CUBA UPDATE 

Just because we have not blogged for several months, it does not mean that things in Buenavista and Remedios have been at a standstill.  God is moving his agenda forward through many people.

BUENAVISTA

Celebrated the 78th anniversary of the church

This year Buenavista opened two new mission houses and 

baptized three people from one of them. 

 

The new missions have children's programs and days when the neighbors  join in games of dominoes.

I remember when I was growing up in Cuba that our neighbors got together on weekends to play dominoes in someone's front porch.  

 

The young people are very involved in all these activities

                              

   
REMEDIOS

                   

           

Construction continues.  The first floor is finished.  Two weeks ago they sent us these  photos of the stairs going up to the second floor and the construction of the second floor.  They expect to pour the cement roof this coming week.

In April they held Children's camp.  Children from the outlaying small towns were able to join them.  For many it was the first time traveling any distance from home.

Twelve people ages 15 to 80 were baptized in March.  

They continue to visit the very small towns around Remedios and plan to hold vacation bible schools at them this summer.

Pastor Alexis is helping other churches establish small groups.  Below he writes about his experience when he visited one of the churches.

“On Wednesday at 5: 30 AM, the alarm clock startled me awake.   Today I’m  off to a place hidden in Villa Clara’s geography--a small town called El Perico.  We had in our hearts the desire to share with the church there our vision of reaching people with God’s word through small groups.  As the non-denominational coordinator for the province, my job is to encourage and guide churches to establish small groups, but it’s impossible to be everywhere.

We rode in a truck at the exasperating speed of 35 miles per hour and stopping much too often along the way.  When we arrived at the Sierra Crossroads and asked about the best way to get to El Perico, they told us to take the old and very popular bus of San Fernando--"go on foot for a while and then walk for a while.”  (in Spanish it rhymes:  San Fernando--un poco a pie y otro caminando.)

We arrived to find a small group of people waiting at the church in El Perico. They were full of God’s spirit and very happy to have us there.  We shared our presentation in the morning; at noon we enjoyed a delicious lunch and in the afternoon we continued with a  workshop.  Afterwards we prayed, sang and had an uplifting time before it was time to go.

A bus stops at El Perico twice a day and at 6: 00 pm we boarded the last bus of the day.   As I rode away I felt very happy and privileged to know these humble and loving people whose only goal is to dedicate their life to their Lord and Savior.

The cool breeze of the Cuban countryside felt like the breath of the Holy Spirit invigorating my soul. And in the distance I could hear the songs of birds joining in my prayer of praise and thanksgiving to my God."