Dear Mother, Father, Sisters, Brothers, Family, and Friends
Welll...... It`s the end. This is my last email from Japan. I only have 2 more days left here in Fushimi before I go to the mission home and then I begin my journey Home.
"Home," That`s an interesting word to me now. I`m leaving home here pretty soon, and everytime I think about it tears well up in my eyes. I have to leave my home. No longer am I only Japanese by blood, but by heart also. For two years I have served my brothers and sisters in Japan. For two years I have labored through sweat and tears to help these people to find happiness. On hot summer days, in cold winter nights. I have shed tears upon my pillow at night and I have cried unto the Lord by day as I have sought to bring these wonderful people unto God. Now it`s done. The time has come to leave it all behind and take a step forward into a new chapter of my life. Oh the things that I shall never forget! Oh the Life that I have lived, the people that I have loved! To leave this all behind hurts me. It tears me apart. There are many memories that I will cherish forevermore and there are people that I will never forget. This has become my home.
I`m not sure what I should write for this last email. I`ll see everyone soon enough and be able to talk, to relate and express my experiences then. It just feels so surreal right now that I`m going home! My mind is just incapable of wrapping around that idea. My bags are packed and sent off, and it just feels like I`m going to a new area. Yet ahead lies a long plane ride, across an ocean to a different continent thousands of miles away. I leave from Japan at 3:30 PM Friday 3rd, and arrive at 4:30 PM Friday 3rd in St. George. I know that that is going to be the longest hour of my life, and in more ways than just one. I`ll be crying the whole plane ride home.
I guess right now the only thing I`m trying to do is express my feelings as I end my mission. But That`s something that can`t be fully expressed, as I don`t even know what I`m feeling. I have a turmoil of emotions welling up inside of me. Excitement, Sorrow, Grief, Anticipation, Nervousness, Anxiety. There is so much that lies ahead that I`m not sure what I`m even supposed to be thinking or feeling right now. Sometimes my heart leaps with joy at the thought of going home, some times it shrinks away in sorrow. Part of me wants to leave, most of me wants to stay. The other day as I was making lunch I just felt like crying for no reason at all! I`m turning into an emotional wreck.
I guess I`ll just testify right now. It`s all that I have left to do.
What is the worth of Two Years? It is something priceless and immeasurable. It is something that one could never explain with words. It is an entire life in and of itself. It has been a time of growth, a time of pain, a time of stretching, a time humbling, a time of faith, a time of love, a time of joy. These two years I would never trade for anything in this world. They have changed me in an inexplicable way. I set out not really knowing what was lying ahead. I set out not even coming close to comprehending what I was doing. I had stepped foot into a new world. I remember the day I entered into the MTC. Early, like usual, stepping out of the car and walking into the front desk, waving goodbye to Mom and Dad as they headed off. One deep breath and then I submerged myself and gave myself to God. I placed myself in his hands and sought to follow him to the best of my abilities. From then on everything was different. At times it was hard, it was difficult and I wanted to give up. At times I complained to God and asked "Why this!?" or "What have I done to deserve this!?" But quickly the gentle reminder would come that God knew what he was doing, or even if was not quickly I eventually learned it. Every step was a step of faith, sometimes it was misplaced but even then I was picked back up again. But those hard times I cannot remember nearly so clearly as I can the joyful times. The first baptism, the lessons, the Spirit, the Guidance, the Love. All of those swallow up any of the pain I ever felt and to God I owe all the credit. He taught me my lessons, he gave me the spirit, he guided me to where he wanted me to go, and he taught me what love truly meant. Never can words really explain all that there is.
From start to finish God has guided my growth as a missionary. I can say as the apostle Paul once said: "By the grace of God I am who I am!" God has made me who I am today. He has helped me to be myself and find out who I really am. He has loved me and nourished me into who I am now. For that I am eternally grateful and will forever praise my God. Hallelujah! O how great is his Mercy, how Endless is his Love! O how wonderful is my God that has lead me to the end! My God is my Strength, and My God is my stay! Far from away in a world that I have never known, across the foreign streets I walk. Yet in my heart his love resides and in his strength do I rely. Nothing can take this from me, no mortal hand nor hellish storm, no nothing. This burning in my heart is undeniable, I have done all that the Lord has asked me to do. My time has come to go home.
I know that God lives, and I know of his Love. I know that Christ is my Redeemer and my Saviour. I know that this is God`s church, and I bear this final witness as a missionary in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
With much Love,
Elder Randall KK Tateishi
Monday, January 30, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
2nd to last.....
Dear Mother, Father, Brothers, Sisters, Family, and Friends
Not even sure what to write this week. It`s been a pretty good week, but it`s filled with it`s ups and downs.
Last week Monday we went to Byodoin, one of the most famous places in Japan, and also on the Japanese 10 Yen coin. It was way fun and filled with a lot of interesting things. I really enjoyed the trip, even though it took us about an hour by bike to get there and then another hour to the Joyo (The other area in my district) Apartment. We had Companion Exchanges that same night.
Let`s see, I haven`t been sleeping too well at all lately, my back is killing me as I try to sleep, so I keep rolling around. I think mainly it`s just a lot of stress that`s built up lately.
