Favorite Scripture

Favorite Scripture:

“Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.” (Alma 37:37)

Monday, December 28, 2015

... They Lived After the Manner of Happiness!

Dear Family and Friends, 

I hope and pray that all of you had a wonderful Christmas.  This Christmas was very special.  I gave  
me opportunities to ponder upon the life of our Savior.  This Christmas I was filled with gratitude and joy. What a joyous message!!  over 2000 years ago a Savior was born.  For us.  That is so awesome!!  This week it was so great to talk to you all.  I loved seeing all of your faces and hearing the same funny jokes that I was still hearing before I left. hahaha!  Some things just never change... ;) hahaha!  Anyways... here is how the week went!

Elder Cox and Elder Redding
This week I went on an exchange with Elder Pun.  He is from Salt Lake and that was a lot of fun.  We were able to teach this one new investigator and President Rao was there with us.  President Rao is such a stud.  He just knows how to share truths about the gospel.  We were very grateful to have him.  We invited her to pray to God just to even know if He is there.  She accepted the invitation.  We have followed up with her and she still doesn't feel like she has gotten an answer but she is willing to keep trying.  We are hoping and praying that she can receive and answer.  

Elder Redding as Santa at Branch Christmas Party


This week Elder Cox and I decided to travel to one of our further secondary areas to go and look for LA members.  It was such a huge miracle.  We started biking and ended up in these fields and we didn't really know where we were... hahah so we just kept heading North because we knew that was the was that we needed to head! haha! Well we got there and didn't get lost.  So when we got there we went to this place that sells frogs to eat! haha!  We ate lunch and then started to search for these people.  As we were searching we decided to get a map... because asking people these random addresses were just taking to all these places that were really far away and it was taking a lot of time.  I wasn't sure about the idea of getting a map at first because I didn't want to waste the time sitting down finding where all these people were when I thought  that we might as well just keep asking people... because we were finding success.  We decided to buy the map anyways and sat down and started mapping out all of the people that lived in this secondary. (北港 beigang) It took a while to map it all out but it was worth it.  It gave us a clear vision of where we wanted to go.  So we decided to start in this corner of the city and work our way down.  Well... the first house that we went to... there was no one there and the phone number was bad.  So we started asking neighbors if these people lived there.  Luckily asking these neighbors bought us enough time so that when we went back to their home they had returned.  It wasn't actually the person we were looking for but it was his sister in law.  She told us that he was in Canada, and that she had met missionaries before.  She had 3 little kids with her and it was cool.  We got her number and she agreed to let us come back and visit her family... just like in Canada.  Well.. when we left I had such a weird feeling.  I felt like we needed to stay there and continue to talk to them.  We went of and started contacting this older couple who was really awesome.  However the whole time we were contacting them I just kept feeling like we needed to go back and see that family and wait with them until they could get in there home.  Finally I was convinced that we were going to go to 7 and buy a little treat for the kids and wait and talk to them until they got the key.  Right then the older couple gave us these couple sodas... and I just felt like we needed to rush back to their home.  Right when we got there someone was just heading in the house.  However it wasn't her... it was her brother.  We told him that we just wanted to give these sodas to the little kids so they didn't have to wait so long and be bored... haha.  Right then he called his sister and then they ended up inviting us in to have dinner with them.  We then were better able to understand them and even share with them.  We had a prayer and taught their 12 year old son how to pray.  He said the closing prayer.  It was such a huge miracle!!!  There were so many things that led up to that that allowed us to be there  at just ther right time.  God loves his children.  I know that to be true.  

Christmas was awesome.  I even got to be Santa Clause!!! hahahaha!!! Our branch loved it.  I will send you guys some pictures.  I love you all so much.

This week I read about Nephi.  I read about how Nephi and his people "lived after the manner of happiness".  I know that this is a direct result of following the commandments and being obedient.  "I  the Lord am bound when you do what I say, but when you do not what I saw ye have no promise. "  The blessings that the Lord has promised us are so great.  We can't even comprehend them! I love you all.  Live after the manner of happiness!! :) 


Elder Redding

Monday, December 21, 2015

Blessed are the Pure in Heart...

Dear Family and Friends, 

This last week has been great!!!  It has been such a blessing to be serving with Elder Cox!  He is a

great missionary with an amazing attitude!!  This week we saw some amazing miracles and I can't wait to tell you all about them.  This week it has gotten really cold here in TaiBao... well I think it is cold anyways!! hahaha!!! It probably would feel great to you guys but I think that I have become Taiwanese!!! hahahah!

On Tuesday right after we finished our studies we had planed to walk (because Elder Cox's Bike hadn't been moved yet) to this place in Taibao.  As we left the door we had the feeling to go a different way to this place.  It didn't really make sense at the time because TaiBao doesn't really have people anyways and if we walked this other way then I felt like there really wouldn't be anyone... I thought it might be a waste of time... I thought about it for a sec and decided to act on it.  Sure enough... there weren't a whole lot of people... haha and right when we were about to get where we had planned to go we saw this lady sitting on the swings at the park with her little girl.  We decided to go and talk to her.  It was so cool... the more we got talking the more open she got with us and then shared about a recent divorce that she had.  She has 3 kids and only 1 of them live with her.  We were able to talk about the peace and happiness that the Savior brings.  It was so cool!!  She said that she would be willing to come to church sometime... maybe for the Christmas party?? (We have a branch Christmas party on the 25th).  It was such a huge miracle.  We then had to hurry and take a bus to JiaYi City for DTM.  

