On July 30th Houston International Seventh-day Adventist Church sent a group of 14 people on a 10-day mission trip to Cuba. The 14 were drawn from different countries (USA, Colombia, Kenya, Cameroun, Jamaica, South Africa, Honduras, Cuba and the Dominican Republic) a true representation of HISDA, which is blessed with members from over 35 nationalities. Our lead pastors were Pastor Richard Garcia and Juan Monsalve.
Since Cuba is a communist country and has been on embargo since 1948, US government clearance is required to go there. After being cleared we had to apply for religious visas to Cuba. All those engaging in religious activities have to pay a permit fee of $108 to the Cuban government. We were also assured by our host church and conference officials that it was alright to take medical donations in to the country as long as there were for nonprofit use.
Convinced that we had met all the necessary requirements we took off through Miami International airport only to arrive at the airport in Holguin and have all our medical supplies donations and vocational bible schools materials for kids confiscated. It had taken us only 45 minutes to fly in to Cuba from Miami, but took us four hours to clear with customs, leaving behind 600 pounds of supplies and valued well over $30,000 in the hands of custom officials.
We had wanted to share the medical supplies with the local hospital but were not allowed to do so.
With much prayer we refocused our mission in to daily home visitations, accompanied by lay men from our host Adventist churches, and carried on planned evangelistic meeting at four different sites (Holguin Central Church, Cacocum, Pino and Baquanos) every evening. At first many of the local people were skeptical but as the days went by, more and more people started attending the meetings. On the last Sabbath a total of 198 were baptized to the honor and glory of God.
The place with the least attendance, Baquanos, turned out to have the second most baptisms (30). The site there was granted to the church by the government since no one wanted to live there. The former resident of the site was a murderer, now in jail. He has since received the three angels’ message and says, though he is in prison, he is now forgiven and free. Yes the murderers’ yard in Baquanos is now a beacon of hope in the area, and there we had our last baptisms and farewell party.
HISDA has been engaged in short term mission trips internationally during summer breaks since 2006. Those who participate in the trips have not only touched and met the needs of the needy but have always increased their faith in Christ and have come back more encouraged to continue sharing the good news of Christ’s soon return to take us home.
In 2011 we head to Tanzania and then Ghana in 2012. Join us if God impresses you to our next mission trip as we continue to fulfill the great commission of Mathew 28:19 -20 and wait for His soon return to take us home.
By: Stephen M Mbola
|