Two weekends ago, on a cold, humid morning, my mother and I finished cleaning the trailer that we lived in for almost 5 months. Better believe it! My dad and brother had already left the previous day with our luggage and some pieces of furniture my dad had gotten during the past months, and came down to Mexico. In case you didn't know, my family and I decided to move to Mexico again and we found a place that fit our requirements in Playas de Tijuana. We will be here an undetermined amount of time, until we either save to return to Ecuador or start another adventure. So, here we were that day getting ready to start a new episode in our 2013 chapter. My mom and I both had a few errands to finish before crossing to Mexico and we went to Home Depot, Walmart and Food 4 Less. I decided to treat my mom to a lunch and took her to Olive Garden. She hadn't been there in years and we both had the Soup and Salad, which was delish!
That was two Saturdays ago and I think that having lived in that trailer was another learning experience and a perfect situation where I could further learn how to display to a larger degree the fruitage of the spirit. Honestly, I prayed every day for patience and would repeat 1 Timothy 6:8, "Having sustenance and clothing we shall be content with these things" frequently. I remember when I went to PSS I heard my CO Malet-Veale mention that another CO he knew of would pray to be satisfied with very little and I feel as if this scripture backs it up. I also am so grateful to the family that shared so much with us. They have always been so generous and I already miss them.
I was pleasantly surprised when I came to the house which I hadn't seen since my parents picked it. I have my own room and that in itself made my year. I really am glad to have my own space, privacy and a window where I can see outside. I don't have much, but I don't really need more. I even feel like this house is a little too big. I wrote that wrong. This house is larger than what we need. More cleaning, and too much empty space.
The following day I woke up at my grandparents place, since we still didn't have any beds and I was taken to the meeting by my dad. I sat alone and waited until my two other friends arrived and then switched seats during the song to join them. I commented at the meeting and enjoyed the article discussed on creation. That day my two friends and I headed to the states after the meeting and had a nice lunch together. Brenda and Hector have lived here in Playas for over 5 years and I met them not too long after they first moved here. We've maintained our friendship since then and this was the first time we went to a concert together. I must say I had a very fun and exciting time. I danced, sang, yelled, sang, danced, jumped, all in a three foot diameter. I had a good time with them. I just had to write about it, because I thought it was an awesome night. I also bought myself and AM shirt.
That week I stayed home the majority of days and unpacked. I still don't have sufficient hangers for my meeting clothes, but I will get some Monday. I put all my art material in a simple, white glass furniture thing. My memory isn't working, sorry. I took out my sewing machine and also put it underneath the desk I was given. I have the sewing machine out right now though because I've been sewing the past few days. We met one of our neighbor families that week and went to their meeting on Thursday night. It is a very small congregation compared to the rest in Playas and is made up of many elderly ones, some families with younger teens and 8 pioneers. That evening after the meeting we were invited to the house of our neighbors, the Hirales family, made up of the dad, Cesar, mom, Adriana, and son, Alex. All pioneers and actively supporting the congregation and various spiritual activities. After conversing with them and listening to them share with us different good things, my mom felt inclined to support their congregation. Although we are living as neighbors to one Kingdom Hall, we seem to be leaning to this congregation which meets in another hall.
The first weekend we were here we had our family come and spent it with us. I always love seeing them and especially being all together as we are the only JW's in the family. It feels great being together. I wish I had a car and job to go visit them. Anyways, they came and we went to Rosarito both Friday evening and Saturday all day. We went to the beach, had some ice-cream and spent some time conversing. Simple, nice moments. On Sunday early morning, they left and my mom, brother and I went to the District Convention in Rosarito at the new Baja California Center. I didn't expect to see anyone I knew, but it turned out to be the Convention our old friends from Pacifico were assigned to. I also finally was able to understand the drama completely, since when I went back in May, I was cleaning bathrooms. Such a timely drama. I want to meet Esther. Hadassah.
This past week we were able to support the new congregation in the ministry. I will start learning the brothers and sisters names. It hasn't been as cold as the first week and now I know that I should go to bed with socks on and a sweater on too. We also met the other witness family living across the street. We got Internet also.
On Wednesday morning I found out the English congregation was having their CO visit and since ours would have been in January but we no longer are in Cali, and the Spanish congregation here had theirs already, we decided to go to the Thursday meeting. On Thursday it rained, but being inside the KH felt very warm and I felt very good about being surrounded by fellow witnesses. The CO said something about the group of us in attendance. He said that it took a lot of faith for some of us to move from our comfort area, or home, to another country after reading an article mentioning a need in Mexico. It also took others faith to switch from the Spanish and learn a different language and leave family in the home congregation. I also have a new favorite scripture.
Psalms 73:26, "My body and my heart may fail, But God is the Rock of my heart and my portion forever."
Well, yesterday my mom, brother and I went out with the English and spent a very wonderful time with the Cota family. I especially enjoyed being in the company of Isabella. Or Bella. Or Bells. She is 7 1/2 according to her, although she is turning 8 in one month. :) She liked talking with me about a wide variety of topics. From animals, to colors, to food, to foam, to trees, to knock rocks, to school, to friends, to the Bible, and Jehovah. All morning long, I learned a lot from her and she let me share about myself too. I must say, I was so happy when she was partner at the door and a young woman came out. She spoke English and listened to my intro on question 6 of the Truth tract. When I guided her to the Proverbs, Bella took out her NWT Revised Edition and found the scripture and read with us. I loved that!!! Future mini pioneer in the making. Oh, and then, I asked her if she had a presentation and she said, "Let's practice." I felt like she could have done that presentation on the stage during meeting. She did awesome and she also memorized the scripture. To finish off sharing my sweet experience yesterday with her and her family I will ask you the same question she asked me. I thought it was very tender and so sincere. So, it made me think, since I hadn't been asked that before from someone so young. Think about it.
What do you like about Jehovah?
- Bella
I'll share more later on.
PS: Since this is towards the end of the month, I forgot to add that I will be going to Arizona next weekend to support a congregation in Gadsden that is trying to form the first English congregation in San Luis. I was invited by the Jones family in Lakeside and we will spend the weekend handing out invitations to a public talk the following weekend. It seems as if a larger group of witnesses is going also, but I'm not sure who or from where. I will take pictures and blog about that experience also.