The DTM topic this week this week was the DL's choice.  So I decided to teach it on how to have an effective personal study.  As I was preparing the DTM it really hit me how vital the hours are before we leave the door every morning.  The literally make or break the day.  It is the key to keeping our spiritual fuel from running out for the day.  So we talked about some key things to having an effective study in the morning.  I think that it was Elder Holland who once said the a missionary will either make or breaks his mission in the first few hours of every day.  The DTM was very uplifting and motivating.  In the end it came down to something that I have heard President Blickenstaff say a few times now.  " This is your mission, you are responsible for what happens out here ... take control of it. " It is simple.  This is our life that our loving Heavenly Father has given us.  You better believe that He wants us to have success and happiness.  It is up to us to take control of it.  The beauty is that in this process we are not alone.  As we use the gospel of Jesus Christ and His atonement to pattern our lives it as if we are never alone.  He is always right beside us.  

I came away from that DTM with a greater desire to study the gospel and change myself.  In our apartment on the wall there is a scripture.  It has become one of my favorite scriptures... 

Mathew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

This scripture means a lot to me.  I have read it over, and over, and over this week.  It has hit me seeing God, we will all have the chance to do that some day... but when we purify our hearts we have the chance to see him every day.  We can see him in every little thing around us.  We will see his hands in all things!  I want more that anything to purify and allow the desires of my heart to see God in everything that I do.  We we see god in everything we do we will be filled with the Holy Ghost.  This is literally Heaven on Earth.  


Christmas Party
This week we also had the opportunity to participate in the JiaYi City parade!!! It was so cool!! It so amazing to see the streets of Taiwan filled with Christmas cheer.  There was a special power in our little band of members.  There was a difference.  I was so happy... I also got to see an old friend named Chester.  I met him in DaKeng when he came and visited Elder Munger.  It was great to see him!!  

Family, I love you all so much.  Thank you for always making Christmas so special for me.  You have made this time of year unforgettable for me.  I love you all.  I pray this you all can be filled with the love of Christ in these next few days.  He loves you is always ready to remind you of that love.  I hope that in the next couple of Days you all get a chance to sit alone in a quiet place and think of the Savior.  Imagine you were there sitting next to that manger.  Just you and Him.  And you could look into His eyes... those pure eyes and know and feel the deep love that he has for you!!! I love you all!!!  

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! 


Elder Redding 

Monday, December 14, 2015

Short on Time - Mini Move Call

District Training Meeting Splits
Thank you so much for the letter!!  It means a ton!  I just picked up my new companion!  His name is

With Elder Larsen and Visitor from MingJian
Elder Cox and he is awesome!!! I can't wait to work with him.  I am still in TaiBao.  We had a mini movecall come out on Sunday because of so many missionaries leaving in December.  It was so great to serve with Elder Larsen.  He will be really missed! He is a great friend!  :)

Monday, December 7, 2015

We Have A Savior!

Dear Family and Friends, 

Biking in TaiBao Area
This week has been fantastic!!  It has been full of miracles and I am so grateful that I have been given this sacred opportunity to serve the Lord.  I love him.  I love the people here in Taiwan.  I hope that this Christmas season I can be the servant that the Lord would have me be in order to bring more people to a knowledge of their Savior.  That is about the happiest news that I think I have ever heard in my life.  We. Have. A. Savior. I testify that he loves each and every one of us very personally and he is not only willing to do anything for us... he has already done it all for us.  I hope that during this time of year that all of you can feel of the love that our Savior has for us.  

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which 
shall be to all people.
 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 

That is one of my favorite scriptures. 
This week we had the opportunity of meeting with "J" again.  She is doing so well.  She came to church this week and the ward just loved her to death.  It was a really neat thing.  When we met with her this week she actually brought a friend.  We invited our Branch President to join in the lesson with us.  We taught about the Book of Mormon.  It was very peaceful and spiritually.  We were able to bear powerful testimony of the truth of the Book of Mormon.  It was so awesome.  

We also had 2 other investigators come to church yesterday... which was so cool.  That is really rare I guess in this area.  The branch seemed very excited about it!  Also, during fast and testimony meeting I had the opportunity to share my testimony.  I bore my testimony of the pure love of Christ.  I shared of why I came out on my mission and told the story of my amazing older brother courageously going out and serving the Lord.  I shared of what an influence that had on my life.  I want this type of love to fill the whole world.  I really was grateful for the opportunity to share my testimony.  

We did a ton of biking this week out to all of our areas to track down LA's and see if they still live where the records say they do.  It was a lot of work and we still have a lot of work to do.  It is kinda fun though.  They are long rides in the middle of fields and I love my companion.  We talk a lot about baseball and our futures together.  I am grateful for the companions that I have had that have been so kind to me and have truly become my best friends.  

This week we had like 5 new investigators.  This next week will be very busy.  Elder Larsen and I have high hopes for TaiBao.  ...I know that the Lord does as well.  So Elder Larsen and I have committed to giving it all we can here and relying on the Lord.  So far the Lord has blessed us more that we could ever even imagine.  

Thank you for everything you guys have done for me in my life.  I love you all and hope that this Christmas season fills you with joy with the reminder that we have a Savior.  Those are some of the most beautiful simple words that I can think of.  We have a Savior, Christ the Lord.  

Love all of you, 
Elder Redding
Elder Redding and Elder Varvel (MTC Companions) at Sun Moon Lake Christmas Party
Mission Christmas Party - Sun Moon Lake Area

Mission Christmas Party

Elder Hamula and Elder Redding - Sun Moon Lake Christmas Gathering

2015 Christmas Gathering - Sun Moon Lake