The Poem...

I am forever amazed at what a Mission can do for a Young Man. Randy has grown so much. I am so Proud of him. His ability to learn from experiences are one to be commended. He is still loving Japan and all it offers to him. The silliness as well as the serious. Apparently, Randy is rude (you have to read to find out), but I'm not sure I would be able to do what he has to do...LOL....

He has shown me a side of him that is so loving and friendly and adaptable that I can't help wonder how he turned out so well. He has this wonderful serene grasp of the truthfulness of the Gospel and I wish I had that as well. I can see the closeness he has with the Spirit of the Lord and all I can say is WOW!

Well, friends and family, read on and you will see what I mean....


Dear Mother, Father, Brothers, Sisters, Friends, Mentors and probably the whole rest of the world knowing mother,

Life is great in Fushimi Japan. The sun is bright, the skies are clear, the work is strong and God is smiling. I look out the window and I see a world full of people waiting to hear the Gospel.

This week has been an interesting week, filled with ups and downs but over all it was great. We had Mensetsu`s this week (Interviews with McIntyre Kaicho(President McIntyre). Interesting when your mind starts using foreign words all the time instead of English words. I just say them to much. Twas a quick little interview and we didn`t say much. He just told me that the best to start talking to someone is to say "Hello! How are you?" Something I need to learn how to do. Seems like I cursed myself with all my hibernation and reclusiveness.

Anyway, I had my first Kokan also this week. Kokan meaning Companionship Exchange. I went to Katsura with one of the Zone Leaders, Elder Kanno, a native from Tokyo. We had lots of fun and talked to quite a few people, since all we did was Dendo, or street contacting. We even talked with an older man out walking his dog. It was quite hilarious actually. We introduced ourselves as missionaries, shared a little bit about what we did and also talked about the importance of family. Afterwards he was like "O you are really nice boys, here take this ￥５０００, $50." We practically had to run away in order to refuse it. He kept on trying to stick it into our hands and we kept on saying. "No No! We`re fine, we don`t need any money." It was quite funny and we laughed about it for quite some time.

Thursday was awesome. It rained really hard, I didn`t have my rainsuit on (which is what I bought last P-Day) and we were out tracting on the way back from our Kokan. I was out in the cold rain for about an hour and a half, freezing cold but as happy as could be. I kept in my head the hymn "There is sunshine in my soul today." I love the hymns

Friday ended up being a pretty bad day for me. We went to an Inactive`s house and ate lunch with them. Apparently I was being rude when I became stuffed and couldn`t eat anymore when they offered me more food. Apparently we need to eat all the food that they cook, and a lot of it. Well that wasn`t what made the day bad, I just got into a bad train of thought and was basically beating myself up. I was trying to find out what I was doing wrong that made me feel like I wasn`t doing good enough. I spent the day sulking in a bad mood and trying to get my thoughts back on track. I thought that it was ironic that on the rainy day I was joyful and cheerful and on the sunny day I was moody and sad.

Saturday ended up being so much better. After an excellent study and pondering on the scriptures I had read from the New Testament in Matthew, I decided to pray. It`s amazing what happens in an instant from a simple prayer. I looked up from my prayer and saw the bright blue sky and hanging on the wall beside the window was a picture of Christ. In that instant, all of my worries washed away and I felt so much better, so much more at peace.

Well excluding our Yakusokusha(Investigator with a Baptismal Date) we have 3 progressing investigators, one of which is Chinese and we meet him tonight. His name is En Cho and he seems really interested in what we are teaching. We followed up on our commitment for him to read from the BoM, and he said he did, he thought it was good but it was hard to understand, but with some more time he thought he could understand it better. By the way, he speaks Japanese, mostly.

We have about another half dozen or so other investigators who we teach and last night was awesome also. We met an old guy a while ago who came up to us and was like "Your Mormons right?" he ended up giving us his business card and talked for a while. We called him last night and he was like "Yea I came to your church today but no one was there. It was at 9." Church starts at 12. He asked to meet with us and so we will. Amazing how the lord puts people in your path.

Alright, I hope you liked last weeks "Elder Tateishi`s Gospel Moments." If you don`t like them, well sorry.

