All of God's Children Are So Important!

Dear Family and Friends, 

This week has been a great week.  It has been full of crazy events and new experiences. This week we had the opportunity to experience the Mid-Autumn festival here.  It was full of BBQ's fruit hats, great food, and fireworks!  It was awesome!!  I really love the ward here.  I feel like everyday I meet people here and I begin to love them more and more.  I know that all of these people are so important in our Heavenly Fathers eyes.  This plan was created for all of us, it wasn't just created for a select few of us that came down to earth.  It was created for all of us.  We all courageously made the decision to participate in God's plan.  We all wanted to live with him again and enjoy all of the blessings that he enjoys.  I believe we knew before hand very well that coming to earth wouldn't not be easy... that we would be tested.  I also believe that we were very excited with the knowledge that we would receive bodies and gain happy joyful experiences that would last forever.  I am so grateful that I chose to participate in this plan and that I have the opportunity to serve here around His children in Taiwan.  Every single soul is precious in our Heavenly Fathers eyes.  This plan is perfect and was designed for our happiness.  It is the plan of HAPPINESS!!! (Moses 1:39) ''This is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."  This is what he glories in... not in himself, but in us.  He glories in our happiness.  He glories in every single ounce of effort we put in to do a little better. He is the Father and he hears and answers every single prayer. 

This week we have been working hard to help these people progress... We had to re-set some goals but that is okay.  It is patience and diligence.  The goals we have right now are really solid!  "P" has a goal for the 17th of October... that will be great for him.  

This week we met with "..."  and he took us out to eat Bing(ice) with him.  It was good, and then he got talking to us about his work and some of the challenges that he has been facing recently.  I invited him to read a chapter every day in 3rd nephi for the next month.  So far he is doing a great job.  I committed to doing that with him.  So I have been doing that as well.  Reading one chapter in 3rd nephi every day is really easy and really is one of the best parts of the day.  I love reading the Book of Mormon!!  

This weekend was crazy with Mid-Autumn festival.  We went to a ward BBQ that was awesome!!  I also saw a family from my old ward in DaKeng! That was super cool! It was super cool to see them.  I really love our ward here in GangShan.  We also got invited to go to a friends house named dark.  He and his mom taught us how to make dumplings!! That was super fun... after we ate them.. That was awesome.  He then took us to dinner at this huge night market! That was awesome!!! 

Last night Willie invited us to his home for another BBQ... the food there was unreal!! hahah there were a bunch of little kids there and I showed them the magic trick that Tay taught me of hitting the cards out of their hands! hahaha they thought that it was the coolest thing ever!! hahah... being there at Willie's home with his family reminded me again of how important all of Gods children are!  I am so grateful for last night's experience.  

I love you all so much!! Sorry this email is kinda crazy... we are going to Monkey Mtn again with a bunch of our ward for PDay!!  It should be super fun!!  

Love, 

Elder Redding 

The Gospel is Love!!!

Dear Family and Friends,

Thank you all so much for the most wonderful birthday ever!!! I can't believe that I got to turn 20 years old in Taiwan.  It was awesome!!  Thank you all so much for the letters, and thank you so much for the awesome package!  Between Elder Christensen and I the treats didn't last long! hahaha!!  Elder Christensen's bday was the 18th... so I talked with Willie and he got in contact with the ward and we had a surprise b day party for him.  It made him so happy!!  That was awesome!! This weekend way nuts!!! hahaha!  It was a whirlwind!!  

This week was crazy with interviews and then we had stake conference.  We spent most of the weekend in downtown gaoxiong for those events.  Interviews were great... I am so grateful for such a wonderful mission president.  I know that this church is true and am so grateful to be here in Taiwan serving these people.  Stake Conference was awesome as well.  

It also has been cool to see the change in "C" the last few months.  This is the gospel.  As members of the church we have such a huge blessing in our lives that everyday we have the opportunity to live the gospel and receive the blessings therefrom.  This is what we do.  

