Wild happenings on the Tateishi Front....

So, I received an email this evening from Randy, (Sunday evening, which by the way is his Monday). He reports that everything is great, which I am very happy to see. I am so proud of Randy. He seems to have grown up so much. His attitude and learnings amaze me. I posted an email to him with 8 questions, to which he answered all of them. They are all pretty much self explanatory except for #5, which sadly enough I can't remember what I asked him, but he did answer positively "I will".

I think one of the most amazing things I learned about Randy through this letter is that he actually listened to me. I can be pretty forward with speaking with my children and sometimes (mostly all the time) they are "mother deaf", but Randy apparently actually took to heart what I was talking to him about. According to the words of my granddaughter Hannah "It makes my heart feel special" to know that he is learning. What a great role model he is for his Brothers and Sister and to me as well.

I hope you enjoy his letter as much as I did....

He is only allowed to email immediate family so if you want to write to Randy here is his address.

Elder Randall K. K. Tateishi
4-6-28 Shinohara Honmachi, Nada-ku
Kobe-shi, Hyogo-ken Japan 657-0067
Japan Kobe Mission


Dear Mother, Father, Brothers, Sisters, Friends, and everyone else who just happens to read this

First I`ll start with the good news. Our investigater Masay Inoshikoishi will be baptized on April 25th! Through much prayer, fasting, and faith he was able to obtain permission from his father to be baptized. It is so wonderful to see his excitement and see his testimony grow as he prepares to join into this church. He is such a strong young man and he will be blessed for his decision.

whoa mother slow down on the questions there!

1. I recieve $300 a month and it is adequate enough for me, just keep me updated on how much I have on my debit card and on my credit card ok.

2. The Foods good, I started a new policy. "Just eat it, if it`s against the Word of Wisdom my senior companion will tell me, if he doesn`t, God will forgive me for not knowing." I am eating my vegetables also mother, so don`t worry about that.

3. Yes I love my Companion, he is an excellent trainer and a man of great faith.

4. The language was hard at first, but I am starting to be able to understand more and more, I am speaking more and more. It`s slow but it`s coming thanks to the Lords help.

5. I will

6. Yes, but use regular mail, no UPS or FedEx

7. I survived riding up a mountain, I`m good.

8.　I see miracles everyday, it`s cool enough for me.

ok about my days here in Fushimi Japan.

Life is good here in Japan, I spend most of the days riding around on a bicycle from place to place, talking to random people on the street, but most of the time hurrying off to a lesson so we can teach people. The contacting is the difficult part, most of the time my companion Elder Mclaws does most of the talking because I Don`t understand what`s going on or what`s being said, plus I`m usually scared out of my wits when trying to talk to a random stranger on a train. It was fun though because I initiated my first contact the other day on the way home from General Conference. There was a younger man standing alone on the train and my trainer said "All yours." I froze immediately, unable to say a word, or to speak to the man. But I sang a hymn in my mind. "Be still my Soul." Suddenly I took courage and initiated a conversation. I got a little ways into it talking about school and small talk, then my trainer took over because he knew more of what to say. It didn`t end in new investigator but it was one small step for me in growing up and becoming a better missionary. It was an excellent experience.

We usually run around trying to teach different people. Currently we have 3 progressing investigators one of which is Masaya who will get baptized on the 25th. The other is an old man 61 years old and working at an elementary school. He is so awesome and has faith, but he wants to move slowly because it is such a huge change for him. We also have Kenji, who we met on my second day in the field. He is a talker, and likes to talk a lot. He came to General Conference and felt the spirit. He feels that what we are doing and teaching is a good thing but he just doesn`t understand all the concepts, we`re trying to simplify and explain the doctrines more clearer but it is hard for me because I don`t speak Japanese very well.

Anyway life is amazing here and I love it, time flies to fast though, it feels like yesterday that I landed in Itami Airport exhausted and tired from a long flight. But now the work moves forward and I am growing and learning so much while I am here, I hope I can take to heart the words of Elder Holland when he spoke at our orientation about missionary work. "I will Never, Ever, be the same."