Throughout the week we`ve been blessed with some really Spirit filled lessons, that have really been adjusted and worked towards the needs of those that we teach. I Don`t know why God has blessed us with such amazing investigators but it is a great honor to be teaching them. Doesn`t really matter to me if they get baptized while I`m here or not, just so long as they start walking the path that leads them to their happiness and joy. I know they`ll get baptized when the time is right, and I`m just glad that I have been able to apart of that process.
Yesterday we actually taught one of my Investigators that I had found my first time around in Fushimi. We were waiting to teach another lesson, but he was there and wanted to have a small lesson. We talked a lot and really listened to what he had to say, and sought to help him and teach him. I could really feel the Spirit during that lesson and I could see it working in him a little bit. He agreed to pray sincerely and actually seek after God, which has been his problem the entire time. It was really cool.
Elder Tateishi`s Gospel Message of the Week
Tribulations bring us Pain. Pain is swallowed up in Joy. Joy comes from Love. Love brings us unto God.
As a missionary there have been many tribulations and trials for me. Time and time again I felt sorrow, grief and difficulty. I have been frustrated with myself and those around me, I have made countless mistakes that have caused me much worrying and anxiety. Yet always I have been able to turn to God and find Joy and Love as I work. I have been able to turn frustration into faith, Sorrow, into Joy, Grief into Happiness, and difficulty into hope. By the end of each trial, each tribulation I find myself closer to God. I find that I have changed a little bit of myself and taken another step towards God and learned another priceless lesson. I have learned to Love those around me, I have learned to listen to others, I have learned patience with myself and patience with others. I have learned to laugh, to sing, to cry, to smile.
As Job said "Even though he slay me, yet will I trust God!" The tribulations and trials we face everyday are placed before us for a reason. They are hurdles to leap, mountains to climb, and rivers to cross. All to help us learn how to run, how to climb, how to swim, or to win us the Gold medal, to See the grand scheme of things, or to find ourselves in greener pastures. God loves us, he knows what`s best for us. He knows all things, and so the only thing we must do is trust whether or not he has our Eternal Welfare in mind as he works is works.
I know God desires the best for me. I know he works to bring about my Eternal Life and my Eternal Salvation. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Love,
Elder Randall KK Tateishi
Not even sure what to write this week. It`s been a pretty good week, but it`s filled with it`s ups and downs.
Last week Monday we went to Byodoin, one of the most famous places in Japan, and also on the Japanese 10 Yen coin. It was way fun and filled with a lot of interesting things. I really enjoyed the trip, even though it took us about an hour by bike to get there and then another hour to the Joyo (The other area in my district) Apartment. We had Companion Exchanges that same night.
Let`s see, I haven`t been sleeping too well at all lately, my back is killing me as I try to sleep, so I keep rolling around. I think mainly it`s just a lot of stress that`s built up lately.
Throughout the week we`ve been blessed with some really Spirit filled lessons, that have really been adjusted and worked towards the needs of those that we teach. I Don`t know why God has blessed us with such amazing investigators but it is a great honor to be teaching them. Doesn`t really matter to me if they get baptized while I`m here or not, just so long as they start walking the path that leads them to their happiness and joy. I know they`ll get baptized when the time is right, and I`m just glad that I have been able to apart of that process.
Yesterday we actually taught one of my Investigators that I had found my first time around in Fushimi. We were waiting to teach another lesson, but he was there and wanted to have a small lesson. We talked a lot and really listened to what he had to say, and sought to help him and teach him. I could really feel the Spirit during that lesson and I could see it working in him a little bit. He agreed to pray sincerely and actually seek after God, which has been his problem the entire time. It was really cool.
Elder Tateishi`s Gospel Message of the Week
Tribulations bring us Pain. Pain is swallowed up in Joy. Joy comes from Love. Love brings us unto God.
As a missionary there have been many tribulations and trials for me. Time and time again I felt sorrow, grief and difficulty. I have been frustrated with myself and those around me, I have made countless mistakes that have caused me much worrying and anxiety. Yet always I have been able to turn to God and find Joy and Love as I work. I have been able to turn frustration into faith, Sorrow, into Joy, Grief into Happiness, and difficulty into hope. By the end of each trial, each tribulation I find myself closer to God. I find that I have changed a little bit of myself and taken another step towards God and learned another priceless lesson. I have learned to Love those around me, I have learned to listen to others, I have learned patience with myself and patience with others. I have learned to laugh, to sing, to cry, to smile.
As Job said "Even though he slay me, yet will I trust God!" The tribulations and trials we face everyday are placed before us for a reason. They are hurdles to leap, mountains to climb, and rivers to cross. All to help us learn how to run, how to climb, how to swim, or to win us the Gold medal, to See the grand scheme of things, or to find ourselves in greener pastures. God loves us, he knows what`s best for us. He knows all things, and so the only thing we must do is trust whether or not he has our Eternal Welfare in mind as he works is works.
I know God desires the best for me. I know he works to bring about my Eternal Life and my Eternal Salvation. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Love,
Elder Randall KK Tateishi
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
April Fools.....
Dear Mother, Father, Brothers, Sisters, Family, and Friends
I`m going to make this one really short, You`ll all be seeing me here in the next couple weeks so I`ll leave a lot of my story telling or experiences until then. Besides I don`t want to take up too much time emailing today.
