Elder Huffaker's California Adventure

A Baptism. Times 3!

2012-02-20T20:45:00.000-08:00

This week, my companion and I have been working on getting referrals from the members. So far it has been working well. We have been mainly stopping by less actives though, but that is still good missionary work.

We also have been talking with our mission apartment people about getting lighting in our apartment. Well we finally did and it is so much better. However, now we can see all the other things wrong with the place! That's okay, we are trying to get other things taken care of as well.

In big news, there was an investigator I was teaching in my last area who just got baptized yesterday. Her brother and cousin also got baptized. They were coming to Wednesday basketball at the church and that was a really good fellowshipper thing for them. I sent the picture home, so look for it on the blog. It was really cool.

--*Elder Huffaker*

This sure looks like K.C. Clyde -- Cameron and his companion had been teaching his girlfriend. You might recognize him as starring in "The Best Two Years".

Cameron wrote about these photos in another email:
The one is the baptism we went to on Sunday of 3 kids that I was teaching. Well, Elder Morgan and I started to teach the 15-year-old girl, and then Elder Mortensen and I continued. Her brother and cousin were around a bunch and they would come and play basketball on Wednesdays.

The other is a picture of the girl that was baptized on the 8th of January and I couldn't make it. They were at the baptism and so I got in a picture with them.

Week One of the New Transfer

2012-02-13T14:19:00.000-08:00

Well, as you know, this week was the first week of the new transfer. It went by pretty fast too!

First off, I just got a letter from our president that says Elder L. Tom Perry will be visiting on March 12th. It is a P-day, but I'm probably not alone in saying I'd give up a P-day for that!

Well, this week has been an interesting week. We had 3 missionaries leave the zone, and 3 new ones come in. They also reorganized the districts so we have a different set of elders in ours. We didn't move but we had one companionship swap.

Also there was a rush on planners at the office so we got Spanish ones. My companion speaks Spanish, but I don't. I told him we should have gotten new planners while we were there, but he didn't think it would be a problem. I might get a new one for this transfer, or maybe I'll just have to stick it out with a Spanish one. It's not too hard to tell what it says, especially because I've been looking at the same thing for 6 months.

In other news, we got a referral from a family we had dinner with, and went to go see them. The minor detail was that they were at the TOP of the hill in our area. This is a big hill. It gets pretty steep in some areas, but it is also long. For those of you in Lewiston, Thain Grade is nothing compared to what we are biking up.

Well, we eventually made it to the top. One of the people was a less active family that were receptive, and we will probably be teaching a bit, and the other is an old lady who would come over and share the meal with the members we got the referral from when the missionaries are over.

A couple days ago, we also had those people who are strong believers in Heavenly Mother knocked on our apartment door. They said they were interested in some of our religion and had a few "questions" about it. They seemed really determined to bash, but my companion was able to send them away with- If we are both preaching of Christ, then we are not against each other, and it's not a Christ-like thing to try and tear down other peoples' religion. They didn't have anything to say to that. It seemed a little blunt, but they were trying to aggravate us. I guess that marks one of the more interesting things on my mission.

The work goes on still, the book is blue and the gospel is true. Hope all is well at home!

--Elder Huffaker

February 6, 2012

2012-02-13T10:55:00.000-08:00

This week was the craziest week of my mission so far. To start off, my district leader's companion went home a week early so he could keep his visa, and so we were with him almost all week. It was difficult going between all three wards we now covered. Going back and forth between the apartments, and trying to organize what we were going to do was not fun. On the up side, we did have a car so that wasn't so bad.

Next off, one of the days our district leader wasn't with us, my companion woke up with intense pain. It was about 6 so it wasn't so bad, but we had to call our district leader to take him to the hospital. It was about 7 or 8 calls to different people just to get someone to answer.

Well, we had several trips to the hospital getting lost, and we actually had to go to a place right next to the hospital. But then my companion forgot his wallet with his ID so we had to go all the way back and get it. We found out that it was kidney stones and he had a lot of pain. He now has like 3 or 4 pills to take, and they all make him drowsy. Needless to say he's now one sleepy elder.

My companion and I also bore our testimonies in fast and testimony meeting, and then one of our investigators did so as well. It was a pretty interesting week full of plans being changed and an emergency run to the hospital.

--Elder Huffaker

P.S. from Marilyn:
The top photo is Elder Greenwood and Elder Huffaker (L to R), taken moments before the email was sent. The lower photo is a "snake" made out of bread, which they had at a member's house. It's all bread except for raisin eyes and a fruit leather tongue.

January 30, 2012

2012-01-30T19:09:00.001-08:00

Well there goes another week.

In missionary time, this next week is the end of the transfer. One of the missionaries in my district is going home, so my companion and I have been having to help them with being in a tripanionship. Well, yesterday he had to go to the mission home to be sent back home so we will be staying with our district leader for now.

We have been working on our area book still, and have had a few cancelled appointments. The work is still progressing so we keep working. Hope all is going well at home!

--Elder Huffaker

Yet Another Week Already Gone By!

2012-01-30T18:54:00.000-08:00

Elder Huffaker's Letter from January 23, 2012

Well there goes another one! So this week was quite the week.

First off, our area book, the thing that has all the information for the area, go figure, is old and needs to be brought up to date. So we have been doing a bunch of work on that. As for the work this week, it seemed to go slow, until Thursday. Well, on Thursday, we went and did service with one of our investigators, and she thought it would take a while, but she didn't know she had two hard working young men! *grin* Well we finished faster than she expected so we were able to get in a lesson as well. She started opening up to us, so all that service and hard work for her is starting to pay off.

Next off, we went back to our apartment to shower and change, so we ended up being late to our next appointment. However, our investigator here was a little late getting back to her place so it just happened to work out. Funny how that just HAPPENS to work out right? Next we went to our dinner with the bishop. Well, when we were done, he called on the mother of the family that was also there because her husband was out of town, to pray, and she said she really didn't know how. Well, lucky for her there were two missionaries there who were trained just for this! So we taught her about that, and had a spiritual thought. Then we went and visited a family that we hadn't visited since before I got in this area. One was a member and one wasn't, which is one of the best missionary situations we can hope for when teaching. Well, we taught there and then got a ride back home.

So if you've been keeping track, this is all one day, and that was 4 lessons. We were pretty excited about that because that doesn't happen too often anyway, and for an area like what we are in, it's pretty amazing.

That was one of the biggest highlights of the week, but it doesn't stop there! For in between stuff, like I said we worked on the area book, and did the usual stuff. But as this last weekend was Stake Conference, and we invited 2 of our investigators to it, and neither of them showed up. So what we did was we went to their homes to see how they were doing and because they didn't show up. Well they were both very happy to see us and that we were looking out for them. Then one of the investigators called a fellowshipper and told them that we were great missionaries. So then he called us telling us about it and that we must be doing something right because she called just to tell him that.

So all in all, it has been a great week and we are really building this area.

Elder Huffaker

Another Week

2012-01-21T10:39:00.000-08:00

Well, this week was a fun week, full of um, exciting, news. To start off, this week was a somewhat usual week, what with knocking on doors, and other usual stuff. One of the tasks we decided to take on this week was meeting with an investigator that hasn't been met with for over 3 weeks. Well, first off we had to start by finding the house where she lived. We were knocking just before that and so we decided to just walk there. Bad idea. We missed the turn and went in a few circles, but ended up getting somewhat lost, and then finding our way to a members house where we thought they could help us out.

Turns out they weren't there, and so we decided to call our district leader, to get us out of there. Well, they were busy and we had to call our zone leaders who just happened to have just enough time to come get us. They apparently had enough time to take us to where the house was, so we found out where it was. Also it is up a big hill. Go figure, when you're in an area with hills.

So the next day we were able to make it up there and she wasn't there. Convenient right? Well just as we were about to leave, she pulls up. Whew! We taught an on the spot lesson, and helped with some service. Then the next day we helped with some more. She was really grateful for our help. Brownie points for getting her to trust us!

So as we rode home, I ended up doing a really cool "trick" and scraped up my arm a bit. The major thing was that we were going down the hill at about 35 mph. So it was more bruising than scraping. Fun experience, right?

Other than that, we've been trying to meet with one of our other investigators who happens to live in the same apartment complex as us, but has been having some problems with the bank so we haven't been able to meet with her yet either. We are still working hard to find people to teach, and the work goes on.

Okay so this e-mail includes the pictures of when I went to go do laundry. The dryer was crappy, and I was doing a larger load so....... none of the things in there were dry. It took some effort finding where to put everything, but it all dried okay after that.

(drying sheets)

... and towels....

... creative jean hanging...

... and shirts and socks. That's one way to use a bunkbed ladder!

I am sending pictures of the new bike I got. It came with a water bottle holder and a speedometer thing. It also has something called a shock lock on it, which locks the shocks (duh), making it like a street bike. This way when I pedal, I'm not pushing into the shocks, so all my effort is actually going to the tires, instead of shocks.

This area I'm in has a bunch of hills, so going down fast happens a lot. Well one time we were rounding a corner going at about 35, and I didn't slow down fast enough and hit the curb resulting in what you see in the pictures. I'm fine, so don't worry, but needless to say it wasn't fun.

--Elder Huffaker

A Baptism

2012-01-13T12:33:00.000-08:00

Hello everybody. So this week has been a slow week, kind of a usual thing in this area. For big news, one of the investigators Elder Morgan (my trainer) and I worked with in my last area just got baptized yesterday. I was unable to be there, but got some pictures of it. She was completely ready, but just had a few things to work out. She was the one interviewed by our mission president. Elder Morgan was the one who had the privilege of preforming the ordinance. So also, being a nearly dead area, and Elder Greenwood and I are working hard, we did get a new investigator this week. He's a pretty cool guy that has had a lot of things happen in his life. He would like to come to church, but needs a ride. So we are starting to have people to work with and teach here in this area. It's kind of cool to take an area as slow as this and build it up and turn it in to a wonderful area to be in. It is still going to take a lot of work, but I think we are up to the challenge.

-- Elder Huffaker

New Year

2012-01-02T12:32:00.000-08:00

Hello everybody and Happy New Year! So if you didn't know, I am in Canyon Country, California! I am with my new companion, Elder Greenwood. He is Spanish speaking, and has been out about a year longer than me.

I am in another bike area and had to purchase a bike. The people gave me a great deal on it and it's a pretty decent bike. This area is a little slow on work right now, but we are going to be getting it back up. My companion's last companion didn't do much work; well, we are going to change that!

We are visiting a recently converted family a lot, they feed us and whatnot. We currently have one investigator. And because it is 2012, I see much more work in the future, the only problem is that who is going to be sincere and who isn't. Probably going to be the biggest challenge this year.

--Elder Huffaker

(This photo is what happens when hot wings + crazy eyes = best imitation of the Joker from Batman.)

Christmas and Transfer

2011-12-27T10:34:00.000-08:00

Note from Marilyn:

We were fortunate to get to talk with Cameron via Skype (video call on the computer) on Christmas Day! It was the BEST!! He has been transferred to a new area -- please take note of his new mailing address on the right. Since we spoke just the day before, he had little to say in his email, but sent photos from a recent missionary trip to the Los Angeles Temple. Enjoy!

He writes:

So here are the pictures I promised you. Nothing really to tell, I told you all I had to say yesterday. there's also too much data, I'll need to send two e-mails.

Elder Huffaker

The landscaping at the temple is beautiful, of course:

I love how he caught a newly-married couple getting their wedding photos taken:

And I absolutely love this picture of him. I looks like a windy day, so that gives him a missionary superhero look in the picture! Awesome!!

'Twas the Week Before Christmas

2011-12-20T10:08:00.000-08:00

So as you may or may not know, as it is the week before Christmas week, missionary weeks and all (starting on Monday) the work is slowing down a bit. The confirmation of the person we baptized was yesterday, and since he doesn't have too many friends in the ward yet, we are working on that, my companion and I were privileged to participate in the ordinance.

On Saturday, the ward had it's Christmas party, and as missionaries, giving service and all, we helped out with the whole thing. We were there at 8 a.m. and the thing started at 5 with Santa, and the program started at 6 and went until about 8-ish. It was pretty cool, we had 24 tables, with a beautiful Christmas tree in the center, some decorations on the stage, all the tables had a lantern or candle of some sort, and were alternated with red and green table cloths, there was meat, real mashed potatoes, in fact I helped mash them, there were 2 pots with 4 pounds of potatoes in each, and there were green bean casseroles, and on each of the edges of the cultural hall except the stage there were servers with each of those items.

When we got there, 8 of the tables had been thrown away, so we had to drive to the stake center, 45 minutes away, to get more. It was a hard day's work, but it was worth it in the end. That was pretty much the highlight of the week.

Merry Christmas to everybody especially if I don't get to talk to you, which I should...

Elder Huffaker

What a Week!

2011-12-12T17:04:00.000-08:00

So for starters, this week was going okay, and we met with a few of our investigators. We found out last Sunday that the one was ready to be baptized, so she was interviewed this last Friday, and she's all set to go and we set a date for the 8th of January with her.

That same day we met with another investigator who had the baptism date for yesterday, the 11th. There was a stake activity yesterday as well that involved the baptism room.

On another note, we thought he had a problem with tasting wine for his cooking class. We thought he wasn't going to be able to be baptized the coming Sunday. He has a slight mental handicap so we aren't able to convey information very well to each other. It took a bit, but we finally got out of him that he cooks the wine first, so there is no alcohol problem.

We then contacted the ZL's and through a series of information we thought we still couldn't do it on the 11th. Then they talked to our mission president, who talked to the stake president and got it worked out that we still could baptize him.

We ended up using the Tarzana building, which happens to be the area where Elder Grow serves. So he was there and filled up the font so we could do the baptism. That Sunday we invited everyone to come, and with the stake activity, hardly anybody showed up, but it was okay because he didn't want a huge baptism anyway. He wanted bishop to baptize him, but he couldn't be there, and none of the counselors could be there so the secretary was there and was the one to baptize him. I think he himself is a convert and it was his first baptism he'd done so it was a great experience all around!

We got the pictures of everybody, and one of all the missionaries, including Elder Grow, and it was a really cool event. Also for the baptism, we had no program, and so right before church we were allowed to use the clerks office and I was able to throw together a program for it. Pretty cool and a great baptism for a last minute thing.

After the baptism we went to the stake activity where we got to dress up as roman centurions and we did a thing called Journey to Bethlehem. We used almost the whole stake center for it. We started in the Chapel and then went to a room with King Herod where he charged his "subjects" the people we were leading through, to find the Christ child and bring him word. Then we took them to the stage where the 3 wise men were, and they did their thing. Then we went to an inn and the people there had to turn them away because the inn was full and talked about seeing Mary "big with child and her time was very close" and then we went to the angel room where they sang and prophesied concerning Christ. Then we went to the shepherds room where they talked about Christ too. Then we went to the room with Joseph, Mary, and Christ. In each room they got something to take with them, some were snacks, and at the end they got a CD of a song about Christmas.

Herod gave them a coin as a token for them to bring him news, the wise men gave them animal crackers to sustain them on their journey, and the people at the inn gave them pretzel sticks, and the angels gave them a candle to take the light of Christ, and the shepherds gave them a candy cane, and Mary and Joseph didn't give them anything, but they got the CD after that.

It was a pretty cool thing, and we were showed where to take the people once, and that was right before it started. We didn't say anything really, just led them along. The only exception was when we started, we would pound on the curtain divider things the churches all have, and say "We seek an audience with Herod the King!" Or some rendition of that. Pretty cool activity, we should try that some time.

--
Elder Huffaker

New Week

2011-12-12T15:56:00.000-08:00

Cameron's letter of Monday, December 5th:

Hello to all from California.

So this week we experienced good and bad. We had zone conference, so that took up one of the days. We went and saw one of our investigators who was progressing really well, but it took a turn for the worse. He is under 18 and his mom isn't a member, so we need her approval to baptize him. She was okay with it until just recently, one of her friends talked to her and now she is totally against him getting baptized. She threw away the Books of Mormon we gave him (we gave him multiple because he couldn't always remember where he put it) and we are no longer allowed to meet with him.

On the other end, we were meeting with someone who we couldn't meet with for over a month, and then just yesterday she came to church. It was really amazing. But, it gets better! We were at the Christmas devotional and we get a call from bishop, and called our mission president, and found out that she is ready for baptism, and will be baptized in the coming week or two! How's that for a turn around!

So this week, we experienced both ends of the spectrum, with two people who were so close to baptism, and one not be able to, and the other seemingly not able to but is now going to!

Elder Huffaker

This Week

2011-12-12T15:51:00.000-08:00

Cameron's letter of Monday, November 28th:

This week in California has been pretty slow. As you may or may not know, I am companions with the district leader, and as such he has meetings. There were meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday, the whole day, and district meeting on Friday. Thanksgiving was a non-proselyting day so we didn't do anything that day (except eat turkey!) So this week was full of meetings.

On Thanksgiving Day, we played basketball with a family (family of 11 I think) in the Van Nuys 1st ward, and so the other elders came along too. We played 5 on 5 full court, and these guys really know how to play. It was quite an intense game, well, games. Went home and showered and changed for Thanksgiving dinner. We had a pretty good standard dinner, lots of food, and we had pumpkin cobbler for desert.

Met with one of our investigators who is preparing for baptism on the 11th. It is quite possible that it will happen, although he has a slight mental handicap, but he has an aptitude of about a 12 year old. Things are going fine here, Hope all is well on your end!

Elder Huffaker

Hello, New Transfer!

2011-11-21T22:21:00.000-08:00

Okay so if you didn't know, which you should, we are in a new transfer, and I got a new companion. He's older in the mission and wanting to go home, but hopefully we will be able to work hard still. He is district leader, so there is an extra meeting once a week for them, and this coming week there is training for him, so I get to go with the other District Leader's companion.

This week for Thanksgiving, we are being fed by a member who likes to feed us a lot of food, and I probably won't eat lunch. In other news, Elder Mortensen, my new comp, got a hole in his bike tire, and we couldn't pump it up, so we left it at the house we were at, and walked home. We have yet to get his bike and fix it, and I'm not sure how soon that will happen because of the meetings all this week.

We met with one of our investigators who we haven't met with in a long time this week, and his only problem before getting baptized is that he is a social drinker. So he doesn't feel a need to quit because he isn't addicted. He decided to try not drinking for a month starting next week. Which means that he can't drink through Christmas. Hopefully we will be able to help him to quit.

It is starting to get a little cold at nights, like high 40's, (so you don't think I'm starting to feel cold at like 60). We ride with jackets in the evening, which is great for warmth, but when you sweat it gets in the jacket. Not much in news other than that, hope all is well at home!

Elder Huffaker

Transfers: Staying Put

2011-11-17T21:27:00.000-08:00

Hello everybody! For starters this week, if you are not yet aware, transfers are today. I am staying here in Sherman Oaks, and Elder Morgan is leaving to Canyon Country 2nd. He is going to a ward where we think his dad's cousin is. I will be getting Elder Mortenson as a companion later today, and he will be district leader. I don't know him, but from what I'm told he and I will get along great!

