The Long and Winding Road

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

I Don't Have Them!

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

You've got to be kidding me!

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

Another Week in Yallahs

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

A Little Less

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

In Linstead

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).

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

Another Rough Week

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.

1. 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?


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


3. 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.


4. 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

The Barber of Savanna la Mar

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

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

The Next Transfer

PICTURES!!! First is the baptism of Perez Gibbs. It has his daughter and our branch president in the second pic.

Then, I caught the last rasta supper in some rasta's shop and thought it was kinda humorous and had to get a picture.

GOLDFISH the smile that snacks back. (that's for Elliot)

Lastly, me with my new comp. Elder Rebeiro enjoying sodas and chips ahoy during a dinner break.

Well, a lot has happened. Of course there were the transfers. Elder Vea went home and I spent the night in Ochi on Tuesday and got to proselyte with one of my favorite missionaries - Elder Ronhaar. Then, I got picked up from Ochi to return to Falmouth. We now have a vehicle in Falmouth, which makes it so much better. Elder Rebeiro is the reason we have a vehicle, it's because he's a zone leader. Falmouth is to be a zone leading area. Basically, I show him around the place and I get replaced next transfer by the other zoneleader.

Last Monday, after emailing, I spent the rest of my p-day with Elder Vea's parents. They drove us around and I got to see some new parts of the island. Then they took us out to Pizza Hut in Mobay. That was quite the treat. It was really cool meeting them and definitely had a good time.

Lastly, I've been putting up with a lot of crap, and this time it's not from the people. It's my bicycle. I know you have to be smarter than the bicycle, but when the bicyle is extremely dumb, it can't be beat. One thing after another just seems to happen. Everything I do for it just seems to say, let's see how long I can last.

Well, take your time and enjoy life this week.

Elder Huffaker

P.S. from Marilyn: "Ochi" is Brandon's shorthand for Ocho Rios, which lies east of Falmouth, also on the north shore of Jamaica. "Mobay", as you know if you've been following this blog, is Montego Bay.

Pictures! As promised!

-First is who we call "likkle boy". He's a member's adopted son and he loves the puss (as they call it here) that he call's the puddin'

-Then there's Cedric, he's a really good cook that used to work at one of the hotels here. We're trying to get him reactivated and to serve a mission.

-The next two were of when Elder More was here a couple of Wednesdays ago on a tradeoff. He had a bit of cinnamon roll cake with reggae boys flavor ice cream.

-Lastly, back at the Frazure's home (where Cedric and likkle boy live) they pulled out this home made air compressor.

So, for my two week coverage, as you can see, there's cinnamon roll cake and reggae boys ice cream. This is basically what Elder Vea and I are living off of. I'm sure I'm gonna receive some criticism for having too much dessert, especially if it's for breakfast.

Then, last week, I mentioned how we took a taxi ride up for our Sunday dinner and the taxi was falling apart. Well, what I failed to mention, is after dinner, I was telling Elder Vea about how sometimes, missionaries are just so amazing that we receive free rides. This man from Florida was driving by and... gave us a free ride. We were talking about what we as missionaries do. But, we forgot to leave him with anything! It killed both of us that we didn't even give him a pass along card. Then we started thinking that maybe this will be the beginning of his conversion. "It all started with two missionaries standing along side the road in Jamaica."

Last week after our p-day was over, the zone leaders came for another tradeoff. Both of them stayed in Falmouth this time instead of one of us leaving. So, I went around with the other zone leader, Elder Mason.

Do you ever have one of those cruel moments whether it's irony or karma, I dunno. But Elder Vea and I were riding along like usual, and when we stopped at an investigator's house, he noticed he had dog poop on his tire. I laughed and told him that it sucked to be him. No sooner had we left and gone to another investigator's house, and I had dog poop on my bike tire. The way things have of coming back to bite you in the butt.

We had some more tourists at church yesterday, this family was from Sandy Utah. Really nice family. I think the last name was Peters.

Otherwise, it was pretty uneventful this week.
Elder Vea has a week and a half left of his mission.

That's all folks,
Elder Huffaker

On the Seventh Day of Christmas

Ok, so I don't know if in the song, they're actually talking about the seventh Christmas in your life, the seventh day of December, the seventh day before Christmas, or the seventh day after Christmas? That's a lot of choices!

Anyways, it is Pearl Harbor Day for all of you who don't remember your history. I do!

This last week actually had some interest. I've actually been failing to write about one main thing. That is, every Tuesday, the senior couple missionaries in Montego Bay come to Falmouth to help us with our missionary work. More specifically, along with the assignment of working with less-active members. Elder and Sister Smith are really nice and fun to be around. Elder Smith actually reminds me a lot of Grandpa Huffaker; he likes to tell stories and give good, hard handshakes. Sometimes, the Smiths will treat us to a meal, which is really nice. Living between tourist districts isn't the greatest for prices here.

Then, at our weekly Wednesday District Meeting, we lost 4 missionaries. The elders in Sav and Negril are just staying in Sav for Wednesdays now because of the cost just to go to Mobay. Then, the elders and senior couple in Lucea had to travel to Ochi for an ET (emergency transfer). On their way back to Lucea, they stopped in Mobay and Elder Vea went on a trade-off to do some baptismal interviews. So the elder that was moving to Lucea didn't even get to see his new
home yet.

Next, we had one of the assistants and a missionary they're towing around, because he sprained his ankle so he gets to ride in a car all the time (now I know what I need to do to get a car here), come here and go on splits with us and stay the night as well. I'm not exactly sure why, but we had an enjoyable time with them.

Lately, I've been having problems with my bicycle. First Elder Vea broke his crank and then I need a new tube and tire. It really sucks and takes a lot of money. There's only one bicycle shop in Falmouth and they have a monopoly - get to charge whatever they want.

Lastly, this is really weird yet cool at the same time. WE SAW NUNS! It was totally weird, having never seen any in real life. They were driving in a car here in Falmouth. Elder Vea and I were both astounded beyond reason.

That's all for this week!

Wishing you a whiter Christmas than down here.

Elder Huffaker

This Week Now

Alrighty ...

Now that we're to this week; I am in a new area. The place is called Falmouth (foul muth [like wooly mamuth]) This place is between Ocho Rios and Montego Bay along the north side of Jamaica.

I have two companions (we're in a three-some) Elder Vea (a Samoan) and Elder McGlossan (a Jamaican). It's a different area than Old Harbour in that everything here is spread out. The branch covers an entire parish (a parish is equal to a county) Not to mention Falmouth is not very big in itself. It's actually a small town and there's not much to it.

The branch here is one of the smallest in the mission. we have 25 people to church on a good day.

I wonder how long I'm gonna be in this area. Elder Vea goes home next transfer or the transfer after. Elder McGlossan has been out just over a year. Then there's me at the bottom of the food chain. We'll have to see how it goes here, because I'm on a bicycle in the area. By butt hasn't really gotten sore yet, but I'm sure that will change.

I'll try to get photos out next week, but this computer place won't let me move them around. I'll see what I can do. Until next week though.

Elder Huffaker