This week, has been another good week. We had interviews with President Zinke and that was fun and went really well. Didn`t have much to talk about, other than just don`t go trunky and keep on working till the end.
We also managed to set a Baptismal date for our investigator Nomura Akisa. We set it for April 1st. I`ll be long gone but It`s really good to know that I was able to get someone moving along in the last few months of my mission.
Sunday we had a great time at church, I love this ward. We had our new years party and we talked with a lot of the members and just had a great time, along with our investigators. The ward is very supportive and way fun and helpful filled with lots of young people.
Elder Tateishi`s Gospel Message of the Week
Why are we so Blessed?
One member we visited last night had some very excellent insights and thoughts as we talked to him about the plan of salvation and God. He is actually studying Bhuddism and was at one point a Bhuddist Priest, but has long since joined the Church and is a very strong member with a great testimony. We talked about being blessed with so many things, with our families, food, shelter, clothing, the Gospel, and many other things. We also talked about why are blessed so much, and how maybe it`s because God wants us to share those blessings with others.
As a member of the Church, I hold the greatest gift God has given to Man. I know that the Gospel is true and I have a hope of obtaining eternal life and exaltation. I have peace in my life and the capability of overcoming challenges that come my way. This is a great gift, and a wonderful blessing that I have been given so that I might share it with those around me. God wants all of his children to be happy, and he finds joy and happiness in serving his children and their happiness. So we too can share in the Joy that God has by sharing the blessings that we have. As we give of ourselves we can find great joy and peace, we can lose ourselves and forget about the things that are wrong in our life as God will take care of the rest. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen
With Much Love,
Elder Randall KK Tateishi
I`m going to make this one really short, You`ll all be seeing me here in the next couple weeks so I`ll leave a lot of my story telling or experiences until then. Besides I don`t want to take up too much time emailing today.
This week, has been another good week. We had interviews with President Zinke and that was fun and went really well. Didn`t have much to talk about, other than just don`t go trunky and keep on working till the end.
We also managed to set a Baptismal date for our investigator Nomura Akisa. We set it for April 1st. I`ll be long gone but It`s really good to know that I was able to get someone moving along in the last few months of my mission.
Sunday we had a great time at church, I love this ward. We had our new years party and we talked with a lot of the members and just had a great time, along with our investigators. The ward is very supportive and way fun and helpful filled with lots of young people.
Elder Tateishi`s Gospel Message of the Week
Why are we so Blessed?
One member we visited last night had some very excellent insights and thoughts as we talked to him about the plan of salvation and God. He is actually studying Bhuddism and was at one point a Bhuddist Priest, but has long since joined the Church and is a very strong member with a great testimony. We talked about being blessed with so many things, with our families, food, shelter, clothing, the Gospel, and many other things. We also talked about why are blessed so much, and how maybe it`s because God wants us to share those blessings with others.
As a member of the Church, I hold the greatest gift God has given to Man. I know that the Gospel is true and I have a hope of obtaining eternal life and exaltation. I have peace in my life and the capability of overcoming challenges that come my way. This is a great gift, and a wonderful blessing that I have been given so that I might share it with those around me. God wants all of his children to be happy, and he finds joy and happiness in serving his children and their happiness. So we too can share in the Joy that God has by sharing the blessings that we have. As we give of ourselves we can find great joy and peace, we can lose ourselves and forget about the things that are wrong in our life as God will take care of the rest. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen
With Much Love,
Elder Randall KK Tateishi
April Fools.....
Dear Mother, Father, Brothers, Sisters, Family, and Friends
I`m going to make this one really short, You`ll all be seeing me here in the next couple weeks so I`ll leave a lot of my story telling or experiences until then. Besides I don`t want to take up too much time emailing today.
This week, has been another good week. We had interviews with President Zinke and that was fun and went really well. Didn`t have much to talk about, other than just don`t go trunky and keep on working till the end.
We also managed to set a Baptismal date for our investigator Nomura Akisa. We set it for April 1st. I`ll be long gone but It`s really good to know that I was able to get someone moving along in the last few months of my mission.
Sunday we had a great time at church, I love this ward. We had our new years party and we talked with a lot of the members and just had a great time, along with our investigators. The ward is very supportive and way fun and helpful filled with lots of young people.
Elder Tateishi`s Gospel Message of the Week
Why are we so Blessed?
One member we visited last night had some very excellent insights and thoughts as we talked to him about the plan of salvation and God. He is actually studying Bhuddism and was at one point a Bhuddist Priest, but has long since joined the Church and is a very strong member with a great testimony. We talked about being blessed with so many things, with our families, food, shelter, clothing, the Gospel, and many other things. We also talked about why are blessed so much, and how maybe it`s because God wants us to share those blessings with others.
As a member of the Church, I hold the greatest gift God has given to Man. I know that the Gospel is true and I have a hope of obtaining eternal life and exaltation. I have peace in my life and the capability of overcoming challenges that come my way. This is a great gift, and a wonderful blessing that I have been given so that I might share it with those around me. God wants all of his children to be happy, and he finds joy and happiness in serving his children and their happiness. So we too can share in the Joy that God has by sharing the blessings that we have. As we give of ourselves we can find great joy and peace, we can lose ourselves and forget about the things that are wrong in our life as God will take care of the rest. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen
With Much Love,
Elder Randall KK Tateishi
I`m going to make this one really short, You`ll all be seeing me here in the next couple weeks so I`ll leave a lot of my story telling or experiences until then. Besides I don`t want to take up too much time emailing today.
