Brandon shot off a couple of fast emails from the MTC on his last P-day (Preparation Day) there:
I got the box just fine, it actually arrived before the big letter you sent. your other box (second one) should be arrving tomorrow according to the dear elder. for gym, we go to the field across the road because the gym is closed for remodeling. i dont have to pack scrips and pmg everywhere, just to about half of everywhere. we teach eachother and former missionaries here at the mtc. i actually got a new set of sheets a few days after the inital date. plus we do sheet exchanges every tuesday. the jk at the end is for jamaica kingston. and dear elder works just fine for getting it to me. we memorize pretty much what we want to, but eventually, you use some scriptures so much you have it memorized, like the joseph smiths first vision. but i like snail mail too, i prefer returning snail mail because i have more time to write than i do to type. i also think the ups might be faster than the postal system, but what do i know.
elder huffaker
Hello everyone, this being my last week at the mtc. it goes by really fast, two districts gone and two new ones in. mine's the next to leave. alrighty, so i report to the travel office monday at 8:30 p.m. and my flight leaves SLC at 1:00 a.m. to atlanta, get in atlanta at about 6:15 a.m. and have a one hour layover, then fly to florida for a 3 hour layover and then on to jamaica. everything is goin great, lots of photos and stuff right now. keep writing me!
Elder Huffaker
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
MTC Days & Getting Sick
Brandon has much more time for handwritten letters, and can tell us more details. He writes often and tells more of his experiences:
Thursday, May 7, 2009
To the Huffaker Haven,
Alrighty, so it's been just over a week here at the MTC & it's awesome. So let me bring you up to date from Saturday.
So Sunday, I woke up & my throat hurt, thinking it was just mucous down my throat in the night I thought nothing of it. Then it got to the point where my saliva was really thick & I had a difficult time swallowing. Well the health clinic is closed on Sunday so I had to go to the front desk, from which they drove me over to the hospital. That's probably the only time, while you're residing at the MTC, that you're allowed to leave. Anyways, so I found out I had a sinus infection. So I'm on Amoxicillin until Wednesday. I take 4 500mg pills a day, 2 at breakfast & 2 at dinner.
So Everyone in my room has gotten sick, except for Elder Patten. And 5 out of 8 in our district. For being the celestial branch, we sure have our hardships. Oh, by the way, the branch is the same as the zone & the zone includes 3 districts.
Otherwise Sunday went well, and we had a fireside at 7:00. We're so busy, we are constantly tired. It's very difficult to stay awake. The first few nights here, I could not fall asleep. Now, sleep comes so easy that I can't get enough. I'm up at 6:00 & in bed at 10:30. It's long days here, but it's very good.
Tuesday night, though, was probably the best. Elder M. Russell Ballard came and spoke. Sad thing is, is I studied Lehi's dream for a while (our term for sleeping) But what I did get from him, was AMAZING! I do need to compare notes with my comp. though.
We had to say goodbye to a district on Monday & welcome in a new district on Wednesday. So it's been up & down the past few days.
Right now I'm doin laundry, & it is packed in here! I did my email before coming down, but like I said, it's all happening on p-days.
As far as the warning thing, they warned us about the OJ. No problems, just a MTC myth. But the showers, those were a different case. As I said in the email, hot to cold, ugh!
As far as your questions go... Elder Lusk & Andrus are the ZL's and Elder Lusk cut Elder Andrus' hair the other day. (FYI missionaries don't cut others' or their own hair) It was pretty funny, but he fixed it today. Elder Thurman & Takacs are a very interesting team. Elder Thurman & I have our own unique connection. I ain't saying what. Elder Patten & Anderson are the other guys & then Elder Tracy & I.
Elder Tracy said he would check with his side about the relation thingy. Elder Patten says it might have been his uncle that trained dad & so he's gonna try to check that one. What is dad's mission Columbus or Cleveland?
As far as the sheets go, the MTC sheets sometimes get mixed with the BYU sheets. The BYU sheets are 72" & the MTC is at 80". We got it fixed, plus we did a sheets exchange on Tuesday in which Elder Anderson only received a Top Sheet. So I swapped him a full set & slept on a top sheet that night. It's not that cold, so I slept just fine. But I did get a new set the next day.
Oh, real quick before I forget, Brother Stoddard, who is a counselor in our branch presidency, gave an amazing lesson. He should be a G.A.!
So back to your questions... Overall, the food is good, it's like the High School where there's three options. Theres been like one or two meals where there was nothing good. But otherwise, it's all good. Classes include personal study, comp study, RC (referral center, where you take calls), TE (teaching evaluation) TA (teaching assessment), zone activities, & field.
We don't go to BYU for devotionals, we use one of the buildings here at the MTC. Like I said before, Elder Ballard was here last tuesday. As far as speaking on Sundays, random missionaries are called on to give talks and all the missionaries prepare talks in case they're called upon.
