May Cuba Trip

As I returned from my first trip to Cuba in February, my head was swimming. I had so many questions, yet somehow I knew God was about to orchestrate something miraculous with our lives in his Kingdom. I knew I wanted to go back. Soon. I knew my ministry would be connected to God’s church in Cuba in a powerful way… but what about my family? My church? Our security? I had so many questions.
I prayed, asking God to give Jimmie the same burden for Cuba that He had given to me. I knew that my connection with the church in Cuba was dependent on my husband feeling the same way I did. I talked with him, told him about the people, the churches, the powerful things I witnessed, and the calling that I felt. My calling became our calling. He embraced the burden for the Cuban church and the Cuban people without hesitation.
We knew we had to make some changes. If we were going to visit Cuba frequently and for extended periods of time, we couldn’t make a massive house payment. We couldn’t have to worry about credit card bills or car payments. We had to simplify our lives. We were happy to do so, finally having some direction for our future. What came next was an astonishing opening of door after door. We found renters for our house, found a reasonable house to rent, Jimmie found a better paying job, and we began making preparations for our next trip to Cuba.

I was hopeful but unsure about Jimmie’s reaction to Cuba. Just as I had felt three months prior, he loved it. He embraced the Cuban church, and the Cuban church embraced him. We were able to visit with numerous Cuban pastors. We traveled to several different churches in the Havana area. We were able to attend a pastoral meeting where they distributed funds for pastors that we brought with us. We were able to visit with old friends and make new friends. Perhaps most importantly, we were able to have conversations that opened our eyes to our place in Cuban Revival.
In our first trip in February, we became aware that many of the people in the churches and even some of the Cuban pastors were not Spirit-filled. Thankfully, many pastors were filled with the Spirit in February. On our recent trip, in one day they baptized 26 people, yet none of them received the Holy Spirit. After much discussion, it became evident that people are not seeking for the Holy Spirit and leaders are not encouraging Spirit-led ministry enough. We believe that God wants to pour out His Spirit in a powerful way on the Cuban people and on the nation of Cuba in general. We now realize that part of our responsibility will be teaching about the Holy Spirit, praying for people to receive the Holy Spirit, and encouraging authoritative, Spirit-led ministry.

One day during our trip, as I was resting in our room, I felt compelled to pray and intercede for revival in Cuba. I prayed for awhile and an overwhelming sense of sadness came over me. I knew the end of our trip was near, and I didn’t want to leave. I finally felt like I was where God wanted me, and I wanted to stay. The still, small voice of God spoke to my heart and told me that He had bound us together with the Cuban church with cords that can’t be broken. He showed me that because it was He who had done the work, man could not separate us from our destiny. We left sad, but encouraged.

Now we are making preparations for a three week trip to Cuba with Ava in October, and a three month stay starting in January. Until then, we will be doing some fundraising for various causes. These include our travel expenses, support for Cuban pastors, and building and remodeling projects in the near future. We will be joyfully welcoming President Osvaldo Barizonte and Secretary Barbaro from Havana for the ALJC General Conference in June. They will be staying for two months, traveling and telling of the great things God is doing in Cuba. We will also be welcoming minister of worship, Juan Duany Stiven, in July for a three month stay. We are so excited to see God putting all the pieces in place for an unprecedented revival in Cuba. Our hope is that many will join us in this cause and many will desire to be a part of God’s work.