Home at Last! Church News Article June 25, 2011

Bienvenido a la Casa

Guardian Angels

A Bishop from Connecticut USA and his wife were flying to Buenos Aires to pick up their missionary son.  About 45 minutes before landing they learned that there was a change of plans and they would not be able to reach their destination and enjoy all the things they'd planned with their son because of the volcanic ash cloud. "The Lord must've known to divert us to Santiago", the Bishop said.  These "guardian angels" have checked into the Ritz Carlton Hotel.  They will meet the group of eight American missionaries, which includes their son and two Hermanas, at the bus terminal on Wednesday morning following the missionaries unexpected 20 hour bus trip from Buenos Aires. They will transport them back to their hotel suite, let them shower and rest, feed them and see that they each get to the Santiago, Chile airport for their various flights for home which leave Wednesday evening. We are touched by their generosity and grateful that our Heavenly Father sends angels to look after our sons and daughters.

Ritz Carlton Hotel Santiago, Chile

Elder Beatty and Elder Ludwig after 70 hours on a bus!

Chile Santiago Temple

Sweet!  Way different than what we're used to!

What?  Hope that volcanic ash isn't following us!

They're in Good Hands - Adios Buenos Aires!

The group of returning American missionaries is now on a chartered bus, driving 1000 miles through the Pampas and the Andes to Santiago Chile so as to avoid the volcanic ash cloud and catch flights for home.  They slept for about three hours last night on the floor of a church.

Despedida

After Elder Ludwig arrived at the Mission Office in Buenos Aires on Sunday morning, he got in a shower and went to the area-wide conference broadcast from SLC.  He was also able to attend the despedida, "farewell fireside" etc. later that evening and bid farewell to some of his converts, friends and companions.

"Farewell Tour" of Argentina?

June 13, 2011

Volcanic Ash Cloud blows in again over BsAs - All Monday evening flights cancelled

June 12, 2011

The family learned on Sunday evening that because of all the flights from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires being cancelled this past week due to the volcanic ash cloud, Elder Ludwig, Elder Beatty and two others are traveling 50 hours by bus back to the capital. They are expected to depart by plane from Buenos Aires with their group on Monday evening and should arrive back home in the U.S. as originally scheduled.

How to get from Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego to Buenos Aires?

Since Tierra del Fuego is an island most people choose to travel by plane. There are direct flights between Buenos Aires City and Ushuaia.

There is no way to get directly by land from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires but travel by bus is possible.

You must go first to Río Gallegos, which includes crossing the Strait of Magellan. The company that makes this trip is called Tecni Austral. You must take notice that you will pass through Chilean territory so you will have to go through customs. The trip lasts between 8 and 10 hrs.

Once there, you have to take another bus in order to make the trip between Río Gallegos and Buenos Aires. There are many companies that offer this service, the travel lasts about 36 hours (there are 2570 km. between both cities).

Distances in kilometers from Ushuaia:

Río Gallegos 594

Río Grande 230

Buenos Aires 3194 (nearly 2000 miles)

Elders Aguirre and Ludwig in San Antonio

We'll go where you want us to go . . .

Love all the wonderful people in Ushuaia and know the Lord loves them very much.