As for news this week, nothing really happened at the beginning. We had a few cancels, and it was just a dead week. But at the end of the week, starting on Friday, we met up with a family we have been trying to get in with for a couple weeks now, and it turns out they are a part member family. And they are watching her niece and nephew, who are interested. We came in there and met with them, gave them some Books of Mormon, and the nephew just dove right in to it. More than I've seen anyone ever do that. Then the niece showed up for sacrament meeting so that was pretty cool. We then got in with another part member family, the mom and aunt are less active, and the aunt is coming back. We are teaching a 13 year old girl with Aspergers. Hopefully we will be able to get in, because it has been hard to recently.

On Saturday, we went and saw our investigator who is paralyzed, and we are still trying to get him to see that there's more to life and there really is something after this life. Then on Sunday we went and saw one of our investigators who has a 23 year old son who lives with them and is a member. The mom has been sitting in and listening, and now we got one of the daughters to sit in too. It's a big family so hopefully we will be able to get them all! Slowly but surely though, and it's pretty well inevitable for them to not get in on the lessons.

So this coming week I will have to help get my next companion familiar with the area. Hopefully I have it enough, but we do have a big map at our pad, and a small one we take with us.

Hope all is going well at home, I have not moved so WRITE ME LETTERS! It's always nice to get them. My address is 13503 Erwin st Van Nuys California, 91401 That's a lot of stuff going on there, and not much is going on here.

Also, I'm really sorry, but I finally got the baptism picture sorta. The family picture is the one. The two kids in front are the ones that got baptized. I also am sending pictures of our Zone before everyone is leaving.

Elder Huffaker

Celebrating Halloween with the District. They made a pinata, and then beat it to pieces:

The family & missionaries with the two baptized kids in the front:

Cameron's zone, just before transfers. Cameron is 4th from the left, with the green tie:

Alma 53:20

2011-11-09T08:51:00.000-08:00

Hello to everybody! This last week, in the training, Elder Morgan has decided that I got to be senior companion. I got to choose where to go what to do, planning, lessons, the like. Not fun! but I guess it was a good enough experience. However it is now over. We are going back to the way it was.

Unfortunately, as fast as the week went by, we didn't do too much. It has been getting a little cold at night, and the other day, I finally saw my breath! We wear our jackets while riding, which isn't that great because I get all sweaty in it. It does keep me warm, especially on bike at night in the wind!

So, apparently our apartment we are living in is pretty bad on cleanliness. However Elder Morgan and I spent a ton of time cleaning it. It looks much better than it used to, but it still isn't clean enough. Guess we just have to work harder.

On Friday, we had interviews with president, which went fine, although he did talk to me about training soon. Oh no. He said he'd give me at least another transfer, so we'll see how that goes. Also, president e-mails a weekly newsletter sort thing, and in it, he included a scripture he said came to him while interviewing a missionary. That missionary was me. It was a little random, he just popped open his scriptures and said, "this scripture just came to me, I don't know what it says, but the reference just popped into my mind." Well he shared that scripture with ALL the missionaries in the mission, and I was sort of the cause of it. Rather interesting moment. This is what he said in his e-mail. The missionary was me that he was interviewing, although the scripture had nothing to do with what we were talking about.

"This past week as I was doing interviews, a powerful impression came to me to share a particular scripture with a missionary. The impression only told me the verse but not what the verse said. So I opened my Book of Mormon to that particular verse and shared the following with the missionary I was interviewing:

"And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all; they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted." (Alma 53:20)

I guess that was really the only highlight of the week, the work continues and it's been a little more difficult getting in with people.

Darcie is taking drivers ed?!? Wow, now I'm scared. Hope it goes well, but I cant believe that's already happening, Alyssa's turning 17, and it's already November! So what's the cheesecake challenge? I don't remember or think you've told me about that.

So this week we went to an investigators house and watched the Finding Faith in Christ DVD, and were hoping he'd kind of react to that somehow. He still feels that there's nothing more to his life, and he's just hanging in there till he passes on. He is paralyzed from the waist down I think, and can't use his hands. He's actually living in assisted living or something; it's a little different. But there was no reaction from him as far as we can tell, we are not giving up though. The ward is doing great, we just got a new ward mission leader and two new ward missionaries. Hopefully they will all get into their parts and we will be able to work well together! Hope all is well at home!

Elder Huffaker

Biking Workouts

2011-10-31T10:31:00.000-07:00

Well this week has been the usual week, running around on bikes and whatnot. In biking news, we went from the top of corner of our area, to the bottom opposite corner of the area, and then back halfway to the church to finish it off. Needless to say I was pretty wiped, and I'm sure Elder Morgan was too. We also had a pretty cool musical fireside last night, we went to our dinner with a member just before it and they took us there. The fireside lasted until about 8:30-40-ish and we went back to the members house after that. They live in the bottom part of our area, and we live in the top part of our area. Well we booked it back and made it inside at 9:30 on the nose! Talk about close. But I was completely exhausted after that. I hit the ground and didn't get back up for 20 minutes. THAT was a workout. We also had an investigator who was nearly done with the lessons tell us he couldn't get baptized because he was told being Mormon was a sin. Well he then told us he could be Mormon again because he prayed about it. We did have a baptism recently and we have yet to get pictures from that. We will definitely need to get those soon. Well the work is progressing, and Elder Morgan and I are working hard (really hard being on bikes haha) Hope all is going well there, and don't forget, Postal letters are great, even if they are typed up!

Trying (and failing, he said!) to mend his pants.

Heating his socks up -- must be chilly in California!

Elder Huffaker

Hello from the great state of Claly-fornya

2011-10-25T09:57:00.000-07:00

So this week was interesting. On Monday we went to an investigator teaching about tithing, and then he all of a sudden says that he prayed and talked to his mom, and came up with a baptism date! He has a slight mental handicap, and it took us by complete surprise!

Also for a funny thing, Elder Morgan and I were riding down the sidewalk and went down the slope on the edge of the street and was going to go up the other side, and realized that there's no slope! So he slammed on his brakes and skidded right up to the curb, and when I realized it, I slammed on my brakes, but didn't hit him. It was pretty funny though.

We did have a baptism, two kids got baptized. One was 9 almost 10 and the other was 8so only the one counted because the parents are members. They are a little less active so we will be working with them a little still, but it was great for them to come to the baptism!

So yesterday, we had a scheduled lunch with a member, and then a dinner with bishop. Lunch was at 3, and dinner was at 5. Woo! Lot's o' food! Needless to say, Elder Morgan and I were stuffed. Later that night we ran into a returned missionary on our street and he introduced us to one of his friends, and we had a lesson, and we left her with a Book of Mormon. It was a great unplanned experience, and we had the lesson with the guy we found and two other guys who were there, all were return missionaries.

The area here is really taking off, and we are starting to have appointments filling the days! Sounds like things are as busy as ever at home. That's really interesting that they got in a big car accident, sounds like the one Brandon, Nathan, and I were in, but Alys wasn't driving so that's good. Hopefully she will learn from the experience and always wear her seatbelt, That was the way I was after Brandon's accident! Always always always wear a seatbelt. (especially in California!) They don't call it California driving for nothing!

Also we went to Costco, and got stocked up, and besides eating with members, we have been eating pretty well. The other day we had chili cheese dogs and cornbread!

Elder Huffaker

Pop of a Different Flavor

2011-10-12T14:38:00.000-07:00

Okay so there is very little in news I guess, but we did get some new people in our zone and one in our district. Apparently Elder Morgan came out with the new sister we got in our district. Nothing exciting for food experiences, but I haven't had the same meal or similarity in meals twice from members.

If you have forgotten, I am in a bike area, but there are rumors about us getting a car. That would be pretty cool, but they're only rumors, and I'd be fine if we stayed on bike. I've done it one transfer, I can do it another.

Another note of news is that we found a couple part member families, one where a 17 year old is the member and another where a 22 year old is the member, but neither are the parents. We are meeting with the latter today, it is a family of 9 and one is under 8 so if we can teach all of them, it would be 6 new investigators, and if we taught the other family it would be 2 or 3 new investigators, so that's also exciting.

Also, one of our investigators is scheduled to get baptized next Sunday (the 16th) and has asked that I baptize him. Not sure entirely why, but that's fine by me. It would also be my first baptism on my mission. He is 13, but is about my height and he says he's a 38 waist. He plays football, so he's a big kid. He's still got a few lessons though, and so we have 2 more scheduled appointments this week and probably another one on Saturday, and might get interviewed then too. If that happens, then I'll definitely get you pictures!

Unfortunately I don't have really any pictures this time, nothing going on except the usual, but I will try harder to look for opportunities to get pictures. I do have a couple of the most awesome soda machine I've ever seen though. You can get a bunch of different shots of flavors added to the usual soda. Like there was a peach Fanta, I had a vanilla Sprite, there was a raspberry Coke and just a bunch of other stuff, and it was all on a touch screen.

Thanks for the pictures you sent to me, you should definitely send one of other parts of the breeze way. I love pictures printed out because I can hang them up. So send me more please! And also, if Grandma and Grandpa want to send me stuff too that would be awesome!

Elder Huffaker

First Transfer, Same Area!

2011-10-04T14:13:00.000-07:00

Okay first off, the first picture on the list is an Idaho picture. Everyone in that picture is from somewhere in Idaho, and these are all missionaries in my Zone. Transfers just ended yesterday so we have new people in and some older people out.

Also, the other picture is of me eating a 4x4 at an In-and-Out. For those of you who don't know, that is 4 patties and 4 cheese. One of the members in the ward always take us to In-and-Out and if you haven't gone with them before, they make you order that. That is way too much cheeseburger for anyone.

Well the week has gone pretty good, although I have recently gotten a flat tire which I have yet to fix so I've just been pumping it up as necessary. Like I said, transfers just happened, we lost/gained 4 people. One from our district, one of our Zone Leaders, and two from the other district.

In the new training program we have, new missionaries stay with their trainers for at least two transfers, so for the next six weeks I will still be with Elder Morgan in the same area I'm in. Still on bike for another 6 weeks. That's okay though, since we bike all over the place (p.s. Brandon, we are in earthquake area so the sidewalks and streets are all broken up), we have a pretty big area, it's hot, and we carry around all our stuff in our backpacks, so they're heavy, I have already gone down a beltloop size, working on the next. Also, as a district we tried to put on a sort of game night for members, and their nonmember friends, but that was a big flop. It was fun, but not productive.

My companion just reminded me, one time when we went contacting, we ran into this guy who liked to talk and had some questions about our church. Well the conversation eventually got to politics, and a Jamaican sitting on a bench about 25-30 feet away overheard us and the guy we were talking to and the Jamaican went back and forth. The Jamaican was saying "stop spreading lies!" I'm not sure what exactly about, I think it was related to politics, and the guy we were with was saying "And you're a Jamaican, sitting homeless on a bench!" "I like your CART!" Also we started to talk to another guy who talked a little about the incident that was happening and said he threw in something to just kind of make them turn their heads. He said something like "Go Lakers" and was telling us, "why can't we just get along?".

So my week has been like that so far, still working hard, I can't believe I've already been out for a transfer! Hope everything is going well at home!

Elder Huffaker

This Week

2011-09-27T16:38:00.000-07:00

Not sure what to write about this week, It has really flown by. I guess the highlight has been that we got a baptism date!

We do a ton of biking all over the place, really sore in my legs. We've had a lot of people cancel on us so we are out on our bikes even more. I guess though, we just need to keep working hard and things will happen. We are working hard with people, but so is Satan, and people have their free agency, so there's only so much we can do. Already so much time has flown by, so much will happen before we know it.

We do have a great zone, nobody is really a problem missionary, we all do the work and there isn't really anyone having to be taken out and talked to or interviewed. Apparently though in the zone, we (my companion and I) are at the bottom, but we've been told by our zone leaders that they know we are doing the work because they haven't had to come down to us to straighten us out so I guess we are doing good. My district leader wants to say hi:

Hey, I'm Elder Day and I'm Elder Huffaker's District Leader. I just wanted to tell you guys that Elder Huffaker is a WONDERFUL Missionary! He is truly a delite to have in the district. He has a hilarious sense of humour and is a great worker! Its a pleasure to know him! Thanks for everything that you guys have done to influence Elder Huffaker. He is a stud! You all are great! Love, Elder Day.

Elder Day is a pretty cool guy, he wanted to say hi and also because I didn't know what all to say. He's going home soon so he's just saying hi.

Elder Huffaker

P.S. From Marilyn:

We're including a few pictures of their apartment that Cameron sent.
And also, an unusual piece of trivia: we have three missionaries from our little valley that all currently serve in the San Fernando Mission (one is Spanish speaking). Cameron sent this next photo of himself standing next to one of them: Elder Johnny Grow! Totally cool!!

An Interesting Week

2011-09-25T20:09:00.000-07:00

Cameron's letter from September 19, 2011:

All right, so this week has been interesting.

We have plenty of people to see, but a lot of them we were unable to see. We spent a good chunk of time contacting, and we thought we had some people, but haven't been able to catch them again. Also, we do eat with the members a lot, but a few of them also cancelled this week. We ended up doing dinners ourselves a few times, but that's okay, it happens.

I have seen two other people get baptized that other missionaries have taught, a few of ours are really close, but just not quite there.

I recently purchased a light for my bike because I have been using a flashlight and rubber band as my light. Elder Morgan got two flats, on the same day. One on the front and the other on the back. He had to patch them and then put slime in them, which ended up taking about an hour and a half of our time and we had to cancel on one of our appointments.

We have ran in to a few people who like to talk, mainly about how black people are going to be the rulers of the earth and that every one else isn't saved. Also that Christ will return in a UFO. Weird stuff like that, but then they also try to tell us what we believe because we are Mormon. But get this: their source of information about Mormons is...... YOUTUBE! Wooo! That's a very reliable source.

Also the other day, we were stuck in a lesson till about a quarter after nine and we had to be home in 15 minutes. We were about 3 and 1/2 to 4 miles away from where we live and I thought I was going to DIE. I did come very close to hurling, but we made it back at 9:31. Literally just a minute away. Kind of gives a new meaning to giving all your heart might mind and strength.

Other than that, we are doing fine, seems amazing how fast time is flying.

Elder Huffaker

Hollywood, Baby!

2011-09-15T10:28:00.001-07:00

Okay so I thought I told you about investigators last week. But where are the pictures taken in the photos you sent me?

I'm sending you pictures of the old bike I was using for a day. We are using one of those things with the big blue jugs of water as our source of drinking water. We need to go about 3 blocks to fill those up, and there is a picture of me carrying one on my bike. Yes that is a full 5 gallons of water I am transporting on my bike.

We went to Studio City today and the Hollywood sign, we took pictures and I think I'm sending those too. Came back and found the box you sent to me, with all the green stuff in it.

We are riding our bikes everywhere and my legs feel sore a lot. We are also being fed by members like every night for dinner. We usually teach some spiritual thought, and sometimes we are having dinner with part member and we teach them a full lesson.

Elder Huffaker

(On P-Day or Preparation Day, the missionaries have a majority of the day to do other activities, including emailing and laundry. On this particular P-Day, they also went sight-seeing.)

The 5-gallon jug of water. (We need to ask him why they don't just drink tap water!)

Cameron's first box from home, the Greenie Box arrived that day, too. Since he's still pretty "green" at being a missionary, we sent a box full of green items:

The Best Two Years

2011-09-14T10:15:00.000-07:00

This week has been my first full week in the field that has been "normal" I suppose. We aren't having any training meetings or meetings with the president, the only meeting we've had is district meeting and the usual meetings at church (ward correlation and ward council).

I don't remember if I've said this before, but I'm in the Sherman Oaks Ward, and so far Elder Morgan is pretty awesome. He's only been out about 7 months, but he's doing fine as a trainer. We have a ton of people to try by, less actives, old investigators, people who haven't had a home or visiting teacher come by in a while and don't come to church etc., and almost every day we are having dinner with a member family, and sometimes we have had dinner with investigators or part member families, which are some of the best discussions we have. So far this week we have been teaching Sara, Burton, Rosamaria, Varo, Armen, and the McKinnens.

Sara is a really awesome investigator, she's about 22. We are teaching her in the home of who we believe is her boyfriend, we aren't sure if they're actually a "thing", but her boyfriend is K.C. He's in the Elders Quorum presidency and he plays Elder Rogers in The Best Two Years:

He's quite the uh, character. We almost have a date for baptism with Sara, and we've taught her lessons 1-3 and part of lesson 4. She says before she gets baptized she wants to have her families support. She also says that she has made the decision to get baptized even if she doesn't have her families support, but would like it.

Burton is in his 70's. I would say he's not quite progressing, we teach him a lot and he expressed a desire to come to church, and apparently has been invited several times, but hasn't been to church once. He hasn't been taught a single lesson and hardly or never reads the Book of Mormon. He does however, enjoy us coming over, but we are trying.

Rosamaria is also awesome, and is in her late 30's we think. She was raised a Catholic, but has said it never feels as good at church like it does at an LDS church. She hasn't been taught much but has a real desire to learn. We are hoping to set a baptism date within a week or two.

Varo is Armenian and so is his wife. They are probably in their late 20's to early 30's. His wife Sophia has been baptized and we are really trying with Varo. He needs to read and pray about the book, which is something Sophia has done and Varo hasn't. Hmmm.

Armen is atheist. He really wants to learn about us, but doesn't want to do anything, like reading or praying, or the like. He's a good guy, and might come around eventually, but not yet.

The McKinnens are a part member family about in their 50's. Bro McKinnen is less active, and apparently his problem is that it really was Adam's fault because he didn't tell Eve not to partake of the fruit and she did unknowingly, even though it says in Genesis 3 that she said straight up - we are commanded not to partake of the fruit. Oh well, they attended a temple marriage, and waited in the waiting room and Brother McKinnen asked Sister McKinnen if she wanted to learn more, so we are teaching them. Sis McKinnen has taken the first two lessons and we are trying to get her to read the Book of Mormon.

In other news, we are biking all over the place. I'll see if I can send a picture of our area, which is pretty large. We are planning to go to the hollywood sign as a zone and obviously we will be taking pictures. There has been rumors that we have a lot of movie stars living in the lower part of our area. Also that Elijah Wood lives across the road from the bishop. No confirms though. Our zone is full of lots of characters I guess, but other than teaching not much is happening. We do a lot of teaching.

Elder Huffaker

(Photos Cameron sent of the old bike he started out with. He has since upgraded to a better bike!)

First Area, Van Nuys

2011-08-30T18:29:00.000-07:00

All right, here's my (I guess) long e-mail back to you. First off, going to do e-mails was kind of dropped on me; didn't know we were coming to do that, so I forgot my reader to send pictures (sooo sorry). I have a ton though, so I would probably send multiple e-mails in order to get them all sent.

So about getting sick, I actually had a cold recently, that I got in the MTC, I don't know if I told you that yet or not. I actually knew that dad was looking to get something like a tablet, I just didn't know if he was actually going to do it or not. That's pretty cool that he got one though.

That's cool that you finally opened your Mothers Day present, took you long enough, but I hope you enjoy it anyway. Glad Darcie got to go to the temple. My mission just had a recent temple trip, and we go about 3 times a year, so we won't be going anytime soon. But the temple we would go to is the LA temple.

Okay, so we had 15 missionaries flying with us, and we went to the Burbank airport from Salt Lake. (I actually saw the flight that was heading for Lewiston on their reader board thing, but I didn't try to get on it. (like I would, LOL). My trainer is Elder Morgan, we get along pretty well, we are serving in Van Nuys (pronounced like very nice, with an accent, I'm not sure which accent) and we are a.............................................. bike area! I'm told this is the biggest bike area and we arrived during the hottest time of the year. Woohoo! Elder Morgan is from Show Low, Arizona, northeastern mountains.

