Change.....

Dear Mother, Father, Sisters, Brothers, Family, and Friends

I actually debated whether or not to skip writing this week. But even if I had, I wouldn`t have been "raptured" as a few of you have predicted. Because it would have been equivilant to lying, and we allknow that liars don`t go to heaven.

On a Cheerful note: Life is going Great. Despite the fact that I`mgoing to have to suffer 5 months with the rest of you until the end ofthe world.

Let`s see, this week has had it`s ups and downs, it`s bumps andbruises. Tuesday was utterly amazing, we had Zone Conference, and I got to hear some amazing testimonies as well as recieve some amazing training from the mission president. It was so amazing that President McIntyre made the rain stop so we could get home without getting soaking wet. Over the pulpit he said "And the rain will stop so you can all get home safely." And shortly after he said that, the heavy rains stopped and we all went home all dry and warm.

Wednesday I went off to Senboku for a companion exchange. I cleaned up and fixed the Elder`s bike that I was using. It was horrible.....But I had fun hanging out in Senboku. Thursday we came back and then we had fun with a Potential Investigator, my companion was doing some skateboarding, as we fellowshipped him and invited him to Eikaiwa and Church.

Friday..... was Friday, I don`t remember too much, Saturday, we found a giant Bhudda, and taught a Less Active. Sunday was fun at church and during ward Council meeting. Then we spent Sunday night at a members house and ate dinner with them. It was awesome, I love the Yoshikawa Family. Little Chie-chan(4yrs.) was jumping up and down when we gotthere saying "The Missionaries are here! The Missionaries are here!"and "Missionaries are a pair!" She is so cute, reminds me a lot of Hannah. Last week during Eikaiwa she even invaded my Advanced class along with her older sister Taka-chan (8 yrs.) and they both kept trying to push me over and steal my flashlight. x.x Luckily theEikaiwa students just laughed. Ahhhh! I love missionary life!! It`s always so much fun.

Elder Tateishi`s Gospel Message of the Week

Change.

Everyone experiences change. Both good and bad. Everyone throughout their life has new things come their way, both the expected and the unexpected. It is a simple fact of life, the world changes, our lives change, people around us change, our situation changes, and countless things change. And with each change will come trials, both big and small, both significant and insignificant. But trials will come. Starting a new job, moving to a new house, haveing a child, losing a loved one, sickness, or disaster.

All are changes from the norm. But as each change comes, we have a choice, we have a decision. We can say, as sickness strikes that we will push forward and do our bes tto overcome it, when we lose a loved one we can hope that they are at rest with God, when disaster strikes we can choose to rebuild and move on instead of wallow in sorrow. Or when the new job comes we can choose to be overwhelmed and worry, or with the new house we can complain about how the neighborhood is or isn`t, or with the new child we can worry and panic about how we will raise it. The point is, we must be optimistic about change.

Open your scriptures. Look at many of the countless stories that are written within and think about how the people reacted to their own trials and changes within their lives. Adam, cast out from the Garden of Eden, yes he did sorrow, but he moved on and found joy with his Wife Eve as they raised Children. Or you have Job, who lost everything, his children, his wealth, his health, and yet he said tha the would trust God and that he would continue to praise the Lord, even when his friends betrayed him. Then you have people like David, when he fell. He saw Beth-sheba, he lusted and his heart failed him. When he found that she was pregnant, he feared again, and sought to cover his sin by killing her husband and then marrying her. Or there is Lamen and Lemuel who complained because of their journey in the wilderness and were chastized by the Lord.

The point is, when change comes we really have two options. Be Positive, or be Negative. As we strive to be Positive, we will be blessed, as we seek for the silver lining we will find it. In the darkest night, there is still some light that shines. When Elder Hart came, I chose to be positive about this new companionship. Despite the fact, that at times I find him annoying I still love him, and choose to laugh instead of complain, to smile instead of frown. In opposition to that, when ever I had those hard times it was mainly because I had a negative outlook on my companion or my area.

