Twists and Turns of Life

Dear Family and Friends, 

This week has been such an awesome week!  It has had its own little twists and turns that have made it interesting, and made it so great.  Life is awesome... twists and turns are so fun when we learn to just go with them and trust the Lord.  We can learn something from every little experience in life.  It is so amazing! This week I had many times where I just had to pause for a couple seconds as we were out sharing the gospel and just reflect on how lucky I was to be out here sharing the gospel.  It was such a wonderful and beautiful experience.  It was an experience that was full of happiness.  This week I came to understand the importance of pondering on a deeper level.  

2nd Nephi 4: 

15 And upon these I write the things of my soul, andmany of the scriptures which are engraven upon theplates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures,and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for thelearning and the profit of my children.

 16 Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord;and my heart pondereth continually upon the thingswhich I have seen and heard.

Right after Nephi wrote this in the Book of Mormon we go on to read that he then received a very personal and spiritual experience.  This experience allowed him to reflect on himself in a way that allowed him to grow spiritually, and became a life changing moment for him.  I really believe that life is so short in the scheme of things... as a hero of mine Coach Larry Wall always says, ''This thing goes in a hurry... don't wish it away." I love that.... no matter the twists and turns that life takes we can always know that the Savior... our Savior has been there.  We can always find Him there... and where we find him we will also find JOY! 

This week I went on exchanges with the Elders in the district.  I went over to their area this time and oh boy did we see miracles.  We made a plan the night before and in the plan we had scheduled to find a ''Mc奇蹟''  a McMiracle... haha.  We had planned to go to McDonalds and sit down with someone and just find a miracle. haha!  So as we were there we were looking around with who the Mc奇蹟 was going to be! ... just at that moment I noticed one of the workers at McDonalds (not one of the ones who works behind the desks) her job is to just pick up trash and stuff... and she had a very awkward walk.  As I saw her I smiled at her and she smiled back... soon enough we began to talk.  I came to find out that this woman about 20 years ago got in a scooter accident and really messed up her body and her brain.  For the first year or so after she would eat food and right after would forget that she had already eaten.  I found that before she worked her she was an accountant... and then the accident happened. She went back to work and I sat there and pondered for a second and realized that our Mc奇蹟 was her.  I realized even more at that moment that we really have no room to judge anyone.  Here is this wonderful woman whose life took a completely different turn and found herself doing a job that maybe wasn't considered super great.   She has chosen to be happy.  I went up to her right then and asked her if we could share the message of the gospel with her sometime when she got off work.  She accepted and gave us her contact info.  I know that by pondering it really allowed me to see through Heavenly Fathers eyes at this wonderful woman, and also allowed my to know in my heart without a doubt... that this was our Mc奇蹟。  

This week we also had interviews.  I really am so grateful for a mission president that rely's on the spirit in everything he does.  He is such a huge example to me and such a man of faith.  He is like Nephi.  I was so grateful for the time that I was able to spend with him this week as we studied the scriptures together.  

Love, 

Elder Redding

The Little Things...Bring Safety and Peace

Dear Family and Friends, 

This week was another fantastic week!! This week just flew by... everyday is just flying by out here.  This week I feel like I was able to understand and feel once again the importance of the scriptures as I read them.  They are true and they are meant for us.  I studied a few talks this week from the 利阿賀拿 Liahona, and as I read the counsel given to us from our leaders I was reminded how often they use the scriptures in their teaching.  It was really inspiring to me.  I love the scriptures and know that they are true.  They are God's words written to us and for us.  Also... I read the scriptures I was reminded of the happiness and the promised that are abundantly shared in them.  READ THE SCRIPTURES!!! :) 

On Tuesday I decided that to start off the day I wanted to try and run a half marathon at this little track for my morning exercise.  So we got up really early and did that.  I was able to finish... I didn't run fast to say the least haha... it took me a little over 90 minutes.  haha and to be honest... I was pretty tired at the end.  haha Elder Cox was a trooper!!! He was just cheering me on.  To be honest I learned a very valuable lesson from that...  I got just over half way done with the thing and my legs were pretty tired and I was thinking about just quitting... however there came Elder Cox and he was right there to cheer me on about every lap yelling things like wahhooo,  go go go, and Youre Iron Man! hahaha!!  Those things really made the biggest difference in the world.  I know that if Elder Cox wasn't there... I would have never finished.  I would have just given up and been okay with it.  I learned how important a companion was once again.  Companions are there to lift and strengthen each other.  When the going gets tough... they are there.  It made me really grateful for our Father in Heavens wisdom and allowing us the opportunity to go to the temple and make covenants that allow us to magnify this principle. 

We were able to go to our ZTM on Tuesday as well.  It was very uplifting and was so great to see the Zone.  I was given the opportunity to share my testimony at the end as well.  We talked a lot about prayer and read a talk before had by Elder Bednar.  I have been trying to focus on saying more prayers of thanks.  Elder Bednar also talked about how our prayers throughout the days and weeks and years are all linked together... or should be. We should always be praying. It gives us the opportunity to talk with the Lord first thing in the morning and then throughout the day and account to him at the very end!  I loved that.  At the end we all sang I Believe in Christ.  That was really powerful.  I am so grateful to say that I Believe in Christ.  He is my King. 

