Ok so 10 more months and Randy will be heading home...I don't have much to say (especially about the picture of Randy being a scarecrow) but I will say this....I LOVE MY SON!
Dear Mother, Father, Brothers, Sisters, Family, Friends
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTT!!!!!!
Ok, just had to get that out. I`m just excited. I`m happy, like
usual, and just plain overjoyed. The Sakura are beginning to bloom and
spring is rolling in. The clouds are gone the skies are blue and
beauty is all around me. I love these moments, when one can gaze out
and with a smile proclaim "All is well, all is well."
This week has been an awesome week, and a great learning experience
for me. I went to Kobe on Monday night and was there until Thursday
night for Leadership Training. Not that I have any leadership position
at the moment. Nevertheless I am very grateful I was able to go. It
was amazing and I learned a lot. I learned how to be a better teacher
and a better missionary in general. It was just wonderful, three days
spent with President McIntyre and some of the best missionaries in the
mission, hearing amazing stories about miracles in the work and also
learning how to produce those miracles. For three days we would be
lectured, than we would practice, review, practice, lecture, practice,
review, practice, practice, practice. It was just awesome.
On Friday we met with Mami, our investigator and her boyfriend a
member and taught them the plan of Salvation. Once we were done we
went out and played soccer in the parking lot. That was tiring, but
lots of fun. I suck at soccer but I enjoy playing it.
Saturday we road all around to different places trying to find good
spots to find people. Talked with a drunk old man and that was about
it. Then we had fast Sunday, which was also awesome. I love fast
Sundays, they are so refreshing for me spiritually and help me to just
feel so much better. A members grandson came to church and also a
recently married less-active and his nonmember wife came to church. By
the way, they were married on April 1st. Same as Mum and Dad, by the
way Congrats Mom and Dad!
After Church we walked around a nearby park, it was great to see the
beautiful trees and scenery, and there were a lot of families out
together having picnics in the cool weather. We mainly stopped people
that had dogs, because that was the easiest, simply point and say
"OOHH That`s a cute dog! What kind of dog is it?" We had a few nice
conversations but that was about it.
Then Sunday Night we had a Dendo Shokujikai, as they called it....
ummmmm.... english...... Missionary Work Dinner/Fireside thingy......
Sometimes Japanese is just soooo much easier.... We watched a video
about missionary life and testified about missionary work, and then
ate dinner, which was delicious.
Hmmm... as for news. Transfers MIGHT be this week. It looks like they
are going to try to send some missionaries back to the safer areas
within the Tokyo Mission, and so they aren`t sure if Transfers will be
this week, or next week..... Things are just so hectic in missionary
life. But as we always sing "I`ll go where you want me to go dear
lord!"
Elder Tateishi`s Gospel Message of the week.
So...... 1 year ago was the first time I`ve stepped in Japan. 1 year
ago I looking on with a little puppy dog face at the beautiful
blossoms of Japan. I was wet behind the ears and following my trainer
around like a good little puppy dog just trying to make it around the
block without getting lost.
Now I am here, still in Japan, at the very prime time of my mission.
The flowers are blossoming again, the sun is shining bright and the
Lord`s smile is even brighter.
I was just flipping back to my first emails home from Japan. They
make me laugh inside. Seeing how young I was at the time. But now I
would like to reflect back on my first Gospel message when i came to
Japan.
"Have no Regrets"
I don`t know how many of you remember this, but I do. It`s my slogan,
one that I`ve tried to keep with me all the time, in the back of my
mind at the very least, and I`ve held to it for the most part. I have
no regrets. Despite many times that I have failed, that I have
stumbled and fallen, I have no regrets. Because I can say I learned
from those experiences, and those sins that I have committed I have
repented of.
Which is what I want to focus on this time around. Repentance. The
second principle in the gospel that has played a large role in me
having no regrets. Repentance, the almighty duck tape for our soul. It
heals our spiritual wounds and cleanses us from sins.
I remember many a time feeling guilt and pain from having sinned
against the Lord, from making mistakes over and over again. But then I
always remember the words of the blessing I recieved from President
Henderson when I was set apart over a year ago. "By your faith your
have been made clean." Time and time again I remember that as I kneel
down before my God and plead with him for forgiveness, and everytime I
sincerely do so, and with real intent seek the mercy of the Atonement
of Christ, I recieve it.
I know I am far from perfect, that everyday I make mistakes, I let my
anger slip every so often, I let bad thoughts slip into my mind. I let
fear take over me and miss a contact or don`t commit someone. But
everyday I try a little harder to be just a little better, everyday I
seek to be just one step closer to the Lord. I know that through the
Atonement of Christ we can be healed of our sins, we can become clean
and free of those feelings of pain and guilt.
Lastly I would like to use a quote, for those that which to judge how
well their life is going. "I would rather be one step out of Hell,
than a thousand miles away heading in." It does not matter where we
are, it only matters where we are going.
I love you all dearly, and I testify again of the atonement of
Christ. That through it and by it can we be cleansed, that we can
stand before God at the last day and be accepted into his presence.
For that I am grateful, for that I serve the Lord my God. In the name
of Jesus Christ, Amen.
With much Love,
Elder Randall KK Tateishi
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