Faces

We have shared in past mission blogs some of the beautiful “places” of New Zealand. Our real reason for coming here was for the “faces” (the people) and not so much the “places”, so we give you more of the faces and the great people behind those faces this week.

It’s not hard to share an amazing sunrise or lush rain forest to folks thousands of miles away and they can easily see its beauty.  We hope you can see the “beauty” in these great faces too.

(Takapuna Ward Relief Society service project...Sisters Michie Matsumori, Mary Stosich, Debbie Buckner, Barbara Murdock , Marian Wright, Larraine Rowberry, Mary Woodard, Jan and more tying blankets for the homeless)

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Seems like this week we have been reminded a heap that lifting and helping man to be saved is God’s work (Moses 1 :39) so if we want to be about His work, it ought to be our focus as well...  

...no matter where or who you are.

Some of the many faces of students that pass by (and some even come into) our AIB daily.  These are Auckland Medical students, New Zealand's newest Doctors, graduating this week. 

Faces at the Beach

Some of the faces we caught on a morning walk...happy swinging faces. 

Fishing pole and oar in hand, it was a great day to launch out in any boat...as the sailboats on the horizon attest.  This fisherman, face and body, was only too happy to join them. 

This wintering Monarch let me get close enough to see her "face" (I think).

We encountered this little soul with her cute face buried (through her whole beach walk) in her fuzzy bunny. 

We think there must be somebody that loves this face.

And this furry face is hoping somebody with an ice cream cone loves him enough to share with his face.

Faces at AIB

The faces of two of our great students, Anderson from Brazil and wonderful James who knows how much Anderson needs to practice his English.  James even missed some of his class to stay and help Anderson face to face.  James understands about "the work and the glory" thing and goes out of his way to make a difference.

Couldn't help throwing in a flower picture...these are the biggest, most perfect orchids our faces have ever seen (maybe we live sheltered lives)..and we had to share!  To make your face smile.

Tuesday night institute class, we had the full time elders join us.  How we love these faces!

The beautiful face of Urim (the one with the brother named Thumim).  
We served Hawaiian Haystacks.  Must be a Utah food because only the ones who had been in Utah knew what they were, BUT, as always, they faced a new food with gusto and loved it..as they do ALL food!.

One of those dear wonderful faces we love, Shilo Kino.  She is amazing!  A convert of 4 years or so.  Headed to work as a video reporter in Tauranga and will be leaving us, but her face will be welcomed in Tauranga, she'll be awesome. 

You gotta love this little face...meet Kora (our friend and Institute coordinator Elly Edwards new granddaughter).  Kora was the youngest institute student in class this week. 

The face of our energizer bunny, Nina conducting our weekly devotional.  Runs circles around all of us and is so faithful and alive.

The beautiful face of Sister Chloe Beus from Farmington Utah!  Sometimes she doesn't know whether to call Vance "Elder" or "Coach".  She is always a ray of sunshine! 

The faces of our Wednesday Devotional "crowd". 

 Bianqa (our devotional speaker and the face in the middle) filled us with thoughts about being charitable, and then NZ Pizza Hut filled our tummies. 

Game Faces

Went to see Dentzel Periera's team facing their rivals in the semi final basketball game at...

the Bruce Pulman Park, a big athletic complex used by colleges (high schools) and lots of others.  6 full sized basketball courts with outdoor net ball and rubgy and cricket fields.

Dentzel and Vance.  Dentzel's got a happy face because basketball team won and they play in the final next week.  Fun to get to watch basketball again.  I think Elder Downs really misses it.

 Speaking of games, this week was our "Game Week" at the Institute building.  We had week-long challenges/tournaments for ping pong, air hockey, foosball, Uno, Phase Ten, and the newest challenge our director named "Stick it Downs" (get the gymnast spinning and then release him to flip and land on his feet...REALLY hard but they love it!)  Students faced each other, and with some "face-off"'s they got to know one another heaps better.  Lots of fun.

Jason sticks the faceless game-guy for the win in "Stick it Downs"

Michael Clarke (the face with the ping pong paddle) is the reigning champ at ping pong.

More ....

Driving down the motorway for a split second we thought this was the face of the driver...woops.  Then we remembered the steering wheel is on the right here...but we loved the furry face!

Entrance to the YSA Dance.  Faceless balloons.... but they work.

What a three year old does for 3 hours at a YSA dance, hides her face in mom's phone.

Somehow we think they think that an endless supply of this gives them the energy to face dance after dance.  They load not just plates but the table itself with heaps of food. 
Its actually a work of art.

Elder Downs teaching another line dance or two (along with the waltz) to these YSA (they faced the dance challenge and conquered it, and made us look like old people without any rhythm) 

Polynesian cowboys dancing "the Reggae Cowboy"...yeehaw!

The dance was also a "farewell" for Elder and Sister Garlick who are leaving this week to go home.
A member of the Bishopric, Brother Ezekiella (the face on the left, the faces of the Garlick's on the right), is a master chef so he made an incredible chocolate cake decorated to look like a huge "garlic"

The Chocolate "Garlic" 

Add to FACES - HANDS....

THOTL – a few this week:

-A wrong turn into incoming traffic that could have been disastrous, but happened in a forgiving moment, and was clearly the Lord’s Hand.

-A prompting to study something that was raised as a question in class.

-A feeling to speak an encouraging word to a YSA who was hiding a troubled heart.  It led to a lengthy healing conversation where we were just instruments.

-A feeling to skip a regular meeting in favour of another, where one of our wimpy talents was actually needed and we got lots of answers and direction we’d been seeking…all in one little hour…it was PACKED!

-A prompting a month ago when we noticed a new mole on Vance's neck and though one doctor said it looked okay, followed another prompting that we needed to go to a specialist.  The specialist said it looked funny.  After surgery #1 turned out to be a melanoma, very early stage.  Needed a second surgery to get it all but looks like we did. Grateful for THOTL in finding it, the promptings to pursue it, and now the healing. 

 -There is not enough space to write all the daily Hand of the Lord, or where we see His face and feel His love.

THOTL is a Guiding Hand, A Helping Hand, a Healing Hand, a Hand that Bears you up, it’s a Protecting Hand, sometimes it’s a Hand that STOPS you, 

and sometimes a Hand that doesn’t stop you so you learn needed lessons. 

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His Hand is connected to His ARM that must (by His Universal and Eternal Laws) be an arm of justice, but even then His “Hand is stretched out still.”  If you are looking, it’s not only a Hand you can see, but a comforting Hand you can feel too.   We have always loved the old spiritual “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands".  

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After His Crucifixion He stated, “Behold my hands…” (Luke 24:39). 

We are physically and spiritually IN His Hands.  

We can’t think of anyone’s more sure, trusted Hands we’d rather have the world and each of us be in.  Nor another that we'd rather someday, like Moses and Abraham, see Him "face to face".  

We are grateful that He (face, hands, Atonement and all) lives and is real. Sure helps us "face" life and eternity with greater peace.

“God be thanked for the matchless gift of His Divine Son.”

Love you,

Vance and Louenda

Elder and Sister Downs