Baptism time...

Wow, what a week it has been. With a good friends son coming home from a mission I can see what growth happens. We send our children out as boys and they come home men. How proud I am to have a missionary serving. How happy I am to know that his personal growth and his personal relationship with the Lord will increase day by day.
Randy had his first Baptism that he could do the Baptism for. He loved it and the ability to use his priesthood. I miss him so much but all is well...

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

Well.. It seems that someone was praying hard enough for me to email this week. Because, obviously I can.

The reason why. We had a baptism on Saturday. It was my second one, and the first baptism that I was able to perform. Sakamoto Genki was the person Baptism. He`s a great man, 24 years old and really wants to work hard at following Christ. It was such a great opprotunity and a privelage to perform the Baptism, and I felt the Spirit touch my heart during the Baptism and also during his Confirmation. One of the greatest feelings in the world for me, is when I use the priesthood to bless and assist people`s lives.

Other than that, nothing much when on this week. We did a lot of finding, I talked with a lot of people and generally had a lot of fun. I`m tired, sweaty and exhausted 99% of the time but I`m happy. Sorry this email is short, but I really don`t have much to say, or to talk about. Just Life is good. It is such a privelage to be a missionary and do the Lord`s work. There is nothing more that I would want to be doing right now than this. I know this is where I need to be, that this is what I need to be doing. I`m growing, I`m learning and over the process of these two years I`m becoming a man.

Elder Tateishi`s Gospel Moment of the week.

I would again like to quote a hymn this week. But this one, you won`t find in the current addition of the hymn book.

"Come thou Fount."

"Come thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace.

Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.

Teach me some melodious sonnet, song by flaming tongues above.

Praise the Mount, I`m firm upon it, Mount of thy redeeming love."


"O to grace, how great a debtor, daily I`m constrained to be.

Let thy goodness, as a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee.

Prone to wander, Lord I Feel it, Prone to leave the God I Love.

Here`s my heart, o take and seal it, seal it to thy Courts above."

I Recently got a copy of this song from one of the ward members and I quickly memorized it and have been singing it almost non-stop. I love this song, and I love the meaning to this song.

Christ is the found, from which all blessings come. He showers blessings upon his people and does his best to lead and guide them. O that my heart could be perfectly aligned with his will and be able to hold the same love and joy that he holds for each and every person. O that I could love as he loves and tremble at the very thought of the loss of someones salvation.

Mainly I wish to talk about the second verse. Recently I`ve felt this deep in my heart. Nightly as I pray upon my knees and cry to God, I realize how much I am in his debt. How pitiful an attempt it is for me to try to repay him through my services. Always, everyday I`m in his debt, because he is the one that does this work not me. I`m simply a tool in his hand, shaped and guided to do his will. And I`m a very poor tool indeed, "prone to wander, Lord I feel it, Prone to leave the God I Love." I can`t count how many times I`ve messed up trying to follow his will. How many times I`ve failed to follow a prompting of the Spirit. I feel like a horrible tool indeed.

But, I know that God Loves me, that he is guiding me and trying to help me. I know he is by my side every moment of the day, trying to push me to do what needs to be done. He`s here working beside, working through me, to find those that need this Gospel, to bless the lives of these people in Japan. O that I could speak this language with perfection, that I could testify to these people with the power of God in my voice. But alas, my tongue stumbles to find words, and fails to express what is in my heart.

I have found that my greatest talent is in writing. I can write elegantly, fluently, and I can convey my messages this way, but I wish that I could Speak as well as I could write. Lol.

"Here`s my Heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above." I have devoted these two years to serve the Lord. But in all fact and reallity, he`s devoted these two years to serve me.

Again, I bear witness of the truthfullness of this Gospel. Christ Lives, God Lives, and the Holy Ghost bears witness of them both. I know this is true. In the name of my Savior, Redeemer, Lord and King, Jesus Christ Amen.

Your Son, Brother, Friend

Elder Randall KK Tateishi

Every other week....

Ok, so as you know Randy was transferred a few weeks ago. Well, it seems his companion is only letting Randy email us every other week. These blogs will be every other week as well. It seems to me that either the Lord has a plan for Randy or Randy has some things he needs to learn. Poor Randy, he has had 2 great companions so far and 2 yucky companions. I feel his pain and wish I could go and rescue him. But, alas, I need to let Randy take care of this so he can grow and learn from it. Obviously though by his letter, he needs to improve on his bowling skills. LOL At least he can find some humor and fun mixed with all the stressful things going on. I am hoping that he is learning much about himself and will take all that he has learned and turn it into something great. Which, of course, we all know that Randy is a great person. I kind of love that kid.

