Habana and Santiago de Cuba

For the past 3 weeks we have been exploring Cuba. Travelling between Havana and Santiago, we experienced the flavours and colours of Cuban food, shopping, worship, socialising and God's hand in it all. I wrote down a few tips and tricks we learnt during our stay.




The budget traveller's guide to Cuba

Accommodation: Throughout Cuba, foreigners can rent rooms in the locals' houses, these are called Casa Particulares and are marked with a special sign which indicates that it is 'legit'. Be sure to do a lot of Casa Particulares-shopping before settling, as their prices and quality differ. God was leading us all the way where we met so many great people through our accommodation, and you really get to see and be part of the real lives of the Cuban people.

Food and Drink: I experienced firsthand the local cuisine and customs of the Cubans. Even though my Spanish vocabulary only consisted of words like “Ola”, “Gracias”, “Uno, dos, tres...”, I managed to fish out a few good cafeterias. These are often run from the owners’ house through their windows and doors. There would be a pricelist on the one side and daily baked food on display in the window. Bread, which is probably the staple diet in Cuba, is filled with ham, omelette, dodgy meat, funny looking chorizo etc. The local speciality is definitely Pizza. And to drink? Refresco! These are normal juice, some fruit, some chemical, some fizzy some not. It is very cheap (about 30c) and you have to drink it on the spot as they serve it in their personal glasses. After a few refrescoes we all had our own favourite. :)

It is really difficult to eat healthy in Havana, especially with a tight budget, as the take-aways are cheaper than it is to prepare food. Now for the sweet side of Havana, the Dulce! What a variety: cup cakes, icecream, pastries filled with guava, cream cups, coconut ice, tarts, peanut butter bars and more. There are so many things to try out, but I can safely say that next time, I won’t have to try it all again and then maybe I won’t gain some more weight. ;)

   Mmmm, (un)healthy food in Cuba
Photo by Ashleigh Hooper

The Shopaholic: If you are a bargain hunter like me, enjoying markets, arts and crafts shops and art galleries, Cuba is the place for you. The souvenirs shops are all over Havana and you can find really cool handmade stuff for cheap. Around every corner you will find a new bargain and interesting object. Cuban art can be bought everywhere and subjects differ from the touristy-old-car-and-street-view to deeper meaning paintings done in different mediums. Art shopping is a colourful experience and a real delightful outing. Be sure to visit the Feria de la Artesania, a huge indoor market where you can find all your souvenirs.

The Tourist: Budget travelling is great because you experience the realness and everyday lives of the culture. But to have a great time, you must sometimes do touristy things also. We had a few days of just exploring and walking the same streets the tourists walk. This entailed a lot of walking, taking photos and seeing monuments. In Havana we saw the Capitolio, the Great Cathedral, we saw a walking circus, visited the cigar museum, saw old Forts and expensive restaurants, visited a chocolate factory and Art galleries, Music bars, beaches in Santiago, and The El Morro Castle. There are great opportunities to take brilliant photos and the subjects are endless, from the streets filled with old cars to the beautiful building styles. Cuba is a relatively safe place which adds to it being a perfect tourist destination.


  Old Cars in Havana               

 
Me sipping coconut juice, A Cuban guitarist entertaining us


God in Cuba

As we left South Africa on the 6th of May, we knew that God was travelling with us, as He is everywhere. But I struggled to see Him during our first few days in Cuba. It felt like He wasn't leading us, but merely watching as we go and make decisions. We didn’t know what the Cuban laws said about religion and the language barrier made it difficult to ask about Christianity in Havana. A little bit of God's love slowly became visible through people's smiles as we greeted them and started broken Spanish conversations about weather or getting directions.

It was only after having a worship session on the roof of our Casa Particulares that I knew that God was present and definitely has plans for us here in Cuba. We knew that we were still on track. The Cleaning lady asked if she can join our worship after realising that we were Christians and we quickly learnt that Havana is filled with believers, scattered all over the city. The government states that the Cubans have freedom of religion but it is apparently very restricted and under constant surveillance.

