Cuba Update & Opportunity

Dear Friends of Cuba,

We hope you are having a great weekend. Thanks so much for your continued prayer support for our brothers and sisters in Cuba. The Christmas season is in full swing there as the choirs practice for Christmas 'cantatas' and drama presentations.

 

Lord willing, in 34 days, a team of 5 missionaries will be traveling on mission to Cuba! Our mission focus for this trip will be 'Moms and Babies.'  We have learned that in the churches we partner with, there are 27 babies due between now and March 2012!

I just received 40 coupons for $1 off the purchase of Desitin...If you would like to bless a family in Cuba by purchasing a tube of Desitin,...drop by the 'greeting cart,' located on the south side of the FBCWPB church steps, tomorrow morning, between 9:55 and 10:15 a.m. and pick up a coupon!

We will be taking food and medicine to Cuba, in January 2012. Our contacts in Cuba have requested specific items.

Gently used or new:

êBaby clothes, shoes, blankets, towels, toys, stuffed animals

êCloth diapers, diaper pins, plastic pants, disposable diapers

êBaby bottles, sippy cups, spoons, plates

Also needed:

êBaby aspirin, pain relievers, fever reducers, Desitin, Balmax

êBaby allergy medicine, cold & cough medicine, stomach medicine

êPowdered baby formula, Cod liver oil, powdered milk

êBaby shampoo, powder, lotion, baby vitamins

On or before January 8, 2012,

Label items ‘Cuba-Virginia Hansen’

and place items in the RED ‘Cuba’ Box located on the 3rd floor, in DC Room 326, at FBCWPB.

For more information, contact Virginia Hansen at:

vacasa@bellsouth.net   l   (561)712-1234   l    www.cuba4christ.org

Take a look at some of the babies and families we know in Cuba:

    

Please pray and ask God how He wants you to be involved with this opportunity to help our Cuban brothers and sisters.

Also, please remember Maria Rosa Bernal, Mary F. Daunhauer, Jeff Finley, Virginia Hansen, and Frank Miller, the January 2012 Cuba Mission Team, in prayer, as they prepare for the upcoming trip.

Cuba para Cristo!

Virginia

Commit to pray for CUBA
Mateo 28:19 Vayan y hagan discipulos en todas las naciones.
www.cuba4christ.org

Praise God for many new believers...

We have wonderful news to share with you concerning a church we partner with in Havana. 

After several months of prayer and preparation, members of McCall Baptist Church began a concentrated effort to invite their un-churched neighbors and friends to visit the church.  In November, several events for adults, young people and children took place at the church.  Many new families and visitors attended the activities.   There were Christian concerts, sports demonstrations and an art exhibit.  In each event, everyone was pointed to Jesus.  The Gospel was shared and opportunities were provided for anyone to come and learn more about the saving grace found in Jesus.  We received news from the church that 150 people accepted Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord!  Please rejoice with our Cuban friends as they begin discipleship classes for these new believers!  Pray for McCall Baptist Church, Pastor Daniel, his wife, Ana Isabel, and their three children as they continue to minister to their congregation and their neighborhood.  We look forward to connecting with them when we go back in January 2012.   

Ana Isabel and Pastor Daniel

Cuba Mission Team is back from Cuba!

The October 29 to November 5, 2011, Missionary Team is back from Cuba!

Gayle Powell, Katie Gentry, Jim Reid, Judy Ratzlaff, Mary Daunhauer, Bud Broda, Frank Jassir, Yla Flores, Steven Hansen-(Steve & Virginia’s 13 year-old son,) and Virginia Hansen.

Thanks for your prayers and support…

While in Cuba, God provided so many opportunities for our team to meet with and serve children, their families, pastors, their leadership teams, seminary students and their professors. Because of illness, Judy could not join the trip but we have learned that she is feeling much better.

We were two churches--FBC of Orange Park and FBC of West Palm Beach- going as one team, united to share the love of Christ with everyone we met during the week. Due to a change in the school schedule, the students were in school last week, and we left the Vacation Bible School materials with the churches for future use.

