Ok so here's the story.... bit by bit. First, August 16th we left for Mexico City to go to the District Convention in the state of Queretaro, Mexico. For the middle of August I thought it would be pretty warm there - and it was, in the sun... but on a cloudy day or at night it was a tid bit CHILLY! As soon as we got there we went to Bethel and met up with some friends German and Abner and we were invited to dinner at Bethel. Later we went into Mexico City at night to do some sightseeing. It was very beautiful and I had another successful and safe trip into the city with no problem! 
Thursday we left for Queretaro to get ready for the convention - as soon as we arrived, there were witnesses everywhere in the lobby of our hotel... but this we didn't find out until later... but it was funny because all of a sudden everybody spoke English! The next morning we drove to the convention site and it was just amazing! The building was probably big enough to fit 4,500 people and there was an attendance of 3,340 on the first day. This convention was such an experience and different from any one that I have ever been to cuz the intense zeal that everyone had was so apparent!
You could just feel the eagerness of everyone when the talks were about 'finishing the work' or 'learning a new language' or 'simplifying your life'... everyone was just like "YEAH!!!" It was so cool because probably 90% of the people there were either Mexicans serving in a foreign language, or American/Canadians serving in Mexico. So EVERYONE there was gathered with this incredible zeal - all with the same goal of intense preaching work, and maintaining our faith strong 'til the end. The other 10% were visitors who hopped over to see 'what is all the fuss about in Mexico!?!?' and they sure did find out!
After the session during the day, we went out to the downtown of Queretaro which was very beautiful! It had the look of what I imagine it looks like in Europe. Small, narrow cobblestone streets, parks, statues, fountians everywhere and outdoor cafes and resteraunts. Queretaro has 12 parks in the downtown with all these little stores and resteraunts surrounding and we weren't the only ones who explored down there.... in fact, just about EVERYWHERE you looked there were Badges! Badges filled the parks, the resteraunts, everywhere you turned you'd hear english and automatically look for a badge and BOOM, there it was! There were literally hundreds of witnesses out at night, some dancing in the street to a mariachi band that was playing... others walking around, everyone taking pictures. It was truely a unique experience that I really hope I'll get to see again, perhaps next year.
We met so many wonderful new friends from just walking up to people: "Hi! I'm from Cancun! Where are you from?" Mazatlan! Puerto Vallarta! Veracruz! Mexico City! Chihuahua! Puebla! New Jersey! Michigan! Texas! Montana! Iowa! and the list just keeps going....
It was definately the most encouraging and exciting convention I've EVER been to in my life, including the fact that the "Deliverance at Hand" theme in itself was so powerful and thought provoking. But words really can not fully describe what I felt as we were there among the crowds of smiling faces... you have to see it for yourself. So what are your plans for August of 2007? .... See you in Queretaro, Mexico!
on September 8, 2006, 10:49 am
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