I started this trip filled with enthusiasm, yet in the back of my mind, I wondered why God would send us on a mission trip to a communist country.  Upon arriving at the church in Havana, I saw that it was the same God we all prayed to and worshiped, despite our differences.  According to Rev. Mendez, prior to Castro’s rise to power in Cuba, the church was a member of the New Jersey Synod.  It became clear to me that God had brought us together again  We were given this opportunity to once again come together for fellowship with our long separated family.  We were blessed to be able to connect with our fellow brothers and sisters in Cuba to celebrate the love that God has for all of His children.  We may be separated by distance and politics, but we are all one in the Lord.

                                                                                                  Chang Kim

The charter flight was full.  A young mother was tearful as she talked quietly on her cell phone in the plane waiting to take off.  The flight was only 30 minutes.  When we landed at Jose Marti airport near Havana, emotions spilled over.  Everyone clapped.  We walked outside in the hot sun.  I noticed how quiet the airport was.  No other planes were taking off or landing.  Inside the terminal building, we were not allowed to bring a microwave oven to the pastor who was our host.  The microwave was a Father’s Day gift from his two daughters in South Florida.  After I got my suitcase, an official motioned me through a door.  To my surprise, I found myself standing alone with about 200 pairs of eyes on me.  People were on the other side of a fence waiting expectantly to greet family and loved ones.  Now, after one week of fellowship with the Cuban people and experiencing the loving care of the Presbyterian Church in Havana, I feel a special blessing from God.

                                                                                                  Bill Tenney

The sights of Havana were many, varied and provided a feast for the eyes: crumbling buildings next to beautiful museums; bicycle taxis and horse-drawn coaches sharing the same street with the 1950’s autos and Russian-made cars; revolutionary signs next to  houses of worship; the Church baseball teams for the boys and the adult Tai Chi classes; and the ferry boat from Regla crossing the harbor to Havana being closely watched by the  Cuban patrol boat to prevent any high-jacking attempt to flee the country.  On the morning of our departure, as we stood in a circle in the church court yard holding hands and praying The Lord’s Prayer in four different languages, Cuban sounds surrounded us.  A rooster crowed in the distance, a small frog chirped in some vegetation nearby, and birds sang overhead.  We were all deeply moved, reluctant to leave, yet excited about returning home to our country and our loved ones.

                                                                                                  Windy Johnston

The First Havana Presbyterian Church has grown from six persons or less attending worship following the Revolution to 300 persons on the Sunday we attended.  Among the reasons for this growth are the many programs of the church.  The program that stood out for me was a seniors group coordinated by the church staff psychologist.  We attended a graduation ceremony, which recognized one year of attendance in the program.  The seniors then put on a fashion show.  We could see the joy, pride and energy of the group.  The clothes were hand-made, either crocheted or knitted, in white.  The men escorted the ladies with Spanish elegance.  The seniors also sang together and it was obvious how much they enjoyed each other’s company.  One woman said, “Before I joined the church, I was depressed.  Now I’m very happy.”  The seniors are an active, vital part of the church.

                                                                                                  Nora Tenney

I feel renewed, uplifted, grateful and blessed.  I will always remember the pride in the smile of the nine year old on the church sponsored baseball team who stood excitedly at an awards ceremony when asked by Dr. Sam, “Who steals the most bases?”  The same boy stood and smiled even broader when asked, “Who is the fastest pitcher?”  He and his team mates wore their Cuban baseball uniforms proudly.  They carried the spirit of the game and love for their country in their smiles.

                                                                                                  Virginia Johnson

I was somewhat surprised to find the Cuban people looking fit, clean and reasonably well-dressed.  They seemed, at least on the surface, to be fairly content in spite of the crumbling buildings, the ancient cars and rationed food.  I found the people to be friendly, kind and eager to please.  Many were separated from their families who are now living in the Miami area.  To prosper in Cuba, one must be loyal to the Revolution and Communism.  The Church does not fit this category, but is tolerated.  I believe that most Cubans just go with the flow because not to do so might result in adverse treatment by the regime.  So pray for the church and the Cuban people that this oppression might be lifted from them.

