Nat Made friends with the salamander.
Cool, sand dollar steph
Big sister jess, teaching the lil girls how to handle the salamander.
Nat, Jess, Cory, and Steph had fun building sandcastles on the beach of Esmeraldas.
Carefully descending the muddy mountainside.
Mom, dad, and the little girls had a lot of fun on the canoe.
Moms found a new friend at the market.
Steph and Nat take cover from the rain.
Mom and dad doing to a little jig for the people of Guayacana.
All the girls having fun singing and playing.
Dad joins in on the musical act!
Meeting the people of Guayacana, and seeing their village was very interesting and humbling. 
Along the Quininde River we saw scenes like this where families live along the river. Our canoe is similar to this one, long and narrow.
Some cute children we met in Guayacana having a fun Saturday afternoon.
Another scene along the river as we floated on our way to Guayacana.
A typical home in Guayacana, is built open air style, with not much fuss. The people of Guayacana speak Cha'palaachi, a language that has no relation to Spanish.
Here we are preparing to leave Quininde, where we loaded into the canoe for Guayacana. President Cando, the stake president of Esmeraldas is in the white hat.
The captain of our leaky ship, seemed to have everything under control. He could steer the boat with one hand, while the other hand swiftly bailed water from our leaky canoe. No worries! :)
Everyone was happy to be on the canoe, because we knew a wonderful adventure awaited us.
Another typical scene on the river as we made our way to Guayacana. It was a two-hour canoe ride to from Quininde to Guayacana.
Here's a small village that we passed by on our canoes. All of the open-air houses are built on stilts. In the rainy season the river rises above the banks and the local people just adjust to the ebb and flow of the river.
The water was calm here, but some parts of the trip became very exciting, with rocks and small rapids.
Our guides at the front of the boat worked together to guide and manuever the boat away from the rocks with their long bamboo poles. Things seemed to be fine until one of the guides lost his pole, the captain looked pretty upset.
President Cando and his beautiful wife accompanied us on the canoe, they have given so much of their time and talents to the people of Guayacana.
The river narrowed in some places so we had to drift under over-arching trees that jetted out from the jungle. We looked for monkeys but didn't see any on this trip.
This is at the end of our trip, climbing from our canoe up to the bank of Quininde. The bananas on the back of one of the people who joined us in the canoe is a typical sight in the tropical rain forest.
When we got to the village we quickly got out of the canoes and climbed up the muddy hillside, not even thinking that we would have to descend the mudslick to get back to the boats. These two women coming down with laundry, made it look so easy. Well after we had a wonderful visit with the people of Guayacana, we thought it was very sweet that they all came to the edge of the hill to bid us farewell. It didn't take long to realize that they actually came to see the show of how us uncoordinated North Americans were going to make it down the hill. Well we didn't disappoint the local people. The first one to slip all the way to the bottom was Cory, Jessica's friend. Then Natalie claimed that Mom had tugged her down and she too slid down the mudslide. Jessica was the last to slide amidst cheers and laughter from the local people. We gave them a show they will never forget. Some how Tim managed to make it to the bottom in missionary shoes, Sunday pants, and a white shirt and tie, and Cindy in a skirt and flats felt very blessed to finally get to the boats with only a few splotches of mud on her skirt.
Mom trying to clean a bit of the damage off of Natalie after her mudslide.
We enjoy a quiet moment on the canoe as we pass through a narrow, dark section of the river.
At almost ninety years old this lady was able to help us all descend the mountainside.
A store in Guayacana.
President Cimarron, the branch president of Guayacana, is pointing to a cocoa pod, a food commodity that the Guayacanas harvest and sell to bring currency into the village. Cocoa is in great abundance around the village. The villagers primarily eat bananas, tilapia and pineapple.
The house on the right is an older home. The higher-quality house on the left represents the living accommodations that all the villagers (400) hope to have some day.
A local villager taking time to watch all the visitors walking past her home. Tim really wanted to be able to communicate with the people.
A light-hearted moment when we stopped to talk to some villagers who were very curious to see so many visitors.
Another moment to stop and visit with a villager.
Dad, President Cando, and branch President Cimarron of Guayacana.
The people were very friendly and wanted to follow us around the village.
This picture shows a poorer home that the village hopes to replace with the new model.
This is President Cimarron's son, coming back from his trip in the forest to retrieve bananas to eat for the family.
Here is the chapel that was lovingly built in Guayacana, by President Cimarron and the members of the church there. President Cando and his wife sacrificed so much of their time to help make this happen for the people of Guayacana. Tim was asked to address the members n the village. President Cimarron translated for Tim who spoke for a few minutes to thank the people for the hospitality and to encourage them to continue pressing forward in building the community. Both President Cimarron and Tim communicated in Spanish, for both, their second language.
Cindy looking for a delicious cut of meat for the next Zone Leaders' Council dinner, while Cory looks on. We don't know what kind of meat is hanging close to Cindy. It looks like dog.
Dad and his assistants taking on the Otavalanians in Ecua-Volley after a day of interviews.
Grandpa John and Grandma Maureen made it to the middle of the world with the sloans, and had a lot of fun.
Our favorite place to stay in Otavalo, Puertolago. The grounds are beautiful, just like stephanie and Natalie.
Grandpa John and the Sloan girls.
Having a beautiful breakfast with Grandma and Grandpa Sanders at PuertoLago before attending a District Conference in Ibarra, some 45 minutes further north.
Once in a while, we stay here at Puerto Lago, one our favorite places to stay when we come to Otavalo.
We took time to enjoy lunch at the Pim's at the base of the famous Panecillo in Quito. The view over looking the city was beautiful.
