Luke Says: He says he enjoyed the beach in Ensenada and going out in Service with Daniel in Tecate. With his eyes wide open Luke says he enjoyed playing at McDonald's while Mom and 2 other sisters conducted studies with a family. ( Dad includes that it was hot out and the fast food restaurants are different in Baja California because people are encouraged to hang out there and enjoy free WIFI and the leather seating, kind of like Starbucks does in our area)
Teri: We have been enjoying going to Algodones B.C. congregation. It is only a ten minute drive from our home. It was a nice re-introduction to Mexico. I hadn't been to Mexico in over 16 years. After going to Algodones a few times, to meetings and for service, my uneasiness started to dwindle. The congregation here is so loving and friendly. The people we talked to out in service were also friendly and hospitable. Almost all we talked to greeted us with a smile. On our way to Tecate, the scenery was amazing. We have gone to San Diego so many times, but never this side route. Our first meeting in Tecate was wonderful. We were made to feel at home and with family. Service here was was also different, to say the least. We worked mostly business territory, with great success.
Ensenada had great weather. The brothers at the Kingdom Hall were very hospitable as well. Again, we worked business territory. Even though some were busy, they were all friendly and said they would take the magazines to read at a later time. We were also able to see brothers and sisters working on a new kingdom hall build. Luke and Alina really enjoyed seeing this. My kids really enjoyed the beach. Plain old good fun. No video games, no computers, no phones. It was old-school which was great. I can't wait for the next trip - English District Convention - at the Tijuana Assembly Hall.
Grandma "T": I get to go along with the family to some of the Algodones meetings, and one of the things that warms my heart is listening to the brothers and sisters trying so hard to learn English. They are so determined to do a good job. The congregation is very warm and open, and I feel very comfortable there. Our next trip will be a good one we will be attending the District Convention in English. Looking forward to telling all about our fine times. Bye Bye
Dad: Its been a great motivator for me to be involved in the preaching in Mexico searching for the English. Its more than that though, its also the different lifestyle. One that is simpler to live and not so hurried. This trip we took was almost two weeks long. we spent the first few days in Tecate where O enjoyed the ministry with the Howard family on several occasions even going with Rod to restart a previous study that lived about 45 minutes out into the country. what a funny memory that one was for another time as it is kind of long. Where we stayed with a local witness family was really a good time. We hadn't ever met them before but within 4 days we went from strangers to sharing our lives and laughing over games played together with most of the congregation at their house. Another small experience I enjoyed was getting out of the house Sunday morning at 6 AM to drive down to the plaza which is a very nice park downtown that is filled with large trees, little shops, a huge fountain and during the day a bunch of people. I went down a got a coffee at the OXXO ( these are the convenience stores throughout Mexico- on every other corner in some areas of the city). I walked across the street to the park to talk with some brothers that were preaching in the park before 7 AM. There were two of them from one of the Spanish congregations. Both spoke English well and so we were able to find out each others story.
For a lack of time Ill just share briefly about the second week of our trip that it was very different than the first. Ensenada is a beach city of about 600,000 people so the location was different than Tecate which is mountains and about 100000 people. We stayed at the beach in Ensenada and woke up every morning to the oceans waves. It was beautiful o see my kids playing without a care in the ocean and challenging the little waves as the hit the sand. Just a year ago they wouldn't even get into the water. Both here and in Tecate the houses we were staying in didn't have a phone signal for me to answer calls. All I can say is it was very refreshing to know my business and life didn't fall apart even though I only had about a 2 hour window a day to get my calls and computer work done. I had to make some tweaks to my communications when we do make the move but it opened my eyes to how much time that is needlessly consumed by my gadgets. We made it out in the ministry and to meetings in both places since the primary reason for going on the trip was to check into areas to move to. The ministry was really fulfilling in Enseanada. I did door to door for nearly 4 hours the first day and we had three excellent calls in that time.
We are all anxious to hear back from the Mexico branch with some direction as to where we could be of use in the areas of Baja. Once I hear back Ill post again.