Our attitude makes all the difference. How many times is it written within the scriptures: "Be of good cheer!"? God has revealed to us that "Man is that they might have joy." So when trials come, we must stay positive, we must act instead of REact. There of course will still be times to mourn, when we lose our loved ones or when tragedy strikes, but we must not let it weigh us down. If we think about it too much, if we worry about it too much,the problem simply gets worse, not any better. Trust me I know! I`m a thinker, and I think way too much!

Lastly, just remember to rely upon the Lord. He is there for you, he knows your pains, he knows what you are suffering, and what you have suffered. He knows how to help you through, and he also knows that with each trial you overcome, the stronger you will become. He looks at us in the eternal perspective, he sees what these trials will forge us into. Trust in him, and believe in him, and your outlook on life will be all the better.

I love the Lord, and I know that he is there for me. I know that he loves me and that he will guide me through each of my trials and all my difficult times. I am simply his servant right now. I follow him the best I can, and seek to do his will. In his Holy Name, even Jesus Christ. Amen.

With Much Love, Elder Randall KK Tateishi

Patience....

So this letter is for me...the mother....how does he know I lack in patience. One of my great weakness is patience. I wish I had more (although, I know we shouldn't ask for more as the Lord will certainly see fit to give me plenty of opportunity to learn it). I am so extremly proud and happy for my son. The young boy I sent away over a year ago is now becoming a man and it is awesome! Soon he will come home and start his life of schooling and work and then comes marriage and family. I'm so excited that I will be able to see him even blossom even more. Thank you to my son for the blessing he brings to us as a family. To his friends he is an example and to the rest of us....well, he is just plain Randy Panda Bear! I love him!!!!

Dear Mother, Father, Sisters, Brothers, Family, and Friends

Another week just flies by, faster than I can blink. On Monday and Tuesday, we went down to Wakayama and worked with the Zone Leaders in their area. I worked with Elder Lystrup, who`s from Las Vegas and was in the MTC with me. It was loads of fun and the two of us found 3 new investigators while Elder Hart and Elder Burhoefound 3 new Investigators as well. After that me and Elder Hart cameback to Kawachinagano and we found another investigator as well in the short time we had. It was awesome.

Wednesday we had District Meeting and then Eikaiwa, didn`t have time for much else. Thursday me and Elder Hart did lots of planning and then some Dendo. Friday we had another Companion Exchange, I was still in Kawachinagano though with Elder Bailey. We just had lots of fun,talking to people on the street, including one guy that wanted to start his own religion because everyone else was doing it. I think he was just mocking us. But I did get to throw him for a loop. We started in English, and he thought we couldn`t speak Japanese. After a good three or four minutes I switched to Japanese and he was way surprised. Gave me a good laugh.

Saturday, we ended the Exchange and then visited Brother Takenaka. Yea.... That was a very interesting meeting this time. Was hilarious,and I was laughing way too hard. He`s a tatoo artist, and he was telling us stories about tatooing. He`s a cool guy, really chill. Then we rushed to the Ping Pong tournament we had at the church. I was totally destroyed during it. I suck at Ping Pong Sunday was regular Church and lots of dendo. I was exhausted afterall that and came home and crashed. Then got up at 5:30 this morningto go to Seminary again. WOOT!! I`m still tired. I love life as aMissionary!

Elder Tateishi`s Gospel Message of the Week

Today, I`m going to talk about patience. Not being patient with others around you, but being patient with yourself.

I have had to learn this lesson many many times as a missionary. As I have many times pushed myself harder and harder trying to be better and better, yet to me it seems as if nothing is ever happening. Then I get discouraged and disappointed and I wonder what I did wrong, or what did I not do enough.

The solution is Patience. Is trusting in God, and having faith that oneday, someday, your efforts will bear fruit. It is Patience while dilligently pursuing to achieve your goals, despite what goes on around you, what happens or what doesn`t happen. That is a Godly Attribute.