I feel like the longer I am out here the more I am coming to better understand the people's hearts here.  I love the people here.  I love the gospel.  It is hope, it is courage, the gospel is LOVE!!! My heart was full this week.  It has been full of love for all of you, for these great people, for my Savior, and for my God.  I love you all.  Keep the faith and keep looking to the future!!! 

Love, 

The Oldie... Elder 20yrs old Redding!!!! ;)

Love is the Unseen Force that Breaks Barriers

Dear Family and Friends, 

Street Contacting

These last couple weeks have been very good!!  Thank you for all your emails of encouragement and support!!  There are great things happening here in GangShan!  Elder Christensen and I were able to see a lot of miracles this week!  

Elder Christensen and Elder Redding Sporting New Haircuts

So... last week we were meeting with "P" and his mom when his mom said that there would be no way that she could get baptized with Paul because she had been a Buddhist for so long and needed more time.  She didn't know when she would get baptized and said to just go and let "P" get baptized.  I was pretty sad at that time... and we also moved Ps baptism to the 19th.  After the lesson "G" came in and he is facing the same thing right now as well.  His family is all ready, His son has actually been baptized and they all come to church every week... he just says that he needs time.  So after we met with "P" and his mom, "G" came in and expressed to me how he was really struggling with work and stress and he needed us to pray for him.  He also wanted a blessing.  So I gave him a blessing.  I really can see his faith being manifest right now.  Later that week we went to a fireside with "G" and his son.  The speaker was previously in the Quorum of the 70, and he did a wonderful job on speaking on the Plan of Salvation.  He taught so simple and so powerfully.  After the meeting "G" was driving us home and said that the talk that was given that night was exactly what he needed to hear.  It was really great.  

So this week Elder Christensen and I are sitting there doing Personal Study and the phone buzzes.  So I look

Zone Conference

at the phone and it is a text from Ps Mom... I got really worried.  My first thought was that she was going to say that he couldn't be baptized or something.... hahah so I opened the message and read that she had been thinking and had decided that she wanted to get baptized with P and join this Big Family!!  It was such a miracle!!!  It was great!!  We had there baptismal interview this last Saturday and it looks like they will get baptized this next Saturday the 19th.  I am very very hopeful for them.   

This week we had a lot of opportunities to touch people with prayers. On the street we meet people and a lot of times they won't meet with us again and don't have a lot of interest.  Sometimes we try to teach them how to pray and say a prayer with them right on the street.  It is a special experience for them.  This week Elder Christensen and I went to the park to contact people and saw this lady sitting off aways playing on her phone.  We went over and talked to her and asked if we could share for a sec... she said no, so we asked if we could just use 5 min of her time... haha she said yes... but wasn't super thrilled about it.  We taught her about prayer, and she wasn't all that into it.  At the end

My Great Zone!

we asked if we could say a prayer with her... she excepted... but once again wasn't to happy about it.  After we said the prayer we looked up and she was a totally different person than when the prayer started.  She had changed... she felt the spirit.  We invited her to pray on her own that night and got her number to give to the sisters.  I don't know what will come out of it... maybe nothing.  However, Elder Christensen and I know that she felt the spirit and she couldn't deny it.  

Yesterday we went over to the "G" Family for dinner, and shared after.  We asked where they were about baptism.  "G" is still not ready... he says that he needs time.  We just promised blessings and help them see the importance of the sacrament. I feel like it helped.  When we left we said a prayer and after the prayer "G"Mama had tears running down her eyes.  She is ready.  I truly feel like they are so close!!  

With Guys from Indonesia

Playing Music with Guys from Indonesia

Yesterday was also kinda funny.. we had a guy come in our ward from the Marshall Islands.  His name is Andy and he will be here for 4 years studying medicine.  He is a member and is just this big Poly!!  He is great.  He doesn't speak any chinese... so I translated for him.  He was really happy and the ward loves him.  haha also last night we went to the park to contact people and ran into these guys from Indonesia... they were playing these island drums and guitar thing.... We couldn't communicate with them... however I learned a powerful lesson from being with them.  We spent about 15 min with them and it was so joyful and felt like there was no problem communicating.  There are real language barriers, but Love truly is the unseen force that breaks down any barriers.  We sat and laughed and played the guitar with them for 15 min!!  

