Being Thankful by Sharing

“For there is a time and a way for everything, although man's trouble lies heavy on him.”  Ecclesiastes 8:6-7

The Ripe Fruit: El Mamey

Mamey is a tropical fruit in Cuba and the name of a town 5 miles from Buenavista. We drove by it three years ago when Pastor Omar was showing us areas near Buenavista where they wanted to start missions.

All these years they visited the villages (population less than 200) in the area.  And all these years no one seemed interested in opening their homes for Bible study.  Until this past July when out of the blue Pastor Omar received a call from a woman who lives in El Mamey and was interested in learning more about God.

A few days later this woman brought 12 people from El Mamey to Buenavista for the August Vacation Bible School.  And they continue to come to Buenavista for the Sunday worship gathering.

Today they have around 10 children and several adults coming to the weekly meetings that Pastor Omar and his wife Zenia hold in El Mamey. There they teach children about God and help them learn English in preparation for Middle School. 

Some of the children live 2 to 3 miles away.  Last week a boy was riding on a horse to class. Half way to Mamey, the horse knocked him off and ran away.  Imagine his distress: hurt by the fall and seeing the horse run off.  But he got up, dusted himself and knowing the horse was headed home, walked the rest of the way to Mamey and then back home.

Meals Project in Remedios

In September the church in Remedios started the Meals Project. The goal is to help elderly and disabled individuals who were home-bound have a daily nourishing meal. The church had wanted to do this for several years but lacked the resource.  Again, like El Mamey, in God’s timing the resources came together to start the project. 

The criteria for receiving the meals is that (1) the person does not have family to help them; (2) their only income is a $200 pesos monthly pension of which they spend 25% in medicines.  (3) they are either elderly or disabled having no other means to support themselves; (4) they are homebound. This program provides them one meal a day Monday through Friday. 

The meal is cooked at the church and delivered to their homes.  What a great way to share with  the community!  Twelve people is a good start, but there are many others who are also in need.

The cost of the project is $25 (dollars) per person per month.  They also need to purchase stainless steel food carriers and kitchen tools. 

Oscar and Rachel

2015 YOUTH RETREAT

During the past 4 years we have seen many people come to know God in the two churches we support in Cuba—Remedios and Buenavista. We have seen their outreach grow through people they disciple and train. We go with teams, but it is your support of this work that makes it happen.  It is your love for God and your desire for people to know Him that is expressed in your prayers, your gifts and your financial support.  We thank you for your support.  It has been a blessing that enables us together to follow God’s redemption plan for all.

YOUR PLANS: GOD’S PLANS

“You go nowhere by accident.

Wherever you go, God is sending you there.

Wherever you are, God has put you there.

He has a purpose in your being there.

Christ, who indwells you, has something He wants to do through you, wherever you are.

Believe this, and go in His grace, and love and power."


Richard Halverson, longtime Senate chaplain, said this famous benediction; and it is to the point for the topic of the next youth retreat in Remedios, Cuba.

The will of God. Definitely not an easy subject to teach. Is it a carved-in-stone detailed plan?  Does God have a plan for everyone or just Christians? Where does our free will fit in?  What happens when we screw up?  Why can’t we get simple “yes/no” answers like they did in the Old Testament?  Or is it as Marty McFly said in Back to the Future, “Your future is what you make it, so make it a good one”?  Really!?

The Youth Retreat is scheduled for July 20 – 24 ending on the 25^th with a trip to Trinidad, one of the oldest cities in Cuba. We are putting together the Bible study, materials, videos and games to immerse the young people in the subject; and praying that they will leave with a strong sense of how God works in the world and their part in it.  Our plans: God’s plans.  This will be the fifth youth retreat where we teach.

It will be our second trip to Cuba this year—following our trip in February when we had the Pastors’ Conference.

IWe need your support to carry out this task this year.  We need your prayers that we can be a blessing to those we come in contact with during the Youth Retreat and we also need your financial support to make this happen. This will be your opportunity to participate in God’s plan for the Youth in Cuba.  We need your contributions and our prayer is that God moves your heart to send us to Cuba by supporting us financially in this endeavor. The air fare for Oscar and I is now $2,000 plus any other necessary  expenses.  Whatever amount God puts in your heart to give out of love for this mission trip will help make it possible

You can mail a check made out to SVCC to us at 8300 Rancho Real, Gilroy CA  95020

OR

give on-line using this link http://svccchurch.com/#/give and follow these steps:

Click on Give here (lower left)

Click on Quick Give

select Global Ministries from the drop-down menu

type Cuba Trip on the “Other Comments” (this is very important)

2011 Youth Retreat - Gospel in Life

2012 Youth Retreat - The Power of the Holy Spirit

2013 Youth Retreat - Holiness

2014 Youth Retreat - Mission, Message and Motivation

Buenavista

 "God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Glory to God in the church!
Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!"

Ephesians 3: 20-21 (MSG)

We spent the last Sunday morning in Buenavista.