Alright it`s time for Elder Tateishi`s Spiritual message of the week! The topic today is actually 3 things. "Have No Regrets" "The Fool, the Good man, the Wise man, the Wisest Man" and "Build up Those around you"

Now these topics came to me from our Zone Conference we had last week with President McIntyre, the topic then was setting a mission statement about your goals for your mission and for your life. These are some of the thigns I came up for my mission statement

"Have No Regrets"

This comes from a fond memory from only about a month before my mission, if that. You probably remember me as the lazy kid that sat and did nothing all day, well that`s what I did then. One day mum came up to me and asked me "What are you doing to prepare Randy? I don`t see you doing anything, not reading your scriptures, or praying, nothing! You do this all the time and then you always look back and regret it." It sparked a thought in me then, just a small one, a feeling that I really needed to change what I was doing, it was slow at first but in the MTC it took off. Now the last thing she said stroke me "You always look back and regret it." She was right (mothers usually are). So I took that as my motto. "Live a life in which you will have no regrets" now that doesn`t mean "O I failed, o well I won`t regret it, or worry about it." No it means live in a way that you won`t be able to regret anything you`ve done. I`ll admit this, for over 7 years of my life I have regrets for things I did and even more so for things I DIDN`T do. That`s changed now, in the past 3 months I regret nothing. I`ve worked my hardest, I`ve done my best, that`s all I can do and that`s all I will do. So I say to you "Have No Regrets."

How do you do this? Well here is one saying that I have thought of lately to help and brings me to point 2 in my little message of the week.

"The fool is he that never learns, The good man learns from his own mistakes, The Wise man learns from the mistakes of others, The Wisest man learns from the SUCCESS and STRENGTH of others."

I have seen that when you don`t learn from anything you go nowhere, you don`t progress and in the end you flounder in misery and sorrow. I won`t dwell here any longer.

The Good man learns from his mistakes, he trips, he falls and then picks himself up and keeps going, avoiding the same mistakes he has made in the past. Most people are like this, learning and growing from their own experiences. But this is a dangerous way to go, for it requires falling a lot, and you end up getting scraped, bruised, beaten and battered by the many falls you encounter, and one fall may end up being your last.

The Wise man learns from the mistakes of others. This is a good way to learn, by watching and observing and seeing how others have fallen and learning to avoid the same mistakes that they have experienced. This was how I was for the most part, simply not doing what I had seen others do that caused hurt and pain. It`s a good way to learn but not the best.

The Wisest man learns from the SUCCESS and STRENGTHS of others.This does 2 things for a person. 1 it teaches a person how to Succeed and to be Strong instead of just not Failing or falling. 2 it teaches a person how to find the strengths of others and few the world in a postive way. When we see the success and strengths of others we see the good in each person, we can learn from everyone and find out the best way to progress. I say look at everyone around you, don`t look at their weaknesses, don`t look at their faults, but look at them and ask "What is some good thing this person does?" It may be small, it may not be much at all, but when you look ad find that something you will learn that you can love more people.

Lastly and not the least of all, and a motto I take upon myself

"Build those around you." A while ago I remember mom saying: "We raised you to be better than we were." That`s what I take to heart. In everything I do I try to think of a way that I can help someone else. When in the MTC I looked at the newest batch of Missionaries that were going to Japan and said: "How can I help them be better than I am?" It is a very simple thing, and although it might seem like putting yourself down it really isn`t. It inspires you to work harder and to set a better example. When we take upon ourselves this motto we see progression not just in ourselves but in the world around us. If we want the world to be better, if we want this church to be better than I say: "Let those that come after us be better than us!" It is a challange I issue to those that come next. "I Do what I can now. Now it is your turn to pick up where I left off." We build others by being an example to them, by lifting them up in word and in deed. I look now at Mother and Father and say with great Love "How much you have taught me, how well you have raised me." They placed my feet upon the staircase at a point almost as high as they were and said to me "It`s your turn to keep on going."

My mind goes to a quote from an old Movie

"This is what you`ve been trained to do, Now make us Proud." -Top Gun

What better way to make our parent`s proud than exceeding their expectations and soaring to heights that they couldn`t reach, for it is then that they can say "That is my son, How great is he." or "That is my daughter, how wonderful is she."

