It is such a thrill to see the Church in Cuba alive and well.  My faith is encouraged by the faith of our brothers and sisters prevailing under difficult circumstances. Prevailing under Pressure was the theme of the Friday-Saturday pastor’s Conference. It is amazing how relevant the Gospel message is whether you speak it to new believers, seekers or pastors. I am reminded of the song I used to sing as a child, “I Love to Tell the Story of Jesus and His Love.” It is such good news. It is THE Good News. 

Pastors´ Conference

It was my delight to share with the pastor’s wives about their identity in Christ. They shared stories of their struggle with discouragement and how this conference was like a lifeline that renewed their resolve and lifted their spirits. 

Speaking to the over 80 children that gathered on Sunday is another high point for me so far in our trip. Many of the children come from homes without believing parents. It was so cool to see the AWANA program working so well with children meeting in small groups, praying together and sharing in scripture memorization.  I spoke in the main session about how precious their faith is as children. I had Greg climb through a hula-hoop to illustration how even adults have to become childlike in their faith and trust in order to enter the Kingdom. It demonstrated how much easier it is for children to have faith than it is for adults and how important it is for them to keep their faith alive even as they grow older.  It was awesome to see over 20 youth running the program and small groups. I particularly had them in mind as I shared.

It is great to see first-hand what is being accomplished through the a partnership we have with Pastor Alexis, his wife, Yudit and the church in Remedios, thanks to the pioneering work of Oscar and Rachel and the vision and generosity of our church family.

  

 ~  Carol

 

Pastors’Conference

We hit the ground running when we arrived to Cuba on Thursday.  We had lots of last minute details to prepare for the Pastors’ Conference on Friday and Saturday.

Using Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the Jerusalem walls as an example, Pastor Eric spoke to the pastors about their leadership role, rebuilding brokenness, planning for answers to prayer, involving and motivating others, managing opposition, and resolving conflicts.  We also had a session on adolescents.

Carol led the womens’ discussion during the breakout groups.  She spoke to them of how God lavishes love them, their uniqueness and their real identity. Her talks were awesome.

According to the pastors and their wives this was a timely and well-received Conferenceand itincluded areas of ministry whichis not usually addressed.  Pastors and their wives are under a lot of pressure from all sides:  expectations of the congregations, lack of resources, obstacles, balancing work and family, and isolation some of the issues they face daily.  They left refreshed, renewed and with lots of tools to deal with their work.

The congregation in Remedios did an awesome job organizing the event providing homes for people to stay overnight; cooking and serving breakfast, lunch and dinner; and coordinating all the details.

We ended the Conference giving each pastoral couple a bible, a love offering and jewelry for the wife.  The Conference exceeded everyone’s expectation and I am sure God is pleased that we rallied to meet our brothers’ needs.

Pastor Felix and Marlene

Rachel helping Marta complete a bracelet

During Worship

Time for Prayer

Greg addressing the pastors and their wives

Mike Crowley and the translator Raul

Pastor Eric inspecting the finished bracelets

A Blog With No Pictures

Recently  my "bonus" daughter  (Oscar's daughter) -introduced us to A Book With No Pictures, a children's book by B.J. Novak.  
A children's book without pictures.!?  I thought that was what children's books were all about.  
Well, here is a Blog With No Pictures.  A no-no in our Missions Pastor's do's and don'ts.  
Well, here I go.  I'm hopeful that you will read to the end.

“What we know about God is important, but what we do with what we know about God is even more important.”  

R. Rohr in Everything Belongs

There is such great need in the world.  Every day we are bombarded with accounts of illness, hunger, abuse, violence, death, addiction. It is so overwhelming that we do not know where to invest our effort. Where do we start?

We start where we are.  We start where God has opened the door for us; where he has touched our heart.  Where he has whispered  “Here, start here.”  Where He opens our eyes to see the need and our hearts to do something for our brothers.

For several years you have partnered with two churches in Villa Clara, Cuba, to share the good news of the Kingdom of God to the people there.  Our efforts may look small, but the impact in each life is enormous. 

Here is a small example of what you have done with what you know about God.

"My name is Yoslavi Leal, my wife is named Katia Artiles, we have a 5 year old girl. My wife and I are members of the Baptist Church of Buenavista and live in Dos Sierras . Two weeks ago I was discharged from the hospital in Santa Clara, where I was hospitalized for five months. It all started with  a leptospirosis infection. Then while in the hospital I caught meningococcal meningitis which is a severe form of meningitis that caused a major infection in my brain. I was given many antibiotics directly into the vein and as a result of the punctures I picked up a parasite that affected my spine.

Throughout this long period of time my family and I received timely financial help from our Church, which was able to do thanks to a love offering received from California, so we want to thank the person that God used to bless us me and my family in this difficult time, we wanted to do it personally. Also thank you for all other medicines which did me much good, because I used omega 3, vitamins, medicines for pain and gastritis also for a parasite I had in my stomach. To God be the glory and you my thanks."

You’ve helped in the physical healing of families like the Diaz, the Hernandez, the Arteagas, the Gonzales, Julio’s elderly mother and Carmen’s parents who are in their 90s  and many others with the medications you’ve sent.

You have provided food for the elderly like, Ramona who is 84 and Hilda who is 86 by supplementing their monthly retirement income.

Your financial contributions have funded programs for all ages to engage in their  community of faith, to lift their spirits as they fellowship with each other.  And to change the lives of people who find new life in Christ.  They, in turn, reach out to others and thus spread the Kingdom of God.

Oscar and I are so grateful to God for those who have come together by God’s grace to join in the ministry to people in Cuba in these two small towns.  Your prayers and your support are an encouragement to us and we could not do it without you.

~ Rachel

REMEDIOS CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord’ “. Psalm 122:1

There’s nothing like the beginning stages of a project.  It’s fun to put our desires and ideas on paper.  It’s exciting to break ground and dream of what it can become.  One is full of energy and ready to work.

Demolition begins November 2013

Then, comes the phase when problems arise, work drags on, obstacles seem unmovable, resources unattainable and ones energy drains away.  It’s easy to get stuck in the middle.

February 2014 – Walls are coming up

But if you persevere, you will see your plans become reality. 

 January 2015  -  Almost there

The church in Remedios is in the final stages of the construction project. They started it a little over a year ago to add classrooms and expand the kitchen and dining area to better serve the community.  They’re in the home stretch but still need floors, windows, and furnishings before their plans become reality.

To donate towards the Construction fund, 
you can copy and paste the link to your browser or click here  http://svccchurch.com/#/give

Click on Give here

Click on Quick Give

select Cuba Ministry from the drop-down menu and

write Construction in the Other Comments field.

~ Oscar and Rachel