In Line

 In the course of our mission these little blogs have sort of taken on two purposes for us. 

The first is a chance to record a bit of the visual pictures of the beautiful country of New Zealand and a few of the things we have seen. 

The second is to share things we have learned or felt because of this great adventure. 
Thanks for your patience with our imperfections if you've followed along.

So “in line” with those two purposes, 

we will pen a few "lines" about this week:

AUCKLAND IN LINES

web photo backpackersguide.nz

 With an extra afternoon and evening we did a bit of exploring in downtown Auckland. 

 We lined up our schedules so we could go on an adventure with our friends the Periera family.  We started at the wharf where dad Ricky Periera works, and while dad was working we went exploring with mom Larissa and sons, Calvin and Dentzel. 

We found all kinds of “lines” on the wharf, from lines on the sail boat riggings...

 ...to cruise lines. 

Lines in the windows,

wikipedia web photo

 architectural lines all over,

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and even bus lines.   Auckland has buses and bus lanes everywhere 

while they work on a much needed light rail line.

There were even lines of flowers downtown.

We walked criss-cross lines from the wharf to downtown Auckland and Queen Street, 

putting 10K on our tennis shoes.  

yelp web photo

As usual, there was a “line” outside the Gucci store, and busy lines of people on the sidewalks. 

 We made our way to and walked the pink trail, a pink “line” through and 
above some of the city.  

web photo as.co.nz

We walked by the lighted lines of the Auckland Town Hall on the corner of Queen Street.

Then in the evening we met up with Ricky and made a bee”line” to get in line to buy dinner.

MORE LINES

 This week NZ commemorates several holidays with time off for Good Friday, Easter, and next week for the national holiday Anzac Day.  

With a free day, we walked a very long beach at very low tide,  

  and found heaps of natures “lines”.

OTHER LINES

 On another walk we came across a “post” area where little crooked mail boxes, struggling to stay “in line”, do their best to do their duty to hold the the post (mail).

Almost next to it was a nice boat, very much in a straight “line”  tacked to a sign.  

It was lined up beautifully…but, not lined up where a boat should be,

 doing what boats should do.  

Its pretty vital that we be “lined up” where and to what we ought to be, 

to fulfill the purpose we were created.

Conclusion: We would rather be a crooked mail box, aligned even imperfectly in the right place,  than lined up to the wrong thing.

web photo transportblog.co.nz

The pink trail is a great line to follow.  It was designed by experts here with a great vision to get folks on foot and on bikes from one point in Auckland safely to another. 

 Narrow in many respects, and the busy motorway lies beneath,
but if you stay in line and on the pink path - it's all good.

CecilBDeMille Paramount Pictures 1956 Ten Commandments

We happened to listen to a message this week about staying in line, on the straight and narrow paths designed by those with greater vision than our own to be safe. 

From a talk in a 1992 General Conference, Elder Neal A. Maxwell said:

“Remember how, with Pharaoh’s angry army in hot pursuit, ancient Israel aligned 

themselves with the Lord’s instructions? Moses stretched forth his hand and the Red Sea 

parted. With towering walls of water on each side, Israel walked through the narrow passage obediently, and no doubt quickly! There were no warnings about conforming on that day!

There are passages ahead which will require similar obedience, as prophets lead the “men 

and women of Christ” in a straight and narrow course.” 

On that day Israel could see pretty clearly that the only safe course ahead was to follow their prophet in a straight and somewhat narrow line to safety. 

Though you and I may not see the threatening walls on either side that are waiting to drown or destroy us,  they are there, and the Lord and His prophets see them, 
as well as the approaching “army” from behind. 

With their vision they can also see good things ahead 

if you stay in line with them.

Kane Peterson Australia BBC web photo

 While celebrating our AIB secretary Leeanne's birthday this week we happened to randomly be talking about hard jobs.  The job of a trapeze artist and tight-rope walker in the circus came up.  They do really hard scary stuff, especially walking the tight rope. 

But it didn't take much to decide that life for most of us seems to be full of 

tight-rope-straight-line challenges and battles.

Like the tight rope walker, we will all experience battles about
 balance, 
distractions
and staying in line on the straight and narrow.

Try as we may, we will experience some defeats in those battles here in mortality. 
Some know first hand about losing a health battle (physical, mental or emotional), 
or the battle for a better job or education, battles against hate and abuse, 
or for unfulfilled dreams of things like love and companionship.

We find it’s inevitable that we will lose some of the battles...
But know that

THOUGH YOU MAY LOSE SOME BATTLES, YOU CAN STILL WIN THE WAR! 

So it seems to be for most all great victories we know of.

lds web photo

Take Easter for instance:

After a triumphant and hailed ride into a Jerusalem, where they honored the Savior as King,

within the week

Adam Abrams web photo

the same Savior and King found himself in a garden suffering under the weight OF the world 

FOR the worlds sins and their pain. 

Pain and sins He didn’t commit or cause, or deserve to suffer for. 

He, who had done everything to stay in line, to show and be the Way

was bound in chains, scourged and mocked,

lds web photo

then nailed to a cross. 

It must have appeared to some onlookers that 

He and His cause were lost in this battle. 

Hours later when His mortal life was finished had His adversaries won? 

On the contrary...

... after three more days the greatest battle over death and the grave were complete and won by the same Being who had “given up” the ghost days earlier. 

All in a His way and His time.

You may appear to be losing some battles but, oh my friend...He showed you that you can still come out victorious.  If you do it His Way, and on His timetable, 

and in line with Him, you can win the war.
You can!

Love,

Vance and Louenda

Elder and Sister Downs