Cuba
Missions in Cuba
About Cuba
The population of Cuba is around 11,310,806 people. Cuba is a multicultural country, but the main language is Spanish. Life in Cuba is hard, access to food is limited, electricity is a luxury, and other necessities that we use everyday are not available. The cars are mostly from the 1950’s and 1960’s. Only 34,000 people have heard of the gospel. Our mission in Cuba is to reach the people, by giving them food, everyday necessities, and a place to worship.
Providing Food
Church Construction
Container Info
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Inspiring
Miracle Stories
How Cuba became a project.
This story began with my husband’s announcement to me around May of this year; “Cuba is open again, I think we should go and help them build churches.” I was not so enthusiastic as my husband. He said “I believe the Lord wants us to go and that He will work it out. He has a way to provide for all that needs to be done.” So the plans began for Cuba; contacting the people that we knew in Cuba, both the conference president and our pastor friend; to see if they had any projects. We were told that they had projects, but no money, and no way to get the funds to buy the things needed; to be ready for us to come. Rich told them that he would bring money with him when he comes if they would front it for the foundations. “We will ship a container with the tools and the metal for roofs; some of the things they could not get in Cuba at this time. They shared with him the very difficult situation they are in at this time in Cuba. They asked if we could also send food and personal hygiene items that they could not obtain. Looking at everything, I did not see any way to be able to do any of those things! But my husband reminded me; “Remember; we have never had money to do any of our mission trips! God has always provided somehow. He will again, because He wants this project to be done.” In June, just before camp meeting, we got a call from some dear friends. They were in our area and wanted to meet us and talk with us about something. They asked Rich if he had any projects he was working on at this time! I could not believe it, as we had not mentioned this project yet and were really wondering where to start. Rich told them about the Cuba project; that was just in the planning stage; and their great need. Our friends had wanted to help with some project just like this. They sent funds and we began rolling the metal roof panels and the metal 2x4’s for framing the roofs. We have a machine that rolls metal roof panels and a machine that forms metal 2x4’s and 2x6’s at our son’s mission warehouse. There was the metal at the warehouse we purchased at the roll cost. My nightmare began to unfold that very Tuesday afternoon. I didn’t catch onto the seriousness of it all until Thursday, and the container had already left the port and was on its way to Cuba! It would be unloaded at the Cuba port on Sunday. Thursday the bank had not only blocked our funds for the payment by wire transfer; but removed them from our bank account. Now we had to apply for a “license” from OFAC; to release our blocked funds for that payment and because it was under suspicion, we were not allowed to make a payment to the shipper by any other way! Now I had to get in contact with the OFAC… I will spare you all the details but the Lord worked MIRACLES!!! If the bank would send the OFAC officer a copy of the report…that would make it possible to act quickly. I had her email address so contacted the bank and told them the OFAC officer requested a copy of their blocking report would they please email it to her email? They sent the copy! (Miracle!!!!) This process usually takes 6-8 weeks for funds to be unblocked.
This story began with my husband’s announcement to me around May of this year; “Cuba is open again, I think we should go and help them build churches.” I was not so enthusiastic as my husband. He said “I believe the Lord wants us to go and that He will work it out. He has a way to provide for all that needs to be done.” So the plans began for Cuba; contacting the people that we knew in Cuba, both the conference president and our pastor friend; to see if they had any projects. We were told that they had projects, but no money, and no way to get the funds to buy the things needed; to be ready for us to come. Rich told them that he would bring money with him when he comes if they would front it for the foundations. “We will ship a container with the tools and the metal for roofs; some of the things they could not get in Cuba at this time. They shared with him the very difficult situation they are in at this time in Cuba. They asked if we could also send food and personal hygiene items that they could not obtain. Looking at everything, I did not see any way to be able to do any of those things! But my husband reminded me; “Remember; we have never had money to do any of our mission trips! God has always provided somehow. He will again, because He wants this project to be done.” In June, just before camp meeting, we got a call from some dear friends. They were in our area and wanted to meet us and talk with us about something. They asked Rich if he had any projects he was working on at this time! I could not believe it, as we had not mentioned this project yet and were really wondering where to start. Rich told them about the Cuba project; that was just in the planning stage; and their great need. Our friends had wanted to help with some project just like this. They sent funds and we began rolling the metal roof panels and the metal 2x4’s for framing the roofs. We have a machine that rolls metal roof panels and a machine that forms metal 2x4’s and 2x6’s at our son’s mission warehouse. There was the metal at the warehouse we purchased at the roll cost. My nightmare began to unfold that very Tuesday afternoon. I didn’t catch onto the seriousness of it all until Thursday, and the container had already left the port and was on its way to Cuba! It would be unloaded at the Cuba port on Sunday. Thursday the bank had not only blocked our funds for the payment by wire transfer; but removed them from our bank account. Now we had to apply for a “license” from OFAC; to release our blocked funds for that payment and because it was under suspicion, we were not allowed to make a payment to the shipper by any other way! Now I had to get in contact with the OFAC… I will spare you all the details but the Lord worked MIRACLES!!! If the bank would send the OFAC officer a copy of the report…that would make it possible to act quickly. I had her email address so contacted the bank and told them the OFAC officer requested a copy of their blocking report would they please email it to her email? They sent the copy! (Miracle!!!!) This process usually takes 6-8 weeks for funds to be unblocked.