Take that step, follow the examples of those before us, aim for heights that they never achieved and in the end we honor them.

I`d like to say simply. "Mother, Father, I love you so dearly, you have taught me well and I will do my best to exceed your expectations for me."

With much love to all

Elder Randall K.K. Tateishi

P.S. I apologize if that was a little in excess, but it was just what came to mind at the time I wrote it. I`m trying now to follow what my heart tells me to do, because as you asked me once not long ago mother: "Where did that sweet boy, full of emotions go to?" I`m trying to find that again.

Slackers anonymous

So I have slacked last week...Here is last Mondays' Letter from Randy...We were able to speak with him when he was in the Salt Lake City Airport and then in the San Francisco Airport...

Dear Family, Friends, Mother, Father, and every other random person who reads this!!

　私は日本に住んでいます！！！

I`M IN JAPAN!!!!!

It`s entirely different here in Japan, than it is in the U.S. The streets are incredibly narrow, a one way street in Utah is a two way street here. It`s kind of scary sometimes riding a bike here, I actually brushed against someone on a moped who was going at least 30 mph, niether of us got knocked off but it was pretty scary for me. I`m constantly about 4 inches away from cars on one side and 3 inches away from buildings on the other side. But I`m loving it here in Japan. Even if the culture is so different. They have their faults, but they are the nicest people I`ve ever met. When you ask for directions they will even walk you to where you need to go.

The MTC flew by like a dream and even now time is flying and everything feels so surreal. Life is so different here than it is at home. It is a huge culture shock. Especially　since the language is so hard. I stand by and listen to my companion talk with not a clue of what is going. I sat in church on sunday and had no idea what was going on. I have a lot I need to learn before I can really start teaching these people. But I am so excited to be here.

I have no idea where to even start. I actually began proselyting with my new companion on thursday, and we spend most of that time traveling to our new area. While we were on the train we talked with someone from Osaka and even got his number and information to contact him. We had an appointment that night also to go and teach an investigator, but the investigator didn`t show up, so instead we went street contacting and met a man named tsubasa, and we get to try and teach him tonight. Well currently we have 2 progressing investigators, maybe 3. Masaya, Yamashita, and Kenji(who we met while we were heading back to the apartment after getting my bike). Masaya is awesome, he already has a testimony and wants to be baptized (of course I had little to do with the process for it all happened before I got here) but he is under 20 which is the age of consent in Japan and his Parent`s want him to wait until he`s 20 to get baptized. We`re trying to find out a way to help him get baptized sooner and hopefully we can convince his parents to let him. Yamashita is a 61 year old man that teaches elementary school, he`s very busy teaching but is interested in what we are teaching. He has a testimony of the restoration but he doesn`t want to be rushed into being baptism. Kenji we have only taught once and plan to teach him again on wednesday. He seems interested and likes to talk a lot and asks questions, but he seems to have his own opinion on everything. By the way I only know this because my companion told me. I mainly sit silently and listen during the lessons, trying to find an opportunity to open my mouth and say something. But everyone talks soooooooo fast. I thought spanish speakers spoke fast, they have NOTHING on Japanese speakers.

Anyway I bought my bike it was ￥40,000 or about $400. Used the Credit card, so you should already know about it. I almost used the wrong card, it was kind of funny. Also I can only email family, not anyone else sadly. Wish I could, but I guess everyone else will have to wait a week to get mail from me, and a week for mail to get to me. Well I don`t have much else to say. Love you all, stay safe, read the scriptures often, and pray lots.


立石長老
Tateishi Choro












P.S. 私は伏見に住んでいます。まだ、私の最初の同僚はマクラズ長老です。
























P.S.S. teehee. I`m in Fushimi and my first companion is Elder Mclaws from Spokane Washington. Thought I forgot didn`t you!
愛しています！

MWAH HA HA HA HA!!!!

Randy emailed me (Misty) and this is the silliness that he sent!

