Ecuador- Salsa lessons, and the Malecon

6-13

This morning Manaal and I made breakfast for everyone. Eric called and

asked if he could come over for breakfast.  After eating a hearty

breakfast I taught Eric some salsa basics. I don't remember how it came up in the first place, but I was very happy it did. He caught on pretty well  but just wasn't very confident.

After some salsa dancing Eric went out with Sheri and Jen to visit

some hospitals in the hopes of making connections there. Manaal and

I sat around wasting time. At about 3pm Jen, Sheri and Eric returned. We

then met up with Andres and walked to the Malecon. 

We had been planning this for a while, and after sitting inside all day I was so excited to go out and explore.

The malecon is a long boardwalk with restaurants, shops and beautiful things scattered along it.

We walked down quite a ways taking in the view. 

It was beautiful with the water on one side and the buildings of Guayaquil on the other side of us.

(I'm not sure how in depth to get with this story.

Ok, I will tell you just because I feel that it will help you understand some things.)

As we were walking I could tell that something was bothering Andres. 

He wouldn't tell me what though and tried to look strong and fine.

I knew something was wrong though because he was way to quiet. At one point we

were atop of a look out and I got antsy and decided to walk on by

myself. Andres caught up with me and told me that he wanted to take me

to his favorite place. I walked on with him and he took me to this

garden area.

There were trees and flowers and fish ponds.- We sat down

on the edge of a pond and he finally told me what was going on.
(I don't feel comfortable typing this for the world to see. It is not my story alone to tell.)
I then asked to pray for him and his heart. He didn't understand why I would want to pray for his heart, and I

explained tohim that God had shown me a piece of his heart, and i really felt that I should pray for him
 .
When I finally got him to understand that I was serious he agreed.  I then prayed for him right there on a

bridge in this beautiful garden. It was so awesome.

We then walked on to meet up with the rest of the group. AS we were

walking he told me why he might not translate the last week.He said it

was because he knows I am leaving in a few weeks and he needs to be

prepared. Basically he was worried that if he translated the last week

he would get too attached and it would be very hard for me to leave. It

kind of broke my heart to hear him say that.I also had been thinking

about the future and how I was leaving. This talk caused me to tear up a

little bit which really concerned Andres.

 We finally met up with the rest of the group and got some frozen yogurt

and met a few more new friends.

 A little while later we found ourselves

standing at the top of some stairs. The topic of salsa dancing came up

as I mentioned that I had taught Eric some basics that morning. The next

thing I know, I am teaching a basic salsa class at the top of these

steps.

The whole group starts dancing with each other in spite of the

fact that we had no music.
I then find myself salsa dancing with Andres. After we salsa a few

minutes he starts teaching me a sort of ballroom dance. It was wonderful

thought at the same time I felt terrible for dancing with this guy that

is concerned he is getting too attached to me.

On the walk home Andres was terribly distracted and quiet. We all just

sort of walked on in silence. It wasn't until we were almost back to the

church that he and I talked again.

(sorry, this story is very sappy and you probably didn't want to hear

any of it. Feel free to stop reading.)

I told him the reasons I got teary eyed before was becauseI also hated the thought of leaving Ecuador, that I

had to go back to the states and to life there were I was alone, and  I liked him,

and the thought of not spending another two weeks getting to know him before I left

made me upset.

I couldn't handle being that open and vulnerable with him without

getting a bit emotional and embarrassed at my vapory eyes yet again.

I then composed myself and asked him what he had been thinking.

                              He said he had been thinking about what would happen if he just left Ecuador.