I remember a parable told to me by President McIntyre. God commandeda man to push on a huge stone rock. So the man, obedient to God`s commandments did so. He pushed on the rock, and struggled to get it to move, and he kept on pushing, but he wasn`t able to move it at all. So he gave up, thinking to himself, it`s impossible. God returned and saw the man leaning against the rock, discouraged, and asked: "Why aren`t you pushing?" The man replied: "Because I can`t get it to move." In response God said: "I never told you to move the rock, I only told you to push. When the time comes "I`LL" move the rock."

I feel like that man a lot. As I push, and I push and I push with all my might and all that I know how to do and it seems that nothing ever happens. I ask myself every day what is it that I`m doing wrong, and sometimes I`m just so tired that I want to just give up. But then come those moments when the Lord reaches down and shows me, that although I didn`t move the rock even in the slightest, I have built some muscle!

The Lord will judge us according to our Desires as well as our works. We are all human, and all of us are imperfect, as it says in Psalms:"All have come short of the Glory of God." He knows that just as well as we do. Yet, he knows what we need, he knows how we can get there. As I think about it, I wonder in amazement at how patient God is with me. At how persistent he is at trying to mold me, and refine me into the man he wants me to become. Sometimes I feel like I`m a lump of steel in his hand, stubborn, and unshapeable. Yet still he works patiently and persistently with me.

I cannot comprehend how much God Loves me. I never will be able to in this life. But I do know that he loves me far more than anyone ever has or ever will love me. He is patient with me and he trusts me enough to call me as his servant. So I must proceed with faith and trust in God. Trust what God sees in me, trust his timing and his love. Alas, as he has said: "Be Still and know that I am God." "Look unto me in Every thought, Doubt not, Fear Not." Trust in the Lord thy God. He is the Light that shineth in Darkness. He is the one that has shown us the way. I Testify to you that God Lives, as well as his son Jesus Christ. That even now, they stand in heaven and watch over each and every one of us. They call unto us day after day, and work that we might have never-ending happiness and eternal Joy.

In the Holy name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

With Much Love, Elder Randall KK Tateishi

Perhaps...One of the best

Mother's Day ever....I just love the calls that we, as mother's, get to make to our Missionaries. What a treat it is to speak to our sons or daughters about their missions, how they are doing, and just basically hearing their voice. I am down to 7 more months, or 7 more Fast Sundays, or one more call or...well sooner than later Randy will be home. How grateful I am for the little things he brings to my life, the joy, the laughter, the love....


Dear Mother, Father, Brothers, Sister"S", Family, and Friends

This Email will be very quick simply because, well I just talked to
everyone about an hour ago. XD.

HAPPY MOTHER`S DAY!!! Because It`s still Mother`s day in America.

Anyway, update for this week, my companion is awesome, loves to beat
box play skateboard and is just all around goofy. Makes me laugh all
the time. He`s like a typical Polynesian, laid back and always late. I
always have to start pushing him about 30 min. before so we can get
out the door no later than 10 min. late. x.x

Some of those pictures include, A delicious steak from Japan. It
wasn`t Kobe beef but it was possibly the most delicious steak I`ve
ever had. It practically melted in my mouth it was sooooo delicious.
The only problem was that it was also the fatiest and most greasey
steak I`ve ever eaten. Didn`t settle too well with my stomach after.
After that is a little Toy gun we saw in a dollar store. It`s for
Misty. And then there is Alma Motors, who is a member and his first
name is Alma.

No real highlights to tell this week. Elder Hart taught me how to do
an ollie on a skateboard. Took me about 30 min. to learn how. We
managed to talk to a few people while we were skateboarding. Lol. Yes
we are very strange missionaries.

I guess the greatest highlight was when we were out
dendoing(tracting) near a christian high school and stopped 4 high
school kids. It was really great. They go to a christian school but
they don`t neccessarily know very much about christianity. We taught
them about how Christ died for our sins and how his true church was
restored. It went on for about 30 min. and one of them even said "wow,
this feels good" and another was saying "There really is a religion
like that?" And all of them were listening intently as we taught and
testified, hopefully some of them will come to church next week
Sunday.

Life has been moving on very well of late. I`m still trying to work
harder. Working everyday to just be a little bit better. It really is
hard to be a missionary. I just keep thinking of a song that Elder
Hart has been playing lately, "It isn`t easy being a missionary."