Misty　Shipley

　　　Still feels odd to call you Misty Shipley. 愛しています!! Mwahahahahahaha!! I can type Kanji on this leet Japanese Keyboard and you`ll never understand me!! 日本語はとても難しいですね!そして、私はたくさん日本語を学んだなかれ場なりません。でも、イエス・キりストによって私は日本語を学ぶ事ができます。

MWAHAHAHAHAHHA!!! that was to much fun. Argh!! the stupid key that changes roomaji into Nihongo is right next to the space bar so it`s really annoying, cause the space bar is as small as my thumb! Plus the apostraphe key is in a different place, and shift keyed. I have no idea where the quote markers are. Anyway Sounds like you`re having loads of fun. Tell everyone on DL I said hi. I can`t email non-family members like I thought I was going to be able to though :(　鯖しい。 I forget the japanese don`t put spaces inbetween words. it`s quite annoying. Anyway. Love ya.

ランダル・カヒバ・ヶンジ・立石長老
Randall Kahiwa Kenji Tateishi Choro

Flying the Friendly Skies....

So, we got Randy's last letter from the MTC...He was so excited to be only days away from leaving and flying to Japan. His patience was at an end I'm guessing. We got a call from him on Monday morning while we were visiting Mike, Jessica, Hannah and Tavie in Portola, CA. Randy was at the Salt Lake City airport waiting to catch the first leg of his flight from SLC to San Francisco. He talked briefly because he was in a hurry and they were starting to load the plane. He did say that the mother of his companion showed up at the airport and took pictures. Why didn't I show up you may ask...well, we, as mothers, are told not to go because it makes it harder on the Missionaries. Randy said it was a little awkward but it was over quickly. Randy also said that he said goodbye to us once so why have to do it again...LOL

We asked Randy to call us when he got to San Francisco. He did, while we were in the middle of stinkin' nowhere land. Right in the middle of Nevada. We pulled over and talked again, but alas, he was in a hurry again to get on his next flight to Japan. (13 hours). He said from Tokoyo, he would be taking a flight to Osaka then the Mission President would be picking them up. He traveled with his companion, (the only other American in the group) an Australian and 6 native Japanese Missionaries all going to the Kobe Japan mission.

Report #1. "The MTC was alright"
Report #2. "The food sucked"
Report #3. "I think I will be able to understand the language ok"
Report #4. "I probably have to much money on me" (I on the other hand
felt he needed to be prepared for anything so I sent him plenty)

He wanted to know how the family and everyone was doing. He thinks he will be able to email everyone during his mission, but he will find out for sure this week I am sure.

For those of you who have a map on the wall and ready to post a pin to his current location (which by the way will be me and maybe his brother Bobby), as of right this second (4:30pm Tuesday March 30th Utah Time; 7:30am Wednesday March 31st, Japan time) he is in Kobe at the mission presidents home.

Here is his last state side letter:

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

Well the time comes quickly that I will find myself in Japan. On Monday the 29th of March at 5:00 AM I will leave the MTC and head off to the SLC Airport. At 7:25 I'll board my first flight to San Francisco, and at 2:20 PM (Utah Time) I will board the plane for Tokyo. I will arrive in Tokyo at approximately 7:55 PM(Tokyo time) or 5:55 AM(Utah Time) on the 30th of March. I will spend over 25 hours traveling on Monday so it'll be a very fun day. I cannot wait I am so excited to fly there.

I'll probably call Mother and Father at the SLC Airport only, since you don't need to hear me talk so much. I won't have much to say since I never talked much anyway.

Well, life at the MTC is the same as usual. The excitement grows though as our departure date approaches. Only 6 days and I'll be out of here. It's so exciting to finally do something I have been waiting to do for the past 19 years of my life. The people of Japan await and I will go forth to teach them. I will "thrust in the sickle with all my heart, might, mind and strength." I have got an English BoM and a Japanese BoM that I'm prepared to hand out while I'm on the flight. I'm ready for this, even if I don't speak Japanese as well as I wish I could. The Lord is on my side, and so long as I strive to do my best and to follow the rules He will bless me in my efforts. This is his work, and I am his tool.

