Argentina!

Thursday - Tuesday April 23 - 28, 2015

What a fabuloso trip!  It was all good with great friends which made for some great memories!
I have created a YouTube of the whole trip but for those who want the fast version here are a few highlights.

It really is a nice video: Argentina Trip

Hermana Ots wedding: Ots Wedding

Thursday

We with the Anderson's left Montevideo about 7 am on a bus.

Arrived in Colonia, Uruguay about 10:00 am. Colonia is across the river
from Buenos Aires.

This is the boat we took across the river.

We arrived in Buenos Aires around 11:30 am, rented a car and stopped
by the temple since it was right off the freeway on our way to Tandil.

We drove 4 hours to Tandil. This is where
Hermana Ots lives and got married here civilly first.
We stayed in the Agua Dulce Hotel for 2 nights.

The pool was heated and I swam my first laps since I left home.
It was wonderful to get some good exercise!

Friday

Civil marriage for Hermana Ots in her hometown Tandil. Her husband Emanuel Fernandez. In Argentina they have to get married civilly first and then they can go to the temple. 

Emanuel Fernandez y Jorgelina Ots

Marriage vows and signing documents with local authority.

Father giving an endearing embrace.

Son giving an admiring glance at his mother.

All You Can Eat Buffet after the wedding.

Plenty of beef cooking.

After the activites were over, the newly wed couple wanted to take us sightseeing.  We said, No way!
But they insisted. Crazy couple!  We enjoyed their beautiful city.

I love Hermana Ots!

Saturday

 The real wedding day for Jorgelina and Emanuel at the Buenos Aires Temple.  We had to leave before dawn because of the 4 hour drive. It was a perfect day!

Sunday

We had a plane to catch to venture off to Córdoba.  We left our rental car at the airport. That was the correct airport but to our chagrin, we are at the wrong airport to catch our flight.  We grabbed a taxi and he flew across town.  We would have never made it had it not been Sunday when traffic was very light.  We made our flight with minutes to spare!

When we arrived in Córdoba we were met by Chencho Abalos and his wife Monika. Chencho was Mike's convert from 40+ years ago. What a special reunion these two had.

But the most amazing discovery was about Monika and Hermana Anderson.  The Anderson's who live in Arizona have been here since November.  They needed to renew their Visas by going out of the country. When we told them we were headed to Argentina for the wedding and going to Córdoba to see Chencho and do the temple open house, they decided to join us.  At the airport while introducing each other, Monika mentioned that her maiden name was Kennedy. As you can tell, that got an instant response from Hermana Anderson.  She taught the Kennedy family and they were baptized. Monika was her convert!!!!!  No one had a clue.  The church certainly is a small place sometimes.

"You are Hermana Patterson?"

No words necessary.

Missionaries from long ago with their strong and active converts.

We went to Chencho's house for a meal and met his children and grandchildren.
A great family, well founded in the gospel.

They took us up their canyon to a lake that was created from a dam.
(No dam jokes, por favor!)

Notice the mate thermos and gord! 

Monday

Córdoba Temple Open House today.

We then went out to eat (another smorgasborg!)

Tuesday

Time to return to Montevideo.  Chencho, Monika and their son and wife met us at the airport.

Off into the sunset...