On the Lookout



web archive photo
Seems we are always “on the lookout” for something -whether if something we’ve lost, something we don’t want to miss, things we want to find (like a good bargain), or even on the lookout for danger. “On the lookout” was originally a nautical term used for “on duty being watchful“ looking out for other ships, land, or dangers. .

A watchtower in the Holy Land web photo
It meant to be vigilant and alert. The sailor in the "crows nest", parents, teachers, great leaders, and each of us in one capacity or another have to be on watch...be “on the lookout”.

A photo after Bro. Moses Armstrong spoke to us at our Leadership Lunchside Thursday
We are always "on the lookout" for our YSA, counting noses and looking out for them.  We take pictures to figure out who's missing.  Sometimes we find one of them AWOL for a week or two and then we have to go to work.   Its not unusual, though most of their financial means isn't much, to find they’ve been to another country to a funeral, to visit family, or on holiday. (Two of our cuties in the photo below are headed to the USA and China for two weeks.  Japan, Tonga, Samoa, Australia, Thailand, Fiji, England... all over.  I guess NZ is small enough that you have to go out of the country for holiday).


These are one of the "tools" our director Phillip has found for increasing our attendance at activities.  Much as we resisted initially, it does work.  When it was posted on Facebook a few on our "lookout" radar showed up.

Multiple long tables of food greeted the thousands at this recent musical regional fireside.  Most were "on the lookout" for the spiritual feast, a few maybe the cuisine afterward.

Lou is always "on the lookout" for the fresh flowers... 
We have seen many small Cooper cars but never one this tiny, unless maybe the 3 years old's Barbie car in the neighborhood back home.  A Morris Cooper we think,  we'll be on the "lookout". 

A Warning,
Be on the Lookout!

NZ Herald web photo
As spring approached there are beach warnings to be “on the lookout” for these...blue bottles. We'd never heard of them until we came here. Beautiful blue jelly fish, Portuguese man-o-wars with a pretty mean sting. But they look so pretty....

web photo
Don't be enticed or fooled by its pretty looks.  Lurking beneath the surface are some sting-loaded tentacles.  So loaded that even if the jelly becomes beached and dies the tentacles can still sting.  Elder Downs will NOT try to save any of these bare-handed.


On a day trip to an 1800’s NZ Fencibles (hired defenders and their families in the 1800's from Ireland and British Isles) homestead we came across this old beehive made out of straw.  Fascinating.  Yet another creature you want to be “on the lookout” for.  With all their good, they can turn around and sting you as well. 

Had heard about these pomelo's (big mild lemony grapefruit) but never seen one growing until this week.  It pays to be "on the lookout".

Peter and Chermei's Institute class, Grace, Brian and Leilani and Xavier
Wednesday devotional, always "on the lookout" for our missionaries who sometimes show up to join us, and they did, Sister Beus (Farmington UT) and Sister Bevin (Oakdale CA).

Speaking of enticing blur bottles, Lou decided to wear this bright blue scarf this week.  Walking from the AIB (Auckland Institute Building) to our carpark the scarf caught the eye of an older woman.  Bless her heart, she wasn’t “on the lookout” (watching the scarf and not her step) and she tripped and fell on the sidewalk.   Yikes! A crowd gathered to help her but she kept insisting she was okay so eventually they all left.   We decided to walk her to the bus stop to make sure she was okay…she hobbled but it was a sweet walk as we got to know “Patrice” (she works for the University here).  Ended up being THOTL (“The Hand of The Lord”) in many ways.  Hopefully we’ll see her again.  Watch what you wear and watch your step.. 
 All around us we are finding another “sting”, a very real danger we have to be vigilant and “on the lookout” for: those in our midst suffering from depression and other associated challenges.  This past week it claimed a favorite TV Anchor here in NZ, Greg Boyed.  In our little world we know many good people who bravely battle it’s sting.  There’s help.  Be “on the lookout”, in your world, or in your mirror.

Visiting an historic village we met the village’s pet rabbit. Cute little guy and looks and feels so soft and furry. 
(His polish rooster friend)
Mr. Rabbit even lines up with the "white headed polish" chickens and one pukeko (blue neck and red beak near the back) for a dinner of grain. BUT...

...don’t be fooled if you are the keeper of the vegetable garden...he can take down a row of greens pretty quick so “be on the lookout” and keep the fences up.


 On the lookout for something unique on my quick errand walk up Queen Street in Auckland. 
 A 30-40 foot rock arch/gate and Peppa the Pig in a Chinese store seemed pretty unique.

Discovery eye Foundation Web photo
This week we studied Isaiah and decided to play a little Where’s Waldo-like game and see if, “on the lookout” we could find Christ and his teachings and attributes somewhere in every Isaiah chapter 39-54. 
No surprise, it was loaded with Him. Our week, our mission, and our lives are the same. 

Another of the heaps of THOTL too numerous to mention...lost the water bottle for weeks.  We've been searching "on the lookout" and included it in some prayers.  Gratefully now it's found.  If you get lost, do the same.

We find The Hand of the Lord (THOTL) in every day, and if we are looking, in every hour and minute. It just depends on what you are “on the lookout” for.

 A YSA Student Council meeting, where we spend time “on the lookout” as YSA leaders figuring out what more we can do to help the other YSA who join us at AIB to get the help and hope they need, and focus their lives more on their Savior .  So our Council plans and then attends our activities (like "Oodles of Noodles" below on Fridays) to be good servants "on the lookout".  They have had many of their own THOTL adventures helping friends.


Our own Takapuna Beach Lifeguard station-Classic Media
The beaches here in NZ put up lifeguard stations in the summer months.  They are “on the lookout” for things that might be dangerous like blue bottles and sharks.  They’re also “on the lookout” for floundering swimmers.  These watchmen/lifeguards save many lives. 


archive web photo
Parents know well the sleepless nights of being on watch, so do trusted leaders and prophets.     It’s comforting to know when you’ve done all you know how, that there’s someone in the crow's nest or on the watchtower for you, someone “on your lookout”.  

Greg Olsen web photo 
And there’s Another who never sleeps, One with a crow's nest view of the Universe, who is constantly “on the lookout”, for all of us, and if we're in tune, will warn us continually of danger ahead…
”by my voice or the voice or the voice of my servants, it is the same.” 
We KNOW firsthand that is true!
We love you,
Vance and Louenda
Elder and Sister Downs





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