This past Friday, January 11th, was Kim's birthday. On Thursday night we went over to David and Becky's house to celebrate with their family and another mission family.

Kim, Kandi (their family has been in the country for a month), me, and Becky

On Friday Kim, Kim's dad (who is here visiting for the week), and I went to the zoo. The Guadalajara Zoo was really nice and we had a great afternoon.

The real Komodo dragon was "temporarily not in the exhibit."
That's for you Stephanie

Feeding a giraffe right out of my hand

There was a safari part of the zoo where you ride around in a open vehicle and the animals are just roaming around. Nothing like the real safari I went on a few years ago, but it was fun. Those power lines really make you feel like you are out in the wild.

I wouldn't want to cross his path

I love this guy just taking it easy

We went up to some lookout where there was a good view of some of the city. This picture shows maybe 5% of the city. For those of you who are Tennesseeans I heard this fact today...Guadalajara is about the size of Chattanooga, but with the population of the whole state of Tennessee.

Today we did not have a very good view of the city. Notice the blue sky above, all the buildings below, and the layer of smog in between.

Tonight we had a party for Kim at our house with some of our friends.

My good friend Adriana and her boyfriend Jose Miguel who is in visiting for Christmas. He is studying in Canada.

Some of our friends enjoying their enchiladas. I find it kind of funny that I, the American, have now made enchiladas three times for my Mexican friends. I guess Manuel was a good teacher when he taught me how to make them.

Kim after "la mordida."