                                                                                                  Tom Harrington

My trip was full of good experiences, but my feelings were mixed.  I was sad because the country was very poor and happy because the people are able to live normally, even under harsh economic conditions.  Every place I went, I was welcomed with a beautiful smile.  The group that I came with was friendly and like a real family to me.  I will always consider my team members like sisters and brothers.  This trip will be unforgettable for me.

                                                                                                  Mayra Movla

We had just finished praying and I stepped out onto the messy, congested street.  A little boy, with curly hair and chocolate skin, ran up to me, touched me lightly on the arm, smiled and ran away.  At that moment, I felt that my positive energy had flowed into him.  I wish I always had the power to transform lives in this way.

                                                                                                  Patricia Gregory

As a pastor and as a Christian, I was profoundly moved by the faith and the determined resolve of the Cuban Presbyterian Church.  We worshipped on a Sunday when the sanctuary was filled to capacity, but Rev. Mendez told how for many years after the Revolution it was not unusual to have only six, nine or twelve persons in worship.  At that time their prosperous surrounding neighborhood crumbled, church affiliation became a stigma and the church school closed.  Still, the church never felt abandoned by God.  The people held ever more tightly to God who held them in His love.  Today, they celebrate the fruit of those years when their faith was put to a severe test.

                                                                                                  Sam Rutland

Driving away from the church on the final morning was the most powerful moment of my experience in Havana.  The thirteen of us traveled throughout the week on a bus with no air conditioning, tight seating and poor brakes that even gave out altogether once.  But disregarding all of these setbacks, riding the bus around Havana was quite positive for me.  Looking out the window on our various journeys, I caught a glimpse into the very foreign life-style that the population of Cuba leads.  Between the dilapidated facades of the buildings, the dirty dogs roaming freely about the even dirtier streets, and the countless Communist propaganda, I found the everyday sights of Cuba more interesting than satellite television.  The final bus ride allowed me to observe this beautiful country one last time and reflect on my spiritual growth throughout this trip.

                                                                                                  Mary Johnson

This trip to Cuba was extremely special to me.  It was not like any trip I’ve ever been on.  It was much more.  A part of the week that added to my personal enjoyment was my birthday.  Being able to celebrate my birthday in a country as beautiful as Cuba was a once-in-a-life time experience and I’m blessed to have had that opportunity.  All of the people I was with, whether I’d known them for two years, three days, or not at all were extremely welcoming and happy for me.  With their warm smiles, kind hearts and generous gifts, they have all changed me and become a part of my life.  When we return to Miami, I will be a new person.  My mind and spirit have been made anew.  At the same time, my heart will always remain with those wonderful people in that beautiful country of Cuba.

                                                                                                  Rebecca Johnson

When people who are suffering exhaust all their energy, they throw everything that they have left in them into the open hands of Jesus.  I could see in the eyes of the Christians of First Havana Presbyterian Church the manifestation of a group of people who, with a loud voice, open their arms to The Lord.  We rest our case before Thee.  I am broken like the Broken Chalice.  You only, oh Lord, can make us shine brightly.

                                                                                                  Renel Noel

I have often felt, rather than sending a mission team to a third world country, it would be better to send the money it cost to get there.  My thoughts changed after visiting the Regla Baptist Church where several of our church members served on a previous mission trip three years ago.  Regla is a town across the inner harbor from Havana.  The love shown in the welcome we all received brought happy tears to my eyes and made me realize how much the personal visits mean to the people.

                                                                                                  Martha Harrington

In conclusion, our team came to Cuba at the invitation of our host, Rev. Mendez, and we grew to admire him very much.  Under his ministry, the church increased in attendance from about six persons to 450 today.  This growth took place after Rev. Mendez and other church leaders met with Fidel Castro and persuaded him to lessen discrimination towards church members.  Rev. Mendez asked us to bring back to the people of the U.S. that they are loved by the people of Cuba.  Unfortunately, the governments of the two countries do not agree.  It is our hope and prayer that this situation will change.