Waiting on the bridge....

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

Well, Not too much to write this week either. Tuesday we ran around with a member, Kubota Kyodai for over 6 hours visiting less actives and active members. It went well, but riding in a car all day really wipes me out. We ended up visiting two women who really needed our help when we showed up. Gave one of them a blessing and the other one we invited to retake the missionary lessons to help deepen her understanding of the basic principles of the Gospel and to help her rebuilt her faith. She has a Learning Disability so we`ll need to take things slow with her.

Wednesday we just dendoed around and then played some ping pong with the members before we started Eikaiwa. Finally had 2 new students show up to Eikaiwa and we had loads of fun there. Thursday we had splits and I went to Sakai with Elder Wright and we had lots of fun talking to many random people. Friday we had District Meeting which was also fun and then me and Elder Cloward headed back to go and try to find Investigators in our own area.

Friday was the highlight of my week. We had a great miracle that shows that God has a sense of humor and loves us. So we went down to one of the train stations in our area and walked around for about 40 min. trying to talk to a variety of people, got a couple good contacts in but we weren`t having all that much success, then we both decided it was time to head off to new fishing grounds. We didn`t ride very far when I felt that we needed to turn back. So we stopped, prayed, and both felt that we still needed to be back at the train station, so we headed back. We did a loop, talked to one guy for a little bit and then Elder Cloward turned to me and said "I feel we need to wait on the bridge." So we did just that. We went on the bridge and waited, trying to talk to people as they walked by, but no one was stopping. We both looked out and watched as the sun was starting to set and the cars going by. We kept looking at each other and asking "What are we waiting for?" Well, we were deep in thought, and pondering the mysteries of the Kingdom of God when suddenly an old man walked up to us, handed us a traditional Japanese treat and said "Here`s for working hard" and then he walked off. Me and Elder Cloward looked at each other in utter amazement and laughed our heads off. We ate the treats and felt that we still needed to wait 5 minutes so we did. After those 5 minutes we happened to talk to a high school kid that was fairly interested but didn`t really have the time to meet with us again. We then knew we`d done what we had needed to do and head off. The Lord works in mysterious ways.

Saturday and Sunday went just fine, we had Oyama come to church again this week, he was running around after church playing with some of the kids. It made me laugh because he was acting just like a regular member and was treated like one to. Now we just need to set up a time to teach him the lessons. After church on Sunday we rode far out to visit a member than visited a less active that we were finally able to meet. Usually the wife just refuses us and doesn`t let us talk to her at all. But this time the Husband was there and we were able to talk to him for a little while and get to know him. It was great.

Elder Tateishi`s Gospel Message of the Week

So Tomorrow marks a special day. It means that I have 6 months before I go home. It means it will be time for me to leave a land that I love, and a people that I love, and simply I wish to testify of that today.

In this year and a half I have labored in many different areas with many different people seeking to do the Lord`s work. I have shed sweat, blood, and tears as I have sought to bring people unto Christ. Sometimes it has felt like all I do is futile and useless, but most of the time I feel the love of God in my heart as I testify to these people of God and Christ. It has been an honor to serve my God for this time and I would trade it for nothing else in the world. In this time I have grown from a boy into a man, I have learned how to work, how to sweat, how to love, and how to be who God wants me to be. I have learned that God loves me for who I am and that he loves each and everyone of his children. I have learned the price that must be paid for repentance and I have learned the joy of the presence of God. That and countless other things have I learned on my mission. Have no regrets! From every experience there is a lesson to be learned, even when we fail, when we fall and stumble, as we pick ourselves back up we can learn what not to do.

Yesterday as we visited Maekawa Kyodai, a member of the bishopric, I remember feeling such a great love for this ward, for the members. I felt in my heart a desire to have a temple here for them, so that they may enjoy the great blessings more readily. I testified that a temple was close, that it was coming and I thought about how that moment would go when the temple is announced. What joy filled my heart, and how strongly I felt the spirit. When that moment comes I will leap with joy and sing praises unto the Lord. I would love to be here in Japan when that temple is built, I would love to enter inside its sacred walls and join with the people that I love in worshipping our God there.

I`m not sure if I can properly express the love I hold for these people, especially the members here. The joy that they hold in their eyes, the light that they have. The smiles on their faces and the glow about them. These members stand out in contrast to those around them. They are a light that shines in the darkness. They know the truth and are faithful to it forever more. They love the Gospel and they do anything for the Lord. They are some of the greatest examples of Faith, Hope, Charity and Love that I have ever seen. Often times it is said that when missionaries visit members they help to strengthen the members faith, but on countless occassions I have found the opposite to be true. My faith is strengthened as I visit with them, converse with them and learn from them. There is no place I would rather be than here.

When the day comes for me to board the plane home to America I know I will shed tears. I will be leaving behind a part of me here. I will leave a piece of my heart here. I dread that day just as much as I know I will rejoice to meet my family again. This will be something that I can never forget. Here is my home, just as much as America.

I know that this is the work of God, I know that he loveth his children. I know that this church is true and I cannot deny it. I testify of these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

Love,

Elder Randall KK Tateishi