We live with the Andersons, in a sort of guest house out behind their house. It's pretty big, bigger than I thought I'd ever have out here. Anyway, we borrowed a bike from them and while riding it, it pretty much fell apart. The tires don't hold air very well, the brakes are awful, the pedals are somewhat broke, the frame is literally starting to fall apart, it was hitting the back wheel, the shifters don't work well, the seat pad fell of so we had to tape it back on, and it was a city bike so there were no shocks, which you think wouldn't be a big deal, but with the earthquakes (which we do get, but I haven't been in one yet) the sidewalks fall apart and are very rough, which is not fun on a city bike. Oh well, anything to get around and do the work is fine, especially since we just got a bike from one of the members who never use their bikes. It's a really nice 21-speed mountain bike with a bigger seat on it. Can't wait to try it out.

I also had to get a library card so I could use the computer here at the library for an hour. Next week though, the library will be closed because of the national holiday so we will just go to the church.

So, we are getting fed really well, the members here are awesome. We have a calendar specifically for the ward to sign up to have us over for dinner, and we are almost booked through September, there's like 2 or 3 days that are open, and some of the members say, "If you don't get anyone for that date, just come over and we'll feed you." So there's no worries about going hungry here.

Also, for the most part, when we are not in a discussion or eating, the rest of the time is usually spent getting from place to place. I haven't done street contacting or door knocking since I've been here (except for knocking on doors of previous investigators).

So tell me, how is Dad doing at Welenco? Is he getting plenty of business? Is Brandon helping him a lot? How are things at home? Please ask any questions, I will try to have photos next week, and ask questions I forgot to answer too.

Elder Huffaker

Growth at the MTC

2011-08-23T08:13:00.000-07:00

Okay so this is my last P-day in the MTC. By the way I said previously that I can't send pictures from the MTC. I will have to try and see if I can send them from the field. There is something with the programing that doesn't allow me to add attachments to my e-mails. Sorry about that.

The MTC has been a great experience and quite a testimony builder, we learn so much in so little time. It feels like I've been here for ever, yet I'm already leaving. We are also starting on this new "program" where, when we get to the field, we, instead of our trainers, are the ones leading.

I'm pretty excited to get out of this place and into the field. I know it is going to be one of the hardest, if not the hardest thing I will ever do, but I can already tell it will be totally worth it. There's no where else I'd rather be than serving the Lord.

Already I am adjusted to the schedule, I can especially tell when I'm waking up just a couple minutes before the alarm goes off. We did pictures the past days with our district and our teachers, and I will do my best to get those sent.

More of MTC Life

2011-08-17T15:03:00.000-07:00

So I'll try to send pictures later, I forgot my camera and card reader. Doing laundry again, this is my last full week in the MTC. Feels like I just barely got here and now they're about to send us out.

We are singing, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” in Sacrament Meeting this Sunday; the sisters volunteered us.... oh well. Elders Irvine, Kruger, Rasmussen, and myself have the bass part, Elder Beasley had the tenor part, and the other elders are just going to sing the melody. Elder Tollworthy, Gallup and Stevenson..... two of them are TONE DEAF. Doesn't help when we are singing separate parts.

Nothin’ much to report other than I just tried the SD card USB reader, and the MTC computers are incapable of reading it. Probably some security thing. Oh well, ask me questions.

Still don't have a scripture or quote or anything, almost never have time for myself. Oh well again, that's the way it is.

[After my return email with questions for him, came his answers in this follow up email:]

Okay, so Elder Kruger is from Red Deer, Alberta Canada. MTC food sucks, and yes, he is also going to San Fernando. We have two 4-hour classes every day except for p-day and Sunday. We went to the Provo Temple, which is round, and we are going today. I have 30 minutes for e-mail. No general authorities have spoken, and it [speakers] is in the gym. I do get to help with hosting [the new, incoming MTC missionaries] tomorrow.

Life at the MTC

2011-08-17T12:23:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. So the first days started out as the easiest and then turned in to the hardest. After Sunday though, it feels a little easier. I'm probably getting used to the schedule.

Anyway, the second full day we were here, they threw us right in to teaching investigators. They are just our teachers for our class, but it's kind of stressful when you don't know what you're doin' and they make you teach. Also, none of the returned missionaries can give me any advice about the MTC really, because we are the first group of missionaries that they have implemented a new course, which is apparently nothing like the old one.

Our schedules are pretty full and we are either in class, studying, eating or in the gym. Except for p-days and Sundays. We had a fireside on Sunday, which you need to be 45 minutes to an hour early to in order to get a good seat. We have a devotional tonight, so we are going to head to that super early.

Other than that, we have laundry and we get to go to the temple today. Washing machines are hard to find because they are all full, and we have way more dryers than washers. I suppose that is a good thing when you need to move your stuff, there is always an open dryer. By the way, Mom, air drying the towels did nothing for them. I am washing my towels and drying them here. All of them, because after using the shower and drying off, I had little towel fuzzies all over me. Nothing else really to report other than I want to get a picture of my district, my companion and I next to the map, and a list of their names. I know them all, but I don't know how to tell you so you know who is who.

In companionships we have: Elder Kruger and myself, Elder Irvine and Elder Beasly, Elder Tollworthy and Elder Stevenson, Elder Gallup and Elder Rasmussen, Sister Tapusoa and Sister Jensen, Sister Snater and Sister Thompson. All of us are in the same district, 7a, and Elder Irvine is our district leader.

Oh by the way, I received my pants from the Missionary Mall, but they also gave me 8 shirts, so now I have 18 shirts. What do I do with the other shirts? They are still in the package.

Elder Huffaker

Hello, MTC!

2011-08-16T00:03:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, August 3rd, Cameron entered the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah! The MTC has changed their missionary check-in method since the last time we were there, so our family experience was a bit different this time.

Unlike previously, when the families went in with their missionaries and had a short meeting, now the new missionaries are dropped off at the curb. There were missionaries helping to direct traffic, and along the curb there were about 30 stations, each with a host missionary there waiting to greet the new arrivals, guide them where they needed to go, and help them with their luggage. We had all the family (except Brandon, who had to work) to say goodbye to Cameron. We had spent the previous week in Salt Lake while the girls were at a BYU camp. During that time, Cameron helped in providing some service to his aunt, and we also made a trip to the Salt Lake Temple and Temple Square. It was a good transition from civilian life.

With the length of our trip, by the time we went to the MTC, Cameron was pretty anxious to get going and truly start on his life as a missionary. Cameron does not need to learn a language, so he will only be there for about 3 weeks before leaving for southern California. He will leave the MTC about August 24th. The other interesting thing is there are two other missionaries from our valley that are serving in the same mission, and Cameron’s best friend is serving in neighboring Riverside! Please see the sidebar for his mailing address. These are a few pictures from our day - enjoy!

Final family picture -- except we're missing Brandon with us! Then it would have been complete.

Cameron & his sisters - life is nothing if not interesting!

Cameron and Emma. We think she'll have an easier time remembering Cameron than she did with Brandon.

At the MTC, curbside, we said our final goodbyes. Here's father and son:

And a posed picture with the mom:

Nothing was going to slow him down: Cameron was READY to go:

Good luck to our missionary!!

The Call

2011-08-15T17:01:00.000-07:00

Missions always begin with receiving the mission call in the mail. Cameron's mission call arrived and he opened it on June 1, 2011. You can see he was a bit excited to tear into it:

Then came the reading:

He is heading to the California San Fernando Mission, and reports to the MTC on August 3, 2011. Cameron was (and still is) pretty impressed by the letter. As with all mission calls, it is signed by the prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. It's humbling and touching to know that it was hand-signed. Cameron will truly treasure it forever.

He had about 2 months for the remainder of his preparations before reporting to the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. More than enough time!

One Mission Ends, Another Mission Begins

2011-08-15T16:28:00.001-07:00

Thank you for reading about Brandon's mission experiences in Jamaica! He returned home on May 5, 2011, having served faithfully and honorably for his two years. Brandon is currently working and looking forward to college life in January.

At this point, we are changing this blog to now share the mission experiences of Cameron, who is called to serve in the California San Fernando mission. We are so thrilled to have another missionary son serving the Lord.

We invite you to keep reading, as Cameron's mission unfolds before us.

Three Days

2011-05-02T09:18:00.000-07:00

I'm not really gonna say anything... I'll be home in 3 days. No surprises! No parties! I just want peace for a few days. If anyone brings me fast food. I'm throwin' it away.

Oh, and here's one pic for ya. My last district meeting in Yallahs. The Flakes brought an amazing lemon cake!

The last of this Elder Huffaker

Like I Just Got Sucker Punched in the Stomach

2011-04-25T11:43:00.000-07:00

If you are wondering about the title of this email. That's pretty much how I feel whenever I truly think about going home. It hits you like a ton of bricks. It feels like you just got sucker punched in the stomach. It feels like the end of the world is nigh. Going home is something I've been looking forward to, but at the same time, it's almost like something I'm dreading. I have no idea what I'm going to be doing in particular, other than school starts in the fall.

Getting back to Jamaica... this week seemed to fly by. Elder Madsen and I have been tearing it up and having a good time. Working with some good people still. Wish they'd actually do something though.

I went on my final tradeoff on Wednesday. I went with Elder Brough, once again, in Kingston. We did a little souvenir shopping while waiting to tradeback - especially since we go home together. We also went to a dinner appointment that I had to laugh at. The member wasn't expecting me. Elder Emery also showed up with a different companion - Elder Stone - and he wasn't expected either. It was supposed to be a going away party, but not quite what the member expected.

Overall, there's not much to say. The double digit days to the end are now gone. No pictures today... sorry.

Elder Huffaker

How Many Fingers?

2011-04-18T10:17:00.000-07:00

So with the picture, you will see Elder Brough and I holding up our hands on Thursday. We can count on our hands how many days left on our mission. Ok, well it took both of our hands, but at least we can count! Zone conference was on Thursday. It was a very long zone conference. I'm not sure why, but I have this curse where I either arrive very early or very late to missionary meetings not in my area. Elder Madsen and I arrived at 8:20 and the conference didn't start til 9. No one else but the Assistants were there when we arrived. It was long, like I mentioned before because we didn't leave til after 3 p.m.

After the conference, Elder Madsen and I went and got some jerk. Not just any jerk, however. This goes on the new foods list. We had jerk pork and jerk lamb. The Pork had a lot of fat and sometimes if there was skin - there was hair. Doesn't gross you out unless you eat it.... We didn't leave Kingston til about 6:15. We had to stop by the mission office and the office Elders sent us in a big circle. Elder Madsen and I walked around for a long while. When we reached. I realized that they could have given us a shorter route if they would have told us to turn around.

Not much else for this week, same old - same old!

Elder Huffaker

2 1/2 weeks

The Long and Winding Road

2011-04-11T11:24:00.000-07:00

This week there isn't much to say... but I do have to say that we had one heck of a Saturday. We road our bicycles up the side of a mountain to a place called swamp. I haven't gone there in a long time. On the way up, my bicycle chain broke TWICE! I was more than upset on the second time. Thankfully it made it up and down the hill. However, it broke again later that day.

So now I'm on a new bicycle chain. I can't get the one I've got to last me three and a half weeks. It was worth going up the hill though to go and see a really good investigator. While we were there I finally saw the national bird. A two tailed hummingbird!

Also in this week, Tracy Meddow thought she'd be funny and caught me and put a little "twist" on my hair. So I went around for about 24 hours with it in my hair. I got a few comments and weird looks. Don't worry, it's not permanent!

Elder Huffaker

The Last Conference in Jamaica

2011-04-04T13:40:00.000-07:00

So for some dumb reason I forgot to include this in last week's email. On our way into the square in Yallahs to go and email, we saw a "procession". Whenever Jamaica begins it's circuit court (kinda like our district supreme courts) they have a formal procession done by the local police department. The judge is dressed in a colonial uniform with a wig and everything. Anyway, I thought it was really cool but forgot to get pictures. They use the circuit court for extreme offenders: murderers. Getting on to this week though... This week Elder Madsen and I went around getting people excited and ready for General Conference. We had 34 people at the church on Sunday morning for it! That's more than we get on any other given Sunday. At least 10 more and sometimes double. Plus, the Daniels weren't even there for the conference, so if we had them, it would have been 36.

For the conference we set up the church computer and a projector in the sacrament hall. I manned it and made sure everything worked properly. It was really good. The pictures you see are from Saturday. We had Elder Madsen and I, Pete, and Jordan who showed up for Priesthood. Priesthood session didn't connect very well and we had to keep reconnecting and consequently, missed most of the addresses. We also showed the, "Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration" movie between the Sunday sessions. This leads me to a question to all family members: is Clynn in this movie? Please note the man with his back to the camera and is somewhat out of focus at approximately 52 minutes into the movie. To watch the movie you can go to: http://newsroom.lds.org/article/film-about-joseph-smith-now-available-online You can watch the movie online or download it.

As far as General Conference goes, I want you all to be aware of the fact that Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the 12 did not speak this conference. Some missionaries called and asked me about it as well and I noticed that before and after sessions, Elder Hales had a series of tubes and what appeared to be an oxygen tank at his side during the sessions. He was also using a walker to exit the Conference Center.

Elder Huffaker

Wrapping Up

2011-03-31T15:48:00.000-07:00

WELL, Well, well, here we are again at the start of another transfer, however, this transfer is my final as a missionary. Amazingly, I have a new companion, Elder Madsen. Elder Madsen is tall, taller than me. Don't get too many of those missionaries. Elder Madsen is related to the basketball player. I don't know much about basketball so don't ask me about it. He's also the son of my branch president from the MTC. Elder Madsen is currently 3 month out on his mission (this is his 3rd transfer). He says it's hard to imagine his companion going home. I asked him, well what do you do when you're a brand new missionary - he said think about home. I said it's the same for an old missionary getting ready to.

It's true you start to think about home a little more often. Yet at the same time, I don't want to. I'm perfectly content with where I'm at, yet, the home you remember is back over the ocean. I guess part of it has to do with the fact that I'm not quite sure what to do when I get back....

Also this week, I went on a trade-off with Elder Brough in the Zoneleader's area. I had to do a couple of baptism interviews. Both of them passed. I interviewed a 9-yr-old Justin Dakin and and Grandpa Dakin. The Dakin family is getting the whole family baptized. Sister Dakin was baptized a few weeks before.

With this trade-off, it went three-ways so that there would be an area knowledgeable person in each area. So Elder Snelson got to return to Yallahs for a day. Well, Elder Madsen also got a package from home so when I came back to Yallahs, I come home to find Elder Madsen and Elder Snelson going at it with sweeties! So I joined in. So now our fridge/freezer is half full of sugar loaded goods!

Bro. Archer and Sis. Clark are still preparing for baptism. We have one concern to overcome and I think it will be done with at General Conference.

Nuff tings me hafa do fore me a leave dis place here yazimme!

Elder Huffaker

A First of Lasts - Again

2011-03-21T15:42:00.000-07:00

It's reached that point again. The point when things are reachin' the end, but not yet! NOT YET!

First of all, I have to send some of the photos I was supposed to send last week. The one with Elder Toutai and of us breakin' into the church because I locked the keys inside.

Last week was an adventure:

So After I emailed and shopped last week, I gave Elder Snelson a trim and then I trimmed myself. I actually had no intentions of trimming my hair for the rest of my mission. I thought about getting my hair cane-rowed (equal to what we call corn rows). However, I had a dream in which I was instructed to cut my hair. There was some quotation or prophecy about young men seeing visions and old men dreaming dreams. Somehow I didn't think that I was on the old category for dreaming dreams. But I had a dream in which I was instructed to cut my hair. Better follow the counsel. There are the before and after pics of my hair. No I did not walk around with my hair looking like a birds nest. I have hair gel I used to keep it looking nice and decent.

Wednesday was our zone meeting in Kingston at the Constant Spring building. The whole day was discombobulated. So we go down to the bus stop to get a coaster to go downtown. The conductor calls "town! town!" so we got on. Then the bus starts going the other way. I ask the conductor "you're going to town right?" "yeah". Ok..... Then we sit in Yallahs town square for 20 minutes (at least) I'm not too happy about this, because by the time we were halfway to town, I would have liked to have been there already.

Then we get on another coaster from downtown to Constant Spring. No sooner do we get on the coaster then it makes to leave. At this point I'm thinking YES! we're gonna make it on time. However, there's a police man who stops the coaster driver not more than 2 minutes after we get on the bus. So we now have to sit there for 10 minutes while he writes the driver a ticket. grrrr. We get underway again. Not 5 minutes later when he's making a pickup, he gets stopped by another police man and receives a second ticket. These tickets were for picking up passengers in undesignated places. Now we're definitely late. The zone leaders have called and want to know where we are.

Finally we reach the chapel about halfway through the zone meeting.!

On the bright side. I had one of the best lunches ever. after the meeting we all piled in to two vehicles (13 missionaries in two pickup trucks) hopefully you got the front seat. The meal was worth it however. We ate at TGI Fridays! I ordered a JD chicken and shrimp. It was somewhat costly, but so worth it. I haven't ate good chicken and shrimp like that for a long time... a long time.

But then it took another turn for the worse. Oh the bus ride back downtown was ok. However, the ride to Yallahs was ridonculous. We sat in the bus park for an hour waiting for our bus to leave while at least 6 other buses left! We were the bus at the very front, aren't we supposed to leave first! When we finally reached Yallahs, the driver totally passed up our stop. So I had to stop him at the next road. When I get off, I pay the conductor with $500 only to get $100 in return. He jumps back on before I even have time to ask for the rest of my change. I should have received $220. That day just made me mildly upset.

Friday, brought transfer calls. The last time I will receive a phone call about transfers on my mission. Oh, I still have one more, the transfer home, but the last phone call I will get for transferring. I will be staying here in Yallahs for my last transfer. Elder Snelson will not be here for my last transfer. I will be accompanied by Elder Madsen.

I do want you all to know that my mission is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I'd even put it above an eagle scout award. I always thought that old missionaries and returned missionaries had to be joking when they said, "I'd switch you places in a heartbeat" I could never understand that until now. I would do anything to do this over again.

Elder Huffaker

I Don't Have Them!

2011-03-14T11:50:00.001-07:00

This week has been a different week for sure! A few things have happened but first, I must say that I have some of the pictures that go with last week. However, on another note, I forgot my camera so I don't have the pictures that go along with today's email.

First of all. Wednesday I went on a tradeoff with Elder Toutai. I stayed here in Yallahs while Elder Snelson went down to Boulevard. Elder Toutai and I had an enjoyable time together. He's one Tongan you just have to get along with. Not like he forces you to do anything, but hes just a lovable guy.

While on tradeoff with Elder Toutai, we hit a snag. I left the keys at the church from when we were there for district meeting. Well, I locked them in the church. SOooo now we have a slight problem. We can't get in so that we can teach Book of Mormon Night. Well, luckily we left the street gate unlocked, although we did put the lock on the gate. Then, we had a spare key for the veranda. Next we used a knife to open the latch that goes into the hallway. Well, then we hit another snag. We had no way to get into the office where all the supplies are and, not to mention, the keys. This was the real adventure that took us probably a half hour. We first tried using a bobbypin we found on the ground to pop the lock in the office... no dice. Then Elder Toutai found he could open the top of the veranda window however, the bottom part was locked. So now we have to somehow open the bottom. We tried using wire and a wooden stick but that didn't work. Then we found some rebar, bent it a little and after at least 15 minutes of using that we finally got the window unlocked, climbed through and grabbed the keys and supplies so we could have our study night.

