As letters go this is a great one, but I can read between the lines at how sad he is to be leaving Japan. He has grown so much over the past 2 years and has truly come to learn to love others....for that I am forever grateful.
Dear Mother, Father, Sisters, Brothers, Family, and Friends
明けましておめでとうございます！！
Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
2011 is over and 2012 begins. My time here in Japan begins to wind to an end and soon, quicker than I like, I will be on a plane home to America. Lots of things have happened here in Japan that will forever leave a mark upon me. Countless blessings have been poured out upon me and even more countless blessings have been poured out upon my family. These two years have truly been the best two years of my life. I can say that I would`nt have traded them for anything. I have found great joy in the service of my God and I have found great Joy in seeing the lives of others blessed and helping them to find true happiness. It has been hard at times, yes, but it has been worth every tear, every drop of sweat, every sleepless night and all that I have experienced. Blazing hot summers, to freezing cold winters. Crashing bikes, to climbing mountains. The laughing, the crying, the smiling, the joy. These are all burned into my heart forever more.
I`m not really sure what I`m going to write at all today, because it won`t be long at all before I`m home. Maybe I should just stop emailing and leave everyone in suspense until I`m home, but then again I know my Mom will get infuriated.
Well, to say the least, it`s been a bit of a difficult week this week. We`ve felt a lot of pressure pushed on us this week and it was in all honesty pretty hard and really frustrating. Even though we were working as hard as we could we were still being pressured. But that pressure has actually helped me to bond even more with my beloved companion Elder Niven. Many a night we have just sat and talked with each other, uplifting each other, testifying to each other, seeking to support each other in our difficulties. It`s been a very spiritual week with my companion, and although we haven`t been able to teach too many people, or find new investigators we`ve been teaching each other and have helped each other a lot. I can say that Elder Niven is my favorite companion and we`ll be lifelong friends.
Even though our best investigator, Ozaki Risa`s parents are against her coming to, or joining this church there has ever been a light of hope and faith in our hearts. Every time we talk with her, or teach her she surprises us with what she asks, or what she replies. She is truly someone that is seeking to find God and true happiness and stability in her life. This morning as we talked with her she even talked about wanting to serve a mission herself if she ever could. She has great faith, and knows that this church is true and that God lives. I`m pretty sure that she`ll be able to get baptized pretty soon.
Elder Tateishi`s Gospel Message of the week
Selfless Service
"He that loseth his life for my name`s sake shall take it up again." Jesus Christ
Selfless service is a sign of a true disciple of Jesus Christ. A person who loses himself in the cause of another, seeking to uplift, to encourage, to support, to love, and to help those in need is truly a disciple of Jesus Christ. One such great example is my companion Elder Niven, who came out seeking to help his own friend that had lived a very hard and difficult life, thinking that somehow his example, or what he would learn would be able to help her to learn of God and be able to find true joy and happiness.
This past week Elder Niven and I have been seeking to support each other and help each other. Together we have grown and learned a lot about Love, Charity, and service. We have turned away from ourselves and turned to each other and those around us. Both of us, as older missionaries have taken it upon us to help teach and nurture the two younger missionaries in the District and have sought with all our hearts, mights, minds, and strengths to uplift those less-actives, investigators, members, and new members as they have faced challanges and have met great obstacles. Never have I felt more joy or success as a missionary as we have done such. Watching others smile and find peace and joy brings to us a great feeling of Happiness and Joy. When they are happy we are happy. We cry, when they cry, we laugh when they laugh.
Christ has shown us the way to truly be selfless and to give up ones entire life for others. He showed me how to love those around me, and he has helped me to soften my heart and his everlasting atonement has made me into who I am today. I know that he cries when I cry, he hurts when I hurt, and he rejoices when I rejoice. He is your saviour, he is my saviour, he is the reason why I am here.
Let us take these first steps into a new year remembering what Christ has done for us, and let let us seek to do what we can to repay him. Love your Neighbor, your friends, your enemies. Show kindness unto all those around you and seek to uplift those who are saddened or injured. This is true Religion, and this is where we can truly find happiness. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
With much Love,
Elder Randall KK Tateishi
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