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.

Thanks for your prayers while we were in Cuba...

MUCHAS GRACIAS...

On behalf of Barbara Moore, Beverly Vanderpool, Jim Reid, Judy Ratzlaff, Mary Daunhauer, Pam Newsome, Steven Hansen, Tim Henry, Tom Spencer and Virginia Hansen, thanks for taking time to pray for us while we were on mission in Cuba. 

We have many stories to share.  One of our new church partners has a ministry to Chinese-Cubans.  We thank God for the opportunity to go and share.  Since the Spring 2010 Cuba Mission Trip, we have been told that life is becoming more difficult in Havana.  However, on Sunday, as we worshiped together, we saw positive evidence that the churches are growing and that more are coming to accept Christ as their Savior. 

We are excited to report that the concrete pad for the basketball court has been poured and dedicated.  There will be sports leagues and teams for the summer months after the finishing touches have been completed. 

After a series of meetings, we now partner with three new churches!  The house church movement is thriving and many homes are providing places for members to worship and grow in the knowledge of the Lord.  Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Cuba.

Pray for the November Cuba misison Trip Team...

Pray for the November Cuba Mission Team…



We are excited to tell you that God continues to bless!



Thanks so much for your prayers and support.



Several months back, we were told that Cuban children would be on break from school the week before our trip.


We were praying for ways to work with them after school.  Praise the Lord, last week, we received an email letting us know that the Cuban government changed the break for students.   We have learned that students will be on recess the week we are in Cuba!

God has provided a way for us to work with the students.

Another huge blessing is that all ten members of our team have been granted Cuban Religious Entry Visas!

We received the visa copies via email.

Usually, we do not have copies until the week we are traveling.  There have been times that we received the visa copies just days before departure!

The West Palm Beach Cuba Mission Trip members met on Saturday.

We gathered the socks, undies, school supplies, beanie babies, clothes, shoes, medicines, food and other resources together and started packing the duffle bags. We have a lot to do before the trip.

Please pray for the November Cuba Mission Trip Team: Barbara Moore, Beverly, Vanderpool, Jim Reid, Judy Ratzlaff, Mary Daunhauer, Pam Newsome, Steven Hansen, Tim Henry, Tom Spencer, and Virginia Hansen.

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...