To the Nicaragua frontier (border to Renew visa)

We share a workshop with All returning missionaries.  Here we are with Hermana Lagos (Nicaragua) and
 her family and Hermana Solarzano,in the white blouse (Honduras) both from Guapiles Area. Turns out that Hna Lagos' sister, sitting by Hna.Pete, won the Gold Medal at the last Special Olympics in cycling, in Greece. Google Ethel Lagos : )

On Right is Karla Zuniga a volunteer at our office.  We went to Puriscal
to meet her family.Her Dad was still at work.  What a beautiful drive! Our son-in-law Jeff Tucker, served in Puriscal. Karla's helping Hna.Pete practice Spanish & Hna.Pete's doing the same for Karla, who's learning English.

Catholic Cathedral in Puriscal



The view outside Puriscal, but this foto doesn't do justice to what we actually saw. 

On our way to the Nicaraguan border,
The Clark's (Missionary couple in Liberia, Guanacaste)
took us to an obscure Waterfall that turned out to be a highlight!

On the short trail to Cataratas Cortez

This is Parque Nationale Santa Maria where the Ticos won their only
War in 1855 against a Confederate Mercenary Army trying
to Conquer Central American (William Walker)

Elder and Sister Clark from Lehi.  He's a world class
Volcano expert that's been coming to Costa Rica for 20 plus years with BYU
students.They're standing in front of the school they helped build and supply.



Liberia Branch Chapel. One of the  nicest in Costa Rica, with Clarks and Colemans.

Costa Rica went crazy
Sunday when its national team beat Greece at the World Cup
in Brazil.  The first time in history that Costa Rica has won a second round match!

This is what happens when Elder Petersen offers to cook diner!
His world famous scrambled hamburger

At the Cortez Waterfall.  Where we got to go swimming in the 100 degree heat.

From behind Cataratas Cortez



The sisters from behind the falls (no, not those 2 on the left)

This is the Tolman family (well almost all of them), from North SLC. Turns out that before they moved to C.R., they were in the same ward as our niece, Jessica Merryweather & her husband Andrew & familia. Small world!
They are living is Santa Cruz, Guanacaste.  We met them at the Burger King in
Liberia.  They were also on their way to Nicaragua to renew their visas.

At Santa Maria National Parque.

Elder Clark sharing insights on the many major volcanos around here.

At the frontera (border) It took us over four hours and 2.5 hours travel to leave Costa Rica,
enter Nicaragua and then leave Nicaragua and get permission to re-enter Costa Rica for another 90 days or until
our residency visa is approved. 

One of several active volcanos in Guanacaste

Bridge to some Yellowstone like hot thermal pools on slopes of a Volcon.

World Cup fever is everywhere here

The Sister Missionaries in Liberia

The Clarks have this old Toyota Jeep to visit
remote branches, members, & investigators.  They will finish their mission
in August!

June workshops and more!

Alexa of La Loma Ward has a small business making and selling Pastries

Stephannia from Viscaya Ward took the Workshop and two weeks later
had a check to Enroll in cosmetology school.  But she work really hard to do it so quickly. 

Bismark came home from Nicaragua (for 4 days) to meet Melanie's parents
and Skpe with her and Jeff 13 years after their baptism in Aserri



Brother Josue Montero and his wife are a PEF (fund) success story from Tres Rios Ward where we spoke on 6/15.
 Today he  has a very successful business and drives a BMW

Fathers Day 2014 Sister Petersen made Elder Petersen her famous Spaghetti 

and then we took a walk to La Sabana Parque and walked home in the rain.

This is Sister Brooklie Garner from Mesa, AZ on the left with her companions.
She ist the Mission nurse and Mike Garner's niece.  She has 2 companions because we have more sister missionaries than
safe places to serve.  Plus she spends a lot of time working with missionaries health issues and now with Sister Petersen
who fields the calls from the English speaking missionaries.  This is view from top of our Apartment
building last Monday morning when they came in to have breakfast with us on their Pday! 
Petersen pancakes, bacon and eggs!!!

Monday we hosted most of the other senior couple missionaries for FHE and BBQ
chicken. 

Pizza celebration for completing the TPE Workshop in Paraiso on 6/19.  We traveled sometimes
2 hours to complete the 45 km trip once a week for 4 weeks but made some forever friends where Melanie
also served years ago..

Like Sister Petersen's new BFF, 5 year old, Jimena

On 6/20 we traveled 4 hours to Liberia Guanacaste to meet with the District Presidency
and help them plan to open a local Centro de Autosuficiencia.  There is hope to organize into a stake by year's end.
President Erik Espinosa is 2nd from right surrounded by his Counselors and the High Councilor in charge of Autosuficiencia Jose Mora.  I was really impressed.  The priesthood here is really growing strong with returned missionaries starting to take
their place in leadership positions. 

Friday 6/20 was a big deal here.  A day to always remember they say!  First time in 24 years and only second in history that
Costa Rica will go to the second round of World Cup Soccer tournament in Brazil wining Italia 1-0
The people took to the streets to celebrate.  In front of our Apartment there were 1000+ celebrants

The Riveras on left (their baby) and Soto's on right for breakfast at El Sitio in Liberia.
Rodrigo Rivera is the Country manager for Self Reliance and Employment and Rodrigo Soto is the Country PR Director and
was counselor to Pte Claybough when Mel and Jeff was here.  Mauritza de Soto on far right
works with us in Autosuficiencia

 

Hno Soto just took new job as Director of the Zoo (Africa Safari) in
Liberia when we got the VIP tour.

At the safari is one of the prettiest waterfalls I've ever seen!

Ryan...This gentlemen wore his baseball hat to sacrament meeting.  Oh and our next door neighbor here at Apartment played 5 years in the Pittsburg Pirate Organization (James L. Boone)

Celebrating at La Loma workshop graduation.  Frazier on right served mission to Salta Argentina
In middle is Bishop Quesada of La Loma Ward.  Speaks great English too.

These are the graduates of the Workshop in La Loma.  We really grew to love them.
"Barrrio tan amable que le di mi Corazon"

Cristina Maroto and her daughter Jimena with Bishop Saalveda.  She was the one they kept after us for
the workshop.  Been a member 5 months or so and after a hard life has found the Gospel and hope.

The bishop's wife also was a participant in the workshop

Those who graduated (minus two) in Paraiso.  One sister had her baby earlier in the day and a counselor in the Bishopric Hno Arias was sick.

Hermana Petersen has the apartment feeling like home now with drapes, rugs, plants, and photo's
all over the walls.

The sunsets here are unbelievable and pretty much a daily sperctacular.  (At 6 pm)

At African Safari

Little Adrian Rivera pretty much has captured everyone's heart.  He's 5 months old.

On way home from Liberia stopped for Chinese lunch at Chung San in
Puntarenas

Ugly trip home on Highway 27 as a wreck left this Semi a burned out shell.

Yet another Costa Rican SUNSET. Last night near Escazu!