*Praise God all of our team members were granted Cuban Religious Entry Visas.

*Praise God for the Garner Family and for the use of their van and enclosed trailer to transport some of our team members and the 27 duffle bags and 20+ carry-on bags to Ft. Lauderdale.

*Praise God for the Gentry Family who drove their SUV to take and bring back team members from the airport.

*Praise God for the overall savings of $860 on the airline tickets and luggage weight charges.

*Praise God that the tropical storm did not impact our week of activities.

*Praise God that all of our carry-on luggage and duffle bags went through Cuban and American Customs without incident!

*Praise God for allowing us to meet with and begin partnerships with new churches, new missions, new house churches and new ministries.

*Praise God that we saw girls and boys participating in AWANA Programs-(OANSA).

*Praise God for the opportunity to attend two Cuban Christian musical concerts.

*Praise God for churches shining the ‘light’ in the midst of neighborhoods where ‘Santeria’ abounds.

*Praise God for the Baptist Home where 19 residents are cared for each day.

*Praise God for new branches of the Seminary being established in order to serve more students who are studying to become future pastors and worship leaders.

*Praise God for children who love memorizing scripture verses and songs as they learn about Jesus.

*Praise God for the many volunteers who lead, prepare and work with the children and student ministries in the churches and missions in Cuba.

*Praise God that all 650 pairs of underwear, 800 pairs of socks, 510 beanie babies, clothes, shoes, medicine, food and other resources were distributed to our partners at churches, missions, and ministry groups on the island.

*Praise God for the opportunities to share the gospel and for the many hearts who are now serving Jesus day by day.

Please pray as we prepare for the January 14 to 21, 2012 Cuba Mission Trip.

Information on the Spring, 2012 Cuba Mission Trip will be shared on Sunday, January 22, 2012, in DC Room 305, at 12:30 pm, at FBCWPB.

Check out more details on the Cuba 4 Christ web page: www.cuba4christ.org

October 29 to November 5, 2011 Cuba Mission Trip--Two weeks away!

Dear Friends of Cuba,

We are so thankful for your prayers and support. Lord willing, our missionary team will be leaving for Cuba on October 29, 2011. That is just two weeks from today!

Thanks for continuing to bring in ‘socks and undies’ for the students in Kindergarten to 12^th grades. The churches in Cuba plan on giving out ‘gift bags’ with the ‘socks and undies’ and other items to the kids in their youth groups, for Christmas. We are happy to be a part of their ministry opportunities.

Also, thanks for participating with us in collecting ‘foods and medicines’ that are so desperately needed in Cuba. We will be sharing these items with the churches, house churches, the Baptist Senior Home, and the Seminary. God is so merciful to us. Thank you for partnering with us to help our Christian brothers and sisters in Cuba.

Please continue to pray for our team of 10 missionaries, as we prepare spiritually, mentally, and physically in these final two weeks. We are asking for God‘s guidance as we seek to reach the ones He wants us to meet. We pray that many hearts will be won and that many will see Jesus through our actions and words.

Gayle, Katie, Mary, Judy, Virginia, Yla, Steven, Jim, Bud and Frank

October 29-November 5, 2011 Cuba Missionary Team

Praise God! All Ten Entry Visas have been approved!

Praise God!  Thank you for your prayers and support.

We are excited to report that the Cuban Religious Entry Visas have been approved for all ten of the team members going on the October 29-November 5, 2011 Cuba Mission Trip.  In the past, we have had to pack our bags, by faith, praying that the visas would be granted.  For this trip, we can pack with confidence, knowing that God has provided clearance a couple of weeks before our departure!

We have many things to be thankful for...Our team is comprised of 2 Churches: First Baptist Church of Orange Park and First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach, with 10 missionaries going to Cuba.   For the first time, we will be flying directly to Havana out of Ft. Lauderdale.  We received a $20 per person discount on the airline tickets.  That amounts to a $200 savings.  We are so thankful for all of the blessings and cannot wait to work with our Christian brothers and sisters again.