This week, has been another good week. We had interviews with President Zinke and that was fun and went really well. Didn`t have much to talk about, other than just don`t go trunky and keep on working till the end.
We also managed to set a Baptismal date for our investigator Nomura Akisa. We set it for April 1st. I`ll be long gone but It`s really good to know that I was able to get someone moving along in the last few months of my mission.
Sunday we had a great time at church, I love this ward. We had our new years party and we talked with a lot of the members and just had a great time, along with our investigators. The ward is very supportive and way fun and helpful filled with lots of young people.
Elder Tateishi`s Gospel Message of the Week
Why are we so Blessed?
One member we visited last night had some very excellent insights and thoughts as we talked to him about the plan of salvation and God. He is actually studying Bhuddism and was at one point a Bhuddist Priest, but has long since joined the Church and is a very strong member with a great testimony. We talked about being blessed with so many things, with our families, food, shelter, clothing, the Gospel, and many other things. We also talked about why are blessed so much, and how maybe it`s because God wants us to share those blessings with others.
As a member of the Church, I hold the greatest gift God has given to Man. I know that the Gospel is true and I have a hope of obtaining eternal life and exaltation. I have peace in my life and the capability of overcoming challenges that come my way. This is a great gift, and a wonderful blessing that I have been given so that I might share it with those around me. God wants all of his children to be happy, and he finds joy and happiness in serving his children and their happiness. So we too can share in the Joy that God has by sharing the blessings that we have. As we give of ourselves we can find great joy and peace, we can lose ourselves and forget about the things that are wrong in our life as God will take care of the rest. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen
With Much Love,
Elder Randall KK Tateishi
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
I'm an Old man and I'm going home soon.....
Dear Mother, Father, Sisters, Brothers, Family, and Friends
Another week is gone, and the first week of a new year at that.
Well, again I will just focus on the highlights of my week.
On Wednesday we had our New Years/Christmas conference with all the other missionaries. It was way fun and we played lots of Dodgeball, sang songs, and generally just had lots of fun and lots of good food. Except for the point when I had to stand up in front of everyone and give my "I`m old and am going home soon" talk to everyone else. That was a real shocker on the system. I really hadn`t been expecting that, mainly because they didn`t tell me until right before.
Sunday was another great day. Having not been able to sleep for the past week I was understanbly completely exhausted as I went to church on Fast Sunday. But there we participated in a baby blessing, (I love Baby Blessings) and were able to have quite a few of our investigators come to church as well. The Spirit was strong and even though I fell asleep during priesthood meeting while sitting next to the stake president it was way fun. After church was when everything else just started to go crazy. We had planned to teach one of our investigators after church and as we were leaving priesthood meeting the first counselor in the bishopric ran up the stairs and grabbed us saying "QUICK! YOU NEED TO TEACH A LESSON!" Of course we already knew this and were wondering why he was freaking out about it. (Then again he is kind of an eccentric person) He then explained that Risa (Our investigator) was crying and wanted to be taught a lesson. We hurried down the stairs and saw her standing in front of the door to the room we usually teach in, she was obviously in tears. We opened the door and she walked in setting up chairs while gloomily looking at the floor, and we told the first counselor to grab the young woman`s president and another sister to come help us as we are not allowed to be alone in a room with a girl. With that we found out that she had been having fights with her parents lately and that they didn`t want her to come to church. They are getting progressively more antagonistic to her coming to church. Yet all she wants is for her family to be happy like the families at church. It was really heart breaking to listen to her and it was really great to have the sisters there helping, giving her hugs and trying to comfort her. In the end we were able to get her to calm down and helped her to have some more hope that things would work out. We pray for her and hope that things will get better.
After that lesson another of our investigators randomly popped up asking to be taught, and me and Elder Niven did so without any complaints. She even brought up being baptized, and was basically like "So, I think March will be good, that`s when my schedule will open up and you can finish up all the lessons more easily." I replied "But we only have about 2 more lessons." She replied "Oh? Realy?" With that we hope we can get her baptized before I leave, if not at least in Febuary not long after I leave.
I`m never ceased to be amazed as long as I am a missionary here. In my last 3 months in Fushimi I have been surprised again and again by the investigators that we have here. They are touched by the spirit, and have a personal desire to learn and to change. They want to live the gospel and they love church. I do nothing except help them understand what the gospel is and what they need to do to live it. I am always just struck dumb by all that happens here.
Elder Tateishi`s Gospel Message of the week
The Sacrament
The Sacrament is my favorite time of any week. I love partaking of the sacrament and being able to again renew my covenants with God. Every week at church I sit in my chair and listen to the prayers and remember that what I am doing is essentially being baptized again. As I partake of the bread and water in rememberance of the sacrifice that the Lord Jesus Christ made for me I am always filled with a sense of peace and calm, an assurance that the path I am walking is the right path and that although I have made and will make mistakes I can be forgiven and become clean. Every moment of the sacrament is precious to me and even though there might be little children running around, with parents chasing them, or someone`s cellphone going off in the background, it just feels great to partake of the sacred ordinance of the Sacrament.