Since then it was easier to speak about Jesus to the locals and I felt God pouring out His love in my heart so I can in turn give it to others. The most wonderful moment was when the cleaning lady called me, pulled out her bible and asked me to give her a verse. I couldn't understand a word of her Spanish, but we spoke with some kind of sign language. After reading a message out of her bible, we read one out of mine, and we shared our love for Jesus in our different languages. This was a great experience for me and an encouragement for the rest of our stay in Cuba.

God put it on our hearts to travel to Santiago, and one of our team members received a prophetic word that we will find a young English speaking woman there who will lead us to our ministry contact for Cuba. It is a miraculous testimony of how we were lead to the Casa Particulares where we met with Diana, a Spanish woman who can speak english, who took us to her church where we met the president of the Baptist convention, reverend Joell Dupont.

Within a day our program for the whole week was filled with activites, visits to seminaries, old age home openings, worship events, meeting people, learning about youth and teenage ministries and camps. God just provided and the door opened for future visits to Cuba. As we realised the needs in Cuba and where we can help, serve or give ideas, God also spoke into my heart and I realised that there are much to learn from these Cuban believers. Their children's ministry, for instance, is so successful and I was so surprised to hear that children from the age of 7 are taught to share the gospel, and these kids really go and put this into practice. They not only disciple members of their family, but also friends and even older kids they encounter. What an inspiration. I always considered myself to have been quite educated and a very 'good Christian' in my younger days, but looking at them, I realise that I was missing something. We were all passive Christians. We accepted the message, sang the songs, but never did I really understand the immense Grace of God and power of the gospel, or the need for discipling others. And here these kids pray with such love for God and understanding of His grace. It was such an inspiration to me.

 
Ashleigh, Linel, Gerrie, Marlene and Me
Photo by Ashleigh Hooper
 
We were blessed with so many friends during our stay in Santiago, which made it so difficult to leave. They already felt like family to us as they joined in on our activities, our tourist days, our fun day at the beach and many dinners which we were blessed with. Thanks to God for putting these friends on our path. I would love to stay in touch with these people but I know that it will be difficult, and I also know that I will have to face saying goodbye to new friends many times during the year, knowing that I might not see them again.
 
I can't believe that we are leaving Cuba in a few days, our first country has indeed lived up to and exceeded the expectation of a Global Challenge experience.

Our weeks in Cuba just gave me a new perspective about a few things. I knew that travelling to different countries will mean that the people, the culture, the language, the traditions, the education, the transport, the currency and so much more will be different. And I was not surprised. Everything is totally unlike all I am used to in South Africa. Everything but God. The world is so huge, yet we are all linked by One Thing. The same God created this world and He breathed life into us all. God’s character does not change according to the country, He stays the same. We shared praise and worship with the Cubans, and they don’t do it any differently than us. How awesome is that. God is the same God to everyone. We tend to try to change Him and change His will according to our wants and beliefs. But God just reminded me that He stays the same. I would like to encourage you to try and listen to God’s voice and to ask for His will time and time again. Not choosing our own will and change God so that He fits into our lives, but allowing Him to live in us and change us completely according to His will.

 
The Girls: Marielle, Marlene, Ashleigh, Linel, Me

God is really providing and guiding us throughout, and it is so amazing to live by faith. I know that God will make sure that we have sufficient finances for Grand Cayman, but I still need a great portion of funds for the rest of the countries.

I would like to thank you for all your support, in prayer and financially. Please keep praying for me and my team for guidance from God and to keep living humbly and surrendered to Him. I am praying for all the people at home and my supporters, may God bless you so much. Also, if there is anything you need prayer for, please email, facebook or skype me. I would love to step in and intercede for my friends.

Account name: GCX-One Year
Account number: 9206958383
ABSA Branch: 31 Da Gamma road, Jeffreys Bay, 6330, South Africa
Branch Code: 334515
Reference: Kim Geldenhuys