SUR A FRONTERA DE PANAMA Y GOLFITO (TO THE PANAMA BORDER & GOLFITO, C.R.)

Oftentimes, when folks learn I'm a nurse, they ask for medical advise,
this young  woman did just that. I also whip out my Ipad often
to entertain restless chicos,or chica, in this case in Cartago.

The Cartago Ward Chapel.  Talked here 8/13

We're so pleased with the Toyopan Estaca because they have
their FPE/Autosuficiencia  Stake Committee up & running.

Hno.Rodrigo Rivera teaching the Career Workshop (taller)
to a group of students from a local university. He taught
it in English because they've been studying English for
almost a year.



We had a great surprise when we spoke @ the LaVerbena branch on 8/20,
we met Elder y Hermana Clark's 2 daughters &
their friend (to my left).

We started picking up trash (because we were blocked & locked
in the parking lot) & when church let out, the kids came out & helped us : )

These are some of the 14 grandkids & friends of the Clarks
+ some of the new friends they'd made in the branch (rama).
 

This is Graciela Moya, her husband Javier & their son Ignacio.
They've housed missionaries for about 14 years, until just recently,
including Melanie 12-ish years ago. They were so kind to her
& have remained friends to all of us since.
THEY VISITED US IN OUR APT. & WERE ABLE TO
SKYPE W/ MELANIE & JEFF!

Infamous "Crocodile Bridge".
The crocs were submerged when we
stopped to look.

Cool Restaurant "El Avion" between Quepos & Manuel Antonio

This restaurant is actually built around an entire airplane.
The cabin is now a bar.

The iconic view of the bay near Manuel Antonio NP

REMEMBER "MICANDA BY THE SEA"
RYAN & ASHLEY?

They actually kill off these palm or coconut trees
to plant new ones & promote a healthy crop.



On the wharf @ the Banana Bay Hotel.
We travel a lot on the weekends &
speak in Sacrament mtgs. & the Y.S.A.(J.A.S. here)
Sunday School classes to let them know about the PEF program
& to teach them about self-reliance & the Lord's
desire for them to have joy.
Joy can't occur if someone can't provide for their family.

The Pier at Puerto Jimenez on the Osa Peninsula.  It was a 35 minutes launch
ride across the Golfo Dulce from Golfito 

The small airstrip at Puerta Jimenez.

The Chapel in Ciudad Neilly.  Spoke and workshop here August 26-7

The Chapel in Rio Claro.  That's our Toyota RAV4 in the forefront.

A small tour bus had gone off the road & down this steep
mountain-side a couple of days before. Unfortunately, 3 people
died, 9 were badly injured & only 1 was unhurt.  Someone left flowers there on the right.

The Chapel in San ISidro is undergoing a facelift

One of the things we absolutely love, is to run into the missionaries!!!
This is Elder Guzman & Chisholm in San Marcos. I have a
quirky sense of humor & they humored me & stood near the bar
that they'd just passed. 

Another view of the restaurant "El Avion"

We see a lot of vultures.  This one posed at the dock in Golfito

THE BRANCHES OF THIS TREE
ARE A KEEN EXAMPLE
OF WHAT THE STREETS ARE LIKE IN & AROUND SAN JOSE.

On beach at Puerto Jimenez on the Osa Peninsula looking back to mainland and Golfito

At the Border Crossing into Panama at Canaos.  There was a duty free mall
which was part in Costa Rica and Part in Panama straddling the "frontera"

We stopped at this chapel (below) & ran into Hermanas Hearne from Layton
& Madsen from Gridley, CA. The young man with them
had been taught the gospel by them & JUST been baptized!
They happened to be having a cultural celebration
so we got to watch.

Another view of the Chapel in Neily

The drive through the mountains to San Vito and then north to San Isidro
through the mists was amazing.

Hna Pete had no idea there were pine trees in Costa Rica.
Couldn't resist snapping this foto (no typo, that's how
photo is spelled in Spanish) of the pine & palm trees together!



Interesante Signo

Get it? I'm taller than Hermana Coleman : ).  The word "taller" means
workshop or in this case...auto repair shop.

Interesting statue of Christ along Ruta National 2 by
headwaters of the Rio Savegre.

Thought this was a great example of how the
roads are carved out of the jungles and forests here.

Beautiful Catholic Church in San Marcos in the Canton Los Santos.

Some More Mission Memories from Sister Petersen from 1st Half of July

I didn't dare be too obvious, but we were flagged down by
this policeman & asked if we'd pull his car/truck out of where
he was stuck. That's a first for us.

Bridge to Nicoya Peninsula.  Built by Taiwan over gulf like 2km long

William and Kenia Cervantes.  Converts of Melanie in Aserri in 2001
Now live in Santa Cruz

Beauty abounds on Nicoya

Sister woke up earl Sunday Morning and found
howler monkeys and babies on their backs in the trees

The Cervantes with sons at church in Santa Cruz
Cowboy William on left does not do ties or white shirts

The Sister Missionaries in Santa Cruz



This is how these Ticos bring Baby along on their motorcycle

Our trip over the mountains from Canas to Lago Arenal
was the prettiest yet

Flowers are everywhere here in Paradise



This University English class comes once a year to learn in English how to
job search & interview in English.  All questions they had on culture was about the LDS
missionaries!