Praise the Lord! Danke, Grazie, Merci, Gracias, THANKS...

October 7, 2010

We have seen God's hand in many areas over these last two weeks!

Our travel agent negotiated with the airline company and, as a result, we received a discount on our airline tickets!  This time last year, we paid $200 per person more for our tickets. 

We are thanking God for his provision.

Please continue to pray that God will guide us as we prepare for the November 6-13, 2010 mission trip.

Last week, our friend, Ana, returned from Cuba after a week's stay. She blessed us so by taking El Rancho Vaquero---Cowboy Ranch--Vacation Bible School information to Cuba.  She connected with the pastor's wife from McCall Baptist Church, and gave her the information. We are thrilled that our contacts are now able to review and study the VBS program before we arrive. They are sending emails several times a week asking questions and letting us know that they are praying and preparing for our arrival.

We are thankful for the donations of school supplies and backpacks!  We had enough materials to make 25 grocery bags of supplies for the groups we work with in Cuba. 

Thanks to many of you who participated in this campaign.

The donations of new socks and undies for our trip are coming in... There is still time to collect these items for our trip.  Share the need with your friends and family members and see if they want to get in on this opportunity to help the children in Cuba. 

Please pray that our Cuban Religious Entry Visas will be granted soon and without any problems. Usually, we do not receive confirmation until a few days before the trip...

On Saturday, October 23, we will begin packing the duffle bags with the supplies and resources we are taking to Cuba.  More details will follow later...

Know that we are so thankful that we get to go on mission to Cuba. Feel free to contact me if you have questions...Have a great week..



Jan. 2011 Cuba Mission Trip Meeting on Sept. 19 and 'Clown Ministry' Update

Dear Friends of Cuba,


Thanks for continuing to pray for our brothers and sisters in Cuba.

Please remember that on Sunday, September 19, at First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach, starting at 12:30 pm, in the Development Center, Room 305, there will be a short informational meeting for those who are interested in going, praying and supporting our short-term mission program in Cuba.

We are planning now for the January 2011 trip.

Come and find out how you can be involved in our on-going effort to continue working with the Cuban Baptist Convention of Churches, house churches, the Baptist Theological Seminary, the Baptist Home and families who are sharing the love of Christ on the island.

We recently received email from Martica, who is one of the leaders of a troupe of clowns who minister to churches and other groups in the Havana area. Martica is a gifted musician who has dedicated her time to learning the art of clowning. She plays guitar, accordion, marimba and has just added playing bottles filled with water to her repertoire! She and her group of clowns are constantly coming up with new skits to entertain and draw children, as well as adults, to learn more about Christ through their vignettes. Martica’s group sew their own costumes. She even showed us that she makes the clown shoes from recycled tires! We try to bring clown makeup, wigs, sewing notions and cloth each time we travel so that Martica and the other clowns can continue to add to their wardrobe.

Please pray for Martica, Julita, Kexelis, Juan and others who share Christ through their clown ministry.

Collecting New Socks and Undies for Children In Cuba...

Short Informational Meeting, Sunday, Sept. 19, for January 2011 Cuba Mission Trip

Have you ever wanted to go on a short-term mission trip?  Is God calling you to go and share your faith with others?  Come and check out the possibility of joining us as we go on mission to Cuba, in January 2011!

On Sunday, September 19, 2010, at First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach, we will conduct a quick, informational meeting and share materials to help you as you pray about going on a short-term mission trip. 

The meeting will take place immediately after the third service,

at 12:30 p.m., in the Development Center

(on the Third Floor), in Room 305. 

Immediately following the meeting, if you would like to join in on, One Big Tailgate Party, plan on bringing your favorite dish to share.  

One Big Tailgate Party is happening in front of the Fellowship Hall until 2:30 p.m.

For further details,

feel free to contact Virginia at:

vacasa@bellsouth.net

CUBA para CRISTO...

Train the Trainer Model working in Cuba!