Elder Tateishi`s Gospel Message of the week

So, Mother has requested that I talk about service, about serving
others. Which in an instant brings to mind a thousand different
scriptures that I could share.

Service, brings joy and blessings into the lives of those who it
helps. It is very simple to understand that when one recieves a
helping hand or a comforting gesture that it blesses that person`s
life.

I remember when I was a young missionary I remember the simple
encouraging words of a recent Convert as I struggled to explain in a
language I hardly knew about a Gospel principle. I stumbled over and
over again before I just gave up. When I gave up he looked at me with
a caring look on his face and said "Just try." His english was
horrible, but he could say that much. That meant a lot to me in that
moment of weakness. Just try.

Service brings some of the greatest joys that we can find. Many tiems
we hear people say "The look in their eyes made it all worth it" or
"The smile on their face was worth the effort." Service in and of
itself is a reward. No matter how small it is, it is well worth the
effort.

Recently a Member`s mother passed away. We had actually scheduled to
meet with her but she had to cancel because her mother had entered
into the hospital and left town to go visit her. We didn`t know her
mother had passed away for a little while but as soon as we did, me
and Elder Young wrote a little card for her telling her that we love
her, and that we would pray for her and her mother. When we finally
did get a chance to eat lunch with her we prepared a simple message
for her and sang a hymn: "Nearer my God to Thee." It really touched
her and helped her. At fast and testimony this month she stood and
bore her testimony thanking us for being there and comforting her. As
she spook I felt joy in my heart knowing that I had helped this woman
in her difficult time.

There is a scripture in the New Testament, I can`t recall exactly
where it is, but it goes like this: "When I was an hungered, you fed
me, when I was thirsty you gave me drink, when I was naked you clothed
me, when I was in prison you visited me." These are the words Christ
spoke, to those who will truly be accepted into heaven. For he said
"For what you have done unto the least of these my brethren, even so
have you done unto me." When we help even the most pitiful of persons
we are extending a helping arm to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

It is written: "Every Soul is precious in the eyes of God." The poor
as well as the rich, the prideful as well as the humble, the wicked as
well as the righteous. And so first amongst all the commandments of
God is to "love thy neighbor as thyself." There are thousands of
examples of this that could be listed, many are from Christ as he
reached out to heal the sick, or comfort the afflicted. Many stories
are listed in the Old Testament, the New Testament, The Book of
Mormon, and even more are told by Modern day Apostles and Prophets.

Service is a main attribute of a true Saint. In the scriptures it is
written: "If you don`t have charity you are nothing!" True Saints
extend loving hands to all those around them, no matter who they are.
True Saints Love the Lord and Love their Neighbors.

There are many that ask and complain "Why is there so much violence
and bad things in the world?" My first answer to them, is "What are
you doing about it?" In the words of Micheal Jackson: "If you want to
make the world a better place, you better start with the man in the
mirrior." (Sorry, not sure of the exact quote.) As we all reach out to
touch the lives of those around us, we will inspire others to do the
same. As we love those around us we can dampen the affects of cruelty
and hatred within the world.

I testify to you all that as we strive to love those around us, as we
seek to do as the Saviour did, not only will we help to change the
hearts of those around us, but in the process our own hearts will
change. We will become better people, and we will be able to walk mor
uprightly and righteously before God. I love you all, and wish all of
you well. I share these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

With much Love,

Elder Randall KK Tateishi

One week till Mother's Day and a phone call....

Dear Mother, Father, Sisters, Brothers, Family, and Friends

It`s a bright sunny day, and I feel the heat of summer coming on.
Along with itchy eyes, sneezing and sweat. I LOVE summer (not really).

Well biggest news here is that I have a new companion. Elder Young
returned to the Tokyo Mission, as did about half of all those that
came down here to Kobe. I feel bad for my new companion because he was
in his last area for about a week before we got transfer calls and he
had to pack everything back up again.

