WILD WILD EAST

    Hello everyone! So sorry that I missed a week, but we were just going and going so I didn't even have time to type one up. But I'll make this one twice as good to make up for it. Just know that's its been an epic 2 weeks. 

The work has been slow but busy at the same time. We are still on the finding grind to grow our teaching pool, because our previous promising people disappeared off the face of the Earth. Genuinely MIA so that kinda sucks, but hey we keep on truckin. So we've been trying to find new people and coming up with new techniques to get people interested. The tried and true methods of knocking and talking to people on the street are a daily staple, but sometimes they just don't cut it. So we've devised a few new ideas.

One of which was filming a music video for our social media page public. People were asking questions and so we had some good luck there, but we hope posting it will bring even more. And this week were going to walk around a town square with a whiteboard that has a question on it. Hopefully this sparks some interest and some neat discussions. I have the faith that if we keep at it, we'll see something come out of all our effort. Aaaand yesterday we made 2 dozen cinnamon rolls which were so good. It was fun to make them and even more fun to eat. And our members said mine were better than my companions so... BOOM BABY. WINNA WINNA

We do have a few people that we're somewhat consistently teaching right now which is going well. So that's awesome. They are amazing people, and I cannot wait to see how they progress and see the joy that Jesus Christ can bring to their lives. So prayers out to Daniel and Mahabir. 

This has been a week of some awesome food. We've been fed by some amazing members in our ward and have been able to find some epic restaurants. Some of the highlights have been Italian sandwiches at a small restaurant we found. They were gas. A Korean soup with spam, sausage, hotdogs, tofu, rice, ramen noodles and a bunch of other stuff. Which was also so good. And we also tried some Tongan barbecue horse. It was pretty good I must say. As well as something called Ota. Its Tongan. Look it up. Its so good.

We had a zonecon, that was super good. Got to see a bunch of other missionaries, and had some really good trainings. I love zone con, the spirit is so strong and it boosts my energy for the next little bit. Got to help out and be a part of a music video one day, that was pretty fun. Kinda got thrown in short notice, but we made it work so no worries. 

I have had a goal to read the entire Book of Mormon this transfer. And its been so awesome. Its the quickest that I've read it and I feel like I have gotten so much out of it. Its been about 2 1/2 weeks and I'm at about Alma 14. Truly an amazing volume of scripture, and I would implore you all to read at least a little bit every day. It will honestly bring you closer to Christ and help strengthen your testimony of the gospel. 

This week I have been thinking about a talk given by M Russel Ballard. He speaks on the importance of having a positive mindset and looking for the good. He says," we must learn to be creators of circumstances and not creatures of them." We have to look for those opportunities and for the positives in the day. We have to make them happen, not just wait for them to fall in our lap. And when we do that we will see the Lord always had them planned for us, we just didn't recognize it before. Proverbs 23:7 reads," as [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he." So think it in your heart and go find it, and that's what you will be and what you will see. 

I love you all so much. I am having so many amazing experiences here and a lot of them I can't fit into my emails. But know that there is miracles left and right, and the work is progressing. Miss home and all you guys, so please have a s'more in my honor. Reach out with any fun stories, any questions, or if you need anything at all. 

(Song of the week: If We Were Vampires by Jason Isbell) 

Much love, 

ELDER KEYTON REDDISH 

P.S. the words hell and damn are not swear words here in Australia, and are used quite liberally. By people, members, and missionaries alike, so you can imagine how I may have picked up on that lol