For our first Sunday meeting in Ensenada, we made plans to meet with my liaison and follow him and his wife to the kingdom hall to attend the Piedras Negras English congregation meeting. Cool. Although it was only 15 minutes away, it felt like a lot farther. We made regular turns, slight turns, u-turns and hairpin turns on “paved” roads, gravel roads, dirt roads and packed clay roads. We went up 90 degree inclines (if that means straight up into the air) with zero visibility, then over and straight down the other side. Much like a roller coaster, but scarier because I was driving. Once again I had my game face on, but my screaming may have given me away.
Of course the meeting was great and the friends eagerly invited me to join their congregation. As nice as they were, I don’t think I could ever find that place again.
After the meeting, Debbie and I were the last to leave the building. We said goodbye to some brothers who walked out ahead of us. We got into the car, pulled up the route for “home” then drove around to the front of the kingdom hall only to find that we were locked inside the parking lot. Yes, I said inside. I texted my two Mexican contacts, both of whom I met earlier that day, and we waited. We inspected the landscaping, took selfies, took photos of each other and just when we thought this might be our end, the brother who locked us in, showed up to let us out. I asked him if this is how they threat all their guests. He basically replied, yes, this is how they get new members.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I must admit that the whole deal lasted about 20 minutes. The worse case scenario would have required that we wait until the next congregation came for their meeting. But keep in mind that this was only day 2.
