Every other week....

Ok, so as you know Randy was transferred a few weeks ago. Well, it seems his companion is only letting Randy email us every other week. These blogs will be every other week as well. It seems to me that either the Lord has a plan for Randy or Randy has some things he needs to learn. Poor Randy, he has had 2 great companions so far and 2 yucky companions. I feel his pain and wish I could go and rescue him. But, alas, I need to let Randy take care of this so he can grow and learn from it. Obviously though by his letter, he needs to improve on his bowling skills. LOL At least he can find some humor and fun mixed with all the stressful things going on. I am hoping that he is learning much about himself and will take all that he has learned and turn it into something great. Which, of course, we all know that Randy is a great person. I kind of love that kid.

Dear Mother, Father, Brothers, Sisters, Friends, Family and the rest of the world

Again, It`s probably only going to be just a short email this week mainly because my companion again. I Don`t want to take up too much time.

Anyway, the past couple weeks have been.... hectic to say the least. I didn`t really get a Preperation day last week, just spent the whole time wandering around town with one of the members teaching lessons. I spent most of the past couple weeks on my knees praying for strength to just keep moving forward. I am absolutely exhausted. Especially for the past couple days. I feel as if my body is about to fall apart I`m so tired.

As for my Companion my fears were realized. He`s TOO strict, in some ways, and far too controlling in my mind. He is better than the last companion though. For the most part. In all my attempts at not angering him I have successfully gotten him to yell at me twice so far. Once for going to bed 30 min. early because I was exhausted and once for not washing my hands before doing dishes. This Transfer is not going to be the easiest transfer I`ve ever had, but it won`t be the worst either.

We went bowling with a couple of the members last week, it was lots of fun, and I realize how much I suck at bowling. Scored 80 in the first game and the last game, and scored 130 one game. I have horrible aim with a bowling ball.

Man... way too much information to cover in two weeks.

I love the ward here, they are all very nice and there are a lot of programmers around so I can let out my nerdy side a little bit. Making healthy conversation about my future plans and ideas.

Ugh, I Don`t have much too say actually, I`m relatively happy, not overjoyed, but happy. Mainly I feel like I`m walking on eggshells with my companion, but I`ll live. I`ve been learning a lot lately about just carrying your own weather and not letting others effect you. So I`m putting to good use `ignore` function when my companion gets ticked off at the very little things that I do, of course I note them and try not to do them again, but I don`t let it tick me off.

Elder Tateishi`s Biweekly Gospel Message,

If you would please open to 2 Nephi 25:26

It reads something along the lines of: "We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we Prophecy of Christ, we write of Christ, that our children may know to what source to look for for a remission of sins."

As Latter Day Saints, one of our biggest dreams is to have the Eternal Family. We wish to live together forever with all of our children in Heaven, where we can enjoy true and perfect happiness. Therefore we talk of Christ with our Children, to teach them how they can return to our Heavenly Father and obtain Eternal life and Eternal Salvation. We rejoice in what Christ has done for us, in his great and everlasting sacrifice, The Propehts of old and today prophecy of Christ and what he will do and the greatness of his glory. We write of Christ to express to others how we feel, to express to our posterity our testimony of Christ and our firm belief in what he has done.

But I believe we do not just do all these things just for our children. As we talk, rejoice, prophecy and write of Christ we stand forth as examples to the world of Christ. We are Sons and Daughters of God! We show to the world the way by which we may return to our father in heaven, the way by which we might obtain Eternal Life and Eternal Salvation. We show them Joy and Happiness, Love and Peace. We prove to them that we are right by the way we live, and as we do so we bring them unto Christ.

I believe that the very foundation and very center of my testimony is, and always will be of Christ. How many times have I relied upon his strength? How many times have I been cleansed by his blood? How many times have I been lifted up out of the depths of sorrow upon his wings? I know he lives, I know he loves me. I repeat what alma said in chp 36, "Yea nothing was so exquisite as was my joy." I have felt his hand touch my heart, I have felt his power flow through me. As a missionary I have the privelage to bear his authority and power. I go forth with the power of his priesthood to preach his Gospel. Never have I been so close to my Lord and King, Jesus Christ, as I have these past few months. I talk of Christ, I rejoice in Christ, I Write of Christ, that MY Children, my brothers, my sisters, my family might know what source to look for for a remission of their sins. He does live, I know it, I can no longer deny it. When you have felt a burden upon your soul so heavy, so painful that it causes your very body to tremble and ache in pain, when every breath you take seems to hurt and it feels like your heart is about to burst, When you feel that! When you feel that, and then moments later, after earnest prayer, broken hearts, and a humble so, all of that pain, all of that sorrow simple vanishes like smoke on the wind, you can not deny the power thereof. I have felt that, I know he lives, I know he sacrificed himself for me. I willingly follow him, I do my best to follow his will. And I bear witness to you, that as He lives! I say these things, in his holy name, my saviour, redeemer, my lord and King, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Your Son, Brother, Friend
Elder Randall KK Tateishi