Long Islanders return home after Cuba trip

As President Barack Obama moved on from Cuba to Argentina, several Long Islanders headed home after witnessing the historic trip. Pastor Bill Hoffman, of the Montauk Community Church, was in Cuba on

News 12 Staff

Mar 24, 2016, 1:58 AM

Updated 3,386 days ago

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As President Barack Obama moved on from Cuba to Argentina, several Long Islanders headed home after witnessing the historic trip.
Pastor Bill Hoffman, of the Montauk Community Church, was in Cuba on a mission trip in the days leading up to the president's visit. A cluster of East End churches has been sending teams to a small town near Havana for the past 20 years.
The majority of the group left prior to President Obama's arrival on Monday, but they said there were noticeably more tourists, tour buses and cruise ships than in years past.
In addition to the mission, the group also witnessed some of the classic sights in Cuba.
Rob Stuart returned from Cuba Tuesday night. A retired pastor from First Presbyterian in Amagansett, he's made the trip about 14 times since 2005. He said an acquaintance of his called President Obama's visit "the greatest event in Cuba since the revolution."
Members of the Montauk Community Church make two trips to Cuba each year, and their next one is planned for this summer.