My new companion is Elder Hart, for Hamilton New Zealand. He`s an
awesome guy and loads of fun. I can tell that this is going to be an
awesome transfer. At least the 3 weeks that are left of it. x.x things
have been so hectic with transfers lately. But o Well, I`ll live.

Anyway, as for this week..... Ummmm.... Tuesday we had District
Meeting, and then we had a member feed us some delicious Udon.
Wednesday was Eikaiwa, thursday was some regular Dendo. Friday was
random transfer call, and packing and visiting some Less actives,
Saturday, was more packing a BBQ, and Ice Cream at Baskin Robbins.

O yea... I remember why I can`t remember Tuesday, Wednesday, or
Thursday very much. I was dead tired. We went to Seminary every
morning this week. Getting up at 5 and going to seminary at 6, and
still going to bed at 10:30. Even went this morning. But Wednesday was
the worst. I was feeling absolutely horrible, added onto mental and
emotional stress I was absolutely exhausted. I almost collapsed at one
point, before we came back for lunch. I had no energy to Dendo at all.
But then we came back for lunch and I wouldn`t let myself rest, I did
the dishes, finished up my laundry, and made lunch. After all that I
was still about ready to pass out when I knelt down and begged God to
give me strength to make it through just one more day. I got up, we
went back out and I was able to make it through, I talked to a few
people, was fine and genki. Eikaiwa was lots of fun with lots of
talking and random jokes. Finally came back to the apartment, I could
barely say my nightly prayer and then I passed out. Got up the next
day, went to Seminary and was pretty good from then on.

Moral of the Story: Keep on working.
Side effects may include exhaustion, stress, Satisfaction, good
sleep, interesting sentences, and increased yawning.

Elder Tateishi`s Gospel Moment of the week.

Well.... I guess since it`s Mother`s Day this next Sunday, and I
won`t be emailing next week because of phone calls, I`ll write a
little something about Mother`s Day.

One of the most famous scriptures in the Book of Mormon is when the
Stripling Warriors all said in unison: "We do not doubt our Mothers
knew it."

Well, I can say this "I do not douby My Mother knows it!"

For me the two people that have had the most influence upon me
throughout my life have been my Mother and My Father. I have always
known my Mother loved me and I`ve always known that she only wants the
best for me. The same with my Father. I love both of them dearly, and
my Father played a huge role to me as an example but it was Mother who
was always there to comfort me, to lecture me and assist me.

I remember the countless times when Mother would sit me down and give
me a lecture, I would sit quietly and nod my head in confirmation. Yes
Mother, those words went in one ear and out the other, but many of
them did stick, if not at that time then sometime after. And even more
than that as I now sit here o How I wish I would have actually
listened to Mother`s counsel!

I love my Mother! I was never afraid to say that. Lol, She`s the best
Mother I could have ever asked for, and yes I like to brag about her.

What I`m trying to say, is that you Mothers have a big influence on
your children, and when you love them we know it, and we feel it. I`m
pretty sure that there are many people who when grown old look back
and ask themselves "Why didn`t I listen to Mother more?"

For one example, I remember sitting in my basement, on my laptop like
usual when mother walked down the stairs and looked at me saying:

Mother:"What are you doing?"
Me:"Ummmm... I`m on my Laptop like always"
Mother:"No, What ARE you doing? You aren`t reading your scriptures,
you aren`t praying, What are you doing to prepare for your
mission?"(Mother`s know everything)
Me: "...."
Mother: "You always do this. You do nothing, you don`t prepare and
you procrastinate it. Then later you regret, you always do."
Me: "....."

She then walked up the stairs, probably annoyed at my silence and
thinking that I hadn`t even listened to her. But that was when I
thought, and agreed with her. I wasn`t doing anything. From that
moment on I started to change. I read my scriputres, which then lead
me to pray, which then lead me to leave on my mission. Which puts me
where I am at now, along with a hundred other bits of advise that she
has given me since then.

I love my Mother dearly, and wish her and all the other mother`s
Happy Mother`s Day. You are all beloved Mothers.

I share this simply, in Christ`s name. Amen.

Love,

Elder Randall KK Tateishi