We are excited to report that the Train the Trainer model is working!  It is wonderful to see that the churches and groups we partner with are also facilitating trainings and sharing materials and resources with others in Cuba.  In April, we took El Tren de las Buenas Noticias--The Good News Train VBS down for our partners to use with their children's programs.

A church from the Vibora neighborhood, in Havana, spent a week presenting El Tren de las Buenas Noticias-The Good News Train VBS activities to their students.  After completing the VBS, they decided to share the materials and curriculum, with a sister church in Cienfuegos, which is about a four hour drive from Havana.  Praise God that in both locations children and many parents participated in the activities related to the VBS.  More than 100 children were in attendance everyday in Havana and Cienfuegos!

Many of our church partners are requesting prayers for more leaders to help teach and work with the children and student programs.  There is a great need to focus on students of middle and high school ages.  In an effort to reach out to more students, one of our church partners, in the Naranjo neighborhood of Havana, held a Youth Night, last week.  This was a kick-off activity for the fall.  Many friends were invited to come and check out the church.  Please pray that God will lead adults to step up and assist with the student outreach programs in the churches.

The Naranjo neighborhood is one of the most densely populated in Havana.  Many who live there are unchurched.  Our friends have chosen this key verse for 2010:

1 Corinthians 15:58--Therefore my brothers, stand firm, don't let anything move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your work in the Lord is not in vain.

This week we have been in contact with the President of the Western Cuban Baptist Convention of Churches.  He and his wife are returning to Havana, on Sunday.  Please pray for their safe travels and easy passage through U.S. and Cuban Customs.

Please also continue to pray for the November Cuba Mission Trip.  Lord willing, we plan to share  El Rancho Vaquero-Saddle Ridge Ranch VBS with our partners while we are there.

God continues to work in Cuba...

God is certainly working in Cuba!

We are thanking God that Rene, our Christian brother, arrived safely back to Havana with all of his luggage. He passed through customs without incident. Rene is able to share photos and experiences from his trip to the United States, this summer, with many other believers at the Seminary and in the local churches.  We look forward to working with Rene when we go on mission to Cuba, in November.

Mileidy, and her husband Eliezer, are serving in a church in Havana, that has been restored. They just completed, ‘The Good News Train’ Vacation Bible School, aka, ‘El Tren de las Buenas Noticias.’ Many students and children attended each day. Recently, they formed a team of clowns, at their church. The clowns ministered to the kids during the VBS week.

A week ago, we received Vacation Bible School reports from Santo Domingo, and Guanabacoa. The church, in Santo Domingo, made a train out of cardboard and walked through the neighborhoods using the train to advertise the upcoming VBS event. The reports from the two churches indicated that on the first night there were many new faces. Each night after that, more children came and brought their parents along, too!

We are thrilled to see churches sharing materials and know that many are coming to know Christ through Vacation Bible School activities. Please pray that God will provide more Bible School curriculum, in Spanish, for us to bring to our friends in Cuba.

Praise God!

Good Morning,

We have had an exciting week. Many of you have been viewing the web page. Thanks for sending feedback. Jay added more Cuba photos to the site gallery, yesterday. Thanks for your prayers...

Keep watching as we add and refine the site... www.cuba4christ.org

We serve a wonderful God who always provides for us! We are celebrating and are amazed at how God works. This past week, Rene, our friend from Cuba, has been visiting friends in Texas.

Last night, during a phone call, he shared that members from two Texas churches have generously provided funds for Seminary projects. This goes beyond our wildest prayers and dreams. Please join us as we gladly give the glory and honor to our magnificent God who shows Himself faithful to us in huge and small ways! It is amazing to see God working in lives. As we understand, funding had stopped for some of the Seminary projects and now we see God opening the door for the work to be completed!

Please continue to pray for Rene as he travels back to Florida today. We can't wait to see him again and hear all about his Texas adventure!

Please pray for the November Cuba Mission Trip. The deadline for submitting the application form is Friday, August 6th.