Last thing I have to talk about in the email this week is that some people are desperate. Since Elder Snelson has acquired a new bicycle, we've had to go through the process of replacing crappy parts. Saturday, his bicycle was at the repair shop and we were on foot again... grrrrr. Anyways, so as we were walking to go see a member on clerk business, a guy stops us and asks us to do an HIV test. I had to laugh a little and said, "no thanks," he says, "come on it's free and this way you can know." I said, "I already know." He didn't seem to get the point! So to get him to stop following and nagging, I did the stupid little finger prick and now I have a little paper that says I'm HIV free. I don't know how many people can say that they did an HIV test while on their mission.

Law of Chastity is a beautiful thing! Makes you know that you're clean! Don't ever forget it.

Elder Huffaker

I'm sorry, what did you ... ?

2011-03-09T15:27:00.000-08:00

This week, a lot of things happened, so you're gonna get a good email.

First! Wednesday after district meeting, we usually like to play a little 3 on 3 two-hand-touch. We only do this for about a half hour to an hour. Well, in our little skirmish this week, I had been in the unfortunate spot - under the tree branch with the wasp nests. So when the ball hits this branch, you can imagine that those little guys aren't too happy. Nope, not one bit! So, this is where the picture comes in. I received at least one bite at the edge of my eyebrow and the other behind my ear. Both on the left side. It stung so bad! So on the ride into Kingston to begin my tradeoff. One of the other missionaries in the car looks at me and says "dang Huffaker, that looks bad" My eyelid swelled up as did my ear. My ear was at least twice as thick. My eye wasn't as swollen as bad that day as it was the next morning. I dunno if you can tell a difference in the photo, but I sure felt it.

This leads to the tradeoff. I went on a tradeoff with Elder Brough - one of the zone leaders. I'm the district leader over them so that means I get to do all their baptism interviews that do not require the mission president. So I did my first baptism interview, ever! Sister Dakin was really quiet at first, but then she lightened up and was even laughing by the time I left. She was baptized Saturday.

Shortly after the interview, we met up with the Assistants for a dinner appointment. Talk about the nicest house you'll ever be in while on your mission. It's nicer than the mission home. We had an extravagant dinner. Cloth napkins and salad plates. WOW! The Langley's were very kind to us. Bro. Langley owns at least one gas station in Kingston and he's worked with Texaco for years.
After I got back, Elder Snelson began taking me around to new investigators that were found while I was gone. One that we didn't see til Saturday, Denny, is an interesting man. Elder Kraus and Elder Snelson answered 8 of his 9 questions. They left the last one to me. Well, needless to say, he didn't like the answer I gave him. I asked the question to other experienced persons and they agreed with my answer. So when he didn't agree, he went off on evolution. Evolution is correct, to an extent. I'm sorry on this but... WE ARE NOT RELATED TO DINOSAURS. He said that we are descendants all the way back from the dinosaurs. So I asked, "we are descended from dinosaurs?" - "yes" - "really? which one(s)" - "well, uh, not actual dinosaurs" - "but you just said" - "no, I mean there were mammals that we descended from. you know, the one percent of life that remained after the last meteor hit the earth."

WHATEVER!

Last thing for this week is Elder Snelson made some delicious cake mix cookies. All you do is make your cake mix like normal, but instead of pouring it all into a pan, you just take out cookie sizes and bake them! They were good and I recommend the chocolate flavor.

I didn't get all the pics I wanted this week, because other missionaries have them. I'll hopefully have the rest of this weeks pics for you next week.

Elder Huffaker

You've got to be kidding me!

2011-02-28T15:44:00.000-08:00

Do you ever feel like sometimes you've got everything going for you, then all of a sudden something happens that could possibly leave a black mark - something that goes on your school record, your family name back to father Adam and will haunt you for the rest of your mortal life?

Talk about a such an encounter. Never had too much of a problem with possessions before. Although, once I did get my sunglasses stolen while I was serving in Linstead. This time, it was something bigger. It wasn't MY possession so much. Elder Snelson's bicycle was stolen last Monday night. We stopped by the church to take care of a few things and when we finished and we went to leave, Elder Snelson asked where his bicycle was. At first I thought he was joking, because he went outside first and I followed in about 2 min. Then I realized, he wasn't.

So all this week, we've been walking. I haven't done walking like that since I was in Old Harbour. I thought my feet were well calloused and up to the task. Boy was I wrong. Looks like riding a bicycle can make you go soft! I have acquired a few more blisters and some sore feet, but otherwise, I'm in good working order.

Wednesday was a tradeoff. Elder Snelson went into the Boulevard Elders area for the day and I stayed here in Yallahs. Elder Wilson was with me and Elder Toutai with Elder Snelson. It was a good tradeoff and went well - at least on my end. When we traded back, it was a little messed up. We ended up waiting in downtown Kingston for about an hour. Elder Toutai overspent for the month so he had to have the Office Elders pick him and Elder Snelson up and take them to downtown. While waiting, the airport was in sight and we watched a couple planes take off. 9 weeks is so close and I don't want it to get any closer. Do I really have to put Jamaica behind in so short a time?

Elder Huffaker

You Need Pie

2011-02-21T08:45:00.000-08:00

Well since I've received my second Christmas package, I have made a mincemeat pie... so to speak.

If you notice in the pictures, it's not exactly a pie pan. It still tasted good - mostly. The crust was a little on the salty side. I think part of the problem was I don't actually have measuring utensils!

Last Monday, I tried a new fruit. It's called Neesberry. It looks a lot like Kiwi and has a very grainy feel in your mouth. It's not exactly a favorite, but it tastes better than guava.

Sorry I'm not writing much, but I'm a little short on time today. Lastly, Elder Kraus had his birthday on Wednesday. So we floured him at district meeting. Well the flour buyer bought too much. SO what do you do with leftover flour - GET EVEN! SO everyone else got floured back. Lemme tell ya, it's no fun being blinded by flour. It stings really bad. It's ok anywhere else, but in your eyes.

I've got a tradeoff with the Kingston Boulevard Elders this week, so hopefully I'll have some good pics next week.

Wishing ya all the best of a week.

Elder Huffaker

Transfer Week

2011-02-17T07:53:00.001-08:00

I dont know how many of you have served missions. But when it comes to transfer week, it can be very exciting, except when you are not involved.

So, in case you missed the bulletin last week. Elder Snelson and I are still staying together in Yallahs. I did hear a rumor that I might move next transfer (great nothing like a last transfer move). So, on Wednesday, it was a full proselyting day. I kinda like the little missionary meeting breaks that we get on Wednesday mornings. So it throws me off if come transfer week nothing really happens.

In other news. Every companionship in our zone changed except for the Portmore Elders. SO, in my district is still Elder Toutai in Boulevard and Elder Brough as one of the ZL's. Elder Toutai is now with Elder Wilson and Elder Brough is now with Elder Kraus. Nothing like having a district that is younger than you.

Thursday, Elder Brough had me come down to Kingston for a tradeoff while Elder Kraus came up to Yallahs with Elder Snelson. I got loaded on sugar on this tradeoff. First we had dinner at a members house with doughnuts for desert. Then I got my second Christmas package, FINALLY. Dad's cookies were still good so more sugar there. Later we went to the Flakes for cheese crispers and lemon cake. Friday morning Elder Brough brought me a bowl of brownie slices and for lunch was banana cream pie. I think I've got a workout to do this week to get it all off. However, I got my package which means mincemeat pie!

Last week I mentioned a man we're teaching from California. I don't know how to say this, but it's kinda weird. Teaching a Caucasian person in Jamaica! He's doing fairly well and we've been able to see him pretty much every day since Thursday. It was hard for the initial contact after Saturday, but now he wants us there every day!

Take care this week

Elder Huffaker

What a gwon?

2011-02-14T00:16:00.000-08:00

So district meeting this last Wednesday was very good. First of all, I made a pineapple upside down cake - I haven't made one since Sav. I brought the cake which was to be part of the lesson. I used an object lesson that Elder Boyd K. Packer used when he was a mission president. I talked about how the gospel is sweet and desirable. But when we take it with out hand and throw it at investigators, they don't want it and neither does anyone else. I threw the first piece at Elder Brough. The reaction was perfect. Then you dish out the cake and everyone wants it. The pictures are of our district - Elder Brough is sitting in the back/middle and later turned around with the yellow stain from where the cake hit him.
Thursday I had an interesting experience where for a while I lost my sunglasses. I left them in the taxi on the way to Morant Bay. Somehow - miracle - we got the same taxi for the ride back and there they were sitting on the back seat where I sat on the way over.

Saturday brings my next amazing experience. The Lord is always preparing people. When we missionaries don't find them, they find us. We met a man that is truly down on his luck. He's from Santa Rose California and moved to Jamaica and has been living here the last 5 years. He was truly humble and we immediately gave him a Book of Mormon and committed him to read it. We are following up ASAP. We never know who the Lord has prepared or where they are.

Elder Huffaker

How You Know

2011-01-31T09:19:00.000-08:00

This week, I have nothing new to really write about. So, I thought I'd take the time to explain how you know when a missionary is getting old.

First off: You know a missionary is getting old when the he passes 18 months and is on the last 6 months of his mission (October 3)

Second: You know a missionary is getting old when he starts reading the Doctrine and Covenants backwards to start his countdown (I just finished Section 93 today)

Third: You know a missionary is getting old when he starts having dreams about going home rather than missionary work (These aren't day dreams)

Fourth: You know a missionary is getting old when he starts leaving decisions up to his companions (It's happening more and more)

Fifth: You know a missionary is getting old when he starts asking other missionaries what their plans are for returning home (I got none)

Sixth: You know a missionary is getting old when he gets a phonecall in the middle of emailing asking where the closest airport is to your home (I just got it a few minutes ago)

Seventh: You know a missionary is getting old when the collars of his shirts start fraying (Mine have been doing that for a while)

Sorry I've got no pics, but I'll try and get some next week
Elder Huffaker

P.S. if you want to add more to the list, feel free

A Week of Sorrow

2011-01-25T23:46:00.000-08:00

I'm sure many of you have heard the news. Elder Walker was hit by a stray bullet last week on Monday on the way back to Kingston from Spanish Town. He returned home almost instantly. There were seven other missionaries in the van.

This is how the missionaries in the van were situated:

~Front!~
__________
(B) (E) Elders Brough and Emery
(T) (L) Elders Toutai and Luke
(W) Elder Walker
(K) (N) Elders Knowlton and Nelson
____ _(O)_ Elder Ostberg

The bullet came in through the back window and hit Elder Walker in the left temple. It was a tragedy to all of us missionaries.

For more information on the matter, please consult my mom.

Next in news. President Hendricks came to district meeting last Wednesday. I think it had something to do with the fact that all of our zone, except Elder Snelson and I, were involved in the incident regarding Elder Walker. He also interviewed Elder Snelson and I after the meeting and we had a good chat and I also got a few doctrine related answers while I was at it.

Next, we have the amazing super planning on Friday. Elder Snelson received some summer sausage in his Christmas package. Soooo, I broke out a tin of cheese I had been saving and we purchased some Ritz Crackers knockoffs and enjoyed our weekly planning session.

Sunday we travelled down with the Daniels to Kingston to stay the night at the zoneleaders house. But before they took us to the zone leaders house, we stopped and ate dinner at the Schaefermeyer's house. While there Elder Schaefermeyer showed me a video that I ask you to watch on youtube. It's called Two White Girls Pon a Minibus. This kinda relates the experience of travelling via public transportation in Jamaica. The head out the window thing is the only difference. People can't really do that anymore.

Yesterday, the zone leaders took us to Spanish Town for Elder Walker's memorial. Elder Coleman and his wife were there as were President Hendricks and his wife. All four of them spoke. Elder Coleman represented the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve, and the Carribbean Area Seventy. It was a good service. I also got a picture of me and my protege's.

Elder Huffaker

Note from Marilyn:
Brandon's comment of Elder Walker "returned home" -- refers to his death, and returning home to our Heavenly Father. I liked the comment I read on one of the senior missionaries' blogs: “Elder Walker's life was cut short, but his mission was extended”. And President Hendricks' affirmation that, “God is in charge.” You can email me if you have further questions about this, at PaintedFlower@aol.com.

Tragedy in Kingston

2011-01-18T07:03:00.001-08:00

From Marilyn:

Yesterday afternoon, we heard the sad, sad news that Elder Walker was killed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and the missionaries there in Jamaica. At this time, we don't have any additional information about it, but it was P-day, and I believe several elders had gotten together for a p-day activity together. I'm sure Brandon will have some details for us in his email next week. Brandon knew and was friends with Elder Walker, and served as his companion when he spent one transfer in Kingston, last September. Elder Walker was one of the Jamaican missionaries that serve in their own country. This photo of Brandon with Elder Walker was taken last September:

The Church issued this statement yesterday:

"Our hearts are heavy with the news that Elder Jermaine Luther Walker from Kingston, Jamaica--serving in the Jamaica Kingston Mission--was killed today. He was hit by a stray bullet while he and seven other missionaries were returning to their apartments after a preparation-day activity. It appears the van they were in was caught in the crossfire as local police were pursuing another vehicle. Elder Walker was immediately driven to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Although shaken, the other missionaries in the van were reported in good condition. Our thoughts and prayers are with Elder Walker’s family and all who knew this fine young man."

** I mistakenly posted that Brandon and Elder Walker had not been companions. I've edited this post to show that they were.

Now what...

2011-01-17T09:47:00.000-08:00

So now I need something else to talk about this week.

First off, the zone leaders came up Wednesday afternoon and followed Elder Snelson and I around to see how we do. I'm sure a few people were intimidated when they see four white Mormon missionaries coming up to them. We had a good time though; this included our weekly study night that we have at the church. Only one member showed up sadly, but we had a ton of laughs along with our lesson. Plus Elder Brough is always happy to hear "The Matterhorn".

The Matterhorn is so named by my favorite companion who has probably heard it the most: Elder Gantt. Some of you may be familiar with the way I laugh, and when I get into a laughing fit... well, let's just say it gets hard for me to breathe. So imagine if you will when you fill a balloon full of air and then you pull the stem/neck to let the air out and it makes a annoying noise. Same basic concept. Except, I sound like a matterhorn. Personally I think it's more like a donkey braying.

We also had zone conference Thursday morning. The zone leaders drove us down since they stayed the night Thursday night. It was a good zone conference and very long. Elder Snelson and I didn't get back until the evening time.

It's also mango season again. It's my last one so I gotta get em while they're fresh!

PICTURES!

Anakay and Shauna-kay begged a photo

Then they snapped one of me - without permission:
And I thought mom would get a kick out of the Copacabana:

Elder Huffaker

Finding Myself at a Loss for Words

2011-01-10T09:58:00.000-08:00

This week... what to write about... I really don't know.

Really, the only thing that happened this week is zone meeting. That was in Kingston. It actually kinda turned into a district meeting. It was weird. Afterwards we went to eat at Chilitos. It's a Jamexican restaurant. After the zone meeting, Elder Snelson and I went over to the new mission office to take care of a few things and pick some stuff up.

Now I really don't know what to talk about....

This is why you are supposed to ask questions and ask me to take pictures of certain things.

Not much is happening. It was a very standard week for Elder Snelson and I. Although, Elder Snelson did get a wakeup call. Mostly I do the talking/teaching in the lessons. He's very quiet and shy. Well, one investigator let Elder Snelson have it. She wanted a lesson without my interrupting. In all honesty, I think it was for the better. Elder Snelson needs to get out there and talk. He did an ok job. Definitely has room to improve, as do us all.

Sorry no pics ...

Elder Huffaker

Coincidence? I think not!

2011-01-05T10:51:00.000-08:00

Well, another year has come and gone. But before the new year arrived, we had transfers on Wednesday. Elder Snelson and I stayed here in Yallahs, so nothing special there. It was just 3 full proselyting days back to back. It feels weird when we proselyte on Wednesday mornings instead of meetings and I dislike not being involved in transfers. Not that being with Elder Snelson is bad, it's just so fun with the moving around of missionaries and all.

Wednesday night we have a study night at the church. We read from the Book of Mormon and talk about what it contains. Well, afterwards, I thought I'd be nice and give Jamaicans a little taste of America! I brought mom's poppyseed bread over and gave those who attended a slice. Ever since then They've been asking me, "When are you gonna get some more. Tell your mom to send more! We want the recipe!" Yeah, I like it too.

New Years Eve isn't anything special to us missionaries. In fact, I think every 6 months in our mission is more important! I dropped asleep before midnight even rolled around. Not like I'm really doing anything to keep me awake either.

Elder Snelson received his Christmas package a little late, but that's ok. It was what was inside. Somehow we both received ties for Christmas from the same company with the same design only a different color. Check the pics!

Elder Huffaker

P.S. from Marilyn:

I'm actually shocked that Brandon shared the poppy seed bread. He loves it so much, I thought it would be a stretch to give just his companion a slice! It's definitely a family favorite.

Also, he forwarded some mission group photos to me, from the Christmas Eve gathering in Kingston, so I am posting those as well. Can you find him? He's near the center, and one of the 3 missionaries standing between the back row and the second row from the back. (Clear as mud, right?)

Christmas ... Round 2

2010-12-27T08:05:00.000-08:00

This week and getting ready for Christmas has been hectic. More so than any other time, or at least so it feels.

As part of being branch clerk, I get to take the deposit to the bank each week. Well someone decided to close the banks in Jamaica at the most ridiculous time of the day. 2:30 p.m.! It has nothing to do with Christmas either, this is for any other Monday through Thursday in the year. So when I went to take care of the deposit on Tuesday, we left Yallahs and reached the bank in Morant Bay at what time?... 2:30 p.m.! The doors are LOCKED! You cannot come in at closing time. I was more than miffed about the matter. I basically wasted $240 JD for nothing. So Elder Snelson and I had to go back on Wednesday. GRRRR

Then most of the week was spent getting ready for our branch Christmas social for Thursday night. Elder Snelson and I pretty much spent Thursday running around getting every last thing that was not acquired during the week. The social was well attended and went fine on Thursday, but getting ready for it was a big pain.

Friday was our Christmas party for missionaries... see photos. There was singing and skits. Pres. Hendricks made the comment that if Pres. Uchtdorf can talk about the Grinch in the Christmas devotional, we can watch it. So we watched the cartoon version and also Mr. Krueger's Christmas. I got a kick that Jimmy Stewart has a cat named George.

Saturday being Christmas was spent with joy and bliss. Getting to talk to family was so nice! Wish some of you could have been there.

TA-TA

Elder Huffaker

Hustle and Bustle

2010-12-27T07:28:00.000-08:00

(Brandon's letter from December 20, 2010)

Even though it's Christmas and it doesn't affect us too much as far as getting presents, dinner supplies, etc.; it doesn't change the fact that us missionaries are always on the move.

First off, After emailing on Tuesday last week, Elder Snelson and I went back over to the Meddows yard and worked some more on the pile. We are now halfway through the pile! While going through this pile, we found forty-leggers. These things are deadly if they bite. We found a couple of them and they were killed on sight. Not the biggest ones I've seen, but enough to do some damage. The other thing we found were snakes. I don't know what kind of snakes they were, but they were silver, pink and brown in color. It was kinda a glossy color at that.