Last week Tuesday, after I wrote my email, we were spoken to by the Apostle Quentin L. Cook at the evening fireside. It was an amazing experience to listen to him talk and to feel the spirit as he spoke. I don't have my notes on me and my memory is horrible or else I'd tell you a little bit about what he spoke about. O yes, (after asking a few people to remind me) He talked about committing people and the Lord preparing people for us to teach. That's all I can remember other than the spirit.

O hey, look I got my pakage slip! Woot!!! Pakaji ga arimasu!!!

Anyway I'll pop in the scripture of the week now since I only have 7 min. left.

I have finished the BoM for the 2nd time in the MTC, and have decided to go on and read D&C(AKA Kyogi to Seiyaku). This weeks scripture is D&C 18: 14-16 if I remember correctly. I can't quote it directly but I'll do my best.

"You have been called to cry Repentance unto the Gentiles."

"Behold, if you labor all your days in crying repentance and bring save it be one soul unto repentance, how great will be your joy in the kindgom of Heaven."

"Now how much greater will be your joy if you bring many souls unto Repentance."

ok that's a reallllllllllllllly bad quote, but it's the gist of the scripture.

I look forward to teaching people in Japan. I look forward to baptizing people and seeing them change their lives. I want to see the joy and happiness that they will recieve from accepting the gospel. I want to share that same joy, that perfect happiness that I have had from living this gospel. I have recieved so many blessings in my life and I want others to have them as well.

Remember Remember, to pray in your hearts. I ask this coming Fast sunday that you fast for The missionaries, and as it says somewhere in the BoM. "Fast and pray for those that know not God."

Your Missionary
Elder Randall K.K. Tateishi


P.S. You all get to watch General Conference a week before me. cause it's broadcast the next week after in Japan. I love you all.

Wax on...wax off....

Well, this is it...we are 1 week and 5 days away until Randy leaves the MTC and heads to Kobe Japan...Whew! I'm amazed at all the hard work he has put into preparing to teach. He says his goal for the rest of this month it to be speaking only Japanese until he leaves to the airport. I can tell by his letter that the excitement and reality has set in.

Randy's older brother Bobby wrote him a letter entitled "wax on...wax off.." (from karate kid)....I had to laugh so hard when I saw that knowing what Randy's reaction would be. Bobby pictured him sitting at his computer and all of the sudden busting out laughing (really loudly because he has a loud laugh).

Here is his letter, enjoy:

Dear Mother, Father, Brothers, Sisters, and Friends all around

First I'd like to say the enter button actually works finally. XD It makes me happy. Anyway, the final countdown is coming down. 1 week 6 days. I'll be able to call once I get to the airport, But it'll be at like 4 in the morning, so if I can get Dad's Cellphone number in the next email (Which will be my last time to check email here, unless you send mail) that would be nice. Anyway, I get travel plans this friday so I'll know the exact times and everything next week and I'll let everyone know the plans. I'll probably just call Mom and Dad though, as that's the rules anyway.

My Japanese is comingly along great, especially because I've had so much help from the lord. There is no way I could have learned this much this fast anywhere else. I've been talking with Elder Tsushima from Sapporo a lot and it's fun to try and understand and speak to the Japanese Natives. But apparently they say my Japanese is very good. My current goal is to speak entirely in Japanese for the remainder of my stay in the MTC. It's difficult to do, but it's so much fun. Please forgive me if a random Japanese word pops in, because I think I might start forgetting English when I get there. At least, that's my plan.

HAHA!! Alex, try again, cause we go at about 2 on tuesday and on sunday we go for our "Yard Walk" (temple walk) at around 4ish. BUT!!! It's not like much would happen, all I get to do is say: "Hey, It's good to see you." Shake your hand an leave. Rules are rules.

I meant to send you a letter Gypsy but I forgot to send it out, I will today I PROMISE!!!

Well, I'm not sure what to write, I mean, I'm so into this routine now that nothing is ever new. I can't really remember anything anyway everything is blurring together. I'm afraid that These next 2 years are going to fly by far to fast. I absolutely love it here, and it's by far the best thing I've ever done. I can't wait to get to Japan, to teach the people and to bring them Joy and Happiness.

