hahahaha...Can't stop laughing that people think he looks like Harry Potter...He's half Japanese so how does that work? Anyways, enjoy his letter and I'm wishing all a Very Merry Christmas and I hope the spirit of Christmas shines upon everyone:
Dear Mother, Father, Sisters, Brothers, Family, and Friends
Welllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll............................ It`s Christmas WEEK!!!!!!! My favorite time of the year. With joy and happiness to spread abroad and happy times to spend with your family! Well this`ll actually be my first Christmas away from Home..... But I am undaunted and not really all that concerned. I am 5000 miles away from home, upon a small island but I remember what is written in the Scriptures, that God remembers all his people, even those lost on the Isles of the Sea. What better way to spend Christmas than giving?
So this week has been another interesting week. Tuesday we went off to Akou, a Samurai town for a huge Matsuri(Festival) that they were having. It was loads of fun, I saw a lot of people dressed up like Samurai, and a lot of just wickedly awesome things. Including a huge statue of some Greek God made out of Salt. Lots of cool statues and learned some interesting things about Japanese History.
Wednesday we had a hastily compilied special training with President McIntyre in Himeji, which we ran over to as quickly as possible and were almost late because we had had appointments. We rode through the Himeji Castle grounds, and although they are remodeling Himeji Castle, and it`s covered in an exoskeleton of cloth and steel scafolding, it was very beautiful. Himeji Castle is absolutely Huge.
Thursday we just dendoed around and had fun talking with some people.
Friday we had a Companionship Exchange and I went to Himeji again, wandered around there and had some fun with Elder Akina, from Honolulu Hawaii. Got to know each other pretty well and just messed around, while still following rules.
Saturday came back and prepared for the ward Christmas party, which was utterly amazing. Me and Elder Hale had to perform a skit, which was hilarious, because we can`t speak Japanese at all. I just kind of goofed off during the skit trying to make people laugh despite our butchered Japanese. Then I got to dress up as Santa Claus and hand out treats to everyone, that was loads of fun.
Sunday was church, which was fun as usual, and after church we dendoed around the nearby eki and talked with a few people. Quite hilarious, because High school kids like trying to speak english to us Foreigners. And a few of you might actually catch this one, but Even the Japanese say I look like Harry Potter. I was walking down the street and a group of punk High School kids rode past and one of them was like "Hey! He looks like Harry Potter!" I tried talking to them but they didn`t stop. Talked to one cool guy named "Bruce" about Eternal marriage and set up an appointment with him. So it was all cool. I basically just have fun with people when I`m out on the street, such as when punk High School kids, I catch their names and tell them the Kanji for it, or give them random English sayings that they have no idea what they mean.
So that was my week, lots of fun, joking around, playing games, talking with people and just generally kicking back and having fun while I work. I find it works very well, just so long as you don`t let it go too far.
Elder Tateishi`s Gospel Message of the Week
So it`s Christmas time, and I`ve been thinking a little bit about what my Christmas Message should be. But that`s the easy part, I`ll just talk about Presents!
Everyone knows that part about Christmas, we give presents to others, we do nice things for others, we smile and we do our best to make some elses day brighter. We eat turkey or Chicken or Ham, have delicious meals, (Or if you`re Japanese you buy a Christmas cake and get KFC for dinner), and stay with the family.
Most people have their favorite Christmas, when they recieved an awesome present, or had a great experience with their family. Most people have their favorite gift that they`ve ever recieved. I think mine was Halo from my brother Bobby, or the Paintball gun I got one year. I hardly remember all the presents.
Those people that are more spiritually inclined will relate the stories of when they gave to others, or served others. For me that time was two years ago, when I went up to Salt Lake City with my high school choir and we sang carols at a Hospital. I remember clearly still the small, fragile boy sitting in a wheel chair, connected to an IV and wheeled into the lobby by his parents. He had been going through extensive Kemotherapy and was still weak. He requested us to sing a specific song... I think it was Joy to the World, but I hardly remember the singing so much as I remember his face. The bright smile and bright eyes. It should have been hard to sing with tears in my eyes, but I remember the words and notes flowing freely just for him.
But what is the true meaning of Christmas? Why do we go and give gifts to those around us? What is the reason?
Think about this. What was the greatest gift ever given?
Nearly 2011 years ago, in a quiet manger in Bethelehem, the greatest gift ever was given to ManKind. We all know the story of the Nativity, the Virgin Mary and her Husband Joseph, placed in a humble shack, when Jesus Christ was born, the savior of all man kind. I wonder on occassion, as the song goes, "Mary did you know, that your baby born, would one day rule the nations?" Did you know that your newborn child was going to perform the greatest miracles ever seen, and proceed to die selflessly for all mankind?
That was the greatest gift ever given. By a loving heavenly father. As it is written: "Or what man is there of you, who, if his son ask bread, will give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (3 Nephi 14/Matthew [Sermon on the Mount])
God gave us the greatest gift that could ever be given. He gave us a light that can not be hidden, he gave us a shining example of what our lives should and can become. He showed us perfection, and lit the pathway before our feet. But not only did he do that, he provided the way by which we might obtain that. Through Christ all sins can become cleansed, we can be healed, we can become pure. Through Christ and his Atonement we may stand once more with God in bodies of flesh and bone. Because of Christ we can have Eternal Salvation and Exaltation. Because of Christ we can live with our familes forever, unparted by death, undamged by sin, untouched by sickness and sorrow.
Christ showed us true Love, he gave us the truest and purest of all gifts. He offers it freely to all with the simple, meek words of love. "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I shall give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me: for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)
Just remember what God gave to you that quiet night two thousand years ago in a quiet manger in a small town. Then think of how you could ever hope to repay him, what small thing you cand do to make someone elses burden just that much lighter. Each of us has a gift that we can give, each of us has someway that we can help someone else. Let us lift each other up, and together walk towards Christ. I say these things, in his Holy Name. Amen.
In the Spirit of Love,
Elder Randall KK Tateishi
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