Monkey Mountain PDay and Finding Amazing People!

Dear Family and Friends, 

Monkey Mountain PDay!

Monkey Mountain last week was a success!  It was awesome!!  These monkeys were all about

stealing things! haha... We were walking by these monkeys and all of a sudden this monkey jumps on Willie's back (A member in GangShan) haha he starts screaming hahaha it was so funny!  So after that I got the idea that it would be down to just jump on my back!  So I went up to this monkey sitting on this railing and said get on... hahah (I said it in chinese thinking that naturally it would understand chinese more!) haha but right after I said that it jumped on my back! haha it was awesome!!  It started trying to get in my bag and then I grabbed my hat because I think he was a blackhawks fan! hahaha!!

Well this week was great!  We were able to see a lot of great miracles!! This week we started with some heavy contacting.  We have been having trouble finding new investigators lately... so we said a prayer of faith and went out!  I have come to really have faith that it is for sure -  we will get rejected... but it is also sure that Heavenly Father has prepared people to receive us.  We just have to be diligent in the work.  So this week was a big finding week.  And we found.  

We had a great meeting this week in ShiZhong.  It was great to be there and learn from president.  He is a great man and I feel so lucky to be able to serve under his direction and learn from him.  

The real big miracles this week came while finding.  After we ate we ran into this guy who seemed cool, and when we asked about religion he said he was daojiao.  ....we told him that we share a really happy message and would like to share.  He said that we could for sure... but he would have to ask his wife.  So we called him later that night... he said he couldn't then next day he was like.. do you have time right now?  So we ran over to the church and met him.  We got talking to him and wanted to do a prayer and he refused to because of his religion.  We said one anyways... it was neat how the spirit worked on him because by the end of the lesson he said the prayer.  We will keep meeting with him!  

I was calling formers this week and found this guy who had met with missionaries 8 years ago.  I called him and he set up a time to meet.  We met with him and he was really neat.  He is open to the message, and wants to change his life right now.  He told us he is just having trouble finding the strength to do so.  We testified that the power of Christ and his atonement can help anyone change.  He ended up coming to church yesterday and He set a baptismal goal for the 1st of August.  

We also ran into this awesome family on the street.  He had a red sox shirt on.  I asked if he was a fan, and then saw that his family was in the back.  I started talking to his son and tried to speak English with him... and set up a time that they could come and meet.  That was really good because most parents with oppose to them learning about Christ... but they were right there and agreed.  So we met with him and his dad and found that they are really open to things.  His dad just wants to give his son opportunities and let him discover himself.  In the lesson we found out that the mom is also Christian... the dad never knew it either.  She prays with the son every once and a while.  I think that they all have the potential to set and hit a date to be baptized.  That was a real miracle.  

The last story is last night... we were contacting and I saw this house with these people out playing the guitar.  When we walked up.. they did not look happy..  So i just asked the daughter if she played the guitar.  She did a little and then let me play.  We sat down with them played the guitar.  Then the uncle asked to play.  Haha he grabbed the top of a beer can thing and used it as a pick and then started playing sweet child o mine! hahaha!!  He played and played.. and even played some cool Taiwanese songs.  We got to find out that they are all Christian.  They are Taiwan's aborigine people.  Most of them are Christian.  We shared aobut Christ and our missions. We tried to set up another time... and they did too, but it wasn't their house. They said we could come back on the weekend and see if they were there and could share about Christ!  

The work is moving forward.  I feel so blessed to be able to be out here serving the Lord.  This is his work.  It is the greatest work in the world.  The gospel is true and I know that it has the power to improve every single aspect of our lives.  If we just take the time to use it.  I hope that you all get a chance every day to really use and live the gospel.  I know that by doing so you will see your lives change and improve every day. You WILL find yourself a more happy person every day... no matter what trials you face.  

Love you all, 

Elder Redding

Being Actively Engaged in a Good Cause

Dear Family and Friends,

My new area is awesome, and it is hot.  haha.  We are just starting the hottest months of the year.  June, July, and August in GaoXiong are hot.  haha!  So I better buckle up.  haha! This week was a lot of learning about the area and stuff and meeting everyone here.  It was great though.  My new companion is Elder Davis from Logan Ut.  He is awesome and his Chinese is great. He is a hard worker and a great missionary and example.  It is really fun to serve with him.  He taught me how to play chinese chess...and he is super good.  haha we play everynight before we go to bed!  so far I am 0-4...hahaha!  Last night was closer though. haha! 

The ward in GangShan is awesome!  I love the people here.  There are a lot of Filipino's here in GangShan and Vietnamese.  We have a member here from the Fillo...he is awesome. His name is Jonathan.  He speaks English.  He really can sing.   He is also one of the kindest people I have met.  