As we partake of the Sacrament we must always remember what it is for, what it does for us and why we have it. With a spirit of reverence in our own hearts, as we respectfully partake of the Bread and Water of Life we can be filled with Joy and Happiness. Personally I believe an attitude of prayer is the best way to partake of the sacrament. Seeking forgiveness and offering up thanks unto God helps me to partake of the sacrament with a proper spirit.
I know that as we honestly and truly partake of this wonderful ordinance it will bless our lives in a variety of ways. It will help us be filled with more joy and love, it will comfort us in our times of trials and it will keep us continually upon the right path. I testify of this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Love,
Elder Randall KK Tateishi
Another week is gone, and the first week of a new year at that.
Well, again I will just focus on the highlights of my week.
On Wednesday we had our New Years/Christmas conference with all the other missionaries. It was way fun and we played lots of Dodgeball, sang songs, and generally just had lots of fun and lots of good food. Except for the point when I had to stand up in front of everyone and give my "I`m old and am going home soon" talk to everyone else. That was a real shocker on the system. I really hadn`t been expecting that, mainly because they didn`t tell me until right before.
Sunday was another great day. Having not been able to sleep for the past week I was understanbly completely exhausted as I went to church on Fast Sunday. But there we participated in a baby blessing, (I love Baby Blessings) and were able to have quite a few of our investigators come to church as well. The Spirit was strong and even though I fell asleep during priesthood meeting while sitting next to the stake president it was way fun. After church was when everything else just started to go crazy. We had planned to teach one of our investigators after church and as we were leaving priesthood meeting the first counselor in the bishopric ran up the stairs and grabbed us saying "QUICK! YOU NEED TO TEACH A LESSON!" Of course we already knew this and were wondering why he was freaking out about it. (Then again he is kind of an eccentric person) He then explained that Risa (Our investigator) was crying and wanted to be taught a lesson. We hurried down the stairs and saw her standing in front of the door to the room we usually teach in, she was obviously in tears. We opened the door and she walked in setting up chairs while gloomily looking at the floor, and we told the first counselor to grab the young woman`s president and another sister to come help us as we are not allowed to be alone in a room with a girl. With that we found out that she had been having fights with her parents lately and that they didn`t want her to come to church. They are getting progressively more antagonistic to her coming to church. Yet all she wants is for her family to be happy like the families at church. It was really heart breaking to listen to her and it was really great to have the sisters there helping, giving her hugs and trying to comfort her. In the end we were able to get her to calm down and helped her to have some more hope that things would work out. We pray for her and hope that things will get better.
After that lesson another of our investigators randomly popped up asking to be taught, and me and Elder Niven did so without any complaints. She even brought up being baptized, and was basically like "So, I think March will be good, that`s when my schedule will open up and you can finish up all the lessons more easily." I replied "But we only have about 2 more lessons." She replied "Oh? Realy?" With that we hope we can get her baptized before I leave, if not at least in Febuary not long after I leave.
I`m never ceased to be amazed as long as I am a missionary here. In my last 3 months in Fushimi I have been surprised again and again by the investigators that we have here. They are touched by the spirit, and have a personal desire to learn and to change. They want to live the gospel and they love church. I do nothing except help them understand what the gospel is and what they need to do to live it. I am always just struck dumb by all that happens here.
Elder Tateishi`s Gospel Message of the week
The Sacrament
The Sacrament is my favorite time of any week. I love partaking of the sacrament and being able to again renew my covenants with God. Every week at church I sit in my chair and listen to the prayers and remember that what I am doing is essentially being baptized again. As I partake of the bread and water in rememberance of the sacrifice that the Lord Jesus Christ made for me I am always filled with a sense of peace and calm, an assurance that the path I am walking is the right path and that although I have made and will make mistakes I can be forgiven and become clean. Every moment of the sacrament is precious to me and even though there might be little children running around, with parents chasing them, or someone`s cellphone going off in the background, it just feels great to partake of the sacred ordinance of the Sacrament.
As we partake of the Sacrament we must always remember what it is for, what it does for us and why we have it. With a spirit of reverence in our own hearts, as we respectfully partake of the Bread and Water of Life we can be filled with Joy and Happiness. Personally I believe an attitude of prayer is the best way to partake of the sacrament. Seeking forgiveness and offering up thanks unto God helps me to partake of the sacrament with a proper spirit.
I know that as we honestly and truly partake of this wonderful ordinance it will bless our lives in a variety of ways. It will help us be filled with more joy and love, it will comfort us in our times of trials and it will keep us continually upon the right path. I testify of this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Love,
Elder Randall KK Tateishi
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
The Home Stretch....
As letters go this is a great one, but I can read between the lines at how sad he is to be leaving Japan. He has grown so much over the past 2 years and has truly come to learn to love others....for that I am forever grateful.