We take the dork dot off on day one here, so you pretty much blend in on day 2. As far as photos, I'll send you my card after the next district leaves probably, or attach the photos to emails if I can. We'll see what happens.
There's so much to explain & do. It's amazing anyone can make it through a day.
Sounds like Darcie's doin good, but you didn't include Alyssa. And Cameron's gonna hafta get used to it. I'm not there to hold his hand anymore. Otherwise it sounds like everything is goin well. Thanks for writing my thank yous and I think I'm set for now. Miss ya & Love Ya Lots!
2nd Nephi 29:7
Elder Huffaker
Thursday, May 7, 2009
To the Huffaker Haven,
Alrighty, so it's been just over a week here at the MTC & it's awesome. So let me bring you up to date from Saturday.
So Sunday, I woke up & my throat hurt, thinking it was just mucous down my throat in the night I thought nothing of it. Then it got to the point where my saliva was really thick & I had a difficult time swallowing. Well the health clinic is closed on Sunday so I had to go to the front desk, from which they drove me over to the hospital. That's probably the only time, while you're residing at the MTC, that you're allowed to leave. Anyways, so I found out I had a sinus infection. So I'm on Amoxicillin until Wednesday. I take 4 500mg pills a day, 2 at breakfast & 2 at dinner.
So Everyone in my room has gotten sick, except for Elder Patten. And 5 out of 8 in our district. For being the celestial branch, we sure have our hardships. Oh, by the way, the branch is the same as the zone & the zone includes 3 districts.
Otherwise Sunday went well, and we had a fireside at 7:00. We're so busy, we are constantly tired. It's very difficult to stay awake. The first few nights here, I could not fall asleep. Now, sleep comes so easy that I can't get enough. I'm up at 6:00 & in bed at 10:30. It's long days here, but it's very good.
Tuesday night, though, was probably the best. Elder M. Russell Ballard came and spoke. Sad thing is, is I studied Lehi's dream for a while (our term for sleeping) But what I did get from him, was AMAZING! I do need to compare notes with my comp. though.
We had to say goodbye to a district on Monday & welcome in a new district on Wednesday. So it's been up & down the past few days.
Right now I'm doin laundry, & it is packed in here! I did my email before coming down, but like I said, it's all happening on p-days.
As far as the warning thing, they warned us about the OJ. No problems, just a MTC myth. But the showers, those were a different case. As I said in the email, hot to cold, ugh!
As far as your questions go... Elder Lusk & Andrus are the ZL's and Elder Lusk cut Elder Andrus' hair the other day. (FYI missionaries don't cut others' or their own hair) It was pretty funny, but he fixed it today. Elder Thurman & Takacs are a very interesting team. Elder Thurman & I have our own unique connection. I ain't saying what. Elder Patten & Anderson are the other guys & then Elder Tracy & I.
Elder Tracy said he would check with his side about the relation thingy. Elder Patten says it might have been his uncle that trained dad & so he's gonna try to check that one. What is dad's mission Columbus or Cleveland?
As far as the sheets go, the MTC sheets sometimes get mixed with the BYU sheets. The BYU sheets are 72" & the MTC is at 80". We got it fixed, plus we did a sheets exchange on Tuesday in which Elder Anderson only received a Top Sheet. So I swapped him a full set & slept on a top sheet that night. It's not that cold, so I slept just fine. But I did get a new set the next day.
Oh, real quick before I forget, Brother Stoddard, who is a counselor in our branch presidency, gave an amazing lesson. He should be a G.A.!
So back to your questions... Overall, the food is good, it's like the High School where there's three options. Theres been like one or two meals where there was nothing good. But otherwise, it's all good. Classes include personal study, comp study, RC (referral center, where you take calls), TE (teaching evaluation) TA (teaching assessment), zone activities, & field.
We don't go to BYU for devotionals, we use one of the buildings here at the MTC. Like I said before, Elder Ballard was here last tuesday. As far as speaking on Sundays, random missionaries are called on to give talks and all the missionaries prepare talks in case they're called upon.
We take the dork dot off on day one here, so you pretty much blend in on day 2. As far as photos, I'll send you my card after the next district leaves probably, or attach the photos to emails if I can. We'll see what happens.
There's so much to explain & do. It's amazing anyone can make it through a day.
Sounds like Darcie's doin good, but you didn't include Alyssa. And Cameron's gonna hafta get used to it. I'm not there to hold his hand anymore. Otherwise it sounds like everything is goin well. Thanks for writing my thank yous and I think I'm set for now. Miss ya & Love Ya Lots!
2nd Nephi 29:7
Elder Huffaker
Friday, May 8, 2009
At last, an E-mail!
Alrighty, here's my email account that i'm allowed to use. I'll keep in contact this way, but i would still prefer some hard addresses.
So it's been just over a week here at the MTC and things are great. I hate to say it, but i don't really miss home or anything. Life moves pretty fast here and it's awesome just to walk around.
