Bethel here is composed of four "Bethels", betel 1, betel 2, betel 3, y betel 4. All in a row. Plus their residence buildings and others. There are a little over 1,000 Bethelites serving at this moment.
We started off our day in the cafeteria building. It was interesting, because the building has restrooms with showers for those friends who travel from far. I think it is such a great idea, so neat that you are able to freshen up before touring the complex. They also have vending machines and a seating area too. They have an outside seating area too. Well, while we were enjoying our coffee and cookies, we met a sister from Oxaca Ingles. She was the first American I met that is serving here in Mexico. I knew they're we're friends serving here from the states, but to see it in person really amazed me. Haha, I know, I'm a bit odd. Soon, after meeting the sister we see a whole group of friends both from the states and from here that are serving in the English. They were all in town for the English convention.
We next walk to the building across from the cafeteria to start our tour. As we walk in I feel like I'm walking into one of the lobbies in Brooklyn, Patterson or Wallkill! I felt like at home. For the first time since I had gotten here I felt so peaceful and happy. As we were waiting for our tour guide, I saw a family with 2 little girls, blonde with blue eyes! Such cutie pies! They all had their lapel badge on for the convention. Again, I was once amazed to see a whole family from the states serving here in Mexico as well.
As we are walking though the hall way I realized that it smelled just like Bethel in New York. I felt even more at home, haha. I have a really strong sense of smell, and I pay attention to how a certain place smells and I relate it to an emotion i.e. happiness, saddness, ect. Do I make sense?
I also realized that Bethel here has no original paintings! They have only one in their auditorium. So I thought to myself, "wow! No original paintings, and to think that I have had the privilege to see them all in Patterson." So, next time I visit Patterson, I am going to ask one of my friends for a personal tour and I want to spend extra time admiring each painting and really meditate on the hard work that goes into the painting and how fortunate we are to have Patterson close to home. At least closer than the friends here.
If anyone hasn't visited Bethel, I strongly suggest you take the time and effort to visit! You might say there is no time or money. But trust me there is time and Jehovah always provides! Even if you're broke by the end of the trip, it will be well worth it! Ask around and investigate how to do it to visit.
I should seriously make it a business if I ever go back to the states, hehe:D
As many times as I have visited Bethel I never and will never get tired of visiting and touring the complexes. It's a new experience every time I go. And I love it! Each time, I return with my spiritual battery recharged and ready to keep on preaching the Good News of Jehovah's Kingdom!!
Haha, I think I've side tracked from Bethel here in Mexico to Bethel in NYC. :D sorry..
The gardens here in Bethel Mexico are absolutely beautiful!! Flowers, nicely cut green grass and a bunch of mini palm trees surrounded us everywhere! And walking through the buildings with your brothers and sisters really gives you a taste of Paradise. No other feeling can fill my heart with so much joy, to imagine myself in Paradise with those whom I love.
In the printery, the brothers were using a new scanner type thing for when they package the literature. It's quite neat, and they said it reduced half the brothers they needed for that department. Below you will see a picture. They say only a few branches are using it. And soon they will be using it in Wallkill. Cool, huh?
Demonstrates how Jehovah is using technology to simplify how we do certain things and concentrate on what's more important, preaching the Good News to all nations!!
I also was amazed to learn how many dialects there are in Mexico! A little over 50 I think. And interesting that within one dialect there can be 3 different "dialects" or ways to speak it! Crazy! But amazing how Jehovah makes it possible for people to learn the truth in their mother tongue!!
I can't wait to visit Bethel again!! Here in Mexico as for the one in NYC too, yes, again!! As a matter of fact, a few of the girls in the congregation want to go with me when I visit in March to Bethel in NYC! And for those who know me, I LOVE offering myself to be a "tour guide"of NYC! And I love seeing the friends' faces when they are touring Bethel!! So Jehovah willing the sisters and I will be invading NYC at the end of Feb-march. *hint hint* for those who are in NYC ;D
Well, I hope everyone is doing well!! Sorry if I haven't responded to any of the questions y'all have asked me. But I will surely get to them!!
Please feel free to email me and/or comment!!
Send my love to all!!
~Your sister,
Nancy Colin!