Dear Mother, Father, Sisters, Brothers, Family, and Friends
明けましておめでとうございます！！
Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
2011 is over and 2012 begins. My time here in Japan begins to wind to an end and soon, quicker than I like, I will be on a plane home to America. Lots of things have happened here in Japan that will forever leave a mark upon me. Countless blessings have been poured out upon me and even more countless blessings have been poured out upon my family. These two years have truly been the best two years of my life. I can say that I would`nt have traded them for anything. I have found great joy in the service of my God and I have found great Joy in seeing the lives of others blessed and helping them to find true happiness. It has been hard at times, yes, but it has been worth every tear, every drop of sweat, every sleepless night and all that I have experienced. Blazing hot summers, to freezing cold winters. Crashing bikes, to climbing mountains. The laughing, the crying, the smiling, the joy. These are all burned into my heart forever more.
I`m not really sure what I`m going to write at all today, because it won`t be long at all before I`m home. Maybe I should just stop emailing and leave everyone in suspense until I`m home, but then again I know my Mom will get infuriated.
Well, to say the least, it`s been a bit of a difficult week this week. We`ve felt a lot of pressure pushed on us this week and it was in all honesty pretty hard and really frustrating. Even though we were working as hard as we could we were still being pressured. But that pressure has actually helped me to bond even more with my beloved companion Elder Niven. Many a night we have just sat and talked with each other, uplifting each other, testifying to each other, seeking to support each other in our difficulties. It`s been a very spiritual week with my companion, and although we haven`t been able to teach too many people, or find new investigators we`ve been teaching each other and have helped each other a lot. I can say that Elder Niven is my favorite companion and we`ll be lifelong friends.
Even though our best investigator, Ozaki Risa`s parents are against her coming to, or joining this church there has ever been a light of hope and faith in our hearts. Every time we talk with her, or teach her she surprises us with what she asks, or what she replies. She is truly someone that is seeking to find God and true happiness and stability in her life. This morning as we talked with her she even talked about wanting to serve a mission herself if she ever could. She has great faith, and knows that this church is true and that God lives. I`m pretty sure that she`ll be able to get baptized pretty soon.
Elder Tateishi`s Gospel Message of the week
Selfless Service
"He that loseth his life for my name`s sake shall take it up again." Jesus Christ
Selfless service is a sign of a true disciple of Jesus Christ. A person who loses himself in the cause of another, seeking to uplift, to encourage, to support, to love, and to help those in need is truly a disciple of Jesus Christ. One such great example is my companion Elder Niven, who came out seeking to help his own friend that had lived a very hard and difficult life, thinking that somehow his example, or what he would learn would be able to help her to learn of God and be able to find true joy and happiness.
This past week Elder Niven and I have been seeking to support each other and help each other. Together we have grown and learned a lot about Love, Charity, and service. We have turned away from ourselves and turned to each other and those around us. Both of us, as older missionaries have taken it upon us to help teach and nurture the two younger missionaries in the District and have sought with all our hearts, mights, minds, and strengths to uplift those less-actives, investigators, members, and new members as they have faced challanges and have met great obstacles. Never have I felt more joy or success as a missionary as we have done such. Watching others smile and find peace and joy brings to us a great feeling of Happiness and Joy. When they are happy we are happy. We cry, when they cry, we laugh when they laugh.
Christ has shown us the way to truly be selfless and to give up ones entire life for others. He showed me how to love those around me, and he has helped me to soften my heart and his everlasting atonement has made me into who I am today. I know that he cries when I cry, he hurts when I hurt, and he rejoices when I rejoice. He is your saviour, he is my saviour, he is the reason why I am here.
Let us take these first steps into a new year remembering what Christ has done for us, and let let us seek to do what we can to repay him. Love your Neighbor, your friends, your enemies. Show kindness unto all those around you and seek to uplift those who are saddened or injured. This is true Religion, and this is where we can truly find happiness. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
With much Love,
Elder Randall KK Tateishi
Dear Mother, Father, Sisters, Brothers, Family, and Friends
明けましておめでとうございます！！
Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
2011 is over and 2012 begins. My time here in Japan begins to wind to an end and soon, quicker than I like, I will be on a plane home to America. Lots of things have happened here in Japan that will forever leave a mark upon me. Countless blessings have been poured out upon me and even more countless blessings have been poured out upon my family. These two years have truly been the best two years of my life. I can say that I would`nt have traded them for anything. I have found great joy in the service of my God and I have found great Joy in seeing the lives of others blessed and helping them to find true happiness. It has been hard at times, yes, but it has been worth every tear, every drop of sweat, every sleepless night and all that I have experienced. Blazing hot summers, to freezing cold winters. Crashing bikes, to climbing mountains. The laughing, the crying, the smiling, the joy. These are all burned into my heart forever more.
I`m not really sure what I`m going to write at all today, because it won`t be long at all before I`m home. Maybe I should just stop emailing and leave everyone in suspense until I`m home, but then again I know my Mom will get infuriated.
Well, to say the least, it`s been a bit of a difficult week this week. We`ve felt a lot of pressure pushed on us this week and it was in all honesty pretty hard and really frustrating. Even though we were working as hard as we could we were still being pressured. But that pressure has actually helped me to bond even more with my beloved companion Elder Niven. Many a night we have just sat and talked with each other, uplifting each other, testifying to each other, seeking to support each other in our difficulties. It`s been a very spiritual week with my companion, and although we haven`t been able to teach too many people, or find new investigators we`ve been teaching each other and have helped each other a lot. I can say that Elder Niven is my favorite companion and we`ll be lifelong friends.