Everyone in our zone leaves in three weeks from when they arrive at the MTC. We have only one international in our zone and that is Elder Woodland. He's from Wales, accent and all.
We are constantly learning something, but once 9:30 hits and we're back in our residence halls. It's like a party starts. Everyone is just soo ecstatic. We've only finished the first lesson and are due to start the second like tomorrow. The funny thing is everyone tells you of the stuff to watch out for, but its usually fake, its the stuff they dont tell you, like how the showers will rapidly turn hot and then freezing cold when someone flushes a toilet. IT SUCKS!
Anyways, lemme know what all you want to hear and i'll tell you as much as I can. But as for now, i only have a half hour on email but as much time as i want with hardcopy letters, so i'll send you a letter as soon as I get your address.
LATER!
Elder Huffaker
(p.s. i already have your address mom, i dont need it :)
So it's been just over a week here at the MTC and things are great. I hate to say it, but i don't really miss home or anything. Life moves pretty fast here and it's awesome just to walk around.
Everyone in our zone leaves in three weeks from when they arrive at the MTC. We have only one international in our zone and that is Elder Woodland. He's from Wales, accent and all.
We are constantly learning something, but once 9:30 hits and we're back in our residence halls. It's like a party starts. Everyone is just soo ecstatic. We've only finished the first lesson and are due to start the second like tomorrow. The funny thing is everyone tells you of the stuff to watch out for, but its usually fake, its the stuff they dont tell you, like how the showers will rapidly turn hot and then freezing cold when someone flushes a toilet. IT SUCKS!
Anyways, lemme know what all you want to hear and i'll tell you as much as I can. But as for now, i only have a half hour on email but as much time as i want with hardcopy letters, so i'll send you a letter as soon as I get your address.
LATER!
Elder Huffaker
(p.s. i already have your address mom, i dont need it :)
Busy Days at the MTC
Saturday May 2, 2009
Huffaker Haven --
So, everything is going fine so far, sadly no more fire alarms have gone off. I hope my last letter reached home safely. I haven't received any reply from that one as of yet, but I thought I'd write a letter now to let you know how everything is going.
It's really great here and I hardly have any time to just sit around. I stay pretty busy here. I did recieve a package with some ties & a "suit bag". Was that from you? There was no return address so I'm guessing it was.
The food here is pretty good as well. I dunno, I kinda expected it to be worse. Someone was telling me that the food here isn't good. That's bologna! Everyone warns you about the OJ here. Needless to say, Elder Thurman, Elder Lusk, and I all tried it. So far no effects :-) !
The next best thing is the MTC Bookstore. They have a lot of great items that can help you out. And I pick up a German Hymn Book! It doesn't have all the hymns though. To find songs, I generally use the scripture references to help me find "the good ones". Let me know if you want me to find anything in particular.
Still waiting for addresses. In the meantime, have them use dearelder.com and leave their return addresses in the letter. (They don't include it) Hope everything is going well.
Elder Huffaker
P.S. Please have aunt Kerry pick up a paperback BoM (blue cover) from the distribution center. German! It's like $2.00. Thanx! :-)
Sunday, May 3, 2009
First News from the MTC
Brandon's first letter from the MTC to home arrived via snail mail on May 2. His abbreviations are: MTC=Missionary Training Center. Comp=Companion. DL= District Leader. ZL=Zone Leader.
Wednesday April 29th [2009]
Dear Mom (and dad),
To start off I went through plenty of lines here at the MTC before I found out where I'm staying. Needless to say, it's the cornerstone of the campus. Everything else I need to do or places I need to go are on the opposite side. So funny thing, I get to my room and my companion missed the reporting time & went to the one an hour later. So I was without a comp for about an hour. Oh! and my comp is Elder Tracy, he was the one I was emailing briefly.
So I'm rooming with Elder Tracy, who of course is goin' to Jamaica also. But the other 2 elders, Elder Anderson and Elder Patten, are going to the Sacramento Calif. mission.
Question: How many Elders does it take to make a bed?
Answer: 3. I couldn't get my fitted sheet on my bed, so I enlisted Elder Tracy and Elder Patten's help. The fitted sheet was too small. So we really stretched it out.
I also met my branch President today. President Madsen & his counselors are President Christensen & President Stoddard. They made me senior comp & Elder Tracy DL. So I get to be senior comp the whole time I'm here.
Apparently my branch has a rep. We're called the Celestial branch. So everyone parts their hair, say hi to everyone (especially the sisters) & some respect for sisters as well.
The other guys in my district are Elder Andrus, Elder Lusk, Elder Thurman, & Elder Takacs (Tack-us). Elders Andrus and Lusk are the ZL's in training.
Other than that, it has been a busy day. Oh! and it's no longer the white bible, it's the blessing book. And I need you to send me a few things.
1. Labels, from the p-touch
2. gum
3. water bottle
Thursday is my p-day by the way & I have yet to set up an email account. So don't expect emails anytime soon. Send me mailing addresses please!
Elder Huffaker
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