How Many Fingers?

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

You Need Pie

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

12 Days of Christmas

(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?

(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

Picturesque

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

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

WHAT IS THAT?!?

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:

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

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

What's Going Down in Town

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.

------------------------------------------

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

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

Mother's Day Week

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!

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

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

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

Easter Week

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!