So on Wednesday we went to this 88yr old man's home.  He is a member and we go and play ping pong with him every week.  He is amazing... He beat me... it was one of the lowest moments of my life... hahaha!  No missionary has beat him yet.... it was 6-11.  He then beat me again 11-2.  haha When he comes to church he carries his paddle with him in the back of his pants.  hahaha!!!  Its hilarious.  He calls me newcomer. I saw him at church and told him I was going to beat him this week.  hahaha!  

After we visited him we went to visit this older man.  He had a stroke a while ago and isn't in good shape.  However... he is the happiest man alive.  He just makes me so happy. When we left we gave him this huge hug.  He has a Filipino lady that takes care of him.  

We had a lot of lessons this week and have a lot of really cool people that are progressing towards baptism.  We hope to help these people follow through with the commitments they are making.  I read in preach my gospel about when we invite people to keep commitments and they do, we are actually helping them repent.  Repentance takes action.  It is impossible to be passively repenting... The adversary has too much power.  If we are not actively engaged in a good cause over time we will find ourselves under the influence of the adversary.  

I love you guys and am so grateful for the efforts you put forth to do good everyday.  I can tell you that it doesn't go unnoticed.  We are never alone.  We have the best example that ever lived right by our side helping us along the way.  Trust Him.  I love you all so much. 

Elder Redding

Hello Gang Xiong (Gang Shan)!

Dear Family and Friends, 

Hello everyone!!  I got moved down to GaoXiong!!!  haha I am now serving in GangXiong.  Its summer...and it is hot. haha!  In all honesty... I can't tell a huge difference from here and TaiZhong....  they are both just hot! haha!  There is a very different feel here in GaoXiong.  Every area I have been in has a little different feel.  It is very interesting. I just barely got to GangShan and I love it already.  My companion is Elder Davis and he is the bomb!  He is a great Elder.  I met him in TaiZhong before, he has been here in GangShan for a couple move calls.  He has been out about just over a year.  He is a stud.  I already love him.  I have heard that the ward is awesome here.  I haven't met them yet...but I am excited!  I met one of the new members here today.  His name is "W"!  He is awesome!!  He is really cool and he actually went to Utah for about 2 weeks recently.  

This last week has been a little crazy.  I got to spend my last few days in MingJian!  That was a little hard.  I will really miss those people and really miss the land of miracles... haha.  I think that GangShan will also be a land of miracles.  It is pretty rural as well.  Not anything like MingJian Rural, but compared to the main cities it is pretty rural.  I got to tell everyone goodbye, and I really will miss all of them.  I hope that one day I can come back here with you guys and take you to all these places and let you meet these people.  It is really convenient because Taiwan is so small.. haha it is really easy to get around the island.  I was very grateful for the opportunity that I had to serve with Elder Roberts.  He is a great guy. We were like best friends.  It made serving really fun.  I will miss him... it was sad to say goodbye.  

After I left MingJian I went to Taizhong with Elder Roberts because he had to pick up his new companion.  I got there and spent the weekend with Elder Colvin.  Now...he is a stud.  He was super cool.  He only has 3 weeks left on his mission and then he heads back to the Air Force Academy.  His Chinese was pristine, and he was just really fun to be around.  I stayed in a four man in Taizhong.  I love the feel there.  It really feels like home.  It is hard to explain.  I LOVE TAIZHONG!!!  It was so great being back there.  I got to go to Brother Wang's baptism as well... that was one of that happiest moments I have had on my mission.  LaiJMwas there too... we taught her and her LA husband when I served there... he is now active.  She got baptized while I was in MingJian.  So picture this...I am sitting there in the chapel at the baptism and on the first row is all of the Sufamily...SuBaBa and his wife (both members), their son and his wife LaiJM(just got baptized), Their daughter and Brother Wang (daugher is a member, brother wang is getting baptized), and their little girl. (cutest little girl I have ever seen).  You look up at them and I couldn't help but just feel the most happiness in my heart and thankfulness for the gospel of Jesus Christ.  They are going to be an Eternal Family.  Elder Ju was there!  Me and him got to witness his baptism, and SuBaBa(his father in law) baptized him.  After that we went in the chapel and this video was playing about temples....  I had the most peace and happiness ever.  

On top of that, Brother Wang was so surprised when I showed up! haha.  He had no idea. He was really happy.  I will send the pic next week!!  (i left my camera in Taizhong... :/ )  I hope that I can find it... I am really worried.  If not it is okay because I actually moved all my pics to a usb just in case... I need to send that to you.  I am just praying that I left it there at the church.  

I sat there at Brother Wangs baptism and thought about the temple and about the importance and blessings of families.  I know without a doubt in my mind that families are eternal.  That knowledge makes me want to do everything I can possibly do to make sure that I am there with you guys.  I would encourage all of you to really ponder this week what a blessing our families are.  The best memories of my entire life have occurred with my family.  I know that families are forever and want to thank all of you for the examples you have set for me.  I know that having a knowledge and testimony of the eternal nature of families can literally transform lives.  I love you all so much.  I am very excited to serve here in GangShan with Elder Davis.  Expect Miracles!!!!!  

Love, 

Elder Redding