Dear Mother, Father, Brothers, Sisters, Friends, Family and the rest of the world

Again, It`s probably only going to be just a short email this week mainly because my companion again. I Don`t want to take up too much time.

Anyway, the past couple weeks have been.... hectic to say the least. I didn`t really get a Preperation day last week, just spent the whole time wandering around town with one of the members teaching lessons. I spent most of the past couple weeks on my knees praying for strength to just keep moving forward. I am absolutely exhausted. Especially for the past couple days. I feel as if my body is about to fall apart I`m so tired.

As for my Companion my fears were realized. He`s TOO strict, in some ways, and far too controlling in my mind. He is better than the last companion though. For the most part. In all my attempts at not angering him I have successfully gotten him to yell at me twice so far. Once for going to bed 30 min. early because I was exhausted and once for not washing my hands before doing dishes. This Transfer is not going to be the easiest transfer I`ve ever had, but it won`t be the worst either.

We went bowling with a couple of the members last week, it was lots of fun, and I realize how much I suck at bowling. Scored 80 in the first game and the last game, and scored 130 one game. I have horrible aim with a bowling ball.

Man... way too much information to cover in two weeks.

I love the ward here, they are all very nice and there are a lot of programmers around so I can let out my nerdy side a little bit. Making healthy conversation about my future plans and ideas.

Ugh, I Don`t have much too say actually, I`m relatively happy, not overjoyed, but happy. Mainly I feel like I`m walking on eggshells with my companion, but I`ll live. I`ve been learning a lot lately about just carrying your own weather and not letting others effect you. So I`m putting to good use `ignore` function when my companion gets ticked off at the very little things that I do, of course I note them and try not to do them again, but I don`t let it tick me off.

Elder Tateishi`s Biweekly Gospel Message,

If you would please open to 2 Nephi 25:26

It reads something along the lines of: "We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we Prophecy of Christ, we write of Christ, that our children may know to what source to look for for a remission of sins."

As Latter Day Saints, one of our biggest dreams is to have the Eternal Family. We wish to live together forever with all of our children in Heaven, where we can enjoy true and perfect happiness. Therefore we talk of Christ with our Children, to teach them how they can return to our Heavenly Father and obtain Eternal life and Eternal Salvation. We rejoice in what Christ has done for us, in his great and everlasting sacrifice, The Propehts of old and today prophecy of Christ and what he will do and the greatness of his glory. We write of Christ to express to others how we feel, to express to our posterity our testimony of Christ and our firm belief in what he has done.

But I believe we do not just do all these things just for our children. As we talk, rejoice, prophecy and write of Christ we stand forth as examples to the world of Christ. We are Sons and Daughters of God! We show to the world the way by which we may return to our father in heaven, the way by which we might obtain Eternal Life and Eternal Salvation. We show them Joy and Happiness, Love and Peace. We prove to them that we are right by the way we live, and as we do so we bring them unto Christ.

I believe that the very foundation and very center of my testimony is, and always will be of Christ. How many times have I relied upon his strength? How many times have I been cleansed by his blood? How many times have I been lifted up out of the depths of sorrow upon his wings? I know he lives, I know he loves me. I repeat what alma said in chp 36, "Yea nothing was so exquisite as was my joy." I have felt his hand touch my heart, I have felt his power flow through me. As a missionary I have the privelage to bear his authority and power. I go forth with the power of his priesthood to preach his Gospel. Never have I been so close to my Lord and King, Jesus Christ, as I have these past few months. I talk of Christ, I rejoice in Christ, I Write of Christ, that MY Children, my brothers, my sisters, my family might know what source to look for for a remission of their sins. He does live, I know it, I can no longer deny it. When you have felt a burden upon your soul so heavy, so painful that it causes your very body to tremble and ache in pain, when every breath you take seems to hurt and it feels like your heart is about to burst, When you feel that! When you feel that, and then moments later, after earnest prayer, broken hearts, and a humble so, all of that pain, all of that sorrow simple vanishes like smoke on the wind, you can not deny the power thereof. I have felt that, I know he lives, I know he sacrificed himself for me. I willingly follow him, I do my best to follow his will. And I bear witness to you, that as He lives! I say these things, in his holy name, my saviour, redeemer, my lord and King, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Your Son, Brother, Friend
Elder Randall KK Tateishi

A much better place...

Guess what? Randy got transferred yet again. This time to a city and also with a new companion. He sounds so much better and in a better place with his thoughts and himself. He is enjoying learning and I think is pushing himself as hard as he can. Well, enjoy the letter:

Dear Mother, Father, Brothers, Sisters, Family, Friends, and the rest of the world.

