With the Savior's Help We Can Do All Things

Dear Family and Friends, 

This week has flown by and been a great blessing as well!  This week was full of great events.  This work is important and it is meant to be enjoyed.  It isn't always easy... but it is important to remember the eternal life wasn't a cheap price that the Savior paid for us.  Although at times the road in front of us may appear long and may look scary.  I testify that with the Savior's help we can do all things.  This work and living a gospel centered life is worth it. It always will be.  

This week we went and saw the "G" Family... they are awesome.  They are really going to need some prayers and a lot of faith.  I know that they can do this.  This thing that we hope to help them understand this week is that baptism isn't some grand ending... it is only the beginning.  We do not have to be perfect to follow the example of the savior and receive blessings from our loving Heavenly Father.  We just have to be willing to do our best.  We hope to help them understand this.  We have invited him to keep a gratitude journal every day... I remember when Dad invited us to do that that one Christmas.  That was really powerful!  We also invited him to kneel down at night with his wife before bed and pray together.  He committed to doing so.  I know that it will help.  

Yesterday we had a special experience.  We were out contacting and there was this big Daoist festival going on... and let me tell you.  when daoists party... oh man do they party! hahaha!!  Anyways the park was crazy crowded.  (the festival is for MaZhu... she is the God of the Sea)  anyways I saw this guy on the bench and went up and talked to him... I found out that he was Daoist... haha of course. So I asked him if He believed in a God that is greater than all other Gods... I usually ask this because they believe in a lot of Gods... but rarely grasp the concept of a supreme God or a creator.  He said it probably existed.. I then told him about church... and the feeling there.  We talked for a while and I asked if he had ever felt God's love in his life before... he wasn't sure.  I told him that he would feel it at our church.  It was really neat.  He committed to coming to church with us in two weeks.  I asked him once more at the end to make sure that he was legit about it.. and he said that he would be willing to come a try.  Super awesome!!  

I love you all so much!!  Keep the faith and keep on keepin on!!  Love you all so much!!  

Love, 

Elder Redding

"I Could Possibly Spend the Rest of My Days Here"

Dear Family and Friends, 

This week has flown by... once again.  I have been in Taiwan for about 11 months... crazy.  I can't even believe how the time has gone.  This week we really focused a lot with some of the RC's and LA's we had about taking the next step!!  We are hoping to help them all get to the temple.  That is the goal!! 

This week we met with an LA who has been a member of the church for the longest period of time out of any other member in GangShan.  I hope that makes sense... haha!  Anyways... he is really awesome and has recently gone through the temple to do baptisms for the dead.  We went to his house this week and brought a member with us and shared about the temple.  We invited him and his wife to come up with a goal together of when they can go through the temple and be sealed... and then we committed them to talking to the bishop this week about their goal so that he could work with them... Well when we left their home the member that came with us told us that 15 years ago they he went to this mans house with the missionaries and taught the same thing... so unlike last time,  we were very hopeful that they would talk to the bishop this time.  Well Sunday rolled around and they were at church.. haha and I thought that I better just remind him about what they committed to do.  He remembered and went up to the bishop and they set a time for next week to interview and talk about this goal!!  Awesome!  

This week we also taught JM the Filipino again.  He is awesome!  He even came to church and stayed the whole 3 hours!  We are very hopeful for him. We will meet with him again this week. They are talking about starting up an english gospel principles class for the filipinos.  That would be awesome.  

This week we also found out some sad news... On monday we went decided to go over to "Cs" home.. we hadn't seen him in a while.. and we thought that was really strange.  Well when we got there we found out that his dad was really sick... Long story short.. his dad is really old and "C" was really worried.  We took him to the hospital.  He had like no strength and I had to basically lift him in and out of the car.  This has been really hard on "C".  He is so young and is going through a lot right now.  Keep him in your prayers.  

We went running again on Saturday!!  We ran 6 miles with the GangShan running team.  It was such a blast!! hahah I love this ward so much.  I feel like Ammon when he says that he possibly could spend the remainder of his days among the Lamanites! haha 

This week I did a lot of studying in the Bible... I found the more and more I read the more it truly testifies to me of the Savior’s mission.  The Savior loves us so much.  One thought that really hit me this week was that the Savior was prepared beforehand to perform the atonement.  However, the Savior still had his agency.  He was subject to all the things that we face.. the difference is that he never yielded to any temptations and bore all sorts of pain and trials with patience.  The reason why this thought struck me so hard is that the Savior while he was suffering for us could have given up... but he didn't.  He didn't give up on us.  For that reason we cannot ever give up on him, or anyone else for that matter.  When we let this sink deep into our hearts I truly believe it is enough for us to take on any challenge that this life will throw at us.

