Guayaquil- The Start of Our Trip

We just got back from a wonderful trip to Ecuador, where Gavin served his mission. We started our trip in Guayaquil so that we could visit the temple there. Then we started our journey northward stopping in all the cities Gavin served in.

This was a really neat park in Guayaquil. It has hundreds of iguanas roaming free in the park.


We got to pet them.




Can you find all the iguanas in the tree?






We fed them crackers.







After visiting the park. We climbed 432 stairs through the old part of the city to a light house looking thing where you can look over the entire city.








After attending the temple Gavin's mission companion took us to an institute dance. They all dance the samba very well. We weren't very good at it despite all of their efforts to teach us. So, when they put a song on that we could swing to, we started swinging. To our surprise they all formed a circle around us. They had never seen swing dancing before and thought it was pretty cool.



Everyone in the picture served with Gavin on the mission, well except me.



More friends from the dance.

The beautiful Guayaquil temple.


This is a hotel that they have right next to the temple for people to stay in when they travel to the temple.















We got to meet Gavin's mission president, President Lara, for lunch. It was a nice surprise. We didn't think we would be able to visit him, but he just happened to be visiting Guayaquil the same time that we were.



The little girl is President Lara's daughter, Michelle. She didn't let go of me the entire time we were there. She was so cute. She didn't understand that I couldn't speak Spanish and kept whispering secrets in my ear. We got her to tell Gavin one of the secrets and it was "Tomorrow we are going to the farm to see the cows." She was my cute little friend there; I miss her.

4 comments:

Ryan and Maria said...

SWEETNESS!!! We just looked through all your picures that you posted-I bet it was difficult and time consuming getting it all on, but boy do we appreciate it!!! Love it, love it, love it ALL! We are so glad that you had a super trip and that you made it back hom safe and sound. I wasn't too crazy about the iguanas at the park, I couldn't have handled that, especially in the trees, sheesh!! The movie of Gavin on top of the tower made me stinking nervous too. I don't know that I could've jumped off the bridge either Katie! I can't wait to show the kids in the morning, they'll love these pictures. Miss and love you both! BIG HUGS!!!

Magen said...

I am glad you guys had a great trip! I saw Debbie while we were in the hospital and she said you guys were on a trip. Hope all is well.

Andersen said...

I think you will always look back at this trip. That is so great that you got to go. The pictures were great and I wish I could have gone with you.

Kami said...

Oh Katie! What a fun trip! I'm glad you were safe and it looks like you had lots of good experiences! Iguanas are so creepy...I just got back from Costa Rica and there was a big, old, moldy-looking iguana that liked to hang out by one of the pools at our hotel...so weird! Thanks for posting your adventure...I've been waiting to hear how it all went!