Wednesday after district meeting, the zone leaders took Elder Brough and I out to Morant Bay while Elder Snelson stayed in Yallahs with Elder Toutai. While there in Morant Bay we picked up some supplies from a building supply store for a member. It was kinda weird. There wasn't really an order to things and I'm surprised I got through. We had sheets of zinc and lumber going from the tailgate to the cab (on top) it was a sight to see and I had no camera. It was an adventure when we went to take the supplies to the members home. We tried to take the upper road, only to find out that the wall had collapsed at one part. So we had to back up (no space to reverse) and take the lower road. We were stoked that we made it backing up.

Friday was another rain dumping day. Thankfully we were inside when it started and it stopped long enough for us to get out the door and start down the road before it began again. It was kinda miserable Friday just to get wet and dry repeatedly.

Lastly, I dunno if I talked about this last week or not, but Elder Brough and I along with our companions sing the twelve days of christmas, adding one day for each day. Yesterday was seven swans a swimming and today we will add 8 maids a milkin'!

The pics are of Yallahs from the hillside overlooking it. I tried to get a closeup of our house, but there are a lot of trees in the way.

Merry Christmas
Elder Huffaker

12 Days of Christmas

2010-12-27T07:16:00.000-08:00

(Brandon's letter from December 14, 2010)

It's getting closer, it's true! In fact Elder Brough and I are singing one more line of the song to each other for every day that we get closer.

Not included in the song is about missionaries in Jamaica! This week we had a service project at the Meddow's house. There is this "pile" in the back yard. They share the house with a couple other tenants, and one of the tenants made this pile! The pile is composed of: decomposing garbage, dirt and rocks. Well the landlord isn't the happiest. So we were asked to come move the pile. The rocks get pushed off to the side, the dirt goes in a ditch around a tree and the garbage.... well it gets raked up for burning. It was quite unexpected to find the rocks, but the dirt and the garbage I expected. I thought it was gonna be easy until I found the rocks.

Wednesday we had zone meeting. This was also part of getting ready for the Christmas party we missionaries have. Each zone is asked to perform a skit. Well, we got one. Our skit is to start off doing a "Christmas can-can" we'll then stop in the middle of it and change to the Haka! I made the mistake of calling it a Samoan Slap Dance. NO! NO! NO! Elder Toutai is a Tongan.

After we practiced the Haka for a while. The Flakes and the Herberts, senior couples, fed us a lunch of waffles and oranges. Oranges aren't always orange down here. They also have green skins!

Hoping for a baptism this week.

Elder Huffaker

What Week?

2010-12-27T07:00:00.000-08:00

(Brandon's letter from December 6, 2010)

Since last week, different things have been happening.

First off, Our district meeting was a companionship short. The zone leaders went to zone leader council, so we it was a little quieter in district meeting, but I think it was still a good district meeting. The Flakes, who is the senior couple in our district, gave us missionaries 150 dollars credit at a local members shop. So I bought a huge pineapple and I'll show you how we eat them down here! Then, I got a phone call from Elder Daniels. He's the branch president, in case you forgot. He asked me to call home! WHAT!!! Call Home! you gotta be kidding me. Well it was on church business. I need a fax from my bank back home for a bank down here. It's turned out to be a real hassle.

Then, about two months ago, I mentioned one of our members that grows orchids and gave us some. Well she gave us more and then I saw that some of them weren't growing in pots at all! They were growing in coconut husks! So I had to get a picture of that. How often do you see plants growing in plants?
Finally, today we had a zone basketball in Portmore. That's why I'm emailing so late today. But we had a good time.

Merry Christmas
Elder Huffaker

why......?

2010-12-27T06:41:00.000-08:00

(Brandon's letter from November 29, 2010)

So this week has had it's ups and downs. I won't share with you the downs so much as I will the ups.

First off, I saw Elder McGrath, well I guess Bro. McGrath, last p-day. I couldn't believe it. I've never seen a missionary return so soon to Jamaica after their mission. He went home about the first week of October (basically when I was transferred with Elder Jarman). I was so astounded to see him, but it was really cool.

Then, have you ever been asked a question that just makes you go.... what?, why......? Well, if not, just wait till you get 3 separate individuals who come up to you and ask, "What deoderant are you wearing?" Lemme tell ya, you probably have the look of like a deer in the headlights. It wasn't men asking me either. So you really gotta wonder, which side of the breeze are you standing on. Well, at least I know I've got the right brand.

Then we had the zoneleaders over on Wednesday. We travelled around in their truck, which was a nice break from biking everywhere. We did pass the ocean and Elder Emery said, "I gotta get some pictures of this." So I got some too.

Love Elder Huffaker

P.S. the butterfly landed on me!

ummm

2010-12-13T06:43:00.000-08:00

(Brandon's letter from November 22, 2010)

Well, I don't really know what to tell you this week because not much really happened.

First off, Elder Jarman left Wednesday morning. The Assistants came and picked him up and dropped off my next trainee. While we were waiting, it was dumping rain. So Elder Jarman and I had a little fun. Then we decided it would be funny if my new trainee saw me in a wheel chair sitting out on the veranda thinking I was incapacitated. So when Elder Snelson showed up he had this look on his face like "this is my companion?" It was really cool. I didn't keep the charade for very long.

I'm still the district leader for Yallahs and Boulevard Elders. Just enjoy the pics from last week and this week!

What a WEEK!

2010-11-17T06:51:00.000-08:00

This week, we've had our share of excitement and activities.

First off, Elder Jarman played a local board game called Ludi (lou - dee) with a few Jamaicans. Ludi is a game for up to four players. We've played it and thought we were pretty darn good. So we challenged a couple of Jamaicans to a game. They are friends of a member here. We made a deal. We win they come to church, they win, we give em a small pack of cookies. Let's just say the game didn't turn out in our favor. It was a very close game though.

Wednesday we had our second district meeting EVER this transfer. We played a game of Fly-up afterwards. It was pretty fun. I then went on a tradeoff with one of the Boulevard Elders, Elder Brough. Elder Ostberg stayed in Yallahs with Elder Jarman. I had a great time with Elder Brough. This included a reuniting with a very sorely missed "friend" (see pics). I couldn't believe it. Over 18 months and I finally got a taste of Dr. Pepper! I was so stoked that Elder Ostberg was so nice. Then I saw... their tower. Now I wonder if he really was being nice.

Yesterday, Sunday, I was sustained as the local branch clerk as well. Now I have a calling here, so I figured I must be staying for transfers, which are this week. It didn't surprise me too much, other than, I'm a missionary and we get moved around. However, I've been acting as the branch clerk since I arrived.

Then, we got our transfer calls last night. I will be staying in Yallahs, but not with Elder Jarman. I have been asked to train a new missionary, again. I couldn't believe it! Elder Jarman is being sent to Sav la Mar! I know he's gonna have a good time there. Elder Brough, who is in my district, is also training. That's 2 out of the 3 new missionaries coming.

From Marilyn: Apparently Brandon could not get his photos uploaded; we'll watch for them next week!

wHaT!?

2010-11-14T17:32:00.000-08:00

Well, as I'm sure you are all aware. We had a tropical storm/hurricane. So last Monday was prepping for the storm and getting all our supplies. AND WE WAIT.

Wednesday I went into Kingston for a leadership meeting with Pres. Hendricks and the Assistants. It was pretty good, except for the fact that I pretty much sat there all day. Elder Jarman went to Portmore for the day. When I finally got Elder Jarman back and reached Yallahs, it was 7:30 at night, and we left out at 5:00 in the morning. LONG DAY!

Then we had our "storm". Thursday was as quiet as all get out! I've never seen a place in Jamaica so quiet. We couldn't really teach anyone because they would lock themselves in their homes. This storm was supposed to hit Thursday morning, then Thursday afternoon, and then Friday morning. I'm sittin' here thinkin'.... what storm? It just drizzled a little and they got everyone worried about that. Well, I guess you can never really predict these things, better safe than sorry. But I'm still trying to figure out where the storm went.

Apparently it turned into a hurricane after it passed Jamaica and was on it's way to Haiti.

Friday was kinda interesting at our Friday night activity. We had two investigators that came (we had more than two but these two made it interesting) that also happen to be sisters. Well every game we played, I think they were out to get each other. Especially when it came to a water game. They just gave it! It was pretty funny to watch. AWWW Family love!

Lastly for this week. ITS 18 MONTHS!!!! This means I burn a pair of pants! WWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Please see photos:

Elder Huffaker

Tropical Storm Tomas

2010-11-04T15:32:00.000-07:00

From Marilyn:
Just a quick update on the weather in Brandon's area for you.

Hurricane Tomas, which is downgraded to a tropical storm (up to 74 mph winds), but expected to gain intensity, ..... is starting to affect the eastern parishes (like counties) of Jamaica today. All small craft & fishing boats have been called back to safe harbor. Brandon is inYallahs, which is in St. Thomas parish, on the south eastern coast of the island. Schools and courts are closed tomorrow. High winds and heavy rain are expected tonight and tomorrow as the storm passes through. After seeing the damage in Kingston from Tropical Storm Nicole, we know that this storm has potential to bring a great deal of harm, not only to Jamaica, but also Haiti, the Bahamas, and the Turks & Caicos islands (the last two are also part of Brandon's mission). The mission office will instruct all the missionaries about where to be, and we know Brandon will be smart about hunkering down when necessary. Please keep him and the missionaries and people there in your thoughts and prayers. We hope Brandon can be a blessing to those where he is serving now.

It's a Wonderful Life

2010-11-04T14:53:00.000-07:00

Well, I may not be in a black and white film that takes place at Christmas time, but being a missionary is great!

Tuesday, Elder Jarman and I had an adventure of putting up two and a half walls of a house. We used two 4 x 8 sheets of plywood, two hammers, a half lb bag of 2 in. nails, and 3 hand saws. This "little" adventure took all afternoon and left me with a blister. I remember that when it neared 5:30 p.m. all I wanted was to finish this and die! At first I kinda made light of it, but as we went along, it took its toll on me.
Wednesday we had a zone conference in Kingston. We had the area doctor, Elder Kilgore, visiting. He gave a little instruction on missionary health. He told us to drink more water. We need to be drinking 4 liters of water a day, I was at about 2. DOUBLE IT! So Thursday I did, and I've seen more bushes and walls in one day than I normally did in one week. This little fiasco is no good on my body that is used to a lower intake. So when we bussed on Saturday for a baptism (which I'll get to in a minute) I actually had to stop the bus so I could get off and go. Elder Jarman had to as well. We ended paying an extra $80 each. I'll pay an extra bit of cash as long as I don't have a wet spot on my pants by the time I arrive in Kingston.

Saturday was a baptism. Arleen Francis, who lives in Morant Bay, that we did the service project for on Tuesday, was baptized. Elder Jarman performed the ordinance. I think he was really nervous about it, because he kept asking me about it.

I'm sending pics of this week plus a few other pics I bummed off Elder Jarman.
Pictures include my white shirt after Tuesday's project, Friday Night Activity where we floured a member for his birthday, some red pea soup, our project on Tuesday, and the baptism.

I'll have to send the other pictures I got from Elder Jarman next week (red pea soup and the project)

Picturesque

2010-10-28T12:53:00.000-07:00

How do I describe this week..... I dunno, but it was good.

This week I taught my first district meeting as district leader. The Assistants decided to join us and even shared a little bit themselves. I went over "the challenging and testifying missionary" by Alvin Dyer. The Assistants said it was good except to get my district more involved next time. Oh well. After district meeting we went out to see one of the mission vehicles. They just switched over to Mitsubishi pickups. They look pretty good and still have that new car smell. mmmmmmmmmmmmm

After the district meeting, I went on a trade off with Elder Edwards, who is one of my zone leaders. He seemed very complacent while he was here in Yallahs with me. Elder Jarman went to Kingston with Elder Emery and rode in a car all the time. He misses the A/C and had quite the experience eating pig skin. I can't wait till he eats some mannish water. Not to mention he took one look at chicken foot and said, "NO!"

Anyways, Friday Night Activity was a little different this week. I introduced the family game of States, except I used countries because 90% of Jamaicans only know 5 states: Texas, Florida, California, New York and New Jersey. I don't really know why these are the only 5 they know other than that's probably the only places where they go when they go to the states. Back to the game, they really had a blast with it and I think they will want to play in the future.

Saturday, we had a lot of service we were doing. First we helped clean the Meddow's shop (they're a family in the local branch), then we went and cleaned the church, then we went and purchased some plywood for another service project. Well, I'm sure most of you know the saying, "When you play with fire, you're gonna get burned." AFTER 21 YEARS, it finally bit me. While cleaning the Meddow's shop, we cleaned out their chest freezer. To speed up the process we lit some coal and put a pot of water on it to get it going. So to help the coal get started, I blew on it. Some little ember decided to pop out at my face. Got me right on my left eyelid. So then I squeeze my eye shut. No I've got burn marks on my upper and lower eye. Needless, to say, this didn't stop me and won't stop me in the future. Lesson learned, watch out for leaping embers!

Pictures include: the sky that just seemed to pop out from a painter's canvas, me kissing $2700 goodbye for the purchase of the plywood for one of the service projects, and our orchids are in bloom, except for one last white one.

Elder Huffaker

Another Week in Yallahs

2010-10-23T09:11:00.000-07:00

I dunno about you, but when you're not Lance Armstrong and you ride your bicycle all over the hills. You get pretty tired. So tired, you can't stay awake in studies.

Anyways. Well, we had zone meeting last Thursday in Kingston. Well this is great an' all, but the last elders had a car and we don't really know how long it would take us to get there. So we left out at 8:00 for the 10:00 meeting. One bus to Kingston, another one through Kingston, plus walking time to the church building equals 10:40!?! We were really late. I think the bus we got on to go through Kingston took the scenic route. Not to mention it stopped every 2 minutes to let people on and off. grrrrr STOP RINGING THE BELL!!!

We also had the fun experience of making rice and peas. It's not my first time, but the gas ran out. So the rice and peas turned to mush. Elder Jarman ate it still, but I've got to make another batch for him.

Then we rode up the side of the mountain. It takes about an hour to go up and only 10 to come down. But I did slap the bull! :)

We also got to enjoy some local ice cream cake. It's more like a 2 inch layer of ice cream with cookie around the outside.

Lastly, they've been building up a levee for the river to help control flooding. This involves a bull dozer. So when we rode by last night and it was parked, we decided. Hey! WHY NOT?

~short, simple and to the point. PLUS picures are worth a thousand words. Here's seven thousand words~

Elder Huffaker

First Week on the Job

2010-10-15T08:03:00.000-07:00

Well, week one is now finished as far as training Elder Jarman goes. We did have some interesting times this week. Thankfully we had a member here who was willing to show us around and get acquainted with the members and investigators. We've been climbing up hills and chopping yards.

Along with all of that we got flooded.... again! Well I wasn't in Portmore this time. Saturday night brought some heavy rains brought water pouring down the mountain side. Our entrance was blocked off and so we had to climb up the mountain and come around a different way to get home. We were drenched and Elder Jarman broke his bicycle crank. Not only did it break, but was lost. It fell into some water and we tried to find it, however it was dark and the water was all muddy. So with wet clothes comes..... ANOTHER MISSIONARY CLOTHING DRYING MOMENT. (was that too long?)

Before the rains hit us Saturday morning. We stopped by a recent convert who grows and sells orchids. She even lent us out two of them which we are keeping on our veranda. We've got a purple-white one and an all white one. The purple has had another bloom since the photo was taken, but still nothing from the white. The member said she's trying to collect all 43 different color varieties!

Yesterday, I had to take over conducting the branch. It was kinda formidable, but I managed. I also ended up teaching Sunday School and Priesthood class. One of the former missionaries here was the branch president, so since he's gone, I've basically been given the responsibilities. Pres. Hendricks should be here this Sunday to set apart a new branch president.

We also have a brand new senior couple attending the branch here. They're training to be the new office couple. They're the Daniels from Mesa Arizona. We figure that either Elder Daniels or I will be called as the next branch president.

The Daniels did want to go out and do some missionary work, so we went to Morant Bay to see an investigator. On the way back, I got these pics to go with. It was getting kinda dark so sorry if it's difficult to see. It's the ocean and this falls along the road.

Elder Huffaker

P.S. I received a phone call from the Assistants last week. I'm also the District Leader.

P.S. from Marilyn:

In case you were wondering, a Branch President is the leader of a local congregation. Since the Church is pretty small in Jamaica, there aren't wards (larger congregations), only branches -- which are smaller. Yallahs is just a little east of Kingston, on the southern coast. Morant Bay is a little further east, still on the coast.

Singing

2010-10-06T16:09:00.001-07:00

There are many reasons to sing!

First you can sing in the rain! It rained all last week until Sunday, when it finally stopped. Tropical Storm Nicole hit us on Wednesday. Sad to say, I was out in it for a good portion of time on Wednesday night. A little rain doesn't hurt missionaries, but a lot... well that makes us a little more than upset. To make a long story short, we had to have the Assistants come and rescue Elder Branson and I from Portmore. We didn't get home til after 10:00 p.m. For full details, please email mother Huffaker as she will be getting a snail mail with complete details (hopefully she'll post it on the blog too.) So most of last week involved getting wet or staying inside.

You can also sing when General Conference comes around and the person conducting the session says, "The choir and congregation will now sing..." So we attended General Conference last weekend and heard some really good talks. To me, a lot of it seemed to be focusing on us. As far as our character goes. I believe Elder Scott put it in pretty plain terms.

Also, you can sing as you work. I know whistling is a bit more common, but Elder Ostberg came to Kingston for a few days. They moved Elder Walker to the Boulevard house with Elder Ostberg's companion since both of them have to stay in. We really just worked Friday, since Saturday and Sunday was conference.

Lastly, you can sing to your new companion. That's right! I am now in Yallahs and training a new missionary. His name is Elder Jarman from Riverdale Utah.

So when things in life are bad or good. SING!

Elder Huffaker

Here are some of the photos Brandon sent this week. Yallahs is pronounced, "Yowl-us", and is located on the southern coast of Jamaica, a little to the east of Kingston. Brandon says it is a little smaller than Falmouth was.

Elders Huffaker, Branson, and Hoffman on Transfer Day:

Flooding in one of the main gulleys in Kingston from Tropical Storm Nicole:
Closer view of landslide damage in Kingston:
Street flooding from Tropical Storm Nicole:

Flooding on the missionaries' street in Kingston:

Lost

2010-09-28T14:32:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered either, What was I thinking, Where the heck did we end up and how did we get here, or Why did I do that?

If so, you are already prepared for this week's email.

First off, last week we cleaned out our refrigerator/freezer! As soon as we got home from purchasing our groceries, we (ME) set to it. I just handed all the shelves to my companion and we started cleaning! Needless to say, because we didn't start the freezer over night. We worked our way around that little snag. This included: heating a pot of water and putting it in the freezer, using a can opener as a chisel, and even using the iron we use on our clothes. Needless to say, the fridge looks much better and much more organized.

Then, Elder Walker has been going to the doctor's office for some back pain he's been experiencing because of a pulled muscle. Usually the office Elders give us a ride there. Well, Tuesday they told us to taxi there. So we got on a public transit bus that we thought would take us by there. NOPE! We got lost in our own branch area. Granted it's in a different area than we work, but we didn't know where we were or how we got there. So we had to call and they came and did an E-vac! Got us to the docs safely and late. When we left, we again to public transportation. This was supposed to drop us off at the main bus terminal. It DIDN'T! It drove right by, thankfully we got off before it reached wherever it was going.

