Structure
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)
Structure comes from the Latin word structura meaning “a fitting together, building”. That can be anything from a bridge, a
skyscraper, an organization, the solar system, and a written sentence,
to your
family and even your body .
web photo redwood treewalk
Three redwood statue "structures" fit together well and guard the entrance (along with short Elder Downs who said the redwood guy by him looked like "Gort" from the old movie "The Day the Earth Stood Still")
After the suspended walk up in the trees we took the Mokopuna trail on the ground below among the redwoods, pines and fern trees.
The trail was planned and beautifully "structured", easy to follow the signs and path.
Along the trail we discovered some kinds of living things don't grow well unless they attach themselves to other "structures" or organisms. Epiphytes, lichens, and moss thrive as they grow on the surface of other things like the rocks (above)...
..."structures" like old tree trunks...
...and even living plants. This palm tree was the host "structure" of numerous other foreign plants.
Lichen and moss cover forest trees here and love the moisture and a safe "structure" to call home.
FCI (Faculty Cluster Inservice) Training in Hamilton
Out training group in Hamilton, three Seminary and Institute missionary couples, Downs, South's and Mumfords. Coordinators Richard, Karlin, Stranz, Elly, Paul, along with Directors Phillip Skeen and area director Aaron Wirepa and his wife Adele.
We had an amazing 3 days of inspiring training. We may even get to be mediocre Institute teachers before we go home.
The Structures Business
seldom love selfies...oh well
At our training conference we met Karen and Randy South from
Menan, Idaho. Years ago Randy had a
little insulation blowing business in Idaho to help farmers store potatoes better.
Through the years he patented a method of also blowing cement underneath the insulation to insure that it was fireproof. He then moved to using his own patented cement and insulation blowing method to put on dome roofs.
Now his business, Southindustries, is international and he builds huge dome "structures"…commercial, educational, agricultural "structures" and even homes. The dome is a very solid "structure".
Late
one night I caught this photo as a “structure” lumbered up the road past our
flat, a house.
A big business here is taking a home off its foundation and actually
moving the structure from one location to another.
We have also seen quite a few really old mobile
“structures” driving down the roads here.
Even found this structure, a traveling homemade "home". I
think they could use Elder South’s fireproofing.
Other kinds of "Structure"
"Structure" also describes a type of organization, education, or even method of
delivery. We got to watch up close one
of the little "structured" sailing classes on the little Lake in Hamilton. It was a nice gusty day so the students got
some good sailing in.
Caught this very "structured" rowing team with the leader yelling out commands. They would follow with exactness. Lots of rowing races here. If you want to win the race you have work within the team "structure" and follow your trusted leader with exactness.
These little guys at the lake were following their "trusted leader" and her "structure" for teaching duck swimming. They seemed to have it down.
Our Senior Couple FHE. Nice to have a "structured" event monthly to enjoy each other. We also learned again about the new pilot program here in the South Pacific structured to help Islanders make healthy choices and combat the high incidence of diabetes, heart disease and serious health issues.
Attended the mission farewell and then YSA Sunday school class of one of our great YSA, Selvus Laurenson. He's headed to Madagascar (and we think in the future way beyond that, he is amazing).
We received a text from a friend back home to please see if we could locate a cousin, Kaitlyn Fackerell, who had been traveling in New Zealand and was in a terrible car accident in Hamilton. With a prayer on our lips and in our heart we started to try to locate Kaitlyn.
Long story, but truly THOTL in finding her, and we were finally able to connect with Kaitlyn. Her worried mother and her friend Tyler had made it over from the U.S. as well.
THOTL AGAIN-Kaitlyn's car was hit by a big semi, they thought her neck was broken but with the Lords hand two week after her accident she is healing, no broken neck and so blessed. She will head home this week.
This is a slice of a 2000+ year old redwood tree, A pretty solid "structure" in a redwood forest for a long, long time. The little white markings show where the tree was in size when WW 1 was going on, when the Maori came to NZ, when Vesuvius erupted, and when Christ was alive on the earth. Some "structures" have been around a long time.
Vance and Louenda with Sister Joy and Brother Robert Jones (Joy is the General Primary President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and they are the in-laws to one of Vance's former great student Josh Arnold...some sweet conversations about Josh). Sister Jones and Sister Bonnie Cordon (the General Young Women's President of the Church) visited the South Pacific and treated us to some incredible and inspiring meetings on Saturday and Sunday. Meetings where no words can describe the powerful spirit of revelation.
Sometimes there is simply no "structure" of words that can adequately describe what you know and feel. We will try:
We are so grateful to know that the creation and organization
of this earth and the surrounding universe is all part of a "structured" and
beautifully organized Plan of God. We know He lives, of that we have no doubt. His
Hand is everywhere. We also know that the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is His "structure"…His organization
to bring us back to Him...
NASA web photo
...where we lived before and where we hope to live in the eternities.
Greg Olson web photo
When you know something is right and true, even if it is not popular, or words don't seem to express, or it may even offend someone, you would be lying if you don’t stand by it. The spirit has witnessed powerfully to us this week that Jesus Christ lives and that He loves all of us and will speak to us if we seek Him. Its powerful! It's true!
Seek Him.
We love you
We love and witness of Him,
Elder and Sister Downs
Vance and Louenda
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