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.

Our friend Pablo Fernandez has come to our apartment three times
now to get and keep sister Petersens computer working.

Elder Petersen made the cover of some training materials from the
Central America Area in Guatemala.  Autographs are still rather inexpensive

Sorry can't resist.  Playa Flamingo on the Pacific ocean

Our Captain WIlliam turned out to be a member from Filadelphia, Guanacaste

Celebrating in Alajuela Stake where 12 graduated plus 4 by Skype in
San Carlos Quesada a hour and half north.

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.