Tropical Storm Tomas

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.

First Week on the Job

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.

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

A Monotonous Week

Well, with half of December gone by, things are going pretty slow. I'm even struggling with what to write.

SOOOOOO. It's actually been getting a little chilly at nights. I still sleep with a fan blowing over me, but sometimes when I wake up in the morning, my feet are a little cold. I have to make my own winter down here. :D

Then, on Wednesday, after Elder Vea and I came back from District Meeting, we got pummelled with rain. I mean this was coming down. We rode for no more than 5 minutes between appointments, and we were soaked to the bone. We passed some of the family we were teaching while biking to the appointment; they laughed at us while we laughed at them. They were huddled under a little tarp while we were right in the middle of the downpour.

Then, we had the first wiff of Christmas plans. We're heading to Kingston to play basketball at 9 a.m. on the 24th. Then after some basketball, we will open whatever has been sent to us as gifts. Take some pictures and we're heading home. Then, we get to do our phonecalls on Christmas. I don't know how this will work, since I've never called home after arriving in Jamaica.

Lastly, our branch is having their Christmas Dinner -if you can call it that because of the size of our branch- on the 18th. Elder Vea and I pretty much told the Relief Society pres. to take care of it, since the branch is 95% female.

Well, if you think that sucks for a letter this week, you're right. You better write a letter to the Jamaican government and church HQ telling them to give us something good.

LATER
Elder Huffaker

Brandon sent this photo of the branch in Falmouth, Jamaica last week. Hmm, bet you can pick out Brandon instantly, huh!! -- Marilyn