A missionary from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, founded in the United States by Joseph Smith in the 19^th century, was found dead in the home where he was staying while conducting his religious work in Costa Rica.

The incident occurred in the rural community of Sarapiqui, located near the western edge of the Caribbean region of our country. The Mormon missionary had arrived in Costa Rica six months ago from Mexico, and he shared a home with a fellow religious worker from the Latter-Day Saints faith.

According to a news report filed by community reporter Patricia Duran of daily tabloid Diario Extra, the expat Mormon chose Sarapiqui to carry out his mission because he fell in love with the abundant verdure and wildlife. He thought about making Costa Rica his semi-permanent home as he continued his mission, which included waking up early to read scripture, sharing the gospel with new people he met, performing volunteer work in the afternoons, and making an effort to share the gospel again in the evening before bedtime.

The expat Mormon was just 21 years old, and he suffered from chronic asthma along with other pulmonary issues. The damp air and deep humidity of Sarapiqui was certainly not ideal for his health condition, but his religious conviction assured him that he was in the place where God wanted him to be.

On Tuesday night, the young expat told his fellow missionary that he had not felt well in the last few days, and thus he felt that he should skip the customary end-of-day briefing and Bible study. His friend offered to take him to the hospital because he did not look good, but he declined and put his life in God’s hands. In the morning, his friend noticed that he never came out of the bedroom; when he went to look for him, he found that he had passed away during the night.

Red Cross rescuers who responded to the 9-1-1 call determined that a respiratory arrest may have caused the missionary’s demise; this will be confirmed by the medical examiner. Neighbors remember him as a kind young man who always traveled on foot or bicycle, wore buttoned-up and crisply pressed white shirts, and who was very respectful and passionate about his religion.