Our plans include sharing 'Aventura en la Gran Manzana'--'Big Apple Adventure' Vacation Bible School with the childrens' ministry leaders in churches while we are in Cuba.  We also have school supplies and arts and crafts to share with the Seminary and the churches.  These materials gain extra mileage as they are passed on to other churches.

We are collecting beanie babies, new socks and underwear for students from Kindergarten to 12th grades.  At Christmas time, the local Cuban churches plan to give gift bags to their students and include the socks, undies, stuffed animals and other items.  We are pleased to partner with many Cuban churches in their ministry events.

We also are collecting food items, over-the-counter medicines and vitamins to take to our Cuban friends on this trip.  We have seen churches helping their members with medical needs and supplemental food for widows and orphans.  Many times it is difficult to locate these items in Cuba and we are happy to be able to share.  

Please continue to pray for the October 29-November 5, 2011 Cuba missionaries.  We look forward to seeing what God will do as we spend a week serving in the Seminary, the churches, the house churches, and the Baptist Home. 

Pray for the October 29 to November 5, 2011, Missionary Team going to Havana, Cuba.

Thanks for your prayers and support…

In June, when we were working on the November Mission Trip to Cuba, we collaborated with our contacts in Cuba to plan the the trip dates to coincide with the week students were to be on fall break from school  Please pray for the opportunities to meet with children and their families. We are thrilled to have a team representing FBC of Orange Park and FBC of West Palm Beach. 

Praise God…Vacation Bible School materials have been donated by FBC of Orange Park, FBC of Lake Worth, Florida Gardens Baptist, Palm Springs Baptist, and Victory Baptist Churches.

Please pray that all ten members of our team will be granted Cuban Religious Entry Visas.  Usually, we do not receive copies of the religious entry visas until the week we are traveling and sometimes, the copies arrive just days before departure!

For the first time since we have been going to Cuba, we are flying from Ft. Lauderdale to  Havana.  The Ft. Lauderdale airport is a little closer, less congested than Miami and we are excited to try a new venue.

We are collecting socks, underwear, school supplies, beanie babies, clothes, shoes, medicines, food and other resources to bring for the churches and organizations we partner with in Cuba..  We have a lot to do before the trip.  Pray that we will pack well and fill every space in the bags!

Please pray for the 10 missionaries on the October 29 to  November 5^, 2011,--Cuba Mission Trip Team:  Gayle Powell, Katie Gentry, Jim Reid, Judy Ratzlaff, Mary Daunhauer, Bud Broda, Frank Jassir, Yla Flores, Steven Hansen-(Steve & Virginia’s 13 year-old son,) and Virginia Hansen.

Gayle

                                                      

                                                                              Katie
 

                                                                            

                                                                                                          Mary, Virginia, Judy

Yla

         

Steven

Jim

            

  Bud         

           

Frank

Friends of Cuba here...

Dear Friends of Cuba,

We are excited to share that the group of pastors and professors from Cuba, had two great weeks studying at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, in Ft. Worth, Texas. They are reconnecting with family and friends this week and next. We are excited that some of our Cuban friends will be spending time with us here in West Palm Beach this week. Thanks for your continued prayers and support.



Alicia & Hermes




Rene & Abdiel



Thanks for Support

May 23, 2011


Dear Friends of Cuba,

We have had so many opportunities to share about missions to Cuba over the last few weeks. Memories from our last two trips continue to flood in each day as we plan for the Fall 2011 Cuba Mission Trip.

Thank God for our friend, Madelin H., who was gracious to take items to our friends in Havana two weeks ago. She returned with the ‘pen pal’ letters from the students in Havana. We will be sharing the letters she brought to us with students here this week.

