Pura Vida Misional: Some Glimpses into a Busy August

The sunsets never cease to amaze. This is Playa Flamingo in
Guanacaste. To right snorkeling at Playa Conchel. Sand on
Beach was millions of pieces of sea shells

Workshop at La Paz Stake-Gravelius

Started with 7 only 3 survived the
four weeks but 4 of 6 in Los Santos were certified after receiving by Skype!

Career Workshop at Don Bosco-La Sabana Stake
(Practicing for a successful Job interview)

To left is sample of the daily mist we often
drive thru in the mountains! And, most of the
country is mountains except for along both coasts

On way home from talking in Canas Branch we drove over Mountains to Lake Arenal.
One of prettiest drives so far out of countless amazing scenic drives. This interesting flora we found at the Skywalk canopy near Arenal. Later we stopped at this beautiful waterfall "La Fortuna" near the city of the
same name!

On sunday, August 10 had opportunity
to go to the Naranjo Branch of Alajuela
Stake with Stake Specialist, Rocio
Soto (in Red Dress). Had great Workshop
after Speaking in Sacrament Meeting!
Sister Missionaries...had us thinking that
son in law Jeff served here. On way home stopped in
beautiful Sarchi and 500 year old adobe Church
in Alajuela!

Rocio Soto with Daughter in law and grandkids Daniel and Isabel.
Her son was recently released as Bishop of Tropicana Ward and now serves as
Stake YM President and is one of 3 full time Institute Teachers
in the country!

Helen Mussett. A volunteer from Venezuela at the newly opened
Tropicana Stake CAS (Centro de Autosuficiencia) Self reliance Center
She moved here in March to escape the govt problems in Venezuela.

More amazing sunsets! Can't stop ourselves from taking pictures!

Hermana Diane found this friend at the Hotel in Coco Beach while
Elder Petersen was deep sea fishing

Another sunset the next night I couldn't help but share!

Leaving the shore for Deep Sea Fishing with Elder Coleman and President
Wilkinsen and 2 of his kids Mary and Joseph. 9 plus hours went
north almost to Nicaragua. First time since I was 15 in Guymas, Mexico

Sister Petersen was getting creative with her Olympus here as her companion enjoyed the Jacuzzi
at our Apartment building (the pool is on the 9th floor, the gym on the 8th and our apartment on the 12th of 27
floors. They are expecting to finish the twin tower in January but with 28 floors.

The traffic here continues to defy description. Its a free for all everyday
and gridlock most days except most sunday mornings the streets are empty.
One of the best examples of "Pura Vida".

Sister Petersen finally found someone with a waffle iron. These are the new mission office elders,
Lewis and Pratt. we went to El Rey the next day and bought a waffle iron!

Nice park close to the new Mission office where sister Petersen
spends at least one day a week working on nursing and health insurance
issues!

Sisters Petersen and Coleman at the Nicoya Branch where Elder Petersen
spoke on August 3 on way home to San Jose from Guanacaste and the Pacific Coast

A training workshop for most of the stake specialists at the office at Don Bosco
in downtown San Jose. We spent the majority of our time during weekdays here.
Country Self reliance Manager, Rodrigo Rivera is second from right.
His command of the English language is a great blessing to Sister P. He went to college in
Pennsylvania and used to be an English Professor before coming to work
for the church.

Little Mexican restaurant "El Chipote" in Liberia with the Colemans.
Was nothing like Javiers but...the dinner company was great.

This husband and wife (Mariela Torres from Flores Herredia) remembers
Melanie but was young (around 11) back then. He is a dentist that got his
chance with the fund and she if one semester away from joing his practice also
becoming a dentist. He is asking for another loan to go into a specialty.
Whitning and inserts, I think.

We are so excited for Brent and Jan who were called to serve MLS in
Montreal, Canada leaving in February??? It was fun to join them by
Facetime technology as they opened their call!

By chance met this young engaged couple at the Stake Center
in Gravilias. He served with South Weber Stake President Steve Petersen in Uruguay!

Here is an excellent example of the view off our balcony. the
mountains are commonly covered in majestic clouds. The pine trees
in the middle of this photo is where our office is aat the Don Bosco
Chapel. It was the second full sized chapel built in the Country
and is 30 something years old.