Dear brother and sisters:
Amazing, what our Lord is doing in Cuba is truly amazing. The faith and boldness we experienced by the Christians in Cuba makes me question our strength of our faith in the “Land of the Free”. On this Veteran Days I write to update you on my journey and thank you so much for your prayers and generous donations supporting the mission activities that God has called me to serve. Thank you for our Vets, Lord.
Our first destination was Pastor Carlos young growing church in San Luis Pinar Del Rio, Cuba. Several of the church members were there to welcome us with open arms. San Luis is located in the agriculture part of the country and grows much of the local produce and tobacco. Sunday we
had about 90 people in a little church and later worked with 32 children on a bible lesson and craft, they loved it. The next day we had over 100 children. The big smiles and gratitude on everyone’s faces, they accepted us as if we were long lost family that had returned. It still amazes me how God’s people, no matter where you go, all show love for others…it’s Christ love inside that must shine through. Way Cool!!! Pastor Santiago would tell us stories every morning about the Church in Cuba and how the Holy Spirit was working to grow the Kingdom of God. At the end of the week he told us “Vale La Pena”, It is worth It.
One shining light was Jose Manuel (13yr old), my young brother in Christ. He was practicing his English and I am still working on my basic Spanish, so we attempted to tell each other about our lives, joys and families. We would chat ever night. The last night after service Jose came to me with $3 peso (local currency) and said something I did not understand. After getting our translator Guillermo’s help, he was attempting to give me a gift of great value and said “Remember me”. I want to return this gift but instead gave him my Bible. Jose and I sat down and filled in his name in the first page and I told him that this will help him learn more English and “not forget me”.
We met with Pastor Able in Havana city and the Holy Spirit was with us all night long. We gathered in Malecón along the tourist waterfront with about 150 of his leadership team in his church. Understand they meet in a park, in a country that you are prohibited to preach on the street… and they don’t have a building. That’s right, 500 Christians getting together, read the Word and pray to our Lord. They gather in homes, parks, on the streets, anywhere and to tell others about the Good News. I keep hearing that song “God of this City” in my head. Thank you Lord!!!
The men read from Luke 12:13 The Parable of the Rich Fool. They told stories of lives spent chasing after money, drugs, yet always a feeling unfulfilled. One man said “why ask God for 10 pesos when you can live on one”, the other said “if you can’t live with a few things how are you going live with a lot”. No one knows when our last day will come…we all fall into what I call the “pit”, a dark place that takes our life and breaks our heart. Then somehow our savor holds us up through God’s gift of grace and Life Change begins with a new heart. As new creations, we are focused on God and the Spirit to guide us through His Word and Prayer. The Word of God is now food to me, I can go to long without it.
Thank you for all you support, prayers and obedience to His call.
“Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift” 2 Corinthians 9:15
Dios Te Bendiga,
Alberto
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