Well It`s the start of a brand new transfer. Things have changed, majorly in fact. Although none of it was that big of a surprise for me. I was about 80% right with my guess of what was going to happen at transfer periods.

I am now in Sennan City, with Elder Shinozaki. Yes I guessed that I was going to transfer and that I would get a new companion, I also guessed I was going to go to the Osaka area. Well Sennan city is at the very southern edge of Osaka. So I win! (Note: I also guessed 90% right for the rest of my zone in Transfers.)

So My week has been fantastic. Although I thought Shinguu was difficult and I spent much time thinking and reorganizing myself it was a good experience, I sort of reflected upon it and a scripture popped into my mind, somewhere around Alma 24ish it talks about Aaron, Omner, and Himni who had suffered many afflictions and dangers and trials in their missionary work at first and it reads "But it was there lot to suffer these things." Well I guess It`s just my `lot` to have to have gone through all that. But I can say I am better for having been there.

Sennan City is a wonderful place. It`s actually great to be back in the city and to be able to talk to people on the street instead of knocking on doors all day. My New companion is again a Native Japanese speaker, but he speaks pretty Decent English, he actually took a year and a half at UVU in Utah. He`s an excellent missionary and works very hard, he`s about as strict as they can be though, but I actually kind of like it.

This week we did a lot of streeting and looking for people, but only found a few. It`s been fun though pushing my Japanese to the limits and working hard to get to know the ward members and other people. Although I do notice that I`ve started to attract the attention of Children. I spent about half an hour after church trying not to get beat up and abused by two 6 year old boys who had more energy than a squirrel on caffeine.

Well I don`t have much time, I don`t want to bug my companion too much by writing a long time, and we might only email every other week, but we`ll see. Anyway Love you all and I`ll give a very short message quickly.

Elder Tateishi`s Gospel Message of the Week

So I learned this week that I`m very hypercritical about myself. I like to throw myself on the ground and mentally abuse myself about how much of a failure I am at everything and then in the end I say I`m just trying to be Humble.

WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I learned this week to do something else. Instead of looking at the half trillion faults that I have I decided to start counting the blessings that I have recieved and how they have helped me to become better. I started counting what things I`m good at and focusing on making those things better. All in all it has helped a lot, I feel a lot happier and a lot more relaxed. So here`s the message for the week.

"When upon life`s billows, you are tempest tossed, when you are discouraged thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings, name them one by one. Count your many blessings, and see what God hath done." (LDS Hymns, `Count your Many Blessings.")

I love you all and wish you well!

Your Son, Brother, and Friend

Elder Randall KK Tateishi

A better week....

Randy sounds much better this week. He seems to be learning how to cope a little better with the challenges that he is faced with. Transfers are this week so, we won't know where and if he will get transferred until next week. I am hopeful for him and I know that he will end up where ever the Lord needs him to do his work. Although, finding out he has been hit by a car is a little on the stressful side, at least he is ok and no major damage was done.

Dear Mother, Father, Brothers, Sisters, Family, Friends, and everyone else in the World.

I`ll first start out by posting my list of people I`m writing today and should have the letters sent out sometime this week.

The Reynolds Family,
Grandma Sadie,
Barnhardts,
Nikayla Hunter

Also on my list is Sister Webb.

Alright... well Guess what. IT`S TRANSFER WEEK!! We recieve transfer calls tomorrow morning. Where I`ll go nobody knows. I could land anywhere from Hiroshima to Omihachiman. We`ll find out tomorrow. But like usual, if I don`t email next week, it means I don`t have internet access and can`t recieve or send emails.

Transfer Review. Let`s see what my Transfer Highlights are. I managed to get hit by a car(only a bump, didn`t get hurt), Run into a wall on my Bicycle, Eat Eel, Eat Nato, Drive myself Mentally insane, Give an average of at least 1 talk during sacrament meeting every week, Proselyted on the beach, and watch a Japanese Fire Festival.

It`s been an exciting transfer, filled with it`s ups and downs (More downs than ups). I`ve learned a lot this transfer and I have said and still do say, "No matter what happens, next transfer will be better than this transfer."

Let`s see, what happened this week. Nothing much really, Tuesday we rode all the way to Katsuura, an hour long bike ride, talked with one person for about 3 hours and then rode back with a new appointment. Wednesday I taught a lesson in english and found out it`s just as hard to teach in English as it is in Japanese, especially when the person you are teaching doesn`t have very good English. Thursday we taught a 4 hour lesson, well... we didn`t really TEACH, the investigator talked to us about all his problems with Christianity and the Old Testament and New Testament. I didn`t understand anything that was going on. Friday I listened to an old lady talk to me for about 2 hours... didn`t understand a single word she said, except for Osaka College. Saturday I taught English class and lots of fun explaining how the American Measurement system is extremely strange and makes no sense to anyone... including Americans! (At least that`s my opinion.)

