Even though we have left Santiago, Cuba over a month ago, and new memories and visitors have filled our days, I think our whole team keenly look at pictures of Cuba and just smile. The kind of grin you give when you find a childhood picture of yourself or when you see an old couple share an ice cream.
I think this update is so overdue, due to the fact that describing our experience in Cuba is as wonderful, complex and diverse as the country itself.
For starters, Cuba is a communistic country, but as our Cuban friends explained to us, it is actually a Feudal'ism as the two freedom fighter brothers in power build a government structure that looks idealistic and fair, but greatly benefits those in power while the people suffer.
During our month visit, we became students of Cuba. Cubans freely offer you friendship and coffee.
Some openly express their struggles while others sing the praises of the soil that bears their footprints. Proudly Cuban , yet restricted to the land, rationed food, and a justice system that leaves little room for survival.
In spite of their daily struggles to earn a living with impossibly high prices (of any item that was not locally made) we still found our Christian brothers hopeful and hospitable.
Hospitality and catering was redefined by our "abuela" (granny), who as part of our host family daily provided gourmet meals. We ate Cuba's best traditional dishes and deserts. Our hosts, a family of three generations of women living in a small apartment gave us their best. With sit down meals, lingering after supper, football watching and cooking lessons we soon became a closely knit large family.
We partnered with Ministerio GlaDios, which is a brain child of Global Challenge Expeditions. According to the leader Emilio Cavailhon Rodríguez, a visit from a Global Challenge group a couple of years ago, inspired them to do local missions.
As Cubans they are not able to leave their country and previously felt that missions was impossible, but then he realized that there was a lot of need that can be addressed within the boarders of their large island.
Emilio is a passionate father, worship leader and medical practitioner. He formed GlaDios as an organization to reach and minister to young people who are the most needy. GlaDios is a practical ministry consisting of young professional people, who are friends and have found ways to share their faith and skills in spite of having full time jobs.
I was most touched by their generosity to a neighboring church, after a hurricane hit a coastal region outside Santiago de Cuba. In spite of the difficulty to obtain products and lack of resources, they served the community in practical ways of feeding the homeless and providing blankets and clothes.
Not only do they look out for people in need, this group of believers almost daily hang out and share meals and have everything in common.
During our time there, we could share some of the principles on training and practical examples of ways that Global Challenge does short term missions The members of GlaDios are teachable and want to put what they learn into practice.
Our team could help another church, with practical labour to clear ground of a space of soil used for a humble church shelter, to host the King of kings. This method of church changed our perspective on what a church should look like to what is at the heart of a church: Its People!
We could also practically help with a children's program and soccer event with the church that experienced the hurricane as well as physical labour for a local mission that distributes Spanish Christian literature.
Cuba was both the most restricted country in which we had ever been, with rations for food and set wages, but also the richest in culture and quality of life as neighbours share food and kids still play in the streets with their friends. Grannies cook for their extended families and old men play chess on the street corners while local jazz bands perform in the parks.
So for all our friends reading this:
If you have money in your bank account,
If you have food in your fridge,
And a bicycle to ride,
Then you can consider yourself amongst the worlds richest population,
But if you have a Cuban friend you are truly rich!
Please remember our Cuban brothers in your prayers!
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