Happy Birthday!

I just thought of another cool story... haha the other day we were doing language study in the park and this Filipino came up and started talking to us!  He was so nice!!  One of the nicest people i have ever met.  We can talk to them because their second language is english.  anyways... it came out that it was his b day.  So I told him to wait there for 20 min and Elder Christensen and I ran off and bought a cake for him.  I was really happy we did.  It is not easy for them.  They come over here to work in these factories they leave their families and can't speak the language.  We came back and two of his friends were there.  They were just celebrating his b day with a few beers and a bag of cheetos.  They were happy and content and overwhelmed that we would buy them a cake.  We lit the candles and sang and ate cake with them for like 10 before we had to go to an appointment.  I really truly felt pure happiness then.  

The Lord has blessed me in so many ways this last week.  I love Him.  I love you all!! Thank you for all the B day wishes!! You are all the best!! 

Love,

Elder Redding   

"C" was Baptized!

Dear Family and Friends, 

I don't have hardly any time today.  Last week was pretty crazy.  I was told that I would be staying in

Getting My New Comp, Elder Christensen, from the Mission Home

GangShan and also that I would be training!!!  haha luckily I got the best companion ever!! He is awesome! His name is Elder Christensen!  He is from Utah and is a stud!!  He ran track before his mission and came in second place in state for 5A for the 400 with a 49. something!!  He is awesome!!!!!!! I feel like his chinese is already awesome!!!  

This last saturday,....."CH..." got baptized!!!! wahhhhooo!!!  It was Elder Christensen's first day in GangShan and got to go to a baptism!! It was awesome!!  I am so happy for "C".  I know that the things that he learned this summer have changed his eternity.  I was so happy this morning... we went to go to the church to play ping pong at 6... when we got there the early morning seminary was just finishing before the youth went to school... and guess who was there???  "C"!!!  and "P" and his mom!!!!  iT WAS SO GREAT!!!  

On Sunday I was assigned to give a 15 minute talk!  ... I was really nervous... That is a long time to be standing in front of everyone speaking Chinese... hahah but I got up there and before I knew it the bishop was handing me a paper that said we needed to wrap it up.. haha I looked at the clock and it was already 5 min over time - hahaha!!!  

I love this work.  I love you all... !!  

Love, 

Elder Redding

Newly Arriving Missionaries with Their Trainers - A Record Number of New Missionaries Arrived!!!

We worked... and worked... and worked - it paid off!

Dear Family and Friends, 

This week has been a great week.  Man was I tired this week.  We worked... and worked... and worked.  It really paid off though.  We are seeing miracles everyday and it really is a huge blessing to be serving the Lord.  I can't think of a better reason to be tired.  This is how the week went. 

With Elder Kunz at "Welcome Back" Party

We had a DTM on Tuesday and talked about finding new investigators.  It went well and we set some good goals.  Our district has a goal for 6 baptisms in the month of September.  I really have faith that we can hit that.  We are working with a couple families right now and it would really be a blessing to help to enter into the waters of baptism this next month.  They are prepared souls and I believe that is the reason.  On Tuesday night we threw a party for our RC who just got back from merica.  His family hasn't been baptized yet and are getting really close.  A couple weeks ago I kept having the feeling that we should have a welcome home party for him with the ward... I am really grateful that we did.  It started out and we only had a few people there with a few snacks... but in the end it went awesome.  A bunch of Ward Members came, "C" came and we had food and ping pong. The ward loved it, and our RC "D" and his family really really loved it.  I was super happy that it went well. 

English Class with the Children

Tuesday, afternoon we had a meeting in downtown GaoXiong for the DL's in our Zone.  We set our Zone Goal for September also set what we called the Zone Standards.  Great things accomplished that will raise all of us to a greater sense of accountability.  I have really enjoyed working hard to hit these specific goals every day.  At night was English class... I got a pic with my students just in case i moved... haha so I will show you that.  

Our "We Got Stood Up" Chair - Pout for a Second, Then Back at It Smiling!