3 Nephi 5:13 "I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, The Son of God. And I have been called to bring unto all the people the Gospel that they might have Everlasting Life"

It's not exact but it's the closest thing I can do from memory. But that's my scripture for this week. It just reminds me of my duty and purpose here. If you want some good reading about missionary work read Alma 26.

There isn't anything else I need mother, just make sure to send me pictures with the next package. Since I don't have any except of Hannah and Tavie and Aunt Jean. I'll let you know everything else next week, but try to send most of it before next tuesday so that I can find out if there is anything else I need and mail you. The 29th, is the day I leave and I get a 13 hour flight to japan and then I'll be 16 hours ahead of Utah Time. There goes a day for a whole 2 years. xD It's so exicting. I've dreamed of this day for the past 19 years and it's finally here. It's time for me to go out and serve. Of course I'm nervous, I've never been a very good speaker, but I know that There are people waiting for me to teach them. That the Lord has prepared specific people for me to teach. I won't miss any opportunity to teach. I've recently thought back to your story of conversion mother and thought about how those two missionaries taught you. I'm so grateful for them, because if they hadn't taught you, hadn't brought you the Gospel, I wouldn't be here, I wouldn't be as happy as I am now. I am also very grateful for you Mother, and Father, for the great example you have been to me. I love you both and want to remind you that you are the greatest parent's I could have ever asked for.

With Much Love
Randall K.K. Tateishi Choro

Confidence is waxing strong..

The picture is left to right; Elder Cannon (Randy's MTC Companion), Randy, Sister McIntyre (Randy's Mission Presidents Daughter who is serving a mission) and Elder Mckeller (an Elder from Australia going to the same mission as Randy)


Wow, another week has gone by since Randy left for the MTC to prepare for teaching the people of Japan. Today his letter sounds so confident. He is more and more assure of himself and his ability to teach. Excitement is evident in his letter. Basically he has approximately 3 weeks left until he travels the skies to Japan. He will be able to call home from the airport and check in with us, but once he lands in Japan we will not be able to talk with him again until Mother's Day. 2 months away, but still it will feel like forever. The only time Randy will be able to talk to us will be on Mother's Day and Christmas. This year we are all planning on going to Mike and Jessica's in Reno. Wouldn't that be a wonderful surprise for Randy to be able to talk to everyone then.

He wants pictures! He would love to have people send him pictures that he can take with him. Maybe it will keep his memory fresh on what we all look like....LOL...and stick figures don't count.

His Japanese is coming along great, in fact he will probably soon start to forget English a little since basically he will be speaking Japanese for the next 2 years. I wish he could record himself speaking Japanese for us, but I guess there is no videos. That's ok, I will survive.

Ok, here is his latest letter:

