The purpose of our trip was not to enjoy beautiful beaches
or marvel over antique cars. We have no
political motivations or desire to uncover the “real” Cuba. Instead, we traveled to meet our fellow
believers and see the work God is doing in the lives of Cubans today.
We visited several churches which were established and built
before the Revolution. They were closed
for decades, but have been allowed to operate again. It was a joy to worship in them and
experience God’s presence and the enthusiasm of His people.
The gospel is being spread by dedicated people who share the
love and hope in Christ one to one. The
established churches have started many house churches in outlying areas. Christian leaders go to the people traveling many kilometers on foot, bicycle, or by “botella”
(catching a ride).
God is eternal and omnipotent. His Word does not return vacant. Nations and peoples may ignore God, but He
does not ignore them. His love for each
person transcends any life circumstance.
We heard testimonies of salvation, hope, and restoration from many of
our new friends. God’s Word is living
and active despite a scarcity of biblical texts.
So many times Rick and I felt like we were in the Dominican
Republic rather than Cuba. The accent,
customs, food, and the landscape are so similar. One day we visited a rural area and it was
uncanny how the house, outbuildings and crops were the same. The believers we met were every bit as warm
and hospitable as our Dominican brothers and sisters.
We shared many delicious meals with our hosts. Red beans and rice is the most typical meal and
we felt right at home. Breakfast was
typically coffee, eggs, and bread. We were blessed to be able to eat some
chicken and pork as well. Just like in the Dominican Republic, Cubans drink a
lot of coffee and so did we!
Toward the end of our trip we visited one of the most
precious places in the hearts of many UWM missionaries and our new Cuban friends. Camp Las Palmas is a large property that
gently slopes down to a quiet bay.
Originally purchased in the 40s and developed for camping and seminary
training, it has come back to life and enough renovation has been done to serve
many adult leaders who come for theological instruction. In the summer, hundreds of young
people attend camp.
A few things surprised and/or impressed us. Cuba has a quality educational system and it
was evident in the people we interacted with.
We didn’t know how internet worked on the island and were excited to
find that wifi is available in the town square with a prepaid card. So we were able to text a few times with our
kids.
We returned to the Dominican Republic, praising God for how He is working. We felt honored to meet and see the ministries of our Cuban brothers and sisters. It was inspiring. Becky and I hope to bring some Dominican pastors to Cuba to see and learn as we have. Also, it's possible that some of them might travel here. We feel we have a lot in common and can learn a lot from one another. Praise God!
