALL.
The next move is up to us.  We choose what we CAN and will do.  We want to be bold and grateful like Brock.
We CAN and do choose Him.
We CAN and do testify He still lives, still loves us, and still CAN save us if we choose.
Gratefully,
Vance and Louenda
Elder and Sister Downs