Camp Yumuri-April 2014

Dear Friends of Cuba,

Thanks for your prayers while we were on mission in Cuba.  God always opens doors and provides for us while we are there.  Steve drove us and our duffle bags, which had been loaded into the Garner’s trailer, to Ft. Lauderdale Airport without any challenges.  Thank God we made it through U.S. and Cuban customs with no problems!

Our comfortable rooms were ready for us at El Calvario Baptist Church, in downtown Havana.  After unpacking our bags, we were involved in leadership meetings with Pastor Juan Carlos, who is also president of the Western Baptist Convention of Churches.  We were excited to continue collaborating with Victor and Abby, Cuban National Directors of APEN (Child Evangelism Fellowship). 

Saturday and Sunday we were involved in church activities and additional meetings.  We initiated a new ‘pen pal’ program for kids from our student ministry groups with kids at El Calvario Baptist Church.  Both groups are excited about making new friends! 

Monday came early as we loaded up the busses and vans to go to Camp Yumuri.  Camp Yumuri, is located near Matanzas, on ninety beautiful acres in Yumuri Valley.  Many weeks during the year, retreats, events and conferences are held at Camp Yumuri.  We were invited to join the 7 & 8 year old ‘retreat’ and had an awesome time!  Students and leaders from 38 different churches arrived by supper time.  Each day the schedule was packed full with time for devotions, music, games, Bible study, competitions, missionary stories, meals and snacks.  The chapel turned into a multipurpose room and was used to present the camp theme…’Put on the Whole Armor of Christ’…  Being a part of the ministry activities at the camp was a dream-come-true, answer to prayer for us.

Thanks to Tom Spencer, Rynell and Joe Novak for continuing to provide and partner with our ministry, we were prepared to present Puppet and Balloon Workshops.  As a result, seven additional churches are equipped and trained to begin Puppet and Balloon Ministries.

On the closing night at camp, we witnessed ten students praying to become Christ followers!  We are excited to go and tell….We enjoyed water balloon fights, soda drinking contests, and jump rope competitions with the underlying camp theme ever present.  Kids learned that God does in fact equip us with powerful tools which protect and allow us to stand firm in our faith.  Ephesians 6:10-18.

Take a look at the video clips of our week, entitled, Retiro de Principiantes, on YouTube…

Here is the YouTube link to Part 1…    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQsXPiqn21M

Virginia F. Hansen   •  561-712-1234   •  vacasa@bellsouth.net  •  www.cuba4christ.org
 Virginia Futch Hansen   •     Cuba 4 Christ    •   Virginia Hansen@Cuba4Christwpb  •   CUBA4CHRIST

Cuba Trip Update April 2014--Praise and Prayer Report

Cuba 4 Christ Praise and Prayer Report    

 

†Pray for the April 11-19,2014-- Cuba Mission Team Members:

Mary

Mary Daunhauer, from FBC of Orange Park,

Virginia Hansen, and Idda Pena from FBCWPB/FCE. 

Pray for the health and safety of our team members and our families while we are in Cuba. 

Virginia

 

Idda

 

†Praise God, we received confirmation of the Cuban Religious Entry Visas for the team members last week!

 

†Praise God for Sports Equipment, Medical Supplies, Food, and other Resources we are bringing to our partners in the Cuban Western Baptist Convention of Churches.  We continue to serve with President Juan Carlos Rojas and his leadership team at the ‘Convention.’  Juan Carlos also serves as Senior Pastor at ‘El Calvario’ (Calvary) Baptist Church, in downtown Havana.

 

†Praise God for items and materials given by *FBCWPB, *FBC of OP, *Florida Gardens Baptist, *Victory Baptist, *FB Denton, *FBC of Cairo, Georgia, *Grady Baptist Association, Cairo, Georgia, FBCWPB UPWARD, *Message of Hope Class, * Journey with God Class, *Women on Mission, *Mom to Mom, *Atlantic Christian Academy, *Berean Christian School, Child Evangelism Fellowship, and many other family members and friends whose prayers and financial contributions help support and encourage our brothers and sisters, in Cuba.

†Praise God and thanks to Idda, Jeff, Gilberte, Nidia, Tom, Charlande, Vince, Yla, and Steve for sorting, organizing, inventorying, packing and weighing the duffle bags for the trip.  Thanks to Bryan for providing his trailer to transport our luggage to Ft. Lauderdale Airport…Praise God for *Baker Vision Care for providing delicious brownies for us to take and share in Cuba!

 

†Pray for Victor and Abby, Cuba National Directors of Child Evangelism Fellowship and their leadership team.

 

†Pray that God will open doors for us to continue working with the Cuban Western Baptist Convention of Churches, including, house churches, inner city missions, the Baptist Senior Adult Home and seminaries.  All of which serve to point others to Jesus through their ministries across the island.

 

†Pray that God will pave the way and allow us to minister and encourage our Cuban brothers and sisters while we are there.  Pray for many new souls to accept Christ as their personal Savior during this Easter season in Cuba.

 

†Pray that our luggage and supplies will arrive with us and without extra tariffs. 

 

†Praise God for opportunities to share Jesus as we serve with leaders at Yumuri, a Baptist Camp, in Matanzas.

 

†Praise God for opportunities to do training workshops and network with children’s ministry leaders, sports ministry leaders, puppet ministry leaders, pastors and seminary students.  We pray we bring encouragement to all.

 

†Pray for Clown and Puppet Ministries and Sport Ministries as they plan for summer mission trips to the eastern areas of Cuba.

 

†Pray that we will return safely home filled with spirit-led encounters of our trip to share with family and friends.

www.cuba4christ.org  •  vacasa@bellsouth.net  •  561-712-1234  • Twitter: Virginia Hansen@Cuba4Christwpb

 

Facebook: Virginia Futch Hansen  •   Cuba 4 Christ •   Instagram: CUBA4CHRIST  • TEXT 561-225-0537

 

Cuba para Cristo!