we reached our destination, we arrived in Cuba! On September 25 we made it to the airport in La Habana, where we were asked
many strange questions by government agents, they searched every piece of our luggage
and finally, after three hours of questioning, we left the airport at 11:30pm. Late that night, we took a taxi to a small
hotel called Bruzón where we spent the night. At 7 am the next morning we were ready to leave for Los Remedios in the
province of Villa Clara. We took a van for
the 5 hour trip. Finally, we pulled into
La Casa Yohn, a hostel in Los Remedios, which would be our home for the next 24
days.
the warm hospitality of Dona Maria and her family, it quickly did feel like
home. Their family became special to us.
27th of September we had a meeting with the Cuban missionaries whose
ministry is called “Paths of Victory” led by Pastor Jose Enriquez, a very
special person whose various illnesses do not limit his work (God bless him). That day we started working in different communities alongside the local missionary team.
worked from the 27th September to the 17th of October with the local
missionary team always at our side. We
work every day without ceasing, from 7 am until 6 or 7 at night. There were
days when we would learn much from the
way they work, their culture and their love for each other. It was a time of blessing for them and for us
in working together to bring the word of the Lord to those who had not heard. The
Cuban missionaries are such wonderful people who
have given everything to follow the Lord, to the point that each one has left
their jobs. We pray and hope that the
Lord will bless their ministry and provide them with everything that they need
to continue to grow in wisdom and in number.
we were summoned to the Cuban immigration. There we were
prohibited from getting together with our brothers and continuing to visit
previously visited areas because our tourist visa does not give us those privileges. We were not aware of these restrictions until
that point. It was very disheartening for us not
being able to continue working with the church and the ministry as we had
fallen in love with both the past several weeks.
But
the good thing is that we were able to work hard and see much fruit up to this
point. Back at the hostel, the phone
never stopped ringing. Most of the brothers called us to say goodbye to us and
tell us that they regretted what had happened, but as every follower of Jesus,
we know He has a purpose for every situation.
Although
we went through a lot, God was always there. And we know suffering is part of
the life of a Christian. In this, we
remain satisfied with in all things and we understand that it is nothing compared
to what many brothers experience around the world. Finally, we recognize the suffering
to
come in the last days.
“This
is why I endure everything for the sake of those who are chosen by God so that
they too may experience salvation in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” –
2 Timothy 2:10
Our final days we rested and meditated. It
was also a good time. We finished our
devotionals assigned for each day and waited quietly until the day of
departure.
On
October 20 we left Cuba, satisfied with the work and time there, yet sad to
leave those brothers and people we met. It was a powerful time of earning and and growing in dependence on God. We remain hopeful in the Lord’s plans for a return
to Cuba, which is a beautiful country with amazing people deprived of liberty,
yet not the freedom that we have in Christ, that everyone who knows Him shall be free. As
our national emblem states from John 8:32 “and you shall know the truth and the
truth shall set you free.”
To all of you who supported us, prayed for
us, and joined us in our ministry, thank you. In the name of Jesus, blessings!