JOHN 16:33

  33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me yemight have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation:but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

I love all of you so much!  Thank you for all your emails and letters of encouragement!!  They mean the world.  

Love, 

Elder Redding

Deeper Gratitude for Our Prophet and Apostles!

Dear Family and Friends, 

What a crazy busy and awesome week!!  It has been a week where I have felt a deeper level of gratitude for our Prophet and Apostles than ever before. I am so grateful that we have the chance to receive over 8 hours of pure instruction from their mouths.  They have been called of God.  They are receiving revelation to guide and direct us today.  They know. As President Hinckley said... it is wonderful! This week was crazy... here is how it went!! 

On Tuesday we had ZoneTrainingMeeting and after the Zone Leaders wanted to go on exchanges

Lunch After Training Meeting

again.  I got to go with Elder Hamula!!  I love him.  I was so grateful to be able to serve with him again.  I count him as a companion.  We have been on like 4 or 5 exchanges together plus the week we spent together with Elder Ju in DaKeng.  I knew that going with Elder Hamula we would see miracles.  I went to his area and Elder Chi came to GangShan with Elder Christensen.  Elder Hamula and I went first to the Stake President's home (He actually translates for the prophet in general conference and has some incredible experiences with the brethren) ...anyways we went to their home to teach a new investigator.  She is a friend of the wife.  Elder Hamula and I knew of the importance of a first visit, and as we were there we just relied on the Lord.  The lesson went amazing.  There were questions that we asked here that were really guided by the spirit.  I love teaching with Elder Hamula.  When we teach together it always has just felt so smooth and really has just felt like the spirit has been guiding us. We invited her to be baptized at the end of the lesson and she said that if she came to know it was true that she would be.  We shared a lot about the Holy Ghost.  As we taught that lesson and we and Sister Yang (presidents wife) bore testimony, you couldn't help but feel the love in the room at that time.  It hit me so hard then how important it is that we work through the members.  That is the way to do missionary work. It is more effective and has more meaning.  After we had the lesson we ate with the whole family.. and guess what we ate???  HAWAIIAN HAYSTACKS!!!  hahaha hawaiian haystacks in taiwan!! what the heck?? hahaha!  it was so great!!!  Overall the exchange was awesome!!  I love being with Elder Hamula and it really hit me how important the members are in this great work!!

Wednesday we were traveling again.  Elder Christensen is already half way through training!!  Crazy!!  we had a follow up meeting with all the other trainers and new missionaries in GaoXiong!  It went awesome and was sweet to see President and Sister Blickenstaff!  It is a lot more rare that we see them down here in the South! It was a great treat!  

Thursday we had a lesson with a Filipino and Jonathan came to help us out.  It went awesome! He accepted the invitation to be baptized.  We are still working on a date with him.  The lesson was so interesting.  Haha.. we speak English and then sometimes they just start speaking tagolic.. haha and we don't understand most of the time but the spirit directs us what to say next.  His name is "J"... and he came to General Conference and met some of the other Filipinos in our ward.  It was great!  

Friday we had a cool stake activity.  It was a sports/hiking/running thing!  It was great!  we went with some of our ward.  I will try and send some pics... just for the record GangShan came in first... hahah but some of the other wards weren't really racing... haha but we were! ;) haha

Saturday and Sunday were so special.  I just love the church.  I left all my notes at the apartment... my bad.. haha and you know how at the end of it all it kinda all gets jumbled in you head? haha!  However... I must start out by saying Thank you mom.  You are amazing.  The talk following Elder Holland's reflected on Fathers...  So I must add a big thank you to Dad.  Thank you Dad.  I think that it is fair to say that I have been blessed with the greatest parents in the world.  They love me and they understand me, I can't comprehend how much they love me... but they let me feel it.  Thank you.  Speaking of parents... I loved what Elder Renlund said about loving.  That once we are looking through the eyes of a parent, even our Heavenly Parents is when we are able to really see others as they are.  I loved that.  So I just love you guys. haha

It saddened me to see President Monson as he was, however I know that the short council he gave is important.  As members of His church we have  a responsibility to let our light shine before others.  To be an example of the believers.  The world isn't getting any better or any easier.  All the more reason that we need to be an example.  This world is so confusing right now... it is imperative that we let other see very clearly how this church has blessed us.  With all President Monsons strength and power he shared this with us.  I know that it is important.  