Dear Mother, Father, Friends and Family.... hmmmm apparently this new email thing doesn't support the return key. Very annoying for me, because I like my paragraphs. Anyway, life is good at the MTC, I can't say much is happening because not a lot is. The only recent change is that we are now a zone of 120+ Japanese speaking Missionaries, one of the largest zones ever. O and we can shake hands again, President Smith (The MTC Mission President) told us that last Sunday during Mission Conference. Anyway, the Japanese is coming smoothly and I'm able to teach the lessons fairly well. In fact I practically taught the second lesson (Sukui no Keikaku(plan of Salvation)) on my own. My companion kind of requires a set lesson plan to follow but the "investigator" wasn't cooperating with our plans so I had to jump around quite a bit in the lesson and our lesson plan went out the window. It was a great experience though and boosted my confidence a lot. Though next time I'm going to make my companion teach most of the lesson. I'll simply tell the "investigator" Watashi wa sukoshi nihongo o hanashimasu. (I speak a little Japanase). Anyway life is good here. I was actually writing micheal, but I forgot to send the letter off, I'll rewrite him today and get off to Portola before my Day ends. I promise. Also, Gypsy I sent you a letter but apparently you couldn't recieve it, I'll send it to Mother's tonight so that you'll get it during spring break. Tell Alex to mail me, or else! then again, that threat is void because A) I'll be half way across the world in a couple weeks and B) I'm a missionary so there isn't much I can do anyway. And I should recieve my travel plans sometime next week I believe. I'm REALLY extatic(SP?) to go to Japan. I can't wait to teach the Nihonjin. By the way Japanese words will slip in all the time while I'm writing, but that's because I'm slowly forgetting how to speak english. So keep a dictionary on hand. I don't need anything else at the moment, other than the cookbook, addresses and small things. Also it would be nice if I could get some family pictures, since you know, the only pictures I have are of Hannah and Tavie, and Jean, cause she sent me a wallet sized picture a while back. By the way, since I haven't updated in so long, I have looooong been over the bronchitis and my ankle is just about fully healed, just hurts now and again when I hit it wrong. hmmmmmm what else can I talk about.... We are loosing our teacher Tsuchiya Sensei this week because we have so many Nihonjin coming in and not enough Japanese Teachers. He has possibly been the greatest person I've ever come to known, He is Supa Genki all the time and I've never seen him get down even though he takes about 16 credit hours at BYU is president of the Japanese Club at BYU works 3 Jobs and is now engaged. I wonder how in the world he does it. Tell Bobby to Pop me a Dear Elder so that I can snag is address and then I'll write to him. I just don't have that many addresses. Anyway, I love all of you, friends, Brothers, Sister, Mother, Father and everyone else. You are always in my prayers and I miss all of you. Your Missionary Son, Brother, and Friend, Elder Randall K.K. Tateishi

Boring....

So yesterday Randy sent a new email and it was, well to say the least, boring....Sorry folks but life at the MTC does get a little monotonous. Only 4 more weeks and he will be leaving for Japan, at least that is exciting. When he gets to Japan, I'm sure letters will be slower to get here and not as regular. I don't know if he will have access to a computer to write his letters or if they will all have to be handwritten, which by the way we will need a special code to be able to read his handwriting, it is atrocious to say the least. I did get an SD card with some new pictures on it, which I posted on Facebook. He looks good, in fact I'd say he looks a little more grown-up...

Well, here is his letter:

Dear Mother, Brothers, Sister, Father, and Friends. For some reason the enter button isn't working on this stupid computer so this email is going to look very ridiculous and dumb, sorry bout that. Anyway I have now taught the first lesson twice in Japanese I'm amazed at how much I can teach and speak. There is still quite a bit that I don't know how to say but It's coming along and in hte next 4 weeks I'll hopefully be able to get around in Japan. Nothing much has happened this week Like usual I spend most of my days in class or studying hard the language and the lessons. It's a very difficult language but it's a lot of fun to learn and to speak it. I was actually going to send a video but the night I said I was I got reminded by the Mission president during a Devotional that we aren't allowed to take any videos. Too bad. We heard about the earthquake in Chile on sunday night actually. It's kind of strange because I know so little of what's going on outside of the MTC. Life is good in the MTC other than being extremely repititive and slightly boring. We recieved the new group of Japanese missionaries last week wednesday and next week we recieve another 41 japanese natives, including Tia. That'll bring the Japanese zone up to almost 120 Japanese Missionaries. Which is a ridiculous amount. It's already crowded with only 16 showers on our floor and close to 80 missionaries. It'll be interesting when we get the Nihonjin(japanese natives). Life is easy though and I love it here, but I just can't wait to get to Japan and talk to the people and teach the people. It'll be a very exciting experience. Well I don't have much else to say, I think I'm going to send back the jacket, it's not a suit jacket so it won't work but I just need a box to send it back in. Some more garments will be good, I don't know what happened but I only have 8 pairs of my 10, where the other 2 went I have no idea. ummmmmmm...... I don't need any other pairs of slacks, I don't want too much stuff when I head over. I only have 2 bags and only 50 lbs. each. ummmm... I have $40 left atm, yea I've had to buy quite a few things that I had forgotten. Yea cookbook will be nice and so will a list of addresses for everyone. Make sure you get Alex's so I can write him a letter and tell him he needs to right me. Other than that I don't have much to say. I'll end by saying simply God Bless all of you and pray often and read your scriptures. With Love, Randall K.K. Tateishi.