Sunday we had lots of fun, we had a yakuniku party, which is basically you throw a whole bunch of meat on a hot plate and just grab it when it`s ready. I spend all night keeping a hyperactive 12 year old kid entertained. He kept stealing my camera, watch, nametag, and tieclip. Tried to grab my wallet but I wouldn`t let him. So basically I played keep away with him. He had far too much energy for me though.

That was my week. It was much better than last week and I`m feeling much better lately, and everything is looking good for the future.

I am going to forgo the Gospel Moment this week, but instead I wish to give my thanks to everyone.

I would like to thank everyone who writes me. I love receiving Letters, and they brighten my day. Seeing those random letters, from some people I have never even met, or people that I never would have even thought would write me. It just makes me smile and feel that much more loved.

I`d like to thank my family, whom I love dearly, for all the support they`ve given me, both Financially, Spiritually, and Emotionally.

It`s not much, but you have my thanks everyone.

Lastly I`d like to just say that I`m so very grateful for the countless blessings that I have received while serving my mission so far. I look to the scriptures and see God`s promise being fulfilled right before my eyes. "And prove me, that I will not open the windows of heavens and pour blessings upon you that ye shall not have room enough to receive them." How true that is. I have seen many blessings to me personally, but I have seen even more blessings given to my friends and family back home. That alone makes this journey worth it.

Your Missionary

Elder Randall KK Tateishi

Be Still my Soul.....

I love that the Lord is on my side. I love that the Lord knows what each of us need and when we need it. OK, Randy is having a little bit of a rough time. Mostly because he is learning more about himself and what the Lord wants him to be and learn. I think that sometimes we have to go through a "refiner's fire" to groom us to be the people we are today. Sometimes it is really hard to listen to what is being told us through the spirit. Sometimes we turn deaf ears and think "I know what to do" only to find out it should be "I know what the Lord wants me to do". I am grateful for the time Randy is spending in the mission field. Grateful for the lessons he is learning. He is going from a boy to a man, the way the Lord wants him. Each of us has a purpose here on earth. Each of us has a plan that has been especially designed for us. Each of us has to learn what our purpose and plan is and the journey is so worth it. Some may have a hard struggle and some may have an easy path, but each of us has to take this journey. Embrace it, love it, endure it and know that the final outcome is Happiness and Joy.

Here is Randy's letter:

Dear Mother, Father, Brothers, Sisters, Family, Friends, Mentors, and the Rest of the World.

I would say that these past few weeks have been bitter sweet. Leaning more towards Bitter. In Summary:

Tuesday of the week before last we went up and watched a Fire Fevistival, it was cool, and I`ll send the pictures. We went up there with one of the members for a couple hours and watched the whole thing, it was awesome and I learned a lot more about the Japanese Culture.

After That things rolled downhill. I kept trying to be patient with my companion, with myself. I kept praying so hard I kept pouring out my heart to the lord, and yet things kept rolling downhill. By Sunday morning I found myself curled up in a ball on my futon nearly at tears and trying not to pull my hair out. This indeed has been the toughest transfer of my mission so far. I will tell you why, the very simple cause of this difficulty: Me.

There is a simple saying: "Pride Cometh before the fall." And so it was. I was prideful, I didn`t listen to my companion, I didn`t try to learn from him, I simply said in my mind that he was wrong in almost everything. I spent many hours digging through my head trying to find out what I was doing wrong. In the process I successfully drove myself crazy. I pulled myself apart in a hundred different directions. I double thought, triple thought, and quadruple thought everything. I could not find out what I was doing wrong. I spent hours asking myself "When does blaming yourself go too far?" I thought I was, I thought I was blaming myself too much. That wasn`t true, I just didn`t find the right answer for a while.

Last week Monday rolled around and I stopped. I yelled at myself, I screamed at myself I scolded myself and said: "Shut up and listen!" And I listened. I listened to what my companion had to say, his ideas of how to do things, his ideas of how to teach. And I learned. I learned from what he said, although I may not have agreed with everything, I still learned. I got ideas, The pressure was relieved. I fully realized then the dangers of Pride. That Pride can be masked in Humility, and when it is it`s lethality doubles. When in your pride you believe you are humble.