The highlight of the week is that "C" had his baptismal interview and he passed.  It was so awesome!  He is getting baptized this next saturday.  He asked if I could baptize him, At church we announced his baptism to the ward and everyone was really excited.  hahah our other investigator whose goal is the 12th came up and asked if they could get baptized with "C" as well! haha we still have to teach him some things and we hope that he can get baptized with his mom! This is an amazing work... it is work.  However, it is very joyful and fulfilling.  I am so grateful to be serving here in Taiwan.  I feel so blessed to be here.  I am beyong grateful for all of you and the support you give me.  Thank you.  I mean it when I say that I couldn't be out here without all of your wonderful influences.  

I love you all so much!  This is going to be an amazing week!!  

Love, 

Elder Redding

Parable of the Laborers

Dear Family and Friends, 

This week has been great and once again... has flown by.  I cannot even believe that I have been with

Elder Kunz for a month now.  It has flown by.  In a couple weeks we have 35 new missionaries coming to Taiwan... that should be crazy.  That is the most that President and Sister Blickenstaff have ever had come on at one time.  We have a super young mission right now... hahah so that should really make things interesting.  I would love to stay in GangShan.  I love it here.  I love the ward here and love the people that we are working with.

At Zone Conference

Zone Conference

This week we had Zone Conference and were able to see President and Sister Blickenstaff.  That was super fun.  It is a lot more rare to see them since we are in GaoXiong.  So that was really great and uplifting.  At the end of the Zone Conference President invited 3 people to come up and share their testimonies.  You can probably guess what happened next... hahah yeah. I actually am really grateful.  It is such a blessing to share our testimonies.  They truly are a gift from our Heavenly Father.  They come from hard work and faith.  So when we don't share them... it is like practicing a fast break dunk for years and then finally getting the opportunity and doing a layup instead.... haha!  We can use these testimonies that we have worked hard for and that Heavenly Father has been so gracious to let us have to help lift and inspire others.  So I was very grateful to be able to share.

This week we ran into a great miracle.  We met with a family (a mom and a son) They are so great... and they have been coming to church.  This week we were able to meet with them and were able to set a baptismal date for the 12th of sept!  It was so awesome.  I really have faith that they will hit it!!  "C"... we moved him back to the 29th and fasted with him this sunday.  I think that he will hit that.  I sure hope that he does.  That would be so neat. He is such a great person.  I feel so blessed that Heavenly Father has allowed us to come in contact with these people and share this message.  

This week I read the parable of the laborers.  I used Jesus the Christ as a study companion... and I highly recommend doing this.  I feel like I got so much more out of it while using both.  I would invite you all to do the same.  I know that by prayerfully doing so you all will come to appreciate and love the way the Master Teacher taught(our Savior Jesus Christ). 

What really stood out to me was there was a difference in the first hired and in the last. It was the mindset. The first agreed on their pay and as they labored, thought towards what they would gain. The last were told that their pay would be fair...and labored in the Lords vineyard not with a thought for what they would gain but they labored in gratitude for the work they were given. To m humility really is realizing that it isn't all about ourselves. We really are all in debt to God... so it is kinda silly to be out here expecting some fixed wage. Any pay or blessing that we get from God while we are in His service is a free gift. The first shall be last and the last shall be first... The first MAY be last and the last MAY be first. It doesn't matter at what time we are called to labor. Those that labor in humility work with faith and develop a knowledge and trust that God will give unto them "whatever is right." I hope that I can become more humble as I serve and think less about myself. I hope that I can develop a greater mindset of gratitude for the opportunity that has been given me to serve the Lord.

I love you all so much!!!

Love

Elder Redding

With Two of Our English Class Kids!

Typhoon Soudelor!!!

