Templo de Guayaquil (Guayaquil Temple) A post by Maija

As you know, we are a part of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. On Saturday we went to the temple. This was my first time there. It was a great experience. I was very happy to be able to do this. Because this was such an amazing experience, I want to share it with you. So, this is it. My first time going to the temple. Imagine this:

Me in front of the temple

Artist’s rendering (AKA Mommy) of Templo De Guayaquil

Beep, beep! Beep, beep! Beep, beep! Beep, beep! Beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep. Your alarm doesn’t wake you up. “Wake up! It is time for the temple!” That woke you up. You are filled with anticipation as you change into your best church clothes. It is 3:05 am. You race down the stairs, ready to eat anything.. even oatmeal.

The oatmeal waits for you. Everything is bright and cheerful. Well, in your eyes. Even the oatmeal look appetizing with a few canned peaches! “Come on! We don’t want to be late!” You say. You aren’t very hungry, even with the delicious oatmeal. You yawn. “How come they haven’t built a temple closer then Guayaquil?” You ask. “They are building one in Quito”. You know that. Why not Cuenca though?
“Hurry up!” That wasn’t you this time. You just want to fall asleep on a plane to Guayaquil! You are stressed out! It is 3:15 in the morning! Maybe you can sleep on the bus. Hopefully it isn’t a van or combie. You try to finish your oatmeal, but the taxi will be here in 5 minutes and you haven’t done your hair or brushed your teeth! “Hurry hurry!” You abandon your oatmeal. It isn’t necessary. Hurry! Brush your teeth! Where’s the brush? This is why you did your hair and put in braids last night. Hurry! The taxi is here! “I have your brush!” Perfect! You can worry about that in the bus! Hop in! Quick! Oh no! Someone forgot a jacket and water bottle! Quick! Get it before the bus leaves! If you miss it, this will all be for nothing! He's back! Don’t forget to turn off the lights! “Go to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!” “Where is that?” “The Mormon church by Parque De La Madre!” “Ok”. Hurry! It is an anxious taxi ride. Will we get there on time? What if we don’t? Relax. Just enjoy the ride. You can’t enjoy it until you get home or on the bus. After the anxious taxi ride you finally get there. There is a van or combie there. Phew! But, a combie? Why! You get there. “The bus isn’t here yet”. You are filled with hope. Maybe it is better then a combie. A giant tour bus pulls up. It then slowly moves past. Oh. Not that one. Then it slowly backs into the parking lot! You get a tour bus! Ya!
You get on. You smell that terrible bus smell in the front. Yuck! As you go further back it grows fainter. “All children on the back!” Your mind translates. You are a child. Sad face. What about the rest of the family? You ask the leaders if you can sit in the middle with your parents. They agree. You try to save them seats. They board the bus and make their way back. Then the bus starts. You are on the way to Guayaquil! You have been waiting for this for 3.56 years. You think. Maybe more like 3.11111111111111111111111111 etc years. The bus seat isn’t comfy anymore. When are we going to get there? Are we there yet? Then you fall asleep. You wake up and squint. There is a bit of light. You check your watch. It is 5:00 am. Just enough light to read.
As you pull out a book, the bus stops. Are we there now? You look out the window. We are at a gas station. Everyone gets out to stretch their legs and go to the washroom. You go out, just for a bit. The washroom is very crowded. You get there, do your business and run to the bus. It has not left. Good. You board, along with all the others kids. Find the seats! Quick! You sit down and the bus starts moving.
About 3 hours later, you are in a city by an ocean you recognize as Guayaquil. You put your shoes on and get all your things together. You see it! It is there, standing enormously tall. You wait to go in. “This is the most crowded temple I have ever seen” someone whispers.
The Bishop comes out. He says something in Spanish to everyone. We can’t go inside until 11:30. You look at your watch. It is 9:27. You sigh.
After a long time walking around you finally get to go inside. As you wait in line you look around at the people in their Otavalo dresses. Brides in gowns. Men in suits. You get to the front. The card doesn't scan! You read of the number. It works! "Welcome". You wait in the line. You are able to walk down the stairs. You go in the room. You listen to someone talking away in Spanish. You go get changed. When you come back, you are able to go inside. Your Dad is waiting for you in the font (the small warm pool where you get baptized, AKA baptismal font). You are filled with joy! You have been waiting for this time since your baptism. You are able to baptize your ancestors! You wade into the warm and clean water. You look at your Dad. He smiles, the says a prayer in Spanish. You are dunked, or baptized by immersion. You think of the 4th Article Of Faith. "We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are; First, faith in the lord Jesus Christ, second, repentance, third, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, fourth, laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost." You are then brought into the confirmation room. "Fourth, laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost." You have been baptized for the dead! Also confirmed!

Thank you friends, for reading this. This was the biggest event in my life since my baptism. I am a part of the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints and proud of it. Until next time!

~Maija

P.S. Here are some pictures.