I guess this goes to show everyone Missionaries aren`t perfect! We have mental problems too!

Anyway, after that we headed up to Wakayama city for President Interviews. It was another great relief for my stress. I got to speak English, I got to talk to people I LIKED and I got to talk with President about my problems. Although no advice was really given He did Help me. He told me two things. That first, he thought that I had done the right thing, that what I was doing (tearing down my pride) was the right way to go. Second he told me why he sent me to Shinguu and why he put me with my companions. In his words "I Knew you could handle it without getting Messed up." So Here I am, not messed up... or at least not any more messed up and crazy than I`ve always been.

After Interviews we headed back and I thought things would be a breeze till the end of the transfer. How wrong I am!!! Simply knowing what You`re supposed to be doing, and why you are doing doesn`t make doing it any easier. Luckily there is only a week and a half left in this transfer. As much as I hate saying so, I hate counting down, it makes me feel weak. But then again I am Weak.

Elder Tateishi`s Gospel Moment of the Week

Sorry Mother, but I think I`m going to tie this moment into what I`ve been Learning the Past couple weeks.

Enduring Trials and Tribulations.

A while ago I talked about Happiness and how we can find true happiness by obeying the laws and commandments of God. Well Let me be the first to tell you that, even though it is true we will still suffer Trials and Tribulations, we will suffer adversity and pain. Let me tell you one anchor that has secured me throughout this whole ordeal.

"Be Still my Soul, The Lord is on thy Side. With Patience bear thy cross of grief or pain, leave to thy God to order and provide. In every Change he faithful will remain. Be still my Soul, thy best thy heavn`ly friend, Through Thorny ways leads to a Joyful End.

Be Still my Soul, Thy God doth undertake to guide the future as he has the past. Thy Hope, Thy Confidence, let nothing shake, all now mysterious shall be bright at last. Be still my Soul, The waves and winds still know, his voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.

Be Still my Soul, the hour is hastening on, when we shall be forever with the lord, When dissappointment, pain, and fear are gone, Sorrow forgot, loves purest joys restored. Be still my Soul, when change and tears are past, all safe and blessed we shall meet at last."

This indeed is my favorite hymn. I cannot count how many times I have song it to soothe my mind, to bear my afflictions, and to calm my soul. Be still my soul. Such a sweet phrase. When I hear the words it always reminds me that I am never alone, when I hear the words it reminds me that the anchor of my Hope is Christ, and how he knows all the things that I have suffered.

Of late I have thought back to the words spoken about Christ. In Summary, Alma 7:11-13 "And he shall go forth and suffer temptations, pains, and afflictions in the flesh, That he might know how to succor his people according to the flesh." I think of what was said about him going and being spit upon and beaten, scourged and crucified and yet he did not udder a word against those that did it. And then I remember what was said to Joseph Smith during his afflictions. "I have suffered so much that it caused Me, Even the Lord thy God, to tremble and to bleed at every pore. Thinkest thou greater than me?" Christ descended into the very deepest pits of pain and torment for everyone of us. Are we greater than he is, if we believe that we shouldn`t bear our own afflictions?

"There bounds are set, and thy days shall not be numbered less." God Knows all, he knows that what we are suffering through will make us better, he knows that what happens now will make us grow. I Prayed so hard this week, I prayed with all my might, yet nothing miraculous happened. No marvelous voice shouted from heaven, no calming words reached my mind. The only answer I recieved was a simple song. "Be Still My Soul, Thy God doth Undertake, to guide the future as he has the past.Thy Hope Thy confidence, let nothing shake, all now mysterious shall be bright at last." It was all I needed. I am to learn and to grow from this. I am to learn for myself how to endure with patience.

"Keep the Faith," are the words my Father has told me repeatedly. Hold on to your faith, and God will guide you. You may not recieve the answer you wanted, things may not turn out the way YOU wanted them to. But in the end all things will be for YOUR good, and your Eternal Salvation. O Remember, Remember that God is on your Side, Remember he Hears your prays, he knows your pains. His hand will guide you, but only if you let him.

With Much Love, Your Son, Brother, Friend,

Elder Randall KK Tateishi

Having some fun in Fushimi!

Turn up the volume to hear this one....

No email :(

This is a sad week. Apparently Randy couldn't email this week due to a National Japanese holiday that shut down the Library and internet places. It was Ocean day and since he is by the Ocean, it makes sense. So I thought I would post some more pictures and a few videos that he send of his time in Japan....

The first video is of a downpour just outside the Church in his little branch. It is amazing how much rain can come down. It is also very warm there around 82 degrees so with the humidity...well, I think I would melt to say the least.