February 2016 Trip - Deep into the Countryside

It’s Saturday moning and bus that usually takes missionaries to the small villages in the rural area near Remedios is not running today.  Something having to do with appropriate permits.  I know that many people at the small rural towns will be wondering where the missionaries are.  

But three of the towns will not have to wonder because we rented a 7-passenger van, fitted 12 and off we went to their town.  On the way to Siboney, the farthest village we dropped off missionaries at Centeno and another rural town near Yaguajay.

Today the program focused on children, so the missionaries were three young women from Remedios’ church and their helpers.  I admire their energy. They learn to use the resources at hand.  Sometimes there’s a field to play soccer, others a fun creek, or just simple games in a backyard.  

When we dropped them off, they walked several kilometers inviting the children; reminding them about the meeting.  We met with them again at the house where they hold their meetings. We could tell they are learning about God and it’s making a difference in their lives.  

There were to 45 children today.  Certainly worth the effort—even if it had been only for 1.

Rachel

Pastors' Conference - Women

“Will you please pray for me?” When you go on a mission trip you can expect to hear those words. But I hadn’t planned to be the one doing the asking. I went to Cuba to share a word of encouragement and found that I was the one needing to be encouraged. 

What I love about the idea of partnerships with Focus Countries is that you can building lasting relationships over time, sharing resources and expressing love for each other.  This year’s Pastor’s Conference was extended for an extra day so we were able to spend more time together. I meet with the women in 6 break-out sessions where we shared from Song of Solomon on how Shulamite discovered who she was in the unlikely love relationship with the King and came to understand her unique value and beauty. 

Rachel planned a craft that gave each woman an opportunity to express herself and share their hearts with the other women. That is a rare treat for them and they enjoyed that more than anything. 

Eric did a marathon, speaking 10 times in 4 days including 6 breakout sessions with the men. He did an awesome job personally connecting, even with the language barrier. We asked the Pastors and their wives to share their greatest need with responses like; “We don’t make enough money to feed our families.” “We want to meet the desperate needs in our communities but have no resources.” “The demands of the ministry leave our families feeling neglected.” “We have to live in the church so have very little privacy.”  “Evangelism is very difficult due to the lack of transportation.” “We feel inadequate because of a lack of training and education.” Alexis shared that many of the pastors are being tempted to go to the US in order to make enough money to support their family.

Connecting with the young people was very meaningful for both Eric and I. We were so impressed with how they participate in the services and in children’s ministry and missionary work. (We are talking about starting at 6 AM on Saturdays to travel by “cattle car” to distant mission locations. That is a whole story of its own.) Saturdays are also Youth Night in Remedios. These kids really know how to have fun. I planned a rather ambitious craft, with each using a weaving wheel. It was challenging to teach a new skill to 60 young people from 10:30-mid-night following a two hour service and to all in a different language. Although chaotic,  Eric and I actually had a blast doing it.

Let me finish by going back to where I started. On our final day of ministry we participated in the Sunday service in Buenavista where Omar and Zenia pastor. After lunch Omar shared his testimony of how he encountered God in his twenties having had no religious background.  In a moment of crisis he cried out to God and to his amazement God showed up. His faith journey was so inspiring that I was compelled to ask him to pray for me. He seemed surprised by my tears and obvious desperation. (I think we can be unaware of how “starved” our spirits are until we meet someone who seems to have had that hunger satisfied by God.) I wanted to “Taste and See” again what I knew to be true about God but had lost touch with. His prayer began a healing that I have been looking for in my journey of faith.

Carol Smith

Pastors' Conference - The Struggles

My experience in Cuba this month has been incredible. Every new culture that I visit has a profound impact on me, and Cuba is no exception. I was particularly moved by the Cuban pastors; their lives and their labors are inspirational to me. Our Pastors Conference allowed plenty of time for discussion and Q&A between us, which gave us the opportunity to hear about their struggles and successes firsthand. 

Pastoral work in Cuba is incredibly difficult. Incredibly high congregational expectations and seemingly impossible economic difficulty lead to a high rate of pastoral “burnout” and discouragement. In our Q&A sessions, as well as in one-on-one conversations, I heard from dozens of pastors that their ability to continue on in the work they have been called to is literally, “A miracle.” I put that phrase in quotes because we heard it repeated over and over by the pastors. They told us plainly that the unique challenges of Cuba require God’s direct intervention and assistance in order for pastors to do what is required of them. This was a powerful lesson for me as an American pastor. It is all too common (and all too easy!) to rely on our own strength. The Cuban pastors, by virtue of their situation, are forced to rely on God in a way that all Christians ought to. Seeing their commitment to labor for the Kingdom of God in spite of the unique obstacles that they face strengthened my faith and reenergized me. 

