Wow, what a lot of awesome responsibility Randy will have these next few months. How cool is that! I'm not quite sure the responsibilities of a District Leader, but I'm sure Randy will excel at it. Live is going good for the Tateishi Family. A new addition (Brady Edward Tateishi born 8/6/11 to Bobby and Amy Tateishi), a son still serving in Japan, a son serving his country in Iraq (we miss him greatly), 2 awefully cute granddaughters who make me smile all the time, a new job for Misty and school starting for Doug, and a son who turned 30! Blessings come in mysterious ways but I am forever grateful for those that come my way! I love life!
Dear Mother, Father, Sisters, Brothers, Family, and Friends
Well.......... I`m now preparing myself for an adventure, because Transfer calls just came in. Elder Cloward is transfering out and I`m still staying here in Kawachinagano (probably will be here for the rest of my mission). In all honesty I don`t know who my next companion is. But that`s because he isn`t in Japan yet. Won`t be until Tuesday or Wednesday. Yes, I`m training a new missionary (Which I also dreamt about doing recently). I`m also the new District Leader here. So everything is going to be very exciting this upcoming transfer, as big changes are here and I can feel even bigger events rolling into Japan.
So as for my report this week. Last week Monday we climbed a mountain. It took us 2 hours by train to get there and we only had about 2 hours to explore while we were there. We saw tens of thousands of gravestones, strange insects, Bhuddists temples, picked up rocks that symbolize sin, enjoyed the cool of a shady forest, and were eaten alive by musquitos. It was a great experience and I loved it. It never ceases to amaze me when I look at the majesty of God`s creations.
Tuesday through Saturday were practically the same old same old. Lots of bike riding in the heat trying to find people to teach. Luckily I only have to put up with the heat for another month or so before it starts to cool down again.
Wednesday we had a fun english class and played some ping pong. We got destroyed by a 75 year old man, many times..... They are just way too good. We also taught Oyama, our investigator.
Thursday we had District Meeting and then we had splits and I went to Sakai, then friday we came back and met Oyama again because he thought he forgot his hat at the church. It ended up becoming a very good lesson and we helped him with a couple of his concerns. Then when we ended and he started riding his bike down the street I turned and looked at Elder Cloward and made a very profound statement. "He`s going to find his hat when he goes home." Which he did.
Saturday we went to Nishiguchi Kyodai`s house for his birthday, we made Yakisoba and baked a cake for him. It was way fun and he was really happy. Another active member came with us and really helped him out. It was great to see that we had helped him and that he is a lot happier than when we first met him. He was even calling me mother while I was busy cooking in the kitchen and everyone was eating. It was so hot in there, I was having sweat drip off my nose. (not into the food)
Sunday was another spiritually powerful day. The Youth came back from EFY in Kyoto and gave some very powerful testimonies and sang a beautiful song. I felt the spirit strongly and almost all of the youth were in tears. We also had a new investigator come to church as well as Oyama. Sugita is a very old man who has lived a difficult life, I can kind of tell because he`s missing quite a bit of his fingers. But he is very honest and straightforward and he wants to find peace of heart and mind. He was invited to church by one of the members and it was great that he came. After church we taught Oyama and set up a date for him to be baptized, the 28th of Augest. We also had him come to dinner with us again at another members house. The ward is doing an excellent job at fellowshipping him.
Now I`m still here, in Kawachinagano, not really wanting to leave and excited for a new challange and a new transfer. Time is moving too fast! Time is running out.
Elder Tateishi`s Gospel Message of the week
There is Faith in every Footstep. For some reason that just pops into my mind and stands out. But that statement is so true, yet so simple. There is Faith in Every Footstep that we take, in every action that we make. In the days of the pioneers they showed their Faith with every agonizying step they took towards the Salt Lake Valley, treading on land that no man had ever gone before. They were going to a place that no one new, where they believed that they could make a peaceful living, far away from persecution and free to live their religion and worship their God. It was this hope, this Faith that kept them going despite the harsh conditions and the hundreds that died along the trails. We all know the heartbreaking stories of men and women who buried children, mothers and fathers along the way. Yet because of their great Faith, and their unity they made it across the plains and survived in the harsh conditions of the Salt Lake Valley and other barren areas.
To me there is no greater story than the three boys who went to assist the handcart companies as they reached an icey river. The saints fell to their knees as they saw the ice choked river, already tired and exhausted, and wept in despair. Yet came three young men, and carried the others across the freezing river. Bearing women and children, pulling carts until everyone was safely across. Later in their lives all three of them died because of problems related to that great heroic effort. Every time I ponder this story it brings tears to my eyes, for it is one of the greatest stories of Love, Sacrifice, Courage, and Faith. "No man hath greater love than this, than he that layeth down his life for his friends."
But even today those stories do not end. There is still Faith in every Footstep, for everyday there is a new challange, every day there is a new problem to solve. Many times we look forward in despair not sure how we are going to cross that icey river that stands in our path, as we are already so exhausted, so tired, and ready to just give up. We wonder when will God wrenching our hearts, when he will finally give us rest, and then more challanges, more obstacles come and we cry out in despair "Why!?" Yet in those very moments, when we put aside those questions and take just one more step, and just put one foot in front of the other, than comes someone or something that carries us across that icey river.
When we hold the Gospel of Christ there is no such thing as despair. For the Gospel of Christ is the Gospel of Hope! We have faith and hope that all things will be made fair, that there is someone beside us at all times and in all places that is willing to carry us across those places that we thought we could never go. We have hope that we will conquer death, we have faith that we will overcome the taint of sin. We have the greatest hope of all to know that our familes can be sealed for all eternity. What room do we have to despair? Why should we ever lose hope?
As Paul once said "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
I say that as we step forward with Faith in Every Footstep God will be our stay, he will be our guide and our constant companion. There is nothing that should be feared but sin itself. "For God so loved the world that he gave is only begotten son" that through him all might have eternal life and be raised again from the grave to live in eternal glory and never-ending happiness. I will move forward with faith, I will do my best to set aside fear, doubt, and despair and the Lord fill me with Love, Hope and Faith. And then may I "know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Of this I testify in the name of my Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ. Amen.
With Much love,
Elder Randall KK Tateishi
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