Waiting, waiting, waiting...

This is another mom update, as Jonathan and his companion and all the missionaries pretty much throughout the world now are on quarantine. It's been two weeks in Argentina, and the president of the country just extended the lockdown through April 12. That means no public transportation anywhere in the country.

There is some good news. Missionaries from 6 of the country's 14 missions were evacuated this weekend. They were all missions that were fairly close to the Buenos Aires International Airport. The church chartered a few jumbo jets to pick them up. The problem is going to be getting the missionaries from the Comodoro Rivadavia mission out. They are the farthest away from Buenos Aires, and it will be difficult to get them even to Comodoro, the mission headquarters, under the travel restrictions.

Here is a map of the missions in Argentina. Comodoro Rivadavia is outlined in blue. You can see how big it is. Comodoro is 12 hours by bus away from Buenos Aires and Ushuaia at the southern tip of Argentina is 12 hours by bus away from Comodoro. They may be able to charter a plane to fly them up, or maybe a bus. We are not sure the travel arrangements being made right now, but we got an email from President Camejo that made it sound like it will still be awhile.

Here are a couple of other emails we've received this past week.

Updating of information 30-Mar

Adrian Javier Camejo

to Adrian

March 30, 2020

Dear Parents,

We still don't have new information about the missionaries' trip. The area office continues to work so that missionaries can travel as soon as possible.

Last night, the President of Argentina announced that the quarantine lasts until April 12. During quarantine the airports are closed and there are no transports. So the only way that missionaries can travel is for the government to get a permit to be able to do it privately through charter planes. Taking into account that the missionaries are many, it takes time to process everyone's permission and after obtaining it, organize trips from each mission to the airport from where they leave for their countries. In addition, our mission is the furthest from the Buenos Aires airport, so the arrangements that must be made are more than in other closer missions.

We continue to pray that everything can be done soon.

Atte. President and Sister Camejo.

Communication with the missionaries

Adrian Javier Camejo

March 25, 2020

Dear families,

Thank you very much for your patience yesterday in waiting for your children's calls, and thank you to those who called your children. The phones that the missionaries have at this time do not have the option to use WhatsApp, so they can only make and receive line calls. To facilitate communications, we would greatly appreciate if you can call them the next time they have to speak. You can ask me for their phone number and I will send it to you privately. Today we will be helping to communicate to the few who could not yesterday.

We know that a concern that you have is the travel plan, and we know from the missionaries that a question that almost all of you have asked them yesterday is: "Do you know when you will travel?" In the email we sent them last Sunday we told them: “We will share the details of your trip once we have them. We also want to emphasize that due to the current challenges regarding international travel, this return will be made according to the feasibility and availability of flights. ” Therefore, if you did not receive the details of the trips, the missionaries did not either. If you ask them something that you already know that they don't know, it will only increase their anxiety, rather than decrease it. We understand your concern, we have the same concern for our daughter who is also in another country, but you can be sure that the moment we know the details of the trips we will share them with you and the missionaries.

On the other hand, we have learned that some conversations yesterday focused on what is happening in the world with the Coronavirus. Missionaries, being quarantined and not having internet in their apartments, only have basic and necessary information about the virus. Again, as we asked you in the last email, in the brief calls that you have with them, focus on “praying with them during the call and, above all, that they comfort their hearts and encourage them to trust in the Lord. We hope you can enjoy these communications to strengthen your spirit and the spirit of the missionaries”. Something that missionaries are doing a lot is studying, so perhaps you can ask them: What did you learn these days from studying that you can share with us? Many are also teaching people through phone calls, so you might ask them to share some of those spiritual experiences that they are having.

Your children are wonderful, despite the challenges they face their desire to serve is still intact. We love them and you very much. We pray every day for your well-being and peace.

If you have questions we are always available to answer you.

President and Sister Camejo.

Presidency Area letter and isolation guidelines

Adrian Javier Camejo

March 26, 2020

Dear Parents and Leaders,

Regarding the return of the missionaries who serve our mission and who are not native to Argentina:

- Travel arrangements are currently being worked on for all missionaries who must return home. A letter from the Area Presidency is attached.

-Leaders should contact the missionary immediately upon their return home to express their love and appreciation for their service and provide them with the security they may need.

- Returning missionaries should isolate themselves for 14 days, beginning on the day they return home. Insulation guidelines are attached. Make sure the missionary understands them and is willing to follow the instructions for self-isolation.

-After self-isolation and at the appropriate time, local leaders will be contacted to inform them about the new assignment on a mission in their country for elders who have more than 6 months to complete the mission and for the sisters who they have more than 3 months to complete the mission. Elders and sisters who have less than that time to complete their mission will be relieved.

Thank you for all you do to help missionaries at this time.

It is important to confirm that you received these instructions, please send a short reply indicating that the message has been received.

Thank you.

President and Sister Camejo

Argentina Mission Comodoro Rivadavia

Letter from Area Presidency March 26, 2020