                                    

At the same time, being a pastor, regardless of the country in which you minister, comes with certain challenges that are universal. The amount of time we were able to spend in dialogue with our brothers in Cuba allowed us to truly connect with them, to discuss difficulties that we have in common, and most importantly, to encourage one another to continue on in the work that God has called us to.

Our mission philosophy at SVCC is based on partnership, not paternalism. We believe in co-laboring with fellow workers of the gospel, seeing each other’s strengths and working for mutual support and encouragement rather than one-way help. Our interaction with the pastors in Cuba was a wonderful example of that type of partnership. I am thankful for their example, and for the opportunity to witness it firsthand. God is at work in Cuba, and we are blessed to be a part of His work.

Sam Whittaker

Pastors' Conference - Capturing the Essence

I absolutely loved experiencing Cuba. Upon arriving, my first thought was, “Wow, it is much more developed than I imagined!” In fact, I think nearly every other word I said was “wow.” Much of the history and many of the views and facts rendered me speechless. Of course, Cuba has material poverty and many are in need, but I was amazed at how well taken care of the roads and buildings were compared to the other focus countries our church partners with. The beauty of the natural landscape also impressed me. There are many trees, green hills, sugarcane fields, and unpolluted vistas.

The pastor’s conference was the first and main ministry item to be accomplished upon arriving. My main task was to take portraits of the pastors and their wives, which is a very routine thing for me to do when we visit our focus countries.

After visiting a pastor’s home later in the week, I realized most of these couples probably have not seen themselves the way that they were photographed that week, and probably haven’t had a professional photograph taken since their wedding day.

                                       

     

It was truly a blessing to be able to see what an impact I could have as a portrait photographer. I am not a preacher, worship leader, builder, or naturally skilled with children, but God used my talent to serve and uplift the pastors and their wives in the same way he used Eric and Carol to teach, Sam to sing, and Oscar and Rachel to translate. The Holy Spirit is truly moving in Cuba, and seeing God’s kingdom there truly refreshed my faith.

Christina Whittaker

Pastors' Conference - The Upside of Vulnerability

 Our main purpose during this trip was to have a Pastors’  Conference to encourage, support, and minister to the pastors of this region.  We worshiped, learned, shared, and took portraits of the pastors and their wives.

We want our ministry and partnership with the churches in Remedios and Buenavista to be a true partnership.  A partnership where both, the churches in Cuba and the church in the United States, minister to each other and share knowledge and resources.  In order for that to happen both have to be honest and vulnerable.

During the Pastors’ Conference, pastors in Cuba shared openly about their struggles.  This is the advantage of continued relationships.  They asked many questions seeking guidance on what to do and handle difficult situations

Yet, one of the highpoints of the Pastors’ Conference was when the pastors who attended the conference gathered around our Pastor Eric, place their hands on him and prayed for him after Pastor Eric shared his struggles with them.  What a touching moment full of compassion, concern and love.  But it would not have happened—this blessing for so many--- had Pastor Eric not been open and vulnerable.

Wish I had a photograph, but it was too sacred a moment for photos.  You’ll have to picture it in your mind.

Rachel

Pastors' Conference - February 2016

Hello friends!

This is Sam Whittaker, Mission Pastor from SVCC. My wife Christina and I are here in Cuba (for the first time), and I am so excited to share an update with you all about how the trip has been so far.

We arrived in Cuba Wednesday morning. Alexis picked us up at the airport and we took the two-hour drive from the airport (in Cienfuegos) to Remedios. It was a great opportunity for all of us to see Cuba from the road, and to ask Alexis, Oscar, and Rachel tons of questions about Cuba. After arriving in Remedios, we had dinner with Alexis and his family and got to experience their joy, generosity, and hospitality.

Thursday was kicked off the Pastor’s Conference. It is a three-day conference for pastors and their wives. Christina photographed the Pastors and their wives, then quickly edited them and handed them off to a local Cuban photographer to have them printed as a gift for each couple. Eric has preached 9 sermons so far (it’s currently Friday evening) and will preach two more before the conference ends. Carol has led several breakout sessions with the women. Rachel and Oscar have been translating for us constantly, as well as participating in some of the Q&A time that we have had with the pastors. Finally, I have been having a blast leading Spanish worship songs, along with some of the musicians from Alexis’ church.

We have been struck by the incredible passion and hard work of these pastors who are laboring for the gospel here. Being a pastor in Cuba is an incredibly difficult vocation, both spiritually and practically, and as the pastors have shared their struggles with us during the conference, we have been humbled by their dedication.

As the trip continues, please pray for these men and their families. Pray that this would be a time of encouragement and empowerment for them, and that God will bless them and make them fruitful.

Sam