True Colours

web photo Auckland Zoo

On our last trip to the Auckland Zoo we met this character, a veiled chameleon

  (in New Zealand’s carefully guarded and protected ecosystem everything but native species are banned…Zero SNAKES, few reptiles, and this little guy only made it in because he was confiscated in customs).  

These guys are known for their ability to change colours - bright colours for aggression, dark colours for submission, and camouflage colours to protect themselves.  But even a chameleon has his basic “true colours”, who and what he REALLY is, deep down. 

The Auckland Zoo monitors' true colours are a bit pale in comparison...and I think he knows it, 

poor guy.

Recently we saw “true colours” everywhere when the Tongan rugby team played Australia.  They eventually lost, but they love any excuse to hoist, fly, and even wear (like superman capes) their true colours. Here is Elder Downs walking in to one of our evening institute classes in one of the parking lots loaded with Tongan flags. 

Tongan Homes...(Ute, Aggie and Cougar fans take note)

Everywhere we went (from church, to institute, driving through neighborhoods or down the motorway and shopping) there were Tongans flying or wearing the red and white Tongan flag.

Parking lot at church

We also learned another show of Tongan “colours”…

Gold in your teeth

It’s almost a right-of-passage when kids turn 12, or graduate, or complete or do something good they get another gold cap or fill.  Often its gold from mom or grandma’s wedding ring or some special family gold.  Just one of the many island traditions we are still learning about.

More October "true colours"

Halloween sometimes provides opportunities to show your true colours.  

Forgive the “grandkids” photos, but you can tell right away the true colours of the “princesses” and the Donovan Mitchell die-hard fan.

…the dragon and bunny are just happy for the warmth and treats.

True Colours

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Show your "True Colours" was a phrase used when pirate ships would wait to hoist their "true colours" (the skull and crossbones flag) until they were close enough to easily overtake and raid a passing ship.

So...how do you tell "true colours"???

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By Their Fruits ...

We had a “day of service” a week ago.  A day when folks came out of the woodwork to help fix up and clean up and box up help for those who are in need.  We ended up in Manakau where they put together Samaritan’s Purse “Operation Christmas Child” shoeboxes for Island children in need for their Christmas.  Great project, and we enjoyed the good company sporting the old yellow helping hands vests and showing their “true colours”.  

An interesting tree here in New Zealand is the coral tree, erythria x sykesi.  The first colours to emerge are the bright red-orange spikey flower.  But they don’t last long and then the “true colours", the green leaves that cover the tree, come out.  

Another of the trees to change dramatically is the Chinese Mahogany tree.  Starts with bright pink leaves, they change to white, then they change to green.  

True colours are not always recognized at first glance, often they come out with time.

Just a few of the spring colours...these are true-up-from-the-ground-colours, not plastic.

Happy one year birthday to a little Greyson guy, true to his "blue"

Sister Stosich and Sister Downs show their "true colours" by loving every dog they pass on the beach...couldn't help ourselves with this big guy.

A crazy blooming Bottle-brush tree in full "true colours" with hundreds of red bottle brushes.

Sometimes it’s hard to tell what are the “true colours” of the ocean.  One day it looks deep blue, another day its fading green..and this day it had pockets of many colors. Seems to be based on "Light"...hmmmm.

True friends

Hopefully we all have at least a few...

Ofono and Etena...love these sisters.

Visiting our AIB friend and secretary Tafi and her new baby with Phillip our director.

The annual international Auckland Marathon runs one leg right by our flat...here one runner, a true friend, is even carrying a yellow coloured balloon for another who couldn't run.
(The game is to find the yellow balloon)  

Nasturtiums, lovely flowers but here we see their true colours, the vines overtakes an unassuming cabbage tree.

When we went to the dentist on Halloween, they were giving out cotton candy?????  

Hmmm, maybe drumming up future business?

Elder Downs’ “true colours” surfaced when he HAD to go shopping for a sound system for the AIB, (I caught him loitering in the fender bass guitar section of the store).  Didn’t hurt that one of the first nights we used it was “Karaoke” night…lots of budding singing stars.

Phaer and Lezlin Penales 

We called it true "bonding through song".

We learned of Reggie's talents and “true colours” as a baker when he made and brought a key-lime pie (Mmmmm) for the AIB movie and karaoke night. 

Speaking of “limes” the newest mode of transportation here is the “LIME-S”, motorized scooters that can be found on nearly every block, paid for and activated by an app, and crazy popular.
We haven’t tried one out yet, we still like to walk.  We are finding these are “green” in more ways than one…lime colours, as well green and friendly to the environment.
But one last truth...wear a helmet!

A pleasant moment on the bench at the beach, then the man next to us opens up his McDonald's french fries and who shows up?
The cheeky seagull with his chant..."mine, mine, mine"  True colours.

Henderson Institute truly faithfuls

THOTL story:Brother King was part of our Thursday night YSA Institute class in Henderson this week.  That was unusual because its usually only YSA's and us old missionaries.  At the end of class he shared a bit of his story.  He said he still can't get enough of the truths of the gospel.  45 years ago some friends invited him over and shared a missionary pamphlet with him that change his life…then he pulled out the very pamphlet.  He still carries it around with him.  It was the testimony of Joseph Smith.  
He said he KNEW as he read it that the words were true.  
And he has been true to his own testimony of that truth and adding to it ever since that day.  Pretty sweet. 

More THOTL moments, but they are tucked away in journals for now.  We recognize that the Lord's Hand is busy in our lives...hopefully yours too.

This week we lost another beautiful friend to higher realms, Lori Morgan.
 Our friendship grew as we watched her amazing and guileless service with the YSA's.  
Lori was one who was real...her "true colours" epitomized what Paul wrote, and Joseph Smith reiterated in the 13th article of faith:

In relationships, in life, and even after this life, hopefully we are all spending our time trying to be “true”, true to what is right and real...virtuous, lovely, and of good report.
So where do we go to learn how to be true, true to our colours, our hopes, and our faith?

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You go to Someone known for being true.  

Throughout the scriptures are the declarations that Jesus Christ is…

”the true light…the true bread…the true vine…the just and true and living God,

and His words are true.”   

We add our own declaration that His words and gospel are real and true... the truth.  

Elder and Sister Downs

Vance and Louenda