CONSOLACION

I haven't spent much time in Consolacion del Sur in the last decades. Consolacion del Sur is a town in the Western province of Cuba. I remember going through the town twice in past trips and stopping to see two houses. This is something odd because Consolacion is a big part of my childhood. My family on my mother’s side is from Consolacion. My great-grandparents lived there, my grandfather and his wife became the first in their families to join the Baptist church there, and they raised their children in a christian home. Consolacion was where my parents met, married and had their first four children. They moved to Havana a year before I was born but my birth certificate was registered as born in Consolacion del Sur. So I can say that Consolacion is my town.

My mother with her grandfather, father and her first born on the patio of her grandfather’s house in Consolacion circa 1940

My memories of Consolacion largely come from the many stories I heard throughout my life about family life in Consolacion. But I also remember spending weeks when I was a child in Consolation at my great-grandparents' house and in the house that my parents kept there. I remember walking through the countryside, visiting the rice fields my father managed and the new bicycles that he bought for my brother Milton and me one summer when we were visiting.

On this ministry trip the team visited there for three days and I spent that time getting reacquainted with  Consolación.  

The building  of the church in Consolacion is a commemorative memorial of what God has done for me. It is like the memorial stone that Jacob erected in the desert as a marker of God’s presence when he dreamed of the ladder going to heaven (Gen 28:22) or the memorial monument on the Jordan River when the Israelites entered the promised land. In a similar way the church building in Consolation is a commemorative monument of God's goodness to my family and me. And I am grateful that the church building still stands, but I am even more grateful that God has preserved His church in Consolacion as a testament of his love.

Rachel

SAGUA LA GRANDE

Sadiel and Zady pastor the Church on the Avenue in Sagua. They keep an eye in their community and seem to have inexhaustible energy.  We arrive at their door early in the morning and they are already at work serving their community. Sadiel is on his way to repair the flat tires on their bikes so they can visit people and Zady is on her way out to run errands on foot.  She is going to visit people who she knows could use some of the donated medicines we brought.  In the afternoon she sends us a message that their test strips work on the glucose meters we brought and a little girl can now test her glucose level using one of the meters.  One problem of many solved.  Be it food for the elderly at a nursing home, helping a mother with a disabled child, ministering to families of fisherman in a near-by town, sharing their dinner with someone who knocked at their door or sharing the Gospel – they are always on the go. 

THE NORTH CIRCUIT

Jumagua (Twins)  is the indigenous name of this village that is also a wild life reserve for endangered species in Cuba.  They tells us it is the only place in the world where the blind fish can be found.

 What makes Jumagua special for us is that it is the training site for 25 lay people who go to several villages in the North circuit bringing the good news of God’s love.  We interrupt the class to meet them and hear what moves them to do this work.

Lazaro is a good example. He recently committed is life to God and finds great joy in sharing his new-found faith with others.  You can hear the certainty of his calling in his voice. “I think my gift is to be a missionary pastor”, he tells us.  He’s been attending classes for only one semester where he learns how to share who God really is with others, how to address their concerns and help them live the abundant life that Christ promises.  His message is one of faith, hope and light.

Our team came to encourage (give aliento) the believers in their ministry. And they encouraged us by the passion people in Cuba have for spreading the Gospel. We want to take their model back home into our daily lives and the life of our community.

Almost Stateside - Highlights from the last two weeks in Cuba

It is almost time for the team to come home, and though they are anxious to see their loved ones, a part of them will remain with the people in Cuba. Rick Davis, resident missions trip photographer, has been keeping our Stateside team updated with snippets and photos of the trip. As this adventure comes to a close, allow us to share some of the (many) highlights that have moved the team:

During Hurricane Irma this house was badly damaged. Part of the roof was completely destroyed, leaving its residents no choice but to live with only part of their home protected. They still use the uncovered bedroom and kitchen.

You can’t picture Cuba without imaging classic cars cruising down the highway. These were spotted in Remedios, one of the towns that the team visited. Oscar and Rachel have been visiting the church in this town for several years, and have watched it grow each time they return.

This is a small church in the town of Vitoria. This church meets in a house that is built next to the pastor’s home. Here they also hold after-school program for elementary school children. Many churches in Cuba meet in the living room of the pastor’s home.

In Buenavista, the team boarded the city bus for a truly authentic experience and visited several outlying villages. Reliable transportation is a struggle that the Cuban people face daily. Many end up walking to neighboring villages - a trek that often takes hours. 

Oscar and Rachel are often asked to speak at the churches in Cuba. It has been an excellent way to get to know the congregations directly. They share about their mission, their Cuban heritage, and how they and the team are here to serve God and Cuba. 

Lawn mowers are a modern luxury that does not exist in the typical Cuban home. Ever ingenuitive, the Cuban people are able to piece together clever contraptions. This homemade lawnmower is a testament to the industrious spirit of the Cuban people. 

Lastly, this photo is of a missionary training class that was taking place in Jumagua. The team got to hear each of the nine students share how they were drawn to ministry, and what their vision to serve God and their country looked like. 

Thank you for your support and for following the team during their time in Cuba! Please continue to pray for their health and safety, and most importantly, that God would use this trip to do mighty works in His Name.