Last week we also had an incident while teaching a lesson. Our investigator's neighbor showed up - FROSTED! She was totally drunk and we were totally messing with her afterwards. i.e. "Have you ever seen a white man?" "No, only on the television". There was much more said, but to just get her response was funny. Apparently this was a first for the neighbor. I hope she learned her lesson.

The Doctor Will See You Later

2010-09-28T12:29:00.000-07:00

(Brandon's letter from September 20th)

It's another week here in Kingston and everything could be going better. Of course, however, everything could be going worse.

First off, last week our washing machine broke. Soooooo, we all had to wash our clothes by hand. At first, you will think this is kinda cool and not so bad. However, by the end of doing simply a weeks worth of laundry. Your wrists will be sore and red and you might even have a blister on your knuckle. You don't need a scrub brush to wash by and nor do you need a washboard. Your clothes will get washed! This will also take you at least 3 hours to do this (considering you actually want them to be clean and not just have soapy water go through the fabric).

Along with this experience, the office Elders dropped off a new stove for us. Our last one didn't have a working oven. So I finally baked my cake on FRIDAY!

Please note: the other Elders in your house will beg and plead and trade and barter for some cake. I know my companion is making me breakfast one of these days.

Next, Elder Walker has been having some back pain. The Friday before last, we were in the doctor's office. Wednesday we went for an x-ray. Then we went back again to the doctor's office this Friday. When you go to a doctor's office here, you don't just check in and wait 5 minutes before they call you back. YOU SIT THERE AND WAIT! Elder Walker and I sat in these offices for about 2 hours (each) before they finally called him back. Then they do the whole thing in 15 minutes and say send in the next one. I don't understand where it takes 2 hours when it's just fifteen minutes in the back. Can someone answer this question, please?

Lastly, we had district conference in Spanish Town. So I got to see members from Old Harbour and Linstead! I got some pics with people I didn't get to get pics of, not to mention some of my favorite missionaries. For those of you who don't know. A district is like a stake, but not as fortunate. A district doesn't have a patriarch like a stake and it also doesn't have a high priests quorum (because it has no high priests quorum, the mission president has to interview and approve all prospective melchizidek priesthood holders). In all other respects, however, it functions like a stake. Take care everyone :D

Elder Huffaker

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY

2010-09-25T18:54:00.000-07:00

(Brandon's letter from September 13th)

WHEW! A lot has happened.

First off, I got a taste of Starfruit. It's like eating an apple, it has a core. It's yellow-green (more on the yellow) in color. It only looks like a star when you look down the core of the fruit. However, it tasted really good.

Secondly, Elder Hoffman and I were invited to go with the zone leaders out to Port Royale. (there are more pictures than this, but these are some of my choice) It was really fun and interesting to see Fort Charles. I didn't know this, but Port Royale has been hit by earthquakes twice! Anyway, it was a blast!

Wednesday, we had our first zone meeting in over a year. It was okay, we watched some new Preach My Gospel videos and practiced. It was good to see who all is in my zone though.

Thursday was another interesting experience. I had ants living in my mattress. So I notified the mission office. They sent me another mattress on Thursday. However, when the office Elders came to drop it off, it was raining and we were halfway across our area. So we tried to convince them to come pick us up... to no avail. Instead they said they were going to go run some other errands. When we finally made it home, we see them there reclined in their vehicle. OHHHHH I was a little miffed that they weren't doing anything at all and could have picked us up and made everything better for everyone.

Friday, after our weekly planning session, Elder Walker and I were picked up to got to the doctor's office. Elder Walker was getting his back checked out. We got there at one-o-clock. They finally called him back at about 3:45! I'm just sittin' there readin' my BoM away. I mean, yeah there were about 10 people there when we got there, but still. WOW!

Friday night the zone leaders came to stay the night. six elders in a four elder house with only four mattresses and one is a bunk bed. So we put three mattresses together with five elders on. Elder Walker lucked out and got the lone mattress on the top of the bunk. The zone leaders were checkin' on our planning and study sessions making sure we're taking the correct amount of time and doin' all the right things.

Saturday morning the zone leaders left and I was on tradeoff once again with Elder Hoffman while Elder Walker went to Portmore with Elder Branson to check how their area was doin'.

Lastly, we have a bit of a mouse problem in the house. Sooooo. KILLING SPREE!!! This is number three killed with at least 2 more to go.

Love
Elder Huffaker

A Full Week & a Miracle

2010-09-23T22:56:00.000-07:00

(Brandon's letter from September 6, 2010)

This week has been hectic!

To begin, Elder Walker had a leadership meeting for 3 days, starting on Wednesday and ending Friday. So, I was able to experience being with a greeny. Talk about reminiscing. Elder Ostberg is new and in training. His companion also went to the leadership meeting. So, Wednesday I was in his area... getting lost! We did not know where we were other than we were still in Kingston. He works in the Boulevard Branch while I work in the Kingston Branch. So we don't really know the other person's area. So we rode our bicycles around in the hot sun until we were content.

Thursday was his turn to come to my area. Thankfully I knew most of the places to go. One thing that he did that reminded me of when you are brand new is you just want to talk to EVERYONE! Every single person that said anything, he would stop to talk to. I don't think he was taught about people that just idle and chat you.

It was during this day that the miracle occurred. I want to make you all aware of the power of prune juice. Some of you laugh because you may know what's coming. Others of you may think what the heck can prune juice do. This is the miracle solver for people who are constipated! BOY WAS I HAPPY! The only downside to prune juice is it is THE most expensive juice. Cost me about $800 JD! That's almost $10 USD! On the other hand, I think i would rather spend the money and feel relief than to still be blocked up.

Friday ended the meetings for leadership. I was back in Boulevard for the morning and in my area by late afternoon. I received a great birthday package that I couldn't wait to open.

Saturday, Elder Walker and I had an interesting experience. I must ask if anyone has watched Beverly Hills Cop. When Axel Foley arrives and is walking down the street and sees the two people in the black and red leather outfits.... we had a similar experience. These two Jamaicans one with all green attire and the other with all blue attire. They were also wearing the weirdest and least in fashion shades. I just had to laugh and wished I had my camera.

I did enjoy a birthday, no cake as yet. I need to buy some vegetable oil. However, I also managed not to get floured this year as well. Unless something happens later today.

Here's some pics of my time with Elder Ostberg and my new living conditions:

Elder Huffaker

A Little Less

2010-09-02T11:46:00.000-07:00

Well, this week there is not much to write about.

I did experience a new food. Cowfoot - it is like a delicacy here and is usually served for special occasions. Well, it's very chewy. It kinda reminded me of the pig skin. If the bone is soft enough, you're supposed to eat it. I don't really know how else to describe it.

And, I had to make more bicycle repairs. Talk about annoying. I had to get a new hub for the back wheel. I just replaced it a few months ago. GRRRR! I also had to get a new tire.

Things are definitely different here. Not what I expected. The branch here is actually smaller than Linstead and maybe even Sav. However, Elder Walker has got to be one of the greatest Jamaican missionaries to work with.

I don't really know what else to talk about, so lemme know what you're interested it.

Elder Huffaker

WHY ME?

2010-08-25T07:43:00.000-07:00

I know it's a terrible question, especially if it's said to the Lord. However, you really have to wonder sometimes WHY ME?

Well, since last Tuesday, a lot of things have happened. First off, on Wednesday, I went on a tradeoff with Elder Brough. Elder Brough was one of the zone leaders in Spanish Town. Well, on the way down to Spanish Town to commence the trade off, There is some construction, which we thought would hold us up. We blew right through that, only to find another obstacle... Apparently a bulldozer blade hit the back of a coaster bus. All I saw was the shattered glass of the back window. I still don't know how it happened, because the vehicles were going in the opposite direction and the bulldozer was on a flat trailer of a semi. Talk about intense. The trade off went fine and I was glad to see Elder Peterson back. We got along so well.

Friday hit me like a train. I got runny belly (bad case of diarrhea). Being healthy for so long you just feel like, "Dang, why don't I get sick, I could use a break." Well, be careful what you wish for. So I took some Pepto Bismol, which helped a lot. Only to have a cold hit me on Saturday! I've been taking Benedryl for the past couple of days now.

Saturday was the day we received our transfer calls. Around 3 - 4 p.m. we get a bunch of phone calls from other Elders with the exact same phrase, "Have you elders received your transfer calls? Do you know where you're going?" NO! So we get the news about where everyone else is going. Then at 6 p.m. Elder Peterson gets a phone call from Pres. Hendricks. He says you'll be staying in Linstead to train. OK........ what about Elder Huffaker? The Assistants were supposed to call him. So we wait. An hour later we call the zone leaders. I still don't know what's happening to me. 8:15 rolls around and finally they decided to call me (probably the last one on the island to get my call) and they're all apologizing saying we're sorry we forgot you. How can you not forget me. I HAVE TO MOVE!

So that brings us to Sunday. I didn't want everyone at the branch to know I was leaving. Only a few of the members that I was able to get to know. So, Sunday afternoon we went around to say goodbye to a few people. When we get surprised with a dinner plus dessert. Now this threw us off, because we always have a set dinner appointment at 8:00. DOUBLE DINNER = TROUBLE! Elder Peterson and I have already gone through this predicament twice before. I don't think he learned from it. So, during our second dinner, I ate about 2/3 and said thanks I've had all I can eat. He FINISHED his and when we left, we hadn't even made it to the corner of the street before water, rice and peas start coming back up. Poor guy. I hope he learned this time around.

Lastly, transfer calls means the transfer itself. All the zone leaders met up in Spanish Town. We were picked up by the Ochi Elders. Once in Spanish Town, I loaded my stuff into the mission bus along with all the Elders going home this transfer and plus one more who was getting transferred to Portmore. Well, the Assistants are thinking, ok, Portmore, we need to go there to drop this Elder off. Well, they forgot that the Portmore house is having a few problems and that they were staying in Kingston. So we took a scenic route through Portmore and here I am in Kingston with Elder Walker, who is a Jamaican.

Please remember to big up yourself this week.

Elder Huffaker

P.S. from Marilyn
Perhaps "big up" is Jamaican Patois for, "Have a good one!"

More New News...

2010-08-18T15:49:00.000-07:00

Wow! Things are blowing by so fast and lots of things are happening. Where do I begin?

First off, Wednesday, Elder Peterson and I received quite the surprise. During the middle of District Meeting, our phone rings. We have certain ringtones for certain people. Helps us know how "urgent" it is. This one was President Hendricks. He asked if we were in District Meeting... yes. Ok, I'm on my way to Linstead to interview you Elders. WHAT!?! Talk about last minute. We just looked at each other with wide eyes. It's kinda interesting really. President Hendricks announced that he was only going to interview us once a quarter. It hasn't been a quarter yet.... somethings up. My interview was pretty normal, but Elder Peterson said his interview with President was about me. What he thought of me and so on. No news yet for the cause, but we suspect somethings going on in the works for me.

Then, Thursday I tried a new dish again. Sister Davis is pretty good about feeding us more than just fried chicken with rice and peas. This week we had... pig skin. Now, I know what some of you are thinking. "WHO eats pig skin?" Well, it's actually pretty good. A bit on the chewy side, however. It basically tasted like bacon - which doesn't exist down here. Normally I prefer my bacon crunchy. So from going to a crunch to extra chewy was.... interesting.

Last week I mentioned the plan to travel to Kingston. Yesterday we met in Kingston for a mission conference. I'm very glad that we got a ride from the Ochi Elders. I hate traveling. So, we listened to President and Sister Hendricks as well as Elder and Sister Anderson. President Hendricks went over 8 steps that all missions are supposed to be incorporating to better use Preach My Gospel. Elder Anderson went over the something remarkable. He talked about loving and serving God with our minds, hearts, and souls. He went on to explain the difference between these three things and how to use them. First: your mind. You have to understand something. Hence, why missionaries are to study for 2 hours every day. Second: your heart. This is your desire to do something and to be able to have the Holy Ghost testify to you. Third: your soul. Becoming what you understand and know to be true. Changing your life!

This morning, Elder Peterson and I made the trip to Portmore to play some inter-zone basketball. It was really fun and actually stayed pretty cool. Didn't have too much sun down there and thankfully no rain. It was really nice.

Next week. I will once again be emailing on Tuesday. Transfers are on Monday. So we will be getting the phone calls either Saturday or Sunday Night. So I look forward to hearing from you on Tuesday.

Elder Huffaker

P.S. from Marilyn:

"Ochi" refers to Ocho Rios, a town on the north shore of Jamaica.

A Week of Holidays

2010-08-10T00:05:00.000-07:00

As you know, last week when I emailed, it was a holiday (Emancipation Day). To top that off, Independence Day was on Friday. I must say, there weren't any fireworks. Makes me miss July 4th.... what with all the celebrating and what not.

So this week, Elder Peterson and I had it kinda interesting. Our zone leaders wanted to go on a tradeoff this week, and Elder Peterson also needed to go on a tradeoff with a companionship in the district for a baptism interview. So, on Wednesday, I stayed down in Spanish Town with Elder Caplin while Elder Peterson went back to Linstead with Elder Brough. Then on Thursday, we met in Spanish Town, where Elder Caplin and Brough got back together and I went back to Linstead with Elder Gantt (that's right, THEE Elder Gantt) and Elder Peterson stayed in Spanish Town. So that was a little hectic. Not really being able to know what had happened and what's going on in my area for those two days.

Also, during District Meeting on Wednesday, we learned that Elder Anderson, of the Seventy, will be coming to Kingston and all the missionaries across the island are to be there this the coming Monday. First off, I'm glad that I'm no longer in Sav when this is happening, because it costs an arm and a leg in missionary funds to get from one of the island to the other via taxiing. Second, this also gives me a chance to hit up a decent grocery store before the meeting begins (2:30 p.m.). Thirdly, I will probably not be emailing next week on Monday, so don't expect any replies until Tuesday. However, this doesn't mean wait until Monday morning or Monday night to write your emails. For all I know, they may still have us email on Monday.

Lastly for my email this week. Elder Peterson and I held a missionary fireside yesterday at the church. Looking at how well it went... yeah, it was good. Looking at how well it was attended... yeah, it was bad. I dunno what more we could've done to get members to come out to it. We announced it all 3 Sundays prior to having it. I mean yeah, I know there are members on a temple trip, but that's only 11 people. Anyways... we're having another one next month. Maybe we need to advertise refreshments after the fireside.......

love ya'll,
Elder Huffaker

WHAT IS THAT?!?

2010-08-06T10:58:00.000-07:00

No matter where you go in Jamaica, once you spend time in one area, you think you've seen it all. Then you get transferred....

First off, I have tried a new food, please don't hurl in your mouth..... pig tail. At least they didn't leave the skin on it. Secondly is turkey neck. I've had chicken neck before while in Jamaica, but not turkey neck. Turkey neck is a lot easier then chicken neck, but still good meat as long as it's cooked right.

Nextly, Here in Linstead we usually get a fog every night. This brings out moisture loving animals. I don't know where they come from or hide during the day. It's not like we're near the ocean. But we see snails around here. So one night when we were coming home. On the road to our house was this giant snail. At first I thought it was a rock. Then I did a double take and I'm like "Rocks aren't usually sitting out in the road. What is that?" As I watched I noticed it was a snail. I had to call Elder Peterson over. He passed it and didn't even realize it. I made a fist and held it next to it and it was bigger than my fist. Talk about craziness.

Lastly for this week. Sunday was Emancipation Day for Jamaica. So, it was observed yesterday. This why I wasn't able to email yesterday. So, because businesses weren't open. Elder Peterson and I just played ping pong at the church, until..... A member asked us what we were doing today. Elder Peterson's reply: NOTHING. Her next comment was, "Oh good. Can you come to our yard and help us put up a pole?" Elder Peterson said, "Does it have to be today?" So we ended up going. Little did we know what we were getting into. Elder Peterson thought it was a fence pole..... REALITY CHECK. You have to know that the day before, on Sunday, they fed us dinner. So, this is like our work for our food. We end up hauling this 20-25 foot log up from the bottom of a hill to their yard. It took 5 of us, Elder Peterson and I, two members of the family and one neighbor. Me, being the biggest, gets the end of the log. It's no more than a foot and a half in diameter. I couldn't get the log into the crook between my shoulder and neck. So now, my shoulders are all bruised. Then, we have to "shave this log". We take machetes and knives to shave off the bark. Then we have to get the log into the hole. Mind you, the fifth guy (neighbor) has left by now. So we are trying to walk the log into the hole and we are already really tired from hauling it and shaving it. I'm sure this family is grateful for our help in putting up a power pole to their yard. Somehow we managed and made it back home in time to shower, do laundry and still be completely exhausted.

Due to a virus on my camera, I don't have any pictures to go with my stories. I'm waiting for a member to come back from Panama to fix it.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK :D

Elder Huffaker

P.S. from Marilyn

So I did a little checking, and it sounds like the snail Brandon saw was an "apple snail" (so named because of the size.) It would look something like this:

Week 2

2010-08-01T15:48:00.000-07:00

Well, I know I promised you pictures, but it's still not working. I know there are pictures on my camera. However, when I try to load them on the computer, I can't get them from my camera. Sorry guys :(

This week we had zone conference in Kingston. It was a combined conference with the Kingston and Spain zones. The conference started at 8:00 and we had to wake at 4:30 in order to make it. I was sooooo tired during the conference. It was hard to stay awake. It was still a good conference. After the conference, everyone went to the one Wendy's on the island. That was a twist for me. I guess that's one of the perks of Kingston is that's where all the restaurants from home are located. TGI Fridays, Wendy's, the list goes on.

Thursday's here in Linstead are about the same as in Sav. We are there in the morning time for the employment office. I guess it's the same here as in Sav. It's slowed down a lot.

Elder Peterson is an interesting guy. He's pretty much down with anything, but he's very subtle. Take it from me, there is no way that he could ever be a guy cheerleader. He is very toned down. Doesn't say much and doesn't show much emotion. He almost has a monotone when he speaks. Like he feels emotion, but just doesn't show it.

Right now, we're planning on doing a fireside here to help move missionary work along. It kinda reminds me of back home. We get into this little valley of relaxation thinking we've done our part or done enough. Truth is, we're never done. What happens when you die and reach the Spirit World, you're doing missionary work. ITS INEVITABLE!

So help out the local elders, give away a Book of Mormon today!

Elder Huffaker

In Linstead

2010-07-19T20:52:00.000-07:00

Well I am no longer able to see the sea. I'm actually inland for once. The people here in Linstead are really cool. I've met some amazing members already. I do miss a few from Sav, not to mention the terrain. Linstead is very hill as compared to Sav which was really flat.

My new companion is Elder Peterson. He's one transfer behind me in missionary time. He's the second companion I've had that's younger than me. He's also our district leader. Linstead itself isn't very big, but it's still a great place. Since transfers went down, I don't really have much to write about, but I do have pics for y'all. However, I'll have to send 'em to ya later. I can't get the pictures to load onto the computer.

