Seizing The Moment (Cuba Mission 2015)

Greetings to you brothers and sisters in Christ. It is a most blessed privilege to greet you once again by way of our blog.

Yes, much time has passed since our last blog, and for that I am most regretful. The past year was one of triumphs and trials, yet in all things God has been faithful to His children. In spite of the challenges that have present themselves to us over the last year, still our work and ministry has continued to advance from strength to strength.

It was my blessed privilege once again to visit the Island of Cuba for another missionary project in June 2015. As was to be expected, it was a time of tremendous blessing, and so we though to share this experience with you by way of our blog.

As I was preparing to write this blog, I remembered some few years ago a trip that I made to my home country of Jamaica. While on route, I remember looking down through the airplane window, as the Captain of the plane came on the intercom, and mentioned that we were now flying over the country of Cuba. I remember looking down on this mysterious island and thought to myself, wow! Here is a country that has been closed to outsiders for more than 50 years now, and hardly anyone has gone in to share the Gospel. As a child, I can distinctly remember even my family members expressing openly their fear of the dangerous Fidel Castro, and his communist revolution . Though the island of Jamaica was separated from Cuba by only 100 miles, I did not know of even 1 family member, friend or associate who ever made a visit to the country. As I sat there that day, I whispered a prayer in my heart and said: “Lord, people say that it is impossible to visit this country, but I feel a strong desire to visit, as I want to do a work there for the Gospel’s sake. Make a way for me to go, and I will go without fear and be a witness for you.” That was some 6 plus years ago. Since that time, God has remarkably answered that prayer, and I have now completed my 3rd missionary trip to Cuba, to the glory of God.

Before I even begin to relate to you all of the various accomplishments this year in Cuba, I want to say that the country of Cuba (from my experience) has been one of the most peaceful, loving and one of the most open countries towards the Gospel that I have visited so far in my work. As one hears the words communism, there is generally a sentiment of fear, and apprehension as one may envision armed men, gorilla warriors and revolutions etc.  No doubt, this is a part of Cuba’s political history, yet strangely enough, it would seem to me that the closeness, repression, and struggle of Cuban life, has somehow produced some of the most sincere, generous, jovial, and contented people on the planet.

Though incredibly poor, with the average Cuban making about 65 cents per day,  the generosity of the people knows no bounds, as people are willing to give freely of the very little that they do have. I can remember visiting a home one day as I met with a lady who was preparing for baptism, we sat, talked, and prayed for some time and at the end of my visit, she wanted to give me something to remember her by but she had nothing to give. Her eyes quickly scanned the living room, and then she zoned in on 1 single wood carving on her table. Without a second thought, she picked up her only wood carving, placed it in my hands and said God bless you brother, thank you for coming by. Such is the generosity of the Cubans that I have interacted with.

People in the particular town where we worked knew that we were vegetarians. As we visited their homes, it would not be uncommon for a person to take a large portion of their daily wage to purchase some fruit to entertain us.  I would feel almost guilty for accepting this, but having traveled quite a bit, I have learned that it such situations, in order not to offend, it is best to just say thank you, and accept the generosity.

For the second time we were blessed to work in the small seaside town of Gibara.  Gibara is a small town to the East of the island of Cuba. It is a place whose descendants are primarily Spaniards, who settled in Cuba after the World War 2.

For those who know me personally, I am generally not one who is ever at a loss for words, but even as I pen this blog, I struggle to finds the words to communicate to you the situation as I have seen it in Cuba.

As I again reflect back on now my 3 missionary trips to Cuba, it is still a challenge to convey my thoughts on the living conditions and struggles of the Cuban people. Though I have written on such matters before, every time I visit I learn more and more of the dynamics of Cuban life, and I feel compelled to share. I feel compelled to share because from my living in the US, I know that the majority of Americans have no concept of the often desperate Cuban struggle for survival that takes place just 1 hour’s flight from Miami.

As I mentioned to you before, the average salary in Cuba is about 65cents per day. The basic essentials of life such as: food, clothing, transportation and medicine are a major cause of daily insecurity, and anxiety among the average Cuban. This condition is across the board, because whether one is employed or unemployed the dilemma is generally the same. People receive some rations from the government such as: beans, rice and potatoes. Every month Cubans on the  “universal ration” must use ingenuity and organization to ensure everyone gets enough to eat. Cubans have to budget carefully, plan meals ahead, buy only what is necessary and never throw food away in order to survive. Limited to what they can eat, Cubans spend much time thinking about their next meal, as many do not know how the day will go. In Cuba, Neighbors trade, buy and sell rationed products to get what they need. People who work in tourist restaurants and hotels will take left over pieces of meats, cheese from sandwiches ,  condiments, and whatever they can salvage home with them to supplement the meals of their families.

While in Cuba on my 1st visit in 2013, I stayed in the slums of Santiago de Cuba with a friend of mine. I lived at his house & shopped in the local farmers markets. Still, it cost me $10 per day to provide food for the host family where I was staying.

In spite these extreme conditions, people will invite you into their homes and make you a meal with their rations for the day. They will not accept money in return for their hospitality, but they just do it out of their love for you as a guest and a friend.