Even though our best investigator, Ozaki Risa`s parents are against her coming to, or joining this church there has ever been a light of hope and faith in our hearts. Every time we talk with her, or teach her she surprises us with what she asks, or what she replies. She is truly someone that is seeking to find God and true happiness and stability in her life. This morning as we talked with her she even talked about wanting to serve a mission herself if she ever could. She has great faith, and knows that this church is true and that God lives. I`m pretty sure that she`ll be able to get baptized pretty soon.
Elder Tateishi`s Gospel Message of the week
Selfless Service
"He that loseth his life for my name`s sake shall take it up again." Jesus Christ
Selfless service is a sign of a true disciple of Jesus Christ. A person who loses himself in the cause of another, seeking to uplift, to encourage, to support, to love, and to help those in need is truly a disciple of Jesus Christ. One such great example is my companion Elder Niven, who came out seeking to help his own friend that had lived a very hard and difficult life, thinking that somehow his example, or what he would learn would be able to help her to learn of God and be able to find true joy and happiness.
This past week Elder Niven and I have been seeking to support each other and help each other. Together we have grown and learned a lot about Love, Charity, and service. We have turned away from ourselves and turned to each other and those around us. Both of us, as older missionaries have taken it upon us to help teach and nurture the two younger missionaries in the District and have sought with all our hearts, mights, minds, and strengths to uplift those less-actives, investigators, members, and new members as they have faced challanges and have met great obstacles. Never have I felt more joy or success as a missionary as we have done such. Watching others smile and find peace and joy brings to us a great feeling of Happiness and Joy. When they are happy we are happy. We cry, when they cry, we laugh when they laugh.
Christ has shown us the way to truly be selfless and to give up ones entire life for others. He showed me how to love those around me, and he has helped me to soften my heart and his everlasting atonement has made me into who I am today. I know that he cries when I cry, he hurts when I hurt, and he rejoices when I rejoice. He is your saviour, he is my saviour, he is the reason why I am here.
Let us take these first steps into a new year remembering what Christ has done for us, and let let us seek to do what we can to repay him. Love your Neighbor, your friends, your enemies. Show kindness unto all those around you and seek to uplift those who are saddened or injured. This is true Religion, and this is where we can truly find happiness. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
With much Love,
Elder Randall KK Tateishi
The Home Stretch....
As letters go this is a great one, but I can read between the lines at how sad he is to be leaving Japan. He has grown so much over the past 2 years and has truly come to learn to love others....for that I am forever grateful.
Dear Mother, Father, Sisters, Brothers, Family, and Friends
明けましておめでとうございます！！
Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
2011 is over and 2012 begins. My time here in Japan begins to wind to an end and soon, quicker than I like, I will be on a plane home to America. Lots of things have happened here in Japan that will forever leave a mark upon me. Countless blessings have been poured out upon me and even more countless blessings have been poured out upon my family. These two years have truly been the best two years of my life. I can say that I would`nt have traded them for anything. I have found great joy in the service of my God and I have found great Joy in seeing the lives of others blessed and helping them to find true happiness. It has been hard at times, yes, but it has been worth every tear, every drop of sweat, every sleepless night and all that I have experienced. Blazing hot summers, to freezing cold winters. Crashing bikes, to climbing mountains. The laughing, the crying, the smiling, the joy. These are all burned into my heart forever more.
I`m not really sure what I`m going to write at all today, because it won`t be long at all before I`m home. Maybe I should just stop emailing and leave everyone in suspense until I`m home, but then again I know my Mom will get infuriated.
Well, to say the least, it`s been a bit of a difficult week this week. We`ve felt a lot of pressure pushed on us this week and it was in all honesty pretty hard and really frustrating. Even though we were working as hard as we could we were still being pressured. But that pressure has actually helped me to bond even more with my beloved companion Elder Niven. Many a night we have just sat and talked with each other, uplifting each other, testifying to each other, seeking to support each other in our difficulties. It`s been a very spiritual week with my companion, and although we haven`t been able to teach too many people, or find new investigators we`ve been teaching each other and have helped each other a lot. I can say that Elder Niven is my favorite companion and we`ll be lifelong friends.
Even though our best investigator, Ozaki Risa`s parents are against her coming to, or joining this church there has ever been a light of hope and faith in our hearts. Every time we talk with her, or teach her she surprises us with what she asks, or what she replies. She is truly someone that is seeking to find God and true happiness and stability in her life. This morning as we talked with her she even talked about wanting to serve a mission herself if she ever could. She has great faith, and knows that this church is true and that God lives. I`m pretty sure that she`ll be able to get baptized pretty soon.
Elder Tateishi`s Gospel Message of the week
Selfless Service
"He that loseth his life for my name`s sake shall take it up again." Jesus Christ
Selfless service is a sign of a true disciple of Jesus Christ. A person who loses himself in the cause of another, seeking to uplift, to encourage, to support, to love, and to help those in need is truly a disciple of Jesus Christ. One such great example is my companion Elder Niven, who came out seeking to help his own friend that had lived a very hard and difficult life, thinking that somehow his example, or what he would learn would be able to help her to learn of God and be able to find true joy and happiness.
