annsgreennon-profit web letters Nothing like 3 of the wonderful 6 1/2 grandkids to make Elder Downs thankful.   Life is loaded with blessings, so much to be thankful for!  So we ask ourselves “Why is not "Thankful" the name of the blog every week?” Well it is this week. Chinese Christmas Choir at Mangere Market square We are blessed and thankful to be able to serve a mission in New Zealand. We are thankful that Christmas comes wherever you are in the world. We are thankful that HE came.  (We are Thankful Olivia shared her Christmas tree with us)  We are thankful to serve with these humble loving New Zealanders who are also thankful that He came, and have great faith that He will come again.  We share their faith and love for Him in gatherings large...    or small.  We are thankful for our colleagues at S & I (Seminaries and Institutes) and thankful we get to have a Thanksgiving/Christmas dinner together  (Cordis restaurant). W

  web photo   On our way to a Faculty Training in Hamilton we decided to take the long way to get to Hamilton through Rotorua to visit the Redwood forest and Treewalk (Harry and Meghan came about 3 weeks ahead of us to the same place).   About 120 years ago New Zealand imported redwood seedlings from California to enhance their big timber industry.   The climate was perfect and they have grown well. In this redwood forest they have built 23 suspension bridges and tree "structures" between some of the largest trees for a beautiful above ground treewalk.  They have also included friendly natural lighting for the treewalk at night. The suspension bridges are at least 12 meters high (40 feet), some even taller.  The "structures" are carefully built so they can expand as the tree grows and not harm the tree.   It’s beautiful in the daytime and even more so at night.  These were incredibly sturdy "structures" (40 feet is a long way down)