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BMPC MIssion Team Travels to Cuba - June 22-29, 2004
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| During the one week trip to Cuba, BMPC travelers Deedie O’Donnell, Claire Hallowell, Cassandra Giombetti, Liz Farley, Sally and Jerry Young, and Josh and Ida Rosenau had the privilege of visiting five churches in the Synod of Cuba. Two churches, Matanzas Central Presbyterian Church and Dora Valentin Memorial Church in Varadero, were in the Matanzas Presbytery. The other three – First Presbyterian of Havana, Luyano Presbyerian Church, and Guines Presbyterian Church, were in the Havana Presbytery.
Here are some friends met along the way:
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Rev. Carlos Camps (shown here with his wife) is pastor of Matanzas Central, professor in pastoral studies at Matanzas Seminary, and secretary of the Synod. He welcomed us with hospitality and enabled us to connect with his congregation through receptions and home Bible studies.
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| Delia, Mireya, Reina and Peter, and Martha all welcomed us in groups of two into their Matanzas homes for the weekly Bible study on Thursday night. Each group had a different experience, and each American was blessed with the generosity and kindness extended to include us.
Sarah and her daughter, Saralito, performed an interpretive dance as part of the greeting and hospitality given us at Cidra Presbyterian Church, the tiny rural community that Matanzas Central supports at their extended mission.
Gerardo Figuaeroa was our bus driver, tour guide, cultural expert, and all-around confidant, who took great care of us from the moment we arrived until our departure. We are grateful for his kindness and consideration for all of our needs and helping us feel as comfortable as possible.
The students at "La Castellana" school for children with Downs Syndrome impressed us with their discipline, care, achievement, and enthusiasm. They shared the handcrafts that they make to sell in the workshop and performed five dances of various cultural styles. These student are among those who stay in Varadaro through the social outreach program of the Presbyterian church .
"When I reflect on that week away I do not remember the hard "stuff." I remember the amazing generosity of the Cuban people. Their willingness to answer endless questions, share scarce food, take time from their days to visit with us and even open their homes to us. During a bible study we attended while visiting Matanzas, I made a comment about how much I was enjoying the fresh fruit (particularly the mangos!) that was typically so difficult to get at home. Clara, a quiet woman who had just been telling me about her son who had recently traveled to Paris as a member of the National Ballet, jumped up and ran across the alley to her house and brought me back three ripe mangos. I was, and still am, incredibly touched by this gesture. The Cuban people are lucky if their food rations last the month and she was giving me fruit! This gesture was the rule, not the exception," comments Cassandra Giombetti.
We are deeply grateful to BMPC for the opportunity to travel and meet many Christians in Cuba. We ask for your prayers for the work of the Presbyterian churches in Cuba. Consider whether God’s Spirit is leading you to get involved in some way with the PC/USA Cuba Connection.
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Here are our Senior and Jubilate Choirs joining with the choir of the Cathedrale in old Havana, Cuba, during Mass. The choirs visited Cuba in June, 2003.
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Senior Choir President Steve Tyre with the Rev. Dr. Héctor Méndez of the First Reformed Presbyterian Church of Havana and Dr. Méndez' daughters, Suécia (left) and Oneida. Steve, Associate Pastor Pattie Kitchen, and other BMPC members visited the church on the choir's trip to Cuba in June, 2003.
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Those who traveled to Cuba in 2003 from BMPC found Havana to be one big photo opportunity. (Notice the picture of Che Guevara on the building behind these photographers.)
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