March Madness-Pura Vida Misional style

New Chapel in Pavas, La Sabana Stake nearing completion.
This is the ward where Rodrigo Rivera, our Jefe (manager), is Obispo.

A homeless man took up residence just outside the parking lot
at The Don Bosco Ward Chapel where our Office is located

Dinner out at PF Changs one Friday night in March.
It's been open here for only a couple of months.  For Hermana Di's
birthday.

On Saturday, March 7, taught 180+ sisters of Toyopan Stake
Relief Society..."How to start your own Business" 

Then after each ward had a table showing off their sisters' handiwork.
It was way cool and impressive how they work hard to
supplement their incomes. 

This light house from Puntarenas is now near Santa Ana
on Ruta 27

Had Miguel & Marta Aguilar from Santa Ana over for family night.
He's a big time Maya Ruins lover like us.

Returning missionaries seminar with Rodrigo in early March.
You can see the Don Bosco Chapel baptismal font in the background.
That's our special friend/like a daughter Yerling, in the back.

Santa Ana Branch. Elder Pete oftentimes teaches
both the Relief Society sisters & the Priesthood men
during a 3rd hour meeting (or in Sunday School) about Self-Reliance &
the P.E.F. program.  We got lost trying to find the rented
house and they had to come and find us.

A typical day at the Self- Reliance Office with Rodrigo and the Arias'
(Coordinating Couple missionaries from the La Verbena Branch)

Had a great temple experience with other Senior Missionaries,
the Temple Presidency & other temple couples serving full-time,
 doing baptisms for our ancestors. (Thanks Dennis).
Afterwards everyone went to a Peruvian restaurant close to the temple but
Elder Petersen got Papa Johns Pizza (his favorite because they'll
put on extra cheese).

To the temple with our friend Karla Zuniga, her Mom Blanca and boyfriend
Michael Aguilar.

One last trip with the Coleman's before they left for home on March 19.
To Nicoya Peninsula (Playa Montezuma) by ferry from Puntarenas.

Fun to watch the seagulls dive for human treats right out of a lady's hand

There's our RAV4 (last car on the ferry).  We almost had to
wait 2 hours for the next ferry as we arrived just as the ship for horn
was sounding its exit.

Stopped by the Tango Mar Resort in Tambor where
we stayed with Melanie in 2001

This is our cute little hotel in Montezuma (Sano Banano)

The waterfall in Montezuma was pretty disappointing in
the dry season.  They say its spectacular in the wet season.

Catarata Montezuma empties into the pacific ocean (Gulf Nicoya)

Workshop at Toyopan Stake Conference with Elder Cordon of 70
and Rodrigo Rivera

Finally, got to see VOLCON RINCON DE LA VIEGA

Our friend Jimena, from Paraiso,on her first day of school.

Finally made our way to Rincon, an active volcano north of Liberia by
Nicaraguan Border

This pretty little Catarata was a 10 minute hike but in the 90+ F heat
Hermana Petersen decided to stay back and send Nurse Emails to
Missionaries. Little did she know that she'd be eaten alive
by mosquitos & no seeums, in the places she'd not been bit the week before!

CAS Training for Liberia District Presidency as they prepare
to be a Stake

The chapel in Santa Cruz, Guanacaste is being remodeled and
enlarged.

On the way home from Liberia we drove down the Pacific Coast
to Playa Samara, another small beach town.

Up on Volcon Rincon we found this sign and

These animals "en la via"

At Hilton in Liberia writing a talk for the San Roque Ward

Training in San Roque ended up being mainly, for the Ward Council.

The oldest continuing, in-use Catholic church in Costa Rica...In Nicoya
from 1600s.

The Mi Camino devotional in Guapiles where interested
members choose their path and formed groups. There are
groups in getting an education (for a better job), starting
your own business & how to apply for, interview for, & get
a job.
 

Like this one on Starting your own business to be facilitated by Hno.
Chavierri (in red) and included Bishop Rodriguez (Barrio La Rita) to his left.

We took a package to Guacimo for Elder Tullis, who shared some
"real Valentine Heart Candies".  Elder Davis, on the left, is from St. George.

Teaching Adult combined meeting in Paso Ancho Ward, La Paz Stake.

TICOS CALL DRY SEASON "WINTER" HERE. WHAT? IT'S 70-80 F.

Specialist  (Solangie Vega-second from Right) and Facilitators in Guapiles,
Limon Provence

Rodrigo Rivera teaching 2 Returned Missionaries and 2 members
how to have success in finding "better employment".

Mid February-stopped to hike into a waterfall on the way
to speak at San Vito branch by the Panama border.

Must admit is was an extreme hike for little reward and
Sister Petersen was.....

not thrilled with the experience at all.  Almost didn't make it out
up the nearly vertical path. Come back Ryan, I need my hiking buddy!

Rented home in San Vito where the branch meets.

New friends we met at church in San Vito

This pond is one of our favorite sites (between
San Vito and Niely)

Our hotel outside San Vito was really fun...Cascata Del Bosco.
Owner was from Sacramento area & claimed several member
friends there.

Here we saw the largest bamboo trees ever.  There was a path that
ran through them

Teaching combined Sunday School in San Vito

On way home stayed overnight in a hotel that on the
internet said "OceanView" and looked to be right on the ocean but...

was actually 7 km straight up the mountain side on a 4 wheel drive
"trail" that we navigated in the dark.  Hermana Petersen was once
again not very happy.

After church in San Vito met with the District President and 4 branch presidents
of Rio Claro District to train them in the new "Mi Camino Hasta La
Autosuficiencia" Program.  District President Castillo is in the middle.
He's been District President now for 8 years.

If you look hard enough you can see our ocean view from our hotel balcony



On way back to San Jose Monday morning we ate at a Seaside Hotel and Upscale
Restaurant at Villa Caletas where this Iguana came right up to the table for table scraps.
Hermana Pete loves iguanas. I am iguana "neutral" : )