This weeks "Elder Tateishi`s Gospel Moment" is:

"Let`s `walk on water`"

We had an awesome companionship study on Saturday. After I finished my reading in the New Testament for personal study and then began Companionship study we started finishing up our weekly planning. Elder Mclaws asked me "So what are some things you`re going to work on this week." I thought for a moment about what it was I needed to work on and thought about the scriptures I had been reading recently. "Well I want to think of the theme: "Fear Not" because that`s what Christ kept telling his Disciples." I flipped through the New Testament to Matthew and read Chapter 14 versus 26-32 about Peter walking on water with Christ.]

26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

We read the scripture together and I looked at it and said: "Let`s grow in faith and doubt not. For it was Doubt and Fear that Caused Peter to sink." My Companion paused, looked at me and asked. "But what did Peter DO?" I paused and replied dumbly "He DID." He corrected me and said "He walked on Water."

That became our them immediately. "Let`s `walk on water.`" Now what is the meaning behind this.

Pretend like you are one of the Disciples upon the ship on the sea. The waves are all around you. As it says just a few versus before "But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary." It was rough seas and they were probably on a small wooden boat. Plus it was the Fourth Watch of the Night, meaning early morning, as the Cross Reference says between 3 and 6 in the morning. You are Tired, cold, probably soaking wet and exhausted from working on the boat. Then out in the darkness you see a figure walking on the water towards you. I`d sure be afraid. Some Ghost is coming towards me. But think of what Peter did, after Christ spoke, still probably fairly far of from the ship, Peter said "If it be Thou, bid me come to thee." "If It`s really you, I`ll go to you if you want." Christ replied simply "come".

This is what amazes me. Peter, probably tired, cold, and exhausted, in the safety of a boat in the tossing seas of a storm Did as Christ commanded. He stepped out of the boat and walked upon the Water. HE DID IT! He did what no other man had done before, done something that was seemingly impossible, yet here he was walking upon the water towards Christ. That`s what we mean when we say "Let`s walk on Water." Let`s do things that are impossible. Christ bids to all of us "come unto me." Yet he is out there upon the boisterous seas, the waves large the wind heavy, and the boat is drifting away from him. We take that step out of the boat, and we walk on water.

Now Peter afterwards began to fear, he doubted and then began to sink. But what did he do as soon as he started sinking. He cried out saying "Lord, Save me!" "And IMMEDIATELY Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" Everyone of us at times will doubt, everyone of us has fears that get caught in our hearts. But we can Cry unto Christ, our savior and lord and he will "stretch forth his hand, and catch us." I know he`s caught me more times than I can count. So I say unto you all: "Be of good cheer; it is I(Christ); be not afraid." Be not Afraid my family and friends. Take that step out of the safety of your boat, go forth boldly and do as Christ would do. Be not ashamed of the Gospel, do not be afraid to go out and teach it.
"10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
13 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. "

Isaiah 41: 10, 13

I end now this segment of my email, saying my testimony. Fear not my friends, my family. God is with thee. When you are struck down in the most bitter of despair, call out to that Father in Heaven. He will answer, he will hear. He is with Thee. Many times I have been caught in despair, bitter and afraid, but here is a short poem I have written about my experiences.

"A Quiet Prayer"

My Heart was frozen
My Eyes were shut
My Ears were Deaf
My Mind was Numb
My Senses Dulled

"O Lord, My God!"
I am lost to Hell
My Soul is Dark
My Heart is Bound
My Mind is Blank
I`m all alone
In Hell am Chained

I Cried These Words
In Silent Prayer
"O Lord, My God!"
"Where hast thou Gone?"

Then Like a Dove
Descended Peace
My Heart Was Freed
My Ears did Hear
My Mind went Racing
My Senses Cleared
My Eyes Were Opened

I Looked to Heaven
With Teary Eyes
I saw the Purest Skies
The shone Bright
The Birds did sing
My Heart did Rise
My soul was lit

Peace did find
Love did Enter
"O Lord, My God!"
You Heard My Prayer

I bear witness to you that God Lives. That Christ Lives. That he hears our prayers. I know this is true. I end in the name of our savior and redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen.

I would like to write more, but Time is short. I will for now withold the rest of what I was going to say.

Fare thee well good Friends!

Your friend, brother, and son
Elder Randall K.K. Tateishi