Dear Mother, Father, Brothers, Sisters, Family, and Friends
And it came to pass that the week went on.
I`ve attached a couple long overdue pictures to this. You have me on
my pink Bicycle, Elder Meyer and me, Elder Young and me, and also a
little party we went to with the members because one of them was
headed off to the MTC the next day.
Anyway, time to get cracking on my weekly report.
IT`S BEEN AWESOME!!!
Elder Young is a hard working, dilligent, fun loving missionary, and
it`s a pleasure to be his companion. I`ll admit it`s a little hard at
times, because he`s going a different direction than what my one year
rut has brought me into. It`s like gaining an entire new perspective
on how to do the Lord`s work and it helps me to understand that there
are many different ways to work!
We visited many members this week, just knocked on their door and
offered prayers with them, asked about who we should visit, or where
we should go and it ended up being very helpful. We got 4 people
referred to us because of that. It`s the most referrals I`ve ever seen
in my whole mission.
We`ve also been writing thank you cards to different members, which
has been fun to do, gives me lots of practice with my reading and
writing Kanji, and it seems to make the ward happy when they see them.
I`m very pumped for all of this and excited to keep on working. Even
though I know I`m as stubborn as a cement wall (And mother can
probably confirm that) It`s been great for me to try to loosen up, and
try someone else`s way. I`ll admit I`m the farthest one from being
perfect, but I try. I just wish that I could actually be perfect,
would let me give into my lazy side a bit and not have to try so
hard..... Phew.... Wears me out.
Let`s see..... On Wednesday a member played Taxi Driver for us and
drove us all over the place to other Members` houses to find out where
they live and get to know them a little better. It was fun, but made
both me and my companion a little car sick.... Man, I forgot what it`s
like to ride in cars....
Friday one of our less actives brought his girlfriend to the church
and we started teaching her, and met with her again on Saturday and
Today.
Saturday we went to an Orchestra Concert with one of the Members, all
in an attempt to contact some of the referrals. We did succeed in
watching some AMAZING musicians play as well as watch an amazing
Marching show, I swear one of the Trombones was going to take out
another kid. But when it was over, we didn`t get to meet the
Referrals, but we did have fun with the member, and she was very happy
that we went.
Let`s see,,, O almost forgot, last Monday after we emailed we went to
a members house and had a Takoyaki party, (Direct Translation: Fried
Octopus, but it`s really just some small bits of octopus in a little
breadish like ball, with some sweet sause poured over it, very
delicious) at which, I was able to make Takoyaki with them. IT WAS
AWESOME!! I`m definately buying a little Takoyaki pan and taking it
home, as well as a recipe for how to make it. xD Dad and the
Grandparent`s will love it I bet!
As for a side note: I Have gotten no mail in the past month or so,
and I`m assuming most of it is because the earthquake has messed up
the mail. If I haven`t answered to your letter yet.... well it might
be because I haven`t gotten it yet xD. But I`ll work hard on replying
to those as soon as I get them. Love you all!
Elder Tateishi`s Gospel Message of the Week.
I`d first like to say, that I`ve seen some of the responses to my
Testimony from last week from other Missionarys` Moms. Which in all
reallity surprises me. Some of those Missionaries whose Moms
commented, are far better Missionaries than I am, Elder Rahn and Elder
Crapo are both amazing missionaries and far better than me! But I
guess I am glad I could touch someone`s heart with my messages.
So I just wrote an entire message..... but it wasn`t right....
I think I`ll try this again... but this time I`m going to talk about
Ether 12:27-28
"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give
unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient
for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble
themselves before me, then will I make weak things become strong unto
them. Behold, I will show unto the Gentiles their weakness, and I will
show unto them that faith, hope, and charity bringeth unto me-- the
fountain of all righteousness."
Humility.....Teachability.
The greatest lesson I have learned on my mission is this. Is
Humility. There has been no easy way out while I`ve been here. I can`t
coast through my mission like I did High School, no sleeping in the
back row of class, no procrastinating homework till the day it`s due.
No nodding my head and turning off my ears as Mother yells at me to
work harder. No playing video games during class and then still
getting A`s and B`s without lifting a finger.
This work is hard. I`ll tell you that.... It`s been hard for me, and
it`s pushed me. It has shown unto me how weak I am. It has taught me
how much I HAVE to rely on the Lord. I can`t do it without him, I
can`t do anything without him. Every morning I get on my knees and beg
the Lord for the strength to open my mouth and wipe the fear from my
mind. Every Night I get on my knees and beg the Lord to forgive me for
not stopping one more person, or not testifying one more time.
But then..... then my mind flips back to Ether...... My grace is
sufficient for ALL men that humble themselves before me..... So it
is..... I am filled with weaknesses... riddled with them, left and
right I seem to find more everyday. But, I know that as I try, as I
strive to overcome them, as I strive to be just that one step better
every day, and as I rely upon the Lord, as I cry out to him with all
my heart, and all my soul that he will come! He will come.... My
Savior, my Redeemer will come and lift me up and help me.
There is a song that goes:
"You raise me up, so that I can stand on mountains. You raise me to
more than I can be. I am Strong, when I am on your shoulders. You
raise me up, to more than I can be."
I can Testify to all of you that the Lord`s hand is guiding this
work. He has sent out over 50,000 20 year old boys to preach the
gospel around the world. He has asked these inexperienced children to
go forth and to teach people that are sometimes old enough to be their
Grandparents, (And in Japan some could be my GREAT grandparents). Yet
we go forth, two by two, young men, teaching and preaching the Gospel.
Those missionaries that are the best among us are those that have
humbled themselves the most.
Again I say that I know that Christ lives, that he truly does guide
this work. I know that as I humble myself before him he will teach me,
he will guide me. I know that he loves me, and that he is my Shepard
and my Stay. And I bear this testimony in his holy name. Amen.
Love,
Elder Randall KK Tateishi
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