Can you believe that Randy has been gone 9 months already. The growth, joy and love he has experienced is tell me "job well done, now keep going". He sounds twice as happy and just relaxing and enjoying. Again, as if you didn't know, he is totally AMAZING!!!!!
Dear Mother, Father, Sisters, Brothers, Family, Friends
Another week rolls on by, carefree and filled with Joy. I first like to express my gratitude to everyone this week. I LOVE all the letters and emails I`ve gotten and they always serve to brighten my day. I even had a streak of recieving letters for 3 days in a row this week. That made me very happy. Autumn is now here in full force and Christmas is coming barreling down the hill. Another blink or two and I`ll be back in summer!
So, I`ve been so busy this week I can`t even remember everything that`s happened. Tuesday we met with quite a few people and taught quite a few lessons, Wednesday was filled with more lessons. Thursday I got interviewed by President McIntrye, Friday I rode waaaaaaaayyyyyyy up north and had a lesson and then rode waaaaayyyy back to the apartment. We were riding our bikes for over an hour each way. Saturday was a day full of headaches and futile attempts at comprehending complex Japanese for 6 hours as I listened to General Conference. Yes I had to listen to all of the saturday sessions in Japanese. I Got as far as Elder Holland in the first session, before my brain fried. Note that Elder Holland was the second Speaker. Although I did manage during the 1 hour break we had to watch Monson, Holland, and Uchtdorf from the first session in English. After that entertaining experience we visited a family.
That was an interesting experience. This family has known the Missionaries for over 15 years, and always invites them over to dinner. It was quite funny because the Father ended up drinking a little too much beer and would start spouting off random stories of when missionaries came over. Even the son turned to his dad and said, "Dad, I think you`ve had a little too much to drink." We had a good time and shared a good message with them.
Sunday I showed up at church for the Sunday sessions of General Conference, fully expecting to have to listen to them in Japanese. But then UPS Pilot from Texas showed up and we were able to watch the Conference in English. That was a miracle. He had actually been scheduled to go to Singapore, but they changed his plans and he came into Osaka for 3 days, and Sennan just happens to be the closest Church building to the Airport. I was verrrrrrrry grateful for that Blessing. I Loved all the talks that I heard, especially Monson`s talk on Gratitude.
After Conference we rode around and found that they were having a huge festival here in town. A Danjiri, which is a harvest festival of some sort. They make these huge hand pulled Wagons with drums built in the back and pull them around town. Apparently in Hannan City (The southern city in our area) alone had 25 of these Danjiri`s. I`ll Upload pictures. But they run with these things and they even pull them up hills and one even goes into the ocean. It was quite fun to watch.
After that we visited our investigator Nakanishi. Which was a wonderful experience and I was able to testify to him, and feel the Spirit fill my heart. It was just another confirmation to me of the truthfullness of what I am doing.
Elder Tateishi`s Gospel Moment of the Week
I`m not even sure what I want to share this week. Lol. Most of the time I`ll have an idea or two before I come to email, but I seem to have forgotten all of them.
What more can I say than this, God is a God of Love, and when you feel his Love, and when you can share that love, there is nothing greater in the world.
Recently I recieved a letter from my good friend, in which he bore his testimony to me. Of all the things he wrote to me, that was the greatest, I felt like Alma when he met with the sons of Alma. "Yea I was filled with joy, that he was still my Brother in the Lord, and that he had waxed strong in the Knowledge of the Truth." I felt his strong spirit, and I was proud of him. I saw in what he wrote the fulfilling of part of his great potential that I had always known he`d had. I was happy because I knew that he had partaken of the same fruit, of the same joys that I have had. I saw that, and I nearly wept with Joy.
In a similar experience, if not very different, I met with Nakanishi yesterday. The poor, man who lives alone, he has no desires, no hope, no faith. I talked to him, I taught him, I read scriptures to him, I prayed for him, and I loved him, and I testified to him. I shared my joy with him, and told him that he could have the same joy and happiness that I had if only he wanted it, if only he strove for it. But he was unsure, he didn`t want to try. When I heard his reply I felt my heart sink, not in despair, but in sorrow for him. Because I love him, because I want to help him, but I can only do so much for him. I cannot make him belief, I cannot make him do anything, I can only invite, and I did. Don`t get me wrong, I`m not discouraged or burdened with these, but I am still sad for his sake and I still pray for him daily.
So this is my Joy. My Happiness, my peace, my everything, my all. Love. That simple word, so pure and perfect, Love. I can look into nearly anyone`s eyes now and say in all seriousness that I Love them. That I care for them, that I want to help them. That I am willing to sacrifice for them, and that brings me joy. To see their smile, to see their grateful eyes, to see them succeed, to see them grow, to see them happy. If there is anything that I wish to carry on with me after my mission it is this simple lesson of Love. That when you Love you will find happiness.
So Love people. First your God, than your family, than expand outwards to your friends and neighbors, then love the world around you. Make someone smile, make someone laugh, wipe away the tears of the sad, and comfort the grieving. Lend a hand to those in need and you will make the world just that much better, it is simply one step at a time.
That is my message today, which I know I have shared so many times before. But I say it again, and again, and I will NEVER get tired of saying it. No greater commandment Has God ever given than to Love one Another.
So I end, with Love unto all. I pray for all of you, that you may find happiness and peace, that you may find joy and love within your own lives. I love you all, and wish you will.
In the Name of Jesus Christ, my Saviour, and Redeemer, amen.
Love,
Elder Randall KK Tateishi,
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