There were a ton of other things that I learned but one last one that I would like to share is that I am not a Ponderizer!! :) I loved that so much.  As I listened to that talk it helped me realize that ponderizing is a way that we can more fully honor our covenants.  As we center Christ in our lives we become ACTIVE covenant keepers.  It just so happens that the covenants we make are all centered on the Savior.  This is the plan.  As we take time to read and ponder the scriptures every day... we put him at the center of our lives.  IM A PONDERIZER!! hahaha 

The last miracle for the week happened yesterday.  Last night we went to ShiHua's house for dinner with the "..." Family.  I was talking to "..." at church and he was telling me that how when he was at church it helped him forget all of life's stresses and worries.  I pondered this and realized that this was the Holy Ghost, but that he might not fully realize that.  So after dinner we shared about the Holy Ghost and brought this up.  We invited them to be baptized.  They accepted!!! :D  They will be baptized on November 7th as a family!!  He has never been ready and always said that he would need time and wouldn't set a date.  I am so excited for them.  They will hit their goals.  I really have faith in them.  

I love you all so much!!  Have a great week!! 

Love, 

Elder Redding 

When You Feel You Can No Longer Stand...Kneel in Prayer

Dear Family and Friends, 

This week has been so fast!!! I can't believe it is already October!!  Where in the world did September go?? Ayyyeahhh! This week has been a very great week.  We are continuing to work hard here in GangShan to find those who are ready to receive this gospel!  It is such a great blessing!!  We are really working with the ward here - the bishopric just changed.  I am very grateful for the organization of the church and the wisdom and humility the leaders have in directing this great work.  I know that Bishop Gao was called to lead and most importantly to serve the ward here in GangShan at this time. 

We had a great opportunity this week to be able to sit down with him for about an hour and a half and just discuss some of our goals and plans and missionaries and how we can best work with him and the ward to accomplish his vision and desire for the ward.  It was such a great experience.  He is really focused on helping the members develop habits that would allow them to become the most spiritually strong they can be personally and also strengthening the families.  It was all so simple but made so much sense.  It was a great experience to sit and set some goals together.  I feel the love he has for the Lord so much when I speak with him.  It is amazing.  I am really excited for this ward.  

This week I really felt the power of the Book of Mormon and saw it in action.  We have been working with "..." who has really been struggling.  We were at the FamilyMart making some calls and I called him... he was still at work but he sounded so bad.  He had no energy or life or anything.  I asked him if he felt that at any time he had felt the Savior’s love in his life.  He said no... and that this burden was so heavy on him.  I told him that that was the role of the Savior.. to lift burdens.  That night during our English meeting there were scriptures shared in Ether 6 about the Jaredites leaving and being on the Sea for almost a year.  That really would be so hard...with all the animals and everything..  It would be tough.  However, in there it talks about the wind constantly blowing them towards the promised land.  I invite you all to read Ether chapter 6 and really pay attention to the reaction when they had reached the promised land.  I knew right when I heard that scripture that that was the one that "..." needed to hear.  I knew it.  Well that night went on... we had English class and at the end he showed up... he doesn't usually show up.  I shared that scripture with him and invited him to read it on his own.  

The following day I got a call from "..." and he called to tell me how happy he was.  He called to tell me that he was going to hang in there.  I know that the Lord is always constantly pushing towards the promised land.  I know that as the Jaredites were on the sea it wasn't always smooth and when the waves crashed over their barges it was often time probably very scary, but I know that the Lord's hand was always there pushing them towards the promised land.  We all need to keep the faith and hang in there... if we feel that we can no longer stand... that is the perfect time to kneel in prayer to our Heavenly Father and cry unto him for help.  I know that the Lord answers our prayers.  

I love the scriptures so much!  I love you all!  Thank you for your constant prayers and love.  I feel your great love.  I love you all!! 

Love, 

Elder Redding 

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