We also received information that the gently used UPWARD uniforms have been distributed to the churches in several locations across the island. We are also so thankful for PBAU’s participation in providing baseball and soccer uniforms for students. This summer, church leagues will begin a series of game schedules along with times for training clinics. Please continue to pray for our friends who are embarking on this new process of ‘Sports Ministry’ in an effort to reach and involve students. These boys are from Nazareth Baptist Church in Havana. We have worked with them for the last six years and are thrilled that they are remaining faithful.

February Vacation Bible School



Pastor Vladimir (on right)



Glenda, Va, Steve

020811
Several of our church partners in Cuba, are offering Winter Vacation Bible School activities this week.  Please pray for children to participate and learn more about Christ. We are praying for many salvations as the volunteers and leaders share the gospel. Bible verses presented by puppets and clowns, along with arts and craft activities, music, games and snacks make up a typical day of Vacation Bible School in Cuba.

Pastor Vladimir and Glenda have asked for prayers, as they start their first Vacation Bible School activity for 2011. They will send photos of their event later. 

We are preparing for the April Cuba Mission Trip and thank you in advance for your prayer support!

Jauary 2011 Cuba Mission Trip

Dear Friends of Cuba,

     Wow...what a week!  On this trip we had opportunities to go to churches and house churches we had never visited before.  We thank God that friends, here in the USA, successfully orchestrated sending a container of food and other items into Cuba, in December.  God provided chances for us to go and distribute food to churches outside of Havana during our week on mission.  As a result of our travels, we are now partnering with three more churches! From the beginning of our January mission trip, when we were seated in first class, until the last night of our trip, when we visited with friends and families who prepared supper for us, we saw evidence of God's provision. 
    Bryan Garner drove us to MIA in record time.  We and our luggage passed through US and Cuban customs without any problems.  Our friends met us at Jose Marti Airport and we had help loading everything in the vans.  We stayed in the apartment at the Seminary and had many opportunities to interact with the students and professors.
     On Thursday, we worked with leaders and children at two local Havana churches.   We visited two house churches and saw their programs in action.  During the week, we had chances to travel and visit Seminary 'branches' where students can earn their biblical/pastoral degrees.  We spent one day traveling to another city outside of Havana to reconnect with a church partner we had not seen for more than a year.  On this same trip, we were introduced to two new churches and participated in children's events complete with a clown and us up on stage doing the 'Chi-Chi-Wa-Wa' dance!
     Thanks to your monetary gifts and donations of food, medicines, office supplies, clothing, arts and craft supplies, we filled 30 backpacks that were distributed to churches, house churches and other organizations across the island. 
     The director of the Seminary, Pastor Hermes Soto, and his wife, Alicia, gave us a tour of El Morro, a fort in Havana that looks much like St. Augustine's fort.  We thank God that Pastor Soto has recovered so well. 
     During the week, we met with pastors and lay volunteers in churches south of Havana.  It was wonderful to see a 'mentoring program' where young pastors are partnered with older, experienced pastors. 
     One of our church partners has a sport ministry baseball team and we were invited to an early Saturday morning game.  This particular church utilizes the baseball team as an outreach ministry.  About half of the team members are not believers, yet.  The game was very serious and exciting.  Our friends won in overtime and told us that we had to extend our stay in order to attend next week's game to insure another win!  After the game, we boarded the van and again Pastor Hermes and Alicia took us to several churches.  For the first time in all of our travels in Cuba, we had a flat tire!  Rene, Steve, and Andrew changed the tire quickly.  We visited a church that houses a 'branch' of the Seminary where young people are studying to become pastors. 
     On Sunday, we attended services at two churches in Havana. It was wonderful to participate with the children and student ministries at each church.  Music is stressed in every service.  We are happy to report that one of our church partners has experienced tremendous growth and has three worship services and two opportunities for Bible study groups each Sunday! Praise the Lord!
     As we traveled away from Havana to visit other churches, God protected us once again.  A rear tire tread blew apart and we had another flat tire! There was no place to fix the tire.  Our wonderful God continued protecting us for the entire trip! 
     We are so blessed to have been in Cuba for a week with our Christian brothers and sisters.  Lord willing, we will return again in April.  Thanks for your prayers and support.