We enjoyed the view overlooking Los Baños 1,800 ft. up from the hotel, Luna Run Tun.
A great view of Los Baños.
After a long day of interview missionaries from two zones, we stopped to eat at La Tablita. Our Assistants and the Zone Leaders with Sister Griesemer, Grandpa and Grandma Sanders and the family are enjoy a great meal together.
Before we drive through the windy roads of the Andes or jungle forests, we load up and pack on top everything we possibly can. Elder Galán, Tim, Elder Olaveson and Elder Hirschi.
Here we are preparing to leave Quininde, where we loaded into the canoe for Guayacana. President Cando, the stake president of Esmeraldas is in the white hat.
The captain of our leaky ship, seemed to have everything under control. He could steer the boat with one hand, while the other hand swiftly bailed water from our leaky canoe. No worries! :)
Everyone was happy to be on the canoe, because we knew a wonderful adventure awaited us.
Another typical scene on the river as we made our way to Guayacana. It was a two-hour canoe ride to from Quininde to Guayacana.
Here's a small village that we passed by on our canoes. All of the open-air houses are built on stilts. In the rainy season the river rises above the banks and the local people just adjust to the ebb and flow of the river.
The water was calm here, but some parts of the trip became very exciting, with rocks and small rapids.
Our guides at the front of the boat worked together to guide and manuever the boat away from the rocks with their long bamboo poles. Things seemed to be fine until one of the guides lost his pole, the captain looked pretty upset.
President Cando and his beautiful wife accompanied us on the canoe, they have given so much of their time and talents to the people of Guayacana. The river narrowed in some places so we had to drift under over-arching trees that jetted out from the jungle. We looked for monkeys but didn't see any on this trip. This is at the end of our trip, climbing from our canoe up to the bank of Quininde. The bananas on the back of one of the people who joined us in the canoe is a typical sight in the tropical rain forest.When we got to the village we quickly got out of the canoes and climbed up the muddy hillside, not even thinking that we would have to descend the mudslick to get back to the boats. These two women coming down with laundry, made it look so easy. Well after we had a wonderful visit with the people of Guayacana, we thought it was very sweet that they all came to the edge of the hill to bid us farewell. It didn't take long to realize that they actually came to see the show of how us uncoordinated North Americans were going to make it down the hill. Well we didn't disappoint the local people. The first one to slip all the way to the bottom was Cory, Jessica's friend. Then Natalie claimed that Mom had tugged her down and she too slid down the mudslide. Jessica was the last to slide amidst cheers and laughter from the local people. We gave them a show they will never forget. Some how Tim managed to make it to the bottom in missionary shoes, Sunday pants, and a white shirt and tie, and Cindy in a skirt and flats felt very blessed to finally get to the boats with only a few splotches of mud on her skirt.
Mom trying to clean a bit of the damage off of Natalie after her mudslide. We enjoy a quiet moment on the canoe as we pass through a narrow, dark section of the river.
At almost ninety years old this lady was able to help us all descend the mountainside.
A store in Guayacana.
President Cimarron, the branch president of Guayacana, is pointing to a cocoa pod, a food commodity that the Guayacanas harvest and sell to bring currency into the village. Cocoa is in great abundance around the village. The villagers primarily eat bananas, tilapia and pineapple.
The house on the right is an older home. The higher-quality house on the left represents the living accommodations that all the villagers (400) hope to have some day.
A local villager taking time to watch all the visitors walking past her home. Tim really wanted to be able to communicate with the people.
A light-hearted moment when we stopped to talk to some villagers who were very curious to see so many visitors.
Another moment to stop and visit with a villager.
Dad, President Cando, and branch President Cimarron of Guayacana.
The people were very friendly and wanted to follow us around the village.
This picture shows a poorer home that the village hopes to replace with the new model.
This is President Cimarron's son, coming back from his trip in the forest to retrieve bananas to eat for the family.
Here is the chapel that was lovingly built in Guayacana, by President Cimarron and the members of the church there. President Cando and his wife sacrificed so much of their time to help make this happen for the people of Guayacana. Tim was asked to address the members n the village. President Cimarron translated for Tim who spoke for a few minutes to thank the people for the hospitality and to encourage them to continue pressing forward in building the community. Both President Cimarron and Tim communicated in Spanish, for both, their second language.
Cindy looking for a delicious cut of meat for the next Zone Leaders' Council dinner, while Cory looks on. We don't know what kind of meat is hanging close to Cindy. It looks like dog.
Dad and his assistants taking on the Otavalanians in Ecua-Volley after a day of interviews.
Grandpa John and Grandma Maureen made it to the middle of the world with the sloans, and had a lot of fun.
Our favorite place to stay in Otavalo, Puertolago. The grounds are beautiful, just like stephanie and Natalie.
Grandpa John and the Sloan girls.
Having a beautiful breakfast with Grandma and Grandpa Sanders at PuertoLago before attending a District Conference in Ibarra, some 45 minutes further north.
Once in a while, we stay here at Puerto Lago, one our favorite places to stay when we come to Otavalo.
We took time to enjoy lunch at the Pim's at the base of the famous Panecillo in Quito. The view over looking the city was beautiful.
We enjoyed the view overlooking Los Baños 1,800 ft. up from the hotel, Luna Run Tun. A great view of Los Baños.
After a long day of interview missionaries from two zones, we stopped to eat at La Tablita. Our Assistants and the Zone Leaders with Sister Griesemer, Grandpa and Grandma Sanders and the family are enjoy a great meal together. Before we drive through the windy roads of the Andes or jungle forests, we load up and pack on top everything we possibly can. Elder Galán, Tim, Elder Olaveson and Elder Hirschi.
