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