Pastor Eric and Carol spoke during the first hour about marriage and parenting; and during the second hour Pastor Eric spoke about God’s provision during difficult times.  After lunch we left for the 4-hour trip to Havana.

The Thursday before, we visited three of the 4 missions supported by the church in Buenavista.  This gave us an opportunity to meet some of the people who attend them and pray with the groups. There are new people at each mission and it is a joy to see how they are growing. 

This is a typical house in Viñas a town of around 1000 where there is a mission. 

                                           

 In Viñas we visited the home of one of the members where Pastor Omar peeled sugarcane for us to taste.   

We then visited the second mission in Adelas.

The next mission we visited was started about one year ago.  

Lastly we visited the mission in Dos Sierras, where Carol and Mike found two cute puppies.

Some of the people who attend this mission were not able to come because they were working.  The mission was started several years ago by the woman standing on the far left.  It now meets at Salvador's house (the man with the stripped black and white shirt).

And then the 1 1/2 mile trip back to Buenavista in a truck on a road so bad we had to hold on for dear life.

Worship

A mission trip is not just to teach, it is also to learn.  And as Yudilen, the Worship Director in Remedios, aptly put it worship is not just limited to when we go to church; it is a lifestyle.

Worship abounds through all the events and celebrations of the church.

During the conferences, the Saturday celebration for Senior Citizens, the baptisms, the Sunday services, the Youth weekly gatherings are an example of congregate worship.

Elder Adult Saturday Celebration

This celebration takes place the last Saturday of every month.  There is singing, a homily,

and lunch.

Musical trios are typical of the Cuban music the elderly heard most of their lives.  

The man with the microphone loves to sign and has a great voice for his age.  

He wouldn't stop singing.

The young also joined in the Elder Adult celebration

Women cooking lunch for the elder adults

Dining area set up in the new building

Just as there is a celebration for those who have grown old in the faith, there is a celebration for those who are new in the faith with their baptism.  Eric and Greg, together with Yaisel baptized new believers on Saturday afternoon.

 Seventeen people who have experienced, through their faith in God, His love which is  beyond what anyone can imagine or measure.

Men's and Women's Conference

Tuesday through Friday night Eric and Carol spoke at the Men’s and Women’s Conference that was held in Remedios.  People from nearby towns came to hear God’s word for them.

In much the same way Greg encourages and prays for people during the services at SVCC and at the Pastors' Conference in Remedios; he spent time encouraging the people in the congregation during the Men's and Women's Conference.

Carol gave an insightful sermon about the fulfillment we find in Christ that allows us to bring the good news to others, intercede for them and gives us freedom to be what God has designed us to be.  I will always remember the "I Don't" name tag he placed on her forehead.

On the last night of the conference Eric actually preached three sermons in 1 ½ hours.  Bet you’ll never see him do that again!

People were inspired, encouraged, and had a lot of fun.

Eric explains that we are not called to a “comfy” life; that we are to do something significant with the time God has given us in this life.

With "Goliath" as his visual aid, Eric reminds the congregation that David selected 5 stones, just in case he did not kill Goliath with the first stone.  In fact, the first try only caused Goliath to stumble and fall.  He told them to expect problems but always trust God.

Missionaries

“A sight to take your breath away!   Grand processions of people telling all the good things of God!”  Romans 10:15b (MSG)

After taking a rest day on Monday we had a conference on Tuesday morning with 96 people who carry the gospel to small towns in the province.   They are called missionaries. They came in trucks; they walked, they hitched a ride.  They are of different ages and background, but they all have the desire to let people know there’s a different way to live that will bring them peace, hope and joy.

It is amazing to see the work they do.  They travel by themselves, by bus, hitch-hike to reach these out-of the way small towns.  They start by building relationships with people there and find people who are willing to have gatherings at their homes.   They invite people to come hear God’s word. Adults and children who otherwise may not hear there’s a better way to live.

“But not everybody is ready for this, ready to see and hear and act. Isaiah asked what we all ask at one time or another: “Does anyone care, God? Is anyone listening and believing a word of it?” The point is: Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ’s Word is preached, there’s nothing to listen to.” Romans 10:16-17 (MSG)

Construction Update

“… everyone knew that the work had been done with God’s help.”  Nehemian 6:16b

I am sitting in the courtyard looking at the new construction.  The building is not quite finished.  It’s missing the windows, the floors, kitchen equipment, and furnishings.  Yet it looks beautiful.  In fact, it is beautiful when you think about all the effort and sacrifice that has gone into it. 

In my mind’s eye I can hear the people singing, people learning and being trained, activity in the kitchen and people being fed.  I can feel God’s presence and blessing on its purpose.   That is probably why I find it so beautiful.

This building that has gone up in a year or so is really a testament to God and to Alexis who painstakingly fretted over every construction detail and led many people in the church to accomplish this task.  

We visited with Alexis almost every day while he is recovering from a myocardial infarction.  The damage to his heart is minimal. He is doing well and feeling stronger every day.  Continue to pray for him and the doctors who are in charge of his care.

~ Rachel