Mandeville

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.

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

Another Transfer Come and Gone

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

News from Sav

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

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

All New!

Yes, it's official, the latest transfers are over! I'm still in Old Harbour, but I now have a new companion! I'm now with Elder Olson, who was in Linstead last transfer. GET THIS! They turned the house back into a four man house intead of two man. IT GETS BETTER! Elder Tonks and Hicken are the other two Elders. Elder Olson is from Spokane. Elder Tonks lived in Spokane until about 2 months before his mission. Elder Hicken has already been in Old Harbour (about a year ago). I can relate with everyone really easily. IT'S AWESOME! Elder Harris was moved to Kingston.

So on the Wednesday when they all got here we did a deep cleaning of the house - it needed it and I couldn't do it all every Monday. THE HOUSE IS CLEAN!!!!!! It's really great being here. I feel as if I've left a big pit of despair. They are no longer dividing into areas for missionaries, but are just sending them to serve in cities. So we can go wherever we want. We did decide, however, to split up our less-active members we see.

I also got my mom's package, which included a box cake and frosting, and we celebrated transfers (since my birthday was about 3 weeks ago). It's goin' really great down here.

Sorry I don't have any photos, but I promise to have some next Monday, we got to go and purchase more stuff for the house now that it's a four man again.

LATER

Elder Huffaker