Remember, I love you all and haven't forgotten about you. The church is true and the book is blue. ;)

Elder Huffaker

P.S. from Marilyn:

Brandon shared a little more information about Linstead with me. He said the branch is a good-sized branch, bigger than in Savanna la Mar, and they have their own building. The Falmouth and Lucea branches were dissolved and the members there are now to attend Mobay (Montego Bay) branch. Having served already in Falmouth, Brandon feels that it will probably result in some inactivity for the members, because now they will have to taxi to church, and a lot of those members barely scrape by.

He and his new companion are the only missionaries in Linstead. They bike everywhere, and Brandon is having some bike difficulties, made worse by being in the hills. The next nearest missionaries are in Spanish Town (6), and Elder Peterson is the district leader. Zone conference will be in Kingston (the capital).

It's Getting to Be That Time Again

2010-07-19T08:04:00.000-07:00

Well, this is the last week of this transfer. Transfer calls will either be today or tommorrow. I've been here in Sav for 4 transfers already and as such, am probably leaving. Elder McClean, who works in Negril, came back from Kingston on Saturday and said that 80% of the missionaries are moving around! Which means that many missionaries will be white washing their areas. That also means a high probability that Elder Gantt will be moving, too.

There's so many good people here in Sav, another transfer come and gone means I have that much less time left to help these people.

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In other news:
Last week, we took a little vacation in Negril and got some sights in. First off, we went to the caves! These caves are really cool. Thankfully it wasn't high tide.

There also exists bats in these caves. Elder McClean and Elder Nelson were careless enough to wake one while we were down there.

Shortly there after, we went to the light house. We got a tour of the place and got to go up top and get a really cool view. We even saw the original lanterns used back in the day. I also found out that there's 100 gallons of water at the bottom in case there's an earthquake.

Next on our tour, we went to the world famous Rick's Cafe. Where we ate lunch and watched some divers. I wish I could upload the video of the divers.

We finished up playing frisbee on the beach.

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Later this week, I had a new food dish. It's called ghetto steak. Here's the downside.... there's no steak. I had my hopes up, but I should've known better. It's really good though. It's curried chicken with some vegetables over white rice.

I'll let you know where I am next week!

Elder Huffaker

A Week of Service

2010-07-06T16:58:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, how are you? I hope everyone had a good week.

This week, Elder Gantt and I did a lot of service. We were helping the seminary teacher all week. She had her seminary graduation on Saturday which was full of games and many other things. She also asked Elder Gantt and I to take photos of the event(s). As thanks, not only is she going to cook us dinner some time, but we were also given a little gift of thanks during the awards part.

Also, I mentioned a few weeks ago that Elder Gantt and I failed on our planned exercise plan. (if that makes sense) Well, the only part we failed was the jogging part. Instead, we've been continuing indoors. I'm now up to four consecutive pull ups. I have proof - sorta.

Today, the zone leaders are taking us to Negril to go see some sights. I'm hoping to get more pictures for you next week.

Elder Huffaker

The Hurricanes Come Blowing Through, Hurrah, Hurrah

2010-06-30T12:22:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, there are no pictures nor have there been for a while. I know some of you look forward to pictures more than words, so I'm gonna try to make it up to you next week.

This week was pretty exciting. First off, Elder Gantt is our district leader. Every district meeting - for those of you who have forgotten, district meetings are on Wednesdays - we sing a hymn to start and usually I conduct the music. So when I finished I sat down right in Elder Gantt's teaching chair. When it was time for him to start teaching, I refused to relinquish the chair. So he said, "fine, you teach district meeting." I DID! I took his notes and taught district meeting. Apparently it went really well. -- This is Elder Gantt and yes it did go very well!!! --

After district meeting, I went on a trade off to Negril. I spent the time with Elder McClean. He's a Jamaican and probably the coolest Jamaican I've ever met. We had a blast together. I don't have any pictures because I forgot my camera. While I was there, I used an Irish accent and had a lot of people ask if I was from Ireland. I played some people really well. In the end, I always revealed that I wasn't from Ireland, but Elder McClean really liked it. We also saw a break-in. Nothing to worry though, apparently the place wasn't in use and hasn't been for a very long time. The next day, I did get to have lunch with the senior couple from Lucea and their grandson (who was a missionary here in Jamaica). I came back to Sav to find Elder Gantt in one piece.

Saturday, we had a really cool experience where we gave a member's mother a blessing. We've been working with the member's niece who lives with the member's mother. We've been trying to get her to come to church. Well, apparently this blessing made a huge difference. The next day (yesterday) the mother was feeling 100% better and let the niece come to church. Sometimes simple things lead to great blessings.

Elder Huffaker

P.S. from Marilyn:

Despite the title of this post, when asked about Hurricane Alex, Brandon noted that they've gotten a little weather from Alex, but nothing really bad. The missionaries are instructed to keep a few days' supply of food on hand, in case of emergencies, especially during hurricane season. Thank you for keeping him in your prayers.

A Hole in the Ozone

2010-06-24T16:34:00.000-07:00

Okay, I dunno who dun it. But someone decided that it would be the hottest thing in the world to put a hole in the ozone layer right above Jamaica. Never mind the fact that I live on a tropical island. Some person decided that we should turn up the heat a little down there. SOoooooo.... now the fan doesn't give enough of a breeze to keep you cool until a couple hours after dark. You just get drenched in sweat down here. It makes me wonder how I even survived my first summer here, and I'm on round two.

This week has been a really big struggle. Trying to get our retention up, working with less-actives and not to mention our active members. We've been talking with the new branch mission leader and hopefully we can get the members here motivated... again. About this time last year, missionary work was booming here, now it's died down. One thing I do remember is what Pres. Brigham Young said, "whenever I see trials and difficulties and think I'm about ready to give up, I know that blessings are soon to come." or something to that effect.

I kinda hinted at this last week, but one thing Elder Gantt and I like to do is listen to talks and devotionals. I was thinking about a devotional that Neal A. Maxwell gave at BYU titled, "The Inexhaustible Gospel." For truly it is, it's never ending and has no beginning. It keeps moving forward whether we want it to or not.

Elder Huffaker

Sorry I didn't take any pictures this week, I'll try harder next week.

A Week of Hurricane Season

2010-06-14T17:19:00.000-07:00

Since we're at the beginning of hurricane season, the weather here has been extremely wet. Sometimes you're like "YEAH RAIN!" and other times you're like "Ugh..... it's raining again."

This week, along with all the rain, we had zone conference on Wednesday here in Sav. We got to listen to Pres. Hendricks instruct us, and boy did he give some instruction. That's what happens when you get a mission president who used to be a temple president. We were totally blown away with some of the things he talked about. I also got to catch up with some of the other Elders on the island, seeing some new faces and some old ones.

During the week, Elder Gantt and I also started listening to some other really interesting lectures. He has it on his i-pod, so I can't get a copy, but I highly recommend it. It's Truman G. Madsen and 8 lectures on the Prophet Joseph Smith. One thing that I remember that was really cool is the comment that Joseph Smith made that there was 100 times more to be revealed about section 76 in D & C and that if he revealed it all, it would have taken up as much space as it covers right now. (There are 119 verses in that section - it's the section that talks about the kingdoms of glory) So, if you have the time and resources available, I recommend listening to it.

Otherwise, things are going fairly well down here.

Elder Huffaker

Another Transfer Gone By .... 10 out of 17

2010-06-10T15:39:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a good week..... GOOD!

Wellllllll this last week was transfers. Don't worry though, I'm not in Kingston. I'm still in Sav with the amazing, the wonderful, the stupendous ELDER GANTT.

Along with that, since we weren't sure if any of us were leaving, we were invited over for dinner at one of our favorite member's homes for dinner. While there, Elder Gantt found the wig. (see pictures)

Wigs are somewhat popular down here. It's one of threee styles that female Jamaicans will do with their hair, becuase down here, you can't just let your hair hang low. 1st style - the plait, basically their word for braiding, this includes cane rows (we call it corn rows back home). 2nd style - the cream, basically applying gel or mousse to the hair, this is how they get the straight hair look. 3rd style - the wig, when you just find the hairstyle you love, but you don't want it permanently, you get a wig. So Elder Gantt wanted a change of hair style for a few minutes.

While we were there, the little 2 year old, named Devaughney, a.k.a. "Vaughny" found our bicycle helmets. He didn't know how to wear it, but he likes the sideways look. We tried to put it on correctly, but he would change it back to this look.

Next, we made a cake on Friday, just for fun. We bought cake mix and frosting at the store. It was all rainbow chip. I thought this would be the coolest thing since the ice age. NOT REALLY! the cake turned out fine, but it didn't agree with our stomachs at all. Our mouths and minds were saying, "Wow, this is delicious!" our stomachs were saying, "Oh no it's not... GET OUT!"

This morning, Elder Gantt and I decided to set up an exercise program rather than just doing whatever. So we jogged, did pushups, pull ups (YES I ACTUALLY DID SOME FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE), and sit ups. By the time I got in the shower I wasn't sure if I should puke or get on with the day. Thankfully everything stayed down.

Have a nice day, somewhere else

Elder Huffaker

Jamaican Headliner

2010-06-02T15:47:00.000-07:00

From Marilyn:

You may have seen the recent news coming out of Jamaica regarding some civil unrest. Brandon mentions it in his email (the next post).

After last week's email from Brandon, we received an email from Elder and Sister Cheesman, who are a couple missionary in the office. They explained that last Monday was Labour Day in Jamaica, a holiday, and many internet cafes were closed. Some missionaries were unable to email. They sent their assurances that all the missionaries in Jamaica were safe, and still doing missionary work. The unrest has been localized in a specific area of Kingston (since then, it has spread a little). Brandon is located pretty far from Kingston and has not seen any violence.

We thought it was very cool that the Cheesmans would send out that email to parents of missionaries, and keep us informed. We are not worried about him, and feel at peace with him there. Please keep him in your prayers.

What's Going Down in Town

2010-06-02T15:31:00.000-07:00

Ok, to kinda brief you about what's going on in the island of Jamaica:

First off, town (see subject) usually refers to Kingston. So if someone says they're from town or if they're going to town, 90% of the time they are refering to Kingston.

Kingston has been a place where a lot of action is happening. Whatever I've picked up and am mentioning, it's all what I hear from people around me or what I catch on the news as we ride/walk by.

So in Kingston, the United States government is asking the Jamaican government to extradite a man named Dudus (doo doos - like what the dog does in the yard). Mr. "Dudus" is a drug kartel. However, he's paid off many politicians (including the Prime Minister) and in return, the political party in power is helping to hide him.

He pretty much runs a scheme in Kingston called Tivoli Gardens. It's here in Tivoli where most of the news is coming from. Many of the residents want to protect Dudus as well. So..... barricades have been thrown up, guns have been handed out - as large as .50 caliber -, and bombs have been placed. In return, the Jamaican government has sent in the police and the Jamaican Defence Force (JDF = military).

Many people have been killed and buildings (including a police station) have been burned and/or destroyed. The police and the JDF are doing searches of homes and persons.

This action and man hunt has reached Spanish Town and even the outskirts of Maypen. (please note that all in all, there are usually 14 missionaries in these areas).

In the meantime, Prime Minister Bruce Golding has publicly apologized. The United States and the oposing political party are asking for his resignation. However, he won't do it.

I don't know what is happening with the missionaries there, but everything is fine here in Sav.

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In other news:

The new Mission President, Pres. Hendricks arrived in Jamaica safely.

Also, Elder Gantt and I received a surprise visit from our zone leaders on Saturday morning with a new telephone (because ours wasn't working) and later on received a phone call from Pres. Hendricks himself. He was stopping in Sav at the church for some reason and needed directions. When he finished he called us again and wanted to meet us. So.... I met Pres. Hendricks before half of the missionaries here in Jamaica have. He seems like a really amazing person. He's very tall and still has color in his hair.

AND HERE'S PICTURES . . . . .

First up: some pictures Elder Gantt took when we arrived home during the rain.

The scenic pictures were taken on the road to Grange Hill and as I was looking at the scene I was asking myself "Am I in Jamacia or Vietnam?"

How much line does it take to hold one wet missionary's clothes?

Elder Figueroa's last district meeting. We all wore our Clarks.

Lastly: WE MADE FOIL DINNERS ON FRIDAY!!!!

Elder Huffaker

Rainy Week

2010-05-24T08:27:00.000-07:00

I'M TIRED OF THE RAIN!

It has rained everyday for the past few weeks. Well, usually we've been able to avoid it when we go in for meals. Well, one day we were running late for coming in. We were on a 45 minute ride away and about 2/3 of the way back, it started raining. Well, of course we got drenched. In the meantime, cars are driving by and just splashing these lakes of puddles on you and the water is all brown from the mud and what not. It's not like there are sidewalks to ride on, so we dride in the middle to avoid most of the lakes on the road. Eventually you have to ride through the lakes when the water comes up over your shoes while riding your bicycle becuase some car is coming and you have to give them the road.... UGH!

Wednesday was pretty cool though. After our district meeting in Negril, we got hooked up with a recent convert who works at a restaurant called Kool Runnings. Normally it costs about $2000 to get in the gate plus however much else you're going to spend while you are there. We got in for free and had an amazing lunch there.

We came back for an unexpected trade off. One zone leader and the district leader came. I went with the zone leader, in a car! We went up to this place called Kentucky. IT HAD PINE TREES! It was all the way up on this very large hill (because mountains don't exist down here) I wish that I had my camera. It was a cool view.

I appreciate hearing from ya'll

Keep writing!

Elder Huffaker

Hmmmmmm

2010-05-18T11:39:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm not sure exactly what to say this week. Things are going pretty good down here. Yesterday we had interviews with Elder Coleman. They were pretty brief because he had to go interview a bunch of other missionaries all over the island. I don't remember if I mentioned this in a previous email, but Elder Coleman used to live out in Lapwai. I don't know where in Lapwai. He also graduated from WSU. So he's one of the few people I've met that actually knows where I live. Not to mention I'm one of the few people he's met that knows where Lapwai is.

Friday, Elder Gantt and I rearranged our house. We had a little extra time after our weekly planning session, so we moved things around. We made the main room the bedroom and made the bedroom the junk room. Everything that we don't care about basically goes in that room. We also made another giant chocolate chip cookie, again. You'd think we'd learn the first time around that a giant cookie makes you sick, but for some reason it didn't stick with us.

Wednesday we had our district meeting in Negril. Afterwards, Elder Gantt and I went camera shopping since he needs to replace his digital camera. We didn't get anything while we were there, but it was pretty cool to see some of the souvenir shops there. We're going there later today.

Speaking of today, it's Elder Gantt's birthday. As tradition in Jamaica, you flour someone. Usually you flour them in their face. But I didn't. Instead I floured him in the shower this morning. At first he thought it was powdered bleach and wasn't sure what to think. Plus it didn't help that I missed his face. Anyways, so we're going to Negril later today and he's gonna look at getting himself a birthday gift.

Take it easy this week.

Elder Huffaker

Mother's Day

2010-05-11T10:29:00.000-07:00

Hello, All -- Marilyn here.

For those reading this who may not already know, the LDS missionaries get to call home twice a year, once for Christmas, and once for Mother's Day. Obviously, both the missionary and his family really look forward to these phone calls.

The details of the call can vary by mission and also from one mission president to another. In Brandon's mission, the families call the missionary, rather than the other way around. For this phone call, we were very fortunate to be able to use Skype, and actually have a video call. Brandon used the computer at the local branch on his end. We are so thankful for technology today!

In the future, we may or may not be able to use Skype, depending on the new mission president's policies, so we're glad we had it for this time.

(We were at our business, and yes, we were snacking our way through the phone call, too!)

Because of the phone call with Brandon, his email this week is perhaps a bit shorter than usual, since we'd just spoken the day before.

--Marilyn

Mother's Day Week

2010-05-11T10:25:00.000-07:00

Whew, it's been quite the week down here. I dunno, how are you guys faring?

Well, first off, zone conference was last Wednesday here in Sav. It was nice having zone conference in the area where I'm serving. We got to listen to Elder Coleman of the Seventy give instructions as he is our unofficial, temporary mission president. We already know who are next mission president is. His name is President Hendricks from Lubbuck Texas. He previously served as the temple president down there, and he's a retired FBI agent. Talk about intense!

Then on Friday, we had an amazing experience in which I got to try some curry crab. Down here they don't give you a little mallet to beat the crab shell to crack it open. You use your teeth. WOW! that was quite the surprise to me. Needless to say, I wasn't used to it, so I was the last one done.

So, news to the family. I'm sure everyone remembers when we used to sing to Elvira by the Oakridge Boys. Well, I learned that that song was written for Elder Gantt's grandmother. She used to date the singer, I guess.

Check out the pics of Elder Gantt and I with our matching ties and sox.

Elder Huffaker

What a Week!

2010-05-04T09:47:00.000-07:00

Well everyone, I hope you are doing just as good as me, because this week was interestingly amazing.

So, last p-day Elder Gantt and I decided we needed to cut our hair. I buzzed myself and had him line me up in the back. I'm sure many of you also remember that I can cut other people's hair . So, I trimmed Elder Gantt as well. Sometimes, however, barbers do make mistakes. I nicked a mark behind his ear. He threatened to shave his name into my chest. Still hasn't happened yet, so I have many sleepless nights ;).

Then, we went up to a member's house for dinner and we got to try cashew fruit. It wasn't fully ripe and it had the most bittersweet taste I've ever had. Ok, so it's more like sweet-bitter because that's how the taste works.

Then, on Friday, we made a giant chocolate chip cookie and had Jamaican cola to drink. That was a stomach killer.
Next, we received a phonecall on Saturday that Pres. Graff is no longer our mission president. Elder Coleman of the Seventy is our temporary replacement until the next one comes. No answers as to why as yet.

Lastly I celebrated my year mark with the traditional burning of a shirt.Elder Gantt and I also cooked up some spam and eggs. (Spam is a "delicacy" down here.)

Enjoy the pics!

I'm Back -- in Sav

2010-04-29T11:32:00.000-07:00

Dear Everyone!

I'm back in Sav! I finished up my week in Mandeville with Elder Wilson and Elder Allen and got a few last minute pictures on their couch.

Transfer day, last Wednesday, was hectic. We sat around all morning waiting to find out what was going on. We finally met up with Elder Keele (the new zone leader for the Mandeville zone) at about 2:00. We packed his stuff and Elder Allen's stuff in a car and drove to Santa Cruz. dropped off all the bags, and Elder Allen, picked up Elder Tracy, drove back to Mandeville, picked up Elder Gantt's luggage, and my one bag that I brought to Mandeville and headed for Sav at about 5:00. Elder Tracy then had an idea to stop for dinner somewhere. So we stopped in a town called White House and had cook shop food (which usually consists of a meat, rice and peas and steamed vegetables) on the beach. While we waited for our food to cook, we got some pictures on the beach as well as a Jamaican sunset.

By the way, if none of you could tell, Elder Gantt is my new companion. He's from Lehi, Utah. He's really cool and we've had a bunch of laughs already. I also finally got a picture of the welcome to Sav sign. Oh, Elder Gantt has already had one transfer in Sav. He was here when I was on my last transfer in Old Harbour. So, he's back for round 2.

Next, there is the infamous Donkey Cart. the Donkey Cart travels around in Sav. you will also see many other donkey carts throughout the island. Donkey Carts usually have one or two donkeys pulling a make-shift cart. This one actually had three. As missionaries, we never tell lies, but we do tell jokes. One of the jokes we tell is that when a missionary goes on a tradeoff, we say that "he got licked down by a donkey cart and had to go to the hospital" It's mildly humorous to see the facial expressions of Jamiacans when you tell them this.