It may be hard for you to imagine the scenario that I have shared, yet it is a very real part of the Cuban dynamic. The Cubans generally dress nicely, and I didn’t recall seeing many people in tattered or threadbare clothing as I walked the streets from day to day. I asked a sister about this, and she explained to me that few Cubans have relatives abroad who send them a monthly remittance. But, the majority of the clothing that people wear were donated to them in one way or another from overseas. Or, it was traded to them by someone else for food or other necessary supplies, whether permanently or temporarily.

On the other side of the equation in Cuba is the Seventh Day Adventist Church .The Adventist Church in Cuba seems to be now facing the dawn, after a long dark night. During the heart of the Communist revolution under Fidel Castro, the Adventists were essentially cut off from the World Church. Nevertheless, without outside financial aid, without quarterlies, bibles and other essentials tools for ministry, the Cubans were able to keep their fire burning. Men who were true as steel to principle, defied the laws of the day, some even went to jail for their faith. Nevertheless, the courage, resolve, and dedication of the Cubans kept high the banner of the 3 Angels messages, in a time of great darkness and persecution for the truth’s sake. At present statistics, the Adventist population in Cuba is about 32,000 members and 317 churches throughout the island.

The Cubans are now eager to evangelize, especially as the government has now eased their restrictions on proselytization. The main challenge that the Cubans face is that they lack tools with which to work their place in the Master’s vineyard effectively. It takes more than 1 week’s salary to purchase 1 bible, as the cost is $6.50 each. Upon arriving in Cuba,  I discovered to my dismay that the majority of our Adventist friends in this province did not even own 1 copy of the bible. One night during our nightly meetings, a lady sent me a private note. In the note, she explained to me that she had been coming to the Adventist Church for 3 years now, and every time there were evangelistic meetings she requested a bible. Try as she might, she was never fortunate to secure a copy for herself. She said “brother, I don’t mean to bother you, but I really want a bible, as I have never owned one for myself, can you please help me to get a copy?” The next evening’s meeting I scanned the crowd for her, and when I found her I presented to her the long desired bible. The young lady smiled from ear to ear, and said that this was the best gift that anyone had ever given her in her life. A few days later I visited her home, I asked her had she started to read her bible yet. She said oh yes, it is with me in my purse every day. Every day at work whenever I have a break, I read my bible she said. It stays with me wherever I go.

Cuba has a literacy rate of over 97% I am told, yet because of the austere economic conditions, the average Cuban Christian cannot even afford to purchase a bible for himself.

For our 2015 mission trip, we embarked upon another literature distribution project in Cuba. Our mission team spent more than $2,000 purchasing bibles, tracts, books on the family, health, prophecy, Great Controversies, and various other Ellen g White books. The Cuban Union of SDA was able to start the church’s 1st printing press some years ago at the Adventist Seminary in Havana, and now books can be readily bought in country, as opposed to transporting them from the US. The president of the Cuban Union of SDA mentioned to us that we were the 1st missionaries that he knows of who visited Cuba, and invested in the Church in terms of literature for its people. As we visited from house to house, our mission team left a piece of literature at every home that we visited. There were even few cases of people who immediately began to read the literature upon receiving them. Friends of mine, I can honestly say that I have never, ever experienced such a response to literature distribution in the mission field. Along with the bible, we especially wanted to get a copy of the Great Controversy into as many homes as possible. So we purchased as many copies of this book as the Union book center could provide to us.

We visited hundreds of homes in this seaside community in just a few weeks. We visited and prayed with atheists, communists, non-believers and people of many different religious groups, never once did anyone reject a piece of literature, or prayer. All were respectful, all were willing to give our mission team an audience.

We visited the homes of the sick and shut in, we read encouragement from the bible, and even sang hymns in English with them. We also saw immediate answers to prayers, as 1 lady was wheel chair bound for several months prior to our visit. After a bible reading and a strong season of prayer, she said she felt well. We visited her again some 4 days later, and she was able to walk about without even the use of a cane, praise The Lord.

Our Nightly evangelistic meetings were full to capacity this year, and the people responded well to the preaching of God’s word. God’s Spirit was definitely working on the hearts of the people, and at the end of our meeting there were 12 commitments for baptism to the Glory of God.

Friends of mine, the harvest is ripe and ready in Cuba. In Matthew 9: 37-38 we find these words: “Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.

As many are familiar, I too am familiar with this bible text, and have used it in many a sermon discourse, but God gave me a real life illustration of it’s true meaning recently on the communist island of Cuba. I remember visiting the homes of people, inviting  them to come out to the revival meetings and then see the same people give their hearts to Jesus that night. We saw alcoholics come to our meetings and accept Christ, as well as a few people whom we had worked with from the last year, finally make their decision for Jesus this year.

There are so many stories to tell from this mission project, that were I to write them all, it would take me at least some 10 more pages.

Friends of mine, the work is still going forward with good speed in these last days. Our ministry is still standing on the frontlines, and our resolve is set to continue the proclamation of the Everlasting into all parts of the World. Please continue to encourage and pray for us as we go forward. May God continue to bless you and your family. We would like to do several more mission projects in Cuba for 2016. Please pray that the Lord will open the Communist doors even wider for us, and send us laborers, means, and most importantly His Holy Spirit to finish the work. God bless you, Maranatha.