Dear Family and Friends, 

The Storm of the Century was legendary. haha.  It was pretty cool.  I learned something here in Taiwan that I never knew before.  I learned that a typhoon is the same thing as a hurricane... haha I

Damage in Our Area from Typhoon Soudelor

can't believe that I never knew that before.  They just call them typhoons over here.  It was pretty cool though.  We knew it was coming because people were all talking about it and refusing to set up with us on the weekend because of the typhoon.  haha... and on Friday we got a message from president that basically we just needed to be smart.. so my companion and I decided to go outside! haha.  I have found some of the most success on my mission tracting in the pouring rain... so I thought it would be a great opportunity.  So we wake up Saturday morning and it was starting to ramp up... we didn't go outside for work out because it would have been too hard to bike there.... haha.  When it came time to go outside there was no one out on the road and biking was crazy! The wind would sometimes make it so that you couldn't even pedal... hahah and other times it would hit you in the back and make you go super fast.  We just biked to an area and decided to tract.  The people all thought that we were crazy... haha.  I really didn't think it was that bad or that dangerous.

Lunch Time on Exchanges with Elder Hamula

There were a bunch of trees that were ripped out and some of them took out the cement they were planted in.... that was pretty crazy.  Lunch time rolled around so we went to the only place that was open... Mickey D's!! hahah not many people can say they ate Mickey D's in the middle of a Hurricane!! That was super fun..  Then we went and made calls... and then we went tracting again... we found a little success and ran into this lady who we taught how to pray... We went back again the other day to find out that she had prayed.  That was really neat.  When dinner rolled around... we were pretty hungry... and guess where we went... MICKEY D'S HAHAA!! At that time our phone was not working...  so after we ate we had to go home to connect with the ZLs... to make sure that we were still supposed to be outside.. we got home and found out that president just told us all to stay in the rest of the night! hahah. So we got home... showered and made calls the rest of the night watching the district on our little DVD thing.  (the district is a missionary video).

We had a huge miracle this week... last night actually.  We had just finished contacting and decided that it was time to start heading home because we have to get numbers in early on Sunday.   While we were heading back we saw this guy on the side of the road... we pulled over and said hello and asked how he was... he said that he was horrible and not happy.  I asked him why and he just said that is faith was low... he then asked if we had something that could help him.  We told him about our church and prayer.  We committed to coming to church next week and was really serious about it.  We then said a prayer with him to help his faith.  It was a huge miracle.  He gave us his number and we showed him where our church was.  

Earlier this week we also had a sweet miracle.  We were out tracting and this guy was outside.  We went to go and talk to him to find out he was part of a different christian church.  He didn't want to talk a lot and told us his wife was inside and wouldn't be happy... we talked a little longer and then all of a sudden his door closed behind him... hahah it locked him out and he didn't have keys. hahah Idon't know if his wife was actually home.  So we ended up talking to him for like 30 min about the church.  We got his number and are hopeful for the future.  He told us not to get to hopeful for him... haha but its okay.  Regardless of the outcome we were able to share restored truths with him.  It was awesome. Thanks to that door.. :) 

This week I read about the light of Christ in PMG... I loved as I was reading I felt how much Heavenly Father loves all of his children.  He wants to give them the very best.  He has given us the light of Christ that no matter what situations we are born into we can still discern good from evil.  That is something I think is really cool.  When people are prepared and hear the message of the restored truth it really does feel like home to them.  It makes sense them.  I know that there are people out there who are ready to hear and receive this gospel.  Everyone was foreordained to receive all that the Father has.  That doesn't exclude anyone.  

This week as I was reading the Book of Mormon I came to realize even more what a special this opportunity is to be in Taiwan serving the Lord.  I read Mosiah 5:13 For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart.   We cannot truly come to know the Master without serving him.  It is key to finding  joy and peace in this life and in the life to come.  I know that when we are in the service of our fellow beings we are only in the service of our God.  There is so much joy in this work.  It is also called work for a reason.  It is not easy... in fact most of the times it is very hard.  However, I know that the hardest things in life always bring the most joy and blessings.  Salvation was not free,  It took every ounce of energy and strength that our Savior had to pay that price for us. I know that as we serve him we truly come to know and understand him. Understanding him brings the peace and joy that our hearts deeply yearn for. ''Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me.''

I love you all so much!! 

Love, Elder Redding

Pday Overlooking the Ocean

PDay on a Clear Day to Hit Golf Balls

Family Home Evening