This past week Elder Niven and I have been seeking to support each other and help each other. Together we have grown and learned a lot about Love, Charity, and service. We have turned away from ourselves and turned to each other and those around us. Both of us, as older missionaries have taken it upon us to help teach and nurture the two younger missionaries in the District and have sought with all our hearts, mights, minds, and strengths to uplift those less-actives, investigators, members, and new members as they have faced challanges and have met great obstacles. Never have I felt more joy or success as a missionary as we have done such. Watching others smile and find peace and joy brings to us a great feeling of Happiness and Joy. When they are happy we are happy. We cry, when they cry, we laugh when they laugh.
Christ has shown us the way to truly be selfless and to give up ones entire life for others. He showed me how to love those around me, and he has helped me to soften my heart and his everlasting atonement has made me into who I am today. I know that he cries when I cry, he hurts when I hurt, and he rejoices when I rejoice. He is your saviour, he is my saviour, he is the reason why I am here.
Let us take these first steps into a new year remembering what Christ has done for us, and let let us seek to do what we can to repay him. Love your Neighbor, your friends, your enemies. Show kindness unto all those around you and seek to uplift those who are saddened or injured. This is true Religion, and this is where we can truly find happiness. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
With much Love,
Elder Randall KK Tateishi
Dear Mother, Father, Sisters, Brothers, Family, and Friends
明けましておめでとうございます！！
Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
2011 is over and 2012 begins. My time here in Japan begins to wind to an end and soon, quicker than I like, I will be on a plane home to America. Lots of things have happened here in Japan that will forever leave a mark upon me. Countless blessings have been poured out upon me and even more countless blessings have been poured out upon my family. These two years have truly been the best two years of my life. I can say that I would`nt have traded them for anything. I have found great joy in the service of my God and I have found great Joy in seeing the lives of others blessed and helping them to find true happiness. It has been hard at times, yes, but it has been worth every tear, every drop of sweat, every sleepless night and all that I have experienced. Blazing hot summers, to freezing cold winters. Crashing bikes, to climbing mountains. The laughing, the crying, the smiling, the joy. These are all burned into my heart forever more.
I`m not really sure what I`m going to write at all today, because it won`t be long at all before I`m home. Maybe I should just stop emailing and leave everyone in suspense until I`m home, but then again I know my Mom will get infuriated.
Well, to say the least, it`s been a bit of a difficult week this week. We`ve felt a lot of pressure pushed on us this week and it was in all honesty pretty hard and really frustrating. Even though we were working as hard as we could we were still being pressured. But that pressure has actually helped me to bond even more with my beloved companion Elder Niven. Many a night we have just sat and talked with each other, uplifting each other, testifying to each other, seeking to support each other in our difficulties. It`s been a very spiritual week with my companion, and although we haven`t been able to teach too many people, or find new investigators we`ve been teaching each other and have helped each other a lot. I can say that Elder Niven is my favorite companion and we`ll be lifelong friends.
Even though our best investigator, Ozaki Risa`s parents are against her coming to, or joining this church there has ever been a light of hope and faith in our hearts. Every time we talk with her, or teach her she surprises us with what she asks, or what she replies. She is truly someone that is seeking to find God and true happiness and stability in her life. This morning as we talked with her she even talked about wanting to serve a mission herself if she ever could. She has great faith, and knows that this church is true and that God lives. I`m pretty sure that she`ll be able to get baptized pretty soon.
Elder Tateishi`s Gospel Message of the week
Selfless Service
"He that loseth his life for my name`s sake shall take it up again." Jesus Christ
Selfless service is a sign of a true disciple of Jesus Christ. A person who loses himself in the cause of another, seeking to uplift, to encourage, to support, to love, and to help those in need is truly a disciple of Jesus Christ. One such great example is my companion Elder Niven, who came out seeking to help his own friend that had lived a very hard and difficult life, thinking that somehow his example, or what he would learn would be able to help her to learn of God and be able to find true joy and happiness.
This past week Elder Niven and I have been seeking to support each other and help each other. Together we have grown and learned a lot about Love, Charity, and service. We have turned away from ourselves and turned to each other and those around us. Both of us, as older missionaries have taken it upon us to help teach and nurture the two younger missionaries in the District and have sought with all our hearts, mights, minds, and strengths to uplift those less-actives, investigators, members, and new members as they have faced challanges and have met great obstacles. Never have I felt more joy or success as a missionary as we have done such. Watching others smile and find peace and joy brings to us a great feeling of Happiness and Joy. When they are happy we are happy. We cry, when they cry, we laugh when they laugh.
Christ has shown us the way to truly be selfless and to give up ones entire life for others. He showed me how to love those around me, and he has helped me to soften my heart and his everlasting atonement has made me into who I am today. I know that he cries when I cry, he hurts when I hurt, and he rejoices when I rejoice. He is your saviour, he is my saviour, he is the reason why I am here.
Let us take these first steps into a new year remembering what Christ has done for us, and let let us seek to do what we can to repay him. Love your Neighbor, your friends, your enemies. Show kindness unto all those around you and seek to uplift those who are saddened or injured. This is true Religion, and this is where we can truly find happiness. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
With much Love,
Elder Randall KK Tateishi
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