This week we were able to meet with two new investigators... one of which was already a christian and her friend was not.  It was really great.  We were able to share all about the restoration and invite them to really truly pray about these things.  There was a special spirit there.  It was great.  

The two younger boys look like they will most likely be baptized on the 23rd.  We are very hopeful for them.   We are still working with our other investigator.  We hope that she can as well.  

I love all of you so much and am so grateful for all you do for me.  Thank you for all your prayers of faith.  From my wise older brother... , "do the things today that will make all the tomorrows easier...'' Do all the little things for in them ''there is safety and peace''.  

Love, 

Elder Redding

新年快樂！！！ Happy New Year!!!‏

Dear Family and Friends, 

Happy Day - Guo Family Visits!!! My Family Away from Home!

Wow... where in the world did 2015 go!?  That went by way too fast!!  I can't even believe how quickly time is going.  It has got to stop!!!!  I really love it here.  I love the people here.  I don't ever want to leave them!  I am grateful for this new year.  I am grateful for the opportunity I have to re-evaluate, re-set goals, and take action.  I have found that often times it is really easy to do the first two steps... to re-evaluate and to set goals... haha I have found that the action part is always the killer.  I have found that regardless of what goals we have the most effective way to take action is with the Savior and through his Atoning grace.

Moroni 10:32  Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God. 

This week was great.  We have been seeing a ton of success.  It looks pretty sure that on the 23rd we are going to have a few baptisms.  That is always really exciting!  Two of them are a 13 and 14 year old kids.  The other is a girl that we have been meeting with for a little while.  This week she confirmed at church that she was on track to hit that goal.   It was a great sunday.  Sunday,  I also had the great opportunity of blessing the sacrament.  It was the first time I have ever done it on my mission.  I was surprised when they announced right before that I would be doing it.  I did it with one of the members in the ward ChenDX.  It was a really neat experience.  It all went really smooth.  I was really grateful for the sacrament during those few moments.  

Lately we have been finding a ton of new investigators.  It has been such a huge blessing.  One of which is a big family that we found last week.  This week we biked back up to 北港 (beigang) which is not too far.  It is about an hour bike ride... but the wind is always blowing into us... so that always makes it a bit more difficult.  Anyways... when we got there we went to find all of the Less Actives that lived there and ended up going back to "M's" home (the family we found last week). There wasn't anyone home... so we kept going and then saw this lady from the bank show up at their home.  We went back to see what was up and not long after "J" showed up at the house and invited us in.  He is married and has a little boy.  The lady from the bank left and we just were able to talk to him.  I knew that he recognized us as servants of the Lord.  He didn't want to stop talking.  He shared with us some very personal things.  We were able to say a prayer with him at the end.  When we finished the prayer he looked up and looked right at us and said, "you guys can come by here anytime."  It was amazing.  I knew that the spirit confirmed to him that what we were doing was good.  We look forward to meeting back with them. 

This week I went on an exchange with one of my favorite people in the world.  I went with Elder Nipper.  If I can just explain Elder Nipper for a sec... haha.  He is one of those people that when you are with him you just feel like you are a little closer to Heaven.  He does all he can always to have the spirit with him.  It is amazing!  Well right when we started off the exchange he shared a scripture with me.  He shared about Samuel the Lamanite.  He told me that although Samuel was only up on the wall for a short period of time that the influence that he had was eternal.  Because he did what he did while he was on the wall and preached with the spirit... millions of people are still reading about him today and drawing inspiration from his few moments upon the wall.  He related to the exchange we were about to have.  Sometimes missionaries get lost in going through the motions and exchanges just become a way to go with a friend and relax.  That is not their purpose at all.  Their purpose is to learn and to grow together in the spirit.  Their purpose is to teach and learn.  We can find true happiness by doing those things.  Elder Nipper and I started off the exchange with such a strong period.  Right after we got done doing our exchange start meeting... the first person we talked to was a police officer.  He was really busy... but very friendly.  He gave us his number and told us that he had met missionaries before and then told us that we could come over to his house and meet with him again.  I was so grateful for that.  It was a miracle that I know happened because we were treating the things of the Lord the way they were supposed to be treated.  If we would have just gone through the motions I know that miracle never would have ever happened. 

I love all of you so much.  I wish the most happiness and success fall upon you this next year.  I pray that every step you take this next year will be guided my our Heavenly Father's angels, directing, guiding, and lifting you up.  I know that He loves you.  Thank you all for your wonderful lives that have influenced me for good.  Although I may not do the best job expressing my gratitude and love for all those around me I want you to know that I have noticed your influence in my life and am eternally grateful for it.  Every single step in the right direction is worth it. If we are always heading in the right direction we will all get where we want to go at some point.  Heavenly Father doesn't expect us to get there in one big leap!  I love you all!  

Alma 37：34

Teach them to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find rest to their souls.

Love，

Elder Redding 洪長老