Yesterday was branch conference here in Sav and both Pres. and Sis. Graff spoke. Along with them came the amazing Elder Sizemore. He returned from Bahamas and became the new Assistant to the President.

Afterwards, Elder Gantt made me go and speak to Sister Graff about my health, which has been a little low. I currently have a runny nose and wonderful fits of sneezing. I don't have a fever, but my skin is cold and clammy. Everything feels hotter to me too. I don't know why, but Sister Graff sent us home. I was supposed to get rest. Well, I just can't sit still. So, Elder Gantt and I took a broken fan and decided to disassemble it and see if we could fix it. We couldn't find the problem, so we just demolished it some more.

That's the great news for this week. HAVE FUN EVERYONE

Elder Huffaker

Mandeville

2010-04-22T09:25:00.000-07:00

Hello and how ya doin'?

Today I don't have much to share although there are some major changes:

First up, I'm currently in Mandeville. Now, it's not yet transfer week, but I had to come. Elder Hicken and I received a phone call last Monday at 4:30 in which we learned that Elder Hicken's visa expires a week early and there is no way to prolong it. So on Wednesday, We got picked up by the zone leaders and were brought to Santa Cruz. There, the assistants picked us up and brought me to Mandeville to stay with Elders Wilson and Allen. So here I am in Mandeville doing missionary work for a week (Wednesday to Wednesday) until I get another missionary to be with me in Sav.

Mandeville is a very hilly city. In fact, I've already worn down my brake pads for my bicycle and will have to purchase a couple of pairs. Another nice fact about Mandeville is this is where the church started in Jamaica and has spread out from here. In the meantime, while I've been gone from Sav, Brother and Sister Hall were confirmed.

I know everyone likes pictures, so I'm sending a few. The first three are of a strip of road between Sav and Santa Cruz called Bamboo Avenue. Hence the bamboo on either side. In the second picture, there's a car driving backwards in the other lane of the road (I'm not sure how it got in the picture, let alone why the car was going backwards). The next two are of Elder Wilson and Elder Allen (Elder Allen is the Jamaican). Lastly, Elder Wilson thought he was being funny and snapped one of me.

Now guys, I've told you, I need to know what you want me to talk about, ask questions and send requests of things you want me to talk about.

Elder Huffaker

And the squatters? As good as gone.

2010-04-22T06:35:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone. I hope you have all been looking forward to today and my email, because if you haven't, please turn off your computer right now and go back to your bed. You must be having a bad dream. WAKE UP!

Today's email is a little short. Yes, I have the time, no we didn't have anymore baptisms, and yes we did what we were supposed to.

First up, I have learned of a very interesting way of life. It's the principle of squatting. I'm not talking about what you do when you're out in the woods, I'm talking about what homeless people in Jamaica (and apparently the U.K.) can do. I was taught this by Bro. Vanriel (pictured).

Bro. Vanriel was baptized and confirmed. He currently is living out of another person's house. Well, he's looking to squat somewhere. I'm sure some of you may remember the first Shrek movie. In the movie, Shrek asks Lord Farquad to remove the squatters from his swamp. Squatting is legal. It is when a homeless person can "move in" to another house that is not being occupied. Meaning, the person has moved away or is on a very long vacation. Basically, the person can move in, and live in the house as if it were theirs. The person pays the bills and takes care of the place and everything. However, if the owner should return, the person is required to leave. A squatter must be careful, however, in that they don't get charged with breaking and entering. Thus, you can't go barging down the door. Bro. Vanriel is looking to hire a locksmith and to squat at this house until he can get going on his feet.

Later on this week, I tried what is called Tamorine (I think that's how it's spelled) It's kind of a tangy, sticky, thing that grows on trees. You shell it to get the tangy, sticky, thing and then coat it in sugar and eat it. It tastes really good.

Lastly, I made a pineapple upside down cake on Friday. Elder Hicken was very intrigued. He ate more than half the cake by dinner time. I don't think it turned out the greatest because it was spread kinda thin, but it tasted good none-the-less.

I trust everyone is doing well, please email me if you have misunderstood anything that I've stated in the past or want to know about something that goes on down here.

Elder Huffaker

Easter Week

2010-04-07T14:44:00.000-07:00

Well good morning again, class. Today we have a very interesting lesson.

First off, let's look at the missionary we were watching last week. On Tuesday, on of the Assistants to the Mission President came to visit. They taught some lessons and even got a couple of people interviewed to be baptized. We'll come back to these people later on. The Assistant was busy busy busy working with the missionaries. They had to sit down and work a few things out about what was happening. In the end, it all was good. While the Assistant was there, he enjoyed taking a nice warm shower. Apparently in Kingston, they are experiencing a drought. How do you experience a drought on a tropical island?

Back to the people who were interviewed. This couple has been visiting with missionaries for a long time. That's right ladies and gentle folks! The Halls are BAPTIZED!!!!! Friday night was the ceremony. Needless to say, the missionaries called a church brother to fill the pool for the missionaries. When they arrived 15 minutes before the baptism, the pool was still empty. They rushed in and turned on the water only to have the power go out 5 minutes later. The water flow is dependent on a pump - which runs on electricity. So Bro. Hall started to put up a bit of a fuss. Luckily the power came back on, but the water still wasn't as high as it was supposed to be, only up to their thighs. But the show must go on, and it did.

Every Friday, the missionary and his companion go through a weekly planning, where they plan out events for the upcoming week and see what they need to do to help investigators move towards baptism. Last Friday, the missionary made an interesting concoction for Breakfast that tasted quite good. In fact one missionary from Negril tasted and approved. He made pancakes, but not just any ordinary pancakes. Strawberry flavored pancakes with currants. After they were cooked, they were topped off with peanut butter and some vanilla raspberry syrup. MMMMMMMMM Tastes good.

Lastly, twice a year there is a general conference of the church. This time, the missionary didn't have to travel and got to enjoy it in his "home town". He really enjoyed the Saturday sessions. Following General Conference, he had the brilliant idea to adjust his name tag to fit the local style.

See you again next week, class!

Elder Huffaker

P.S. I'm back in Sav for this email... YEAH ME!

A Missionary's Life

2010-04-03T21:36:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone and welcome to todays new email from Elder Huffaker and what's happening in the wild wild world of Jamaica. Today we're going to zoom in on a missionary's life.

First off, missionaries go on tradeoffs at least once a transfer with their district leader. This missionary is going on a tradeoff with Elder Figueroa. Sometimes missionaries do crazy things on these tradeoffs. They like to make extra big dinners and make desserts. Watch out though, sometimes it'll give you the runny-belly.

Following a missionary's tradeoff, there may be times when there is a zone conference the very next day. So then the missionary has to wait for his companion and his tradeoffs companion to meet them before they can leave. The night before they will play a game called, "Settlers of Zarahemla" and polish shoes and iron shirts.

Then, when they get back, they have to prepare for a baptism the next night. A wonderful man named Joshua Vanriel got baptized (picture pending). Brother Vanriel trains boxers for a living and also makes castor oil.

Castor oil has a very unique smell. I dunno if I can even describe it. There is a song that goes, "that's the only decent kind of medicine, the man who made it must have been an Edison. It's a lick on a spoon guaranteed to make you swoon." Boy if that ain't the truth. Castor oil takes a very tedious process to make. You make it from very small seeds that go through about five steps before you can even get one drop of oil from one seed.

Prior to Brother Vanriel's baptism, missionaries can be prone to make mistakes. Sometimes they will lock themselves out of their house. Then they have to break into a house that has been designed so that people will not break in. Amazingly, the missionary's companion could fit through the grill, grab the keys and save the day.

Lastly, missionaries love packages, even more than they love the mail. When a missionary receives a package, customs has usually gone through it and made a mess. Hopefully they didn't eat anything. Then the missionary throws it into the freezer so he can eat chocolate that isn't melted. Usually the package will be half gone in 3 days, if that.

That's all for today's look in on a missionary's life.

Elder Huffaker

P.S. I had to travel to Negril today because the internet went down in all of Sav. Talk about a pain in the butt just to go and email.

Another Rough Week

2010-03-24T07:50:00.000-07:00

Well, this week has been just as rough as the last if not more. A lot of things happened.

First off, in coordination with the photo, missionaries are not completely immune to damage. Sometimes I like to think I have super human powers that make me impervious to pain and whatnot; I got a very rude awakening last week on Monday. I've realized that pot holes are a tool of the devil to stop missionaries. So, once again, I had to go to the bicycle repair shop and have my front rim realigned. I also had a few battle wounds to take care of as well.

Nextly, this week has been unlucky with people we've met as well. We've met so many people that just get their undies in a bunch about the 7th day being the Sabbath. Boy, I never thought that people would be so gullible.

It says 6 days shalt thou labor and do all thy work. The seventh day is the Lord's day. Where does it say that the seventh day is Saturday?

Jesus Christ explicitly says that Man was not made for the Sabbath. It's the other way around. We do not get to decide.

If you do believe that the seventh day is Saturday... Nowhere from the book of Acts through Revelation in the Bible does it say they worshipped on the seventh day, rather it says they worshipped on the first.

If you understand that the Creation is the reason that the Sabbath is the seventh day, then you'd also understand that the Atonement is what fixed the Fall after the Creation. Without the Atonement, there would be no point to creating this world to live in if we could never be saved from the effects of the Fall. Hence why the Sabbath is now the first day, because the Atonement was completed on the first day.

Everyone good? GOOD!

Well the Zone Leaders came this week on Thursday. So I spent this trade off with Elder Tonks. He and I proselyted on bicycles on Thursday and on Friday, I got to take it easy in a vehicle. I reminded Elder Tonks that I'm on my 4th out of 6 companions to send home. He then asked if I would mind killing him. I told him I wouldn't mind as long as long as he's the last one I send home. NO MORE MISSIONARIES ARE ALLOWED TO GO HOME!

Then, I found something quite amazing at the supermarket. I found mashed potatoes! I was so excited. I thought I was gonna cook up a storm. However, when I reached home, I realized I only had one other thing..... onions. So..... last week I made mashed potatoes and onions for some of my dinners. I also made scrambled eggs and onions and rice and onions. Note to self, buy something other than onions to go with mashed potatoes.

Hope you all have a good week and big up yourself

Elder Huffaker

Another Transfer Come and Gone

2010-03-15T10:33:00.000-07:00

Well, as a missionary, you always try to find the simple joys in life that you don't get to experience so much as you used to. Sooooooo, one thing I did was go shopping for food. And as everyone knows, food companies these days are doing their best to sell entertainment with their food. Well, Kraft Mac n Cheese did a wonderful job. (see the picture)

So as I said in the subject, it was transfers. Of course, I'm still in Sav and Elder Hicken as well. I'm killing another missionary. This makes 4 out of 6 companions that I've "sent home". I found out that one of my favorite missionaries was sent to Turks and Caicos - (sob) Elder Talbert's gone... However, on a positive note..... The amazing and wonderful, former MTC companion, ELDER TRACY is my new zone leader. YYEEEAAHHHH!!!!!!!

This week was also a new experience in that, the phone company that we go through, Digicel, are idiots. The mission was supposed to be having a feature removed from the phones, however, in the process with Digicel, some of the phones were completely shut off. Including our phone. So for two days we could not make or receive phone calls. Talk about a pain in the butt. We couldn't confirm appointments, call members to come teach with us, etc. So we had to beg phone calls from people to call our zone leaders and let them know that we're ok.

This week, I also learned something amazing. There is a law on underwear! I'm sure many of you are familiar with the "new style" of letting your pants ride low and showing your boxers to the rest of the world. Well, there is a law down here that if the police see your underwear, they will throw you in jail. When I heard this I thought, WOW! We need that back home.

Lastly, things have been kinda difficult with Elder Hicken, he doesn't like to speak much. Pres. Graff told me on the phone that I'm to make him talk. Which is kinda weird, because whenever I make him talk, he usually repsonds with a question. So, I've had to go through some grrrrr ing times. But things are going okay for now.

Well, I hope you all have a good week. Do some missionary work!

Elder Huffaker

10 Months Out!

2010-03-11T10:09:00.000-08:00

Wow, how time flies while you're on a mission. It's been 10 months already!

First off, this week has been a little rough. Tuesday was probablythe worst. Nothing went according to plan. Everything pretty much flopped on Tuesday. I hope yours was a lot better. Not that I'm saying that nothing happened on Tuesday, but it didn't go according to plan.

Second, we had a recent convert who felt she had been cursed. Not that I'm surprised to hear that, since Jamaican's are superstitous. However, we did have to help her out and give her a blessing and dedicate her home.

Next, we got hammered by an investigator a couple days ago. It looks however that he's going to continue on and hopefully get baptized. Which, we didn't have a baptism last week, the couple was one of the flops on Tuesday.

Than I met my final angry rasta he was drunk and calling us gay.

LATER YALL

Elder Huffaker

The Barber of Savanna la Mar

2010-03-02T11:11:00.000-08:00

So, this week has been very interesting. First off, the Zone Leaders came after District Meeting on Wednesday. They heard that I had a set of trimmers and decided to get haircuts. Both Elder Talbert and Elder Tonks got a trim with the shears and the scissors. If you want to see, take a look at the blog - I'm short on time. Along with the zone leaders in our area, I got to go around proselyting with Elder Talbert -- YEAH!

Elder Hicken and I have been doing a lot of riding on our bicycles. We ride to places that are 11 KM away. It's kinda a pain in the butt, but it has to be done and there's no one else to do it.

Then, while the Zone Leaders were here, there was one crazy storm that blew in. We had to shut all the windows in the house so it wouldn't get wet inside. It was in the middle of the night too. There was so much rain it was hard to hear anything. Not to mention the lighting outside and all the thunder too. That was quite the night.

Next, I got cocky this week. I had my bicycle go out from underneath me. I was riding without hands, like I like to do, and was no more than half a mile from home. I've taken this turn without hands many a times. However, I wanted to see how tight I could take the turn. Then my bicycle went out. Put a nice hole in the knee of my pants and got some battle wounds, but otherwise I'm ok. Had to fix a few things that got screwed up.

Lastly for this week. One of our investigators - Brother Hall - who is getting baptized on Saturday! Well, he had this crazy thing pop into his head. He started going off on how Joseph Smith had to have been a black man. Now, lots of people claim Jesus is a black man down here, but never before have I had anyone say that Joseph Smith is a black man. It took us a couple of days to correct that one, but he's still just as good.

I sent my mom some photos for the blog, so go and check em out!

Elder Huffaker

P.S. from Marilyn: The first photo is the house in Savanna la Mar, the second is of a sunset there, and the last is our barber with the zone leaders: L to R is Elder Talbert, Elder Huffaker and Elder Tonks.

News from Sav

2010-02-23T09:46:00.000-08:00

From Marilyn:
The missionaries are moving to a new email system, which seems to be phasing in at different rates for different missions. Brandon's new email address is posted in the pane on the right. His email this week was also a bit short. In answering some of my questions I sent, he writes:

I would be sending pictures if my camera battery didn't die this morning. Sorry. Sav is very big with a lot of people. It's just me and Elder Hicken because they've cut down on missionaries. (about 26) Elder Hicken and I can manage what we've learned of Sav so far. I would say that Sav is about the size of Grangeville and maybe a little bigger. Not quite sure.

I haven't gotten the box you sent yet, but look forward to it. The branch is ok, but they could be so much better. The way I think of it is that Jamaica is good at what Lewiston lacks and vice versa. Here, they're good a missionary work, but bad a carrying out their callings and all that jazz.

Our investigators aren't doing so well right now. We're not sure what we're gonna do. Yes, I got my haircut. I bought some trimmers last week Monday and cut my own hair. I filled the sink in our bathroom about 2/3 full.

Then in an email intended for all, he wrote:

I'm afraid you'll have to email everyone for me. I had to set up my new account and it has left me with 5 minutes remaining. This new system works very differently and will take some time getting used to.

First off, I had a bad experience with taxi drivers this week. We were riding out to visit a new convert to the church when I started to move more into the road to turn around. I had checked behind already and was waiting for oncoming traffic. When I started to turn, I saw a taxi coming so I moved back. Well the taxi driver swerved, slammed on his brakes, throws it into reverse and just starts cussing me out. I let him speak his mind and drive off, but if I wasn't a missionary, I would have laid into the guy.

Then, this India guy just thought he knew everything. He tries telling me the whole history of religion and how everything is false and you need to call an archangel to tell you the truth. Elder Hicken had a similar problem with a member's mother.

I'll have to tell you the rest of this week's story next week as I'm out of time. Hope to hear from everyone, and pictures should be coming.

Elder Huffaker

NEW, NEW, NEW

2010-02-16T13:03:00.000-08:00

Well, as most of you know I'm in a new area. I've also got a new companion. Elder Hicken is his name and Old Harbour is where he came. He was there for my last transfer in Old Harbour and now I'm serving with him. He doesn't have much time left, he has this transfer and the next and then he's homeward bound. Also, to let you all know, I'll be using a new email account shortly. I set it up today and am not sure how soon I will be using it.

As for things to tell you about: I missed this one last week where we had a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir visit in Falmouth. It was really cool. She and her husband were visiting. She sits in the front row of the choir. I forget her name.

Then since I'm in Sav, things are really crazy. Sav is the biggest city/town I've been in so far and I've gotten lost plenty of times and have had to call other missionaries to get where I'm going.

Then, Elder Goins, who was my original companion in Sav, got ET'd so now I got really lost. Elder Hicken is the one who replaced him. So we're learning Sav together.

Then yesterday, was the marrying of a couple we're teaching. Bro. and Sis. Hall are the newest married couple in all of Jamaica! So, we're hoping they keep progressing and moving forward.

As far as for more info on Sav. It has one of the best shopping centers on the island. A supermarket chain called Shoppers Fair! THEY HAVE A LOT! Plus, I now have a washing machine. I'm so happy and I don't have to pay anyone to wash for me. I also need to get a haircut.

We had zone conference in Mandeville on Friday and Pres. Graff made me stand up and show what a missionary's head is not supposed to look like. So I'm getting a haircut today.

Give me some feedback yaear!
Elder Huffaker

To Savanna la Mar

2010-02-08T10:27:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone, I hope you have all had a good week. Things have been a little crazy here. It's Jamaica of course, sun, humidity and all that other fun stuff.

Well, the big news is yesterday, I found out that I'm being ET'd (emergency transferred) to Sav. They're moving a few other missionaries too. It's not because of problems, but rather (as Elder Rebeiro and I believe) because of convenience. We believe a missionary is coming back from the Bahamas and will be with him, while I go to Sav to be with a fairly new missionary named Elder Goins (Go - ins not like Groin without the r)

Along the past week, I've been doing a lot of travelling. I went to Mobay a couple of times and to Ochi once. I guess that's what happens when your companion is a zone leader.

We've been doing pretty good, we found out that one investigator who has been waiting for a court case to be done the last six months is now able to be baptized. So hopefully that will happen this Saturday. Sad thing is is I won't be here for it.

Other than that, email me about anything you want that I can tell you the answer to. If I don't have the answer, too bad!

Elder Huffaker

P.S. From Marilyn: "Sav," or Savanna la Mar, is located on the western side of Jamaica, on the south coast. It sounds as though this transfer isn't an "emergency", but rather a transfer that just doesn't happen on a regular transfer week.