En Route to Mexico

At the moment when I was first told we were selected as delegates for the international convention in Monterrey, Mexico, there is no way I could of imagined what awaited us. We know that as Jehovah's people we have love among ourselves and a true international brotherhood, but experiencing it on such a large scale reinforces it in a way that's awe inspiring.

This story of my first international convention does not began at the moment we entered the convention stadium, no it begins much sooner than that.

Friday, December 8th, 5:30 AM found Kimberly and I in a hotel shuttle on our way to JFK international. We arrived at the Aeromexico terminal and waited as passengers began queuing up. Dangling around our necks hung cards provided by the travel agency which identified us as delegates and gave us information regarding our bus assignments and hotel reservations. They also served to identify who who be our traveling companions during this most beautiful journey.

Within minutes sisters arrived with their tell-tale Costamar lanyards . We exchanged names and greetings and it was evident that we all shared the same excitement. (Interestingly, delegates were trickled into the country, so airport workers had grown accustomed to seeing Witnesses passing through on their way to Mexico. So they asked us what conventions we were assigned to and other questions which reflected their knowledge of the assembly.)

After all the necessary checks, removal of shoes, and three ounce toiletries that come with flying in our era, we made it to our gate to wait for our flight. We used this time to put faces to names, sing the new Kingdom Melodies, take pictures and exchange gifts. It was a foretaste of how the next four days would be.

Next Arriving In Mexico City