Mission veterans begin to expect that some challenge will usually arise at somepoint on your journey.
We enjoyed an uneventful day onroute to Havana. Even got to maintain a long-standing (for some) tradition of eating at a TGI Fridays in some unexpected country - in this case Cancun.
After deplaning in Havana, the thought actually crossed my mind, "we haven't had anything go wrong yet - I wonder when that's gonna happen...?" Little did I know...
An hour and a half later, we finally were allowed to exit the customs area (this was after midnight) - a security guy had started asking one of our guys why we were here and suddenly the whole group was pulled aside while they tried to determine if our $15 tourist visa we had purchased in Cancun needed to be changed. For a price of course.
In the end we were allowed to proceed. "And they went on their way rejoicing that they were considered worthy to suffer being 'kontrolled' for Christ..." Got to bed after 1am.
Slept a fitful night that first night - too hard a bed and not the right pillow. But nothing to complain about.
So many familiar "mission" things here. Toilet paper isn't what we're used to. No washcloths. Food and language leave you feeling stressed and inadequate. But nothing to complain about.
Some unfamiliar things here. Lots of dogs and bikes and horse-drawn taxis on the streets. People hanging out everywhere. Not the kind of blank hopelessness you see on many faces in countries like this.
Our first day began at 6am. Took a 3-hr van ride with Manny and his aide to a church of some 100 people. They are crushing rocks to make their own bricks as they build the still-hulkish church building one brick at a time. Saw eight people baptized - old and young alike. God is at work here.
The plan is to visit two churches each day - we'll each have the chance to speak or share our testimony. Present the Gospel. Then come the baptisms. So many coming to Christ.
Manny has some 400 workers - the few we've met so far are quite sharp. They are supported on $25/mo. We're all talking about how easy it would be for one of our families to come up with that. Manny could add 30 new workers today if he had the funds. Each worker commits to planting 3 churches.
It is truly a privilege and a blessing to get to connect with Manny and the work here.
We covet and appreciate your prayers. We also miss our families... :)
About Me
- cslipp
- The Apostle Paul said that for him, "To live is Christ." He was obsessed with Jesus. To be obsessed means that our mind is filled and we are preoccupied continually, intrusively, and to a troubling extent. If to be living is Christ, then Christ is indeed an all-consuming obsession. Paul was an Obsessive.
3 comments:
Very cool... Thanks for the updates. I am praying everyday for the whole team. Great to know God is moving in Cuba.
how awesome to hear of God's work there before you arrived and what you have the opportunity to observe and enter into! may this experience go deep into each of your spirits and produce much fruit this week and later. no telling what all the Lord is doing as you all pray while you travel from church to church or when you are hearing a sermon but not understanding it.
thanks for keeping us posted, Chris! it's cool to hear God is doing big things there in Cuba. we can't wait to hear all about it when you get home. we are praying for you brother.
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