Seniors Leigh Torgerson and Brianna Shockey visited Costa Rica this summer with a group of people from Montana, Oregon, California, and Arizona for a mission trip.

Torgerson describes Costa Rica as beautiful, and incredibly green with wild guavas all around

"I learned more Spanish and also about my ignorance toward people in other countries. Not everyone has the comforts and opportunities we have," Torgerson said.

Food was a major adjustment for Torgerson as well as heat and humidity."We ate rice and beans every meal," she said.

French teacher Patricia McLaughlin led a group of PHS students to France this summer. Juniors Mindy Koopmans, Abby Nash, and Senior Brooke Skalsky were among a group of thirty others from Missoula and Kalispell.

While in France, they visited the Eiffel Tower, Paris, Biarrtiz, Recamadour, Bayonne, and other places.

Spanish students at the Alahmbra

Seniors Katherine Bowers, Erica Grinde, Marlo Manicke, JayLee Trujillo, Sophomore Tony Manicke, and Junior Caroline Still-Baxter traveled to Spain led by Spanish teacher Donna Iverson.

The group was in Spain for ten days touring Madrid, Toledo, Granada, Seville, Cordoba, and Barcelona. They saw the Alhambra, the Prado Museum, the Olympic Stadium, the Sagrada Familia, the Dali Museum, and many other sites.

"The trip taught me a lot about art and how to appreciate it," Grinde said. "I feel the extreme change in culture taught me a lot about the world. I didn't realize that the world was so big, but yet so small. People are so different, but in some ways the same."

Spanish students getting together to pose for a group shot

Kati O'Toole at hilltop in Bethlehem

Juniors Ray Kneeland, Kati O'Toole, and Brad Wolf, Senior Faith Rowald, and Kristen Shima, and Freshmen Katie Rowald traveled to Israel for a mission trip this June. Another group from Colorado and Kalispell churches traveled with the students.

The group stayed at the Bethlehem Christmas Church for three weeks. While in Israel they visited many ancient churches between Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron, and other cities. They floated in the Dead Sea, snorkeled in the Red Sea, sailed on the sea of Galilee, waded through the waters of the Mediterranean, and did a bit of archeology in an ancient cave in Bethlehem.

There was major adjustments made while in the Middle East. Dress was very modest, and it wasn't wise for girls to wear shorts or tank tops...even in the smoldering heat.

Experiencing a completely new culture brought eye opening realities to the people who went.

Kneeland commented," The main difference was the economy and the way you look at yourself compared to them."

Israeli soliders patrol a Jerusalem market

Tina and Bekah Bumgarner playing on a Brazilian beach.

The Bumgarner girls on a beach in Brazil

The Bumgarner family went to Rio de Janeiro and Victoria Brazil for a mission trip this summer. While in Brazil the Bumgarners experienced the rich and poor sides of society, tropical beaches, different churches, and Brazilian markets. They also aided with clothes relief for the less fortunate. The Bumgarners saw what poverty really is and the opportunities we have here.

Senior Bekah Bumgarner said, "There is a huge language barrier, and I have never experienced humidity before." Other adjustments to be made were to the food, and caution towards the drinking water. "The main difference between Brazil and America is there is no middle class in Brazil. There is the very, very rich or the very, very poor," stated Bekah Bumgarner.

The Bumgarner family poses for a family picture