Into the Wild

“Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.”(Isaiah 32:15)

I spent the majority of the day shadowing the enrichment group, taking in the kid’s lesson and observing how they responded to it. I was overwhelmed by the excitement and passion exuding from the leaders and the kids while in class. The enrichment class started off with a lesson on telling the truth.

A chart was drawn with a face with a smile on the right, and a frown on the left, where kids raised their hands to share positives and negatives about telling the truth. The smile face side of the chart was made to correlate with traits a superhero would possess which made it easier for the children to understand.This also encouraged them to tell the truth so that they could be more like superheroes.After the lesson on truth, the volunteer leader, Doug, came up and introduced the kids to Project Wild.

Doug tells them they will be going out “into the wild” in a few minutes, and you can feel the kids anticipation grow. He showed them photographs of cicadas and locusts and tells them to look and listen for them once they go out. After showing the kids poison ivy and teaching them the rhyme “leaves of three let it be,” they make their way out into the surrounding woods near the school. They start in a field and walk in a straight line towards the trees looking for jumping grasshoppers, locusts and other bugs. It was adorable to see the excitement as they all ran to a certain spot on the field when someone spotted a bug. Upon reaching the woods, they listened for the cicadas, and were led into a clearing in the forest where Doug showed them a squirrel’s nest. The kids’ faces lit up with excitement taking in all the sites, looking up at the upper canopy and squirrels nest, and down at the earth and various bugs. Shortly after the walk through the woods, the class was over and the group returned to the school.

The Project Wild portion of camp is going to be popular among the kids. It was extremely interactive and they adored getting outside, being able to run around. They were so interested to learn about the animals and insects in nature.

At the end of camp that day, I spoke with some kids about their day. They were very excited and couldn’t wait for the next day to come, and couldn’t stop talking about going outside! They loved being in the woods and were telling their friends various stories about the things they saw while in the wods and field. The next morning I was catching up with a couple more kids who were again gushing about Project Wild and were chanting the rhyme “leaves of three, let it be,” as they made their way to breakfast from the bus.

http://ow.ly/5I7mV

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Cuba Team June 1 Post 2

Today is our last day in Cuba. This morning we visited the United Methodist seminary and the church that is attached to it. There are around 55 students who will be graduating this year from seminary with another large class right behind them. The students come to classes for a month at a time, they live in dorms, share meals and take classes together. After the month they all return to their churches, where they are full pastors, and work until it is time for another class. The professors we met are excited to be teaching these students and see great hope for the church of Cuba as more and more pastors are being equipped for ministry.
The students are blessed with a small computer lab and library but the selection of books is quite low and the computers do not always work. In addition they are always working with the water filtration system so that students can remain healthy while in session. It is an interesting contrast in abundance of spirit and scarcity of things.
We were able to speak with the pastor of the church and were once again amazed at the stories he related. Last Saturday in worship there was in attendance a person who had been paralyzed since birth. During the service, when the pastor had asked for anyone who wanted to be touched by the Holy Spirit to come forward, this person raised his hand. The pastor came to him, reached out his hand and prayed for healing. I asked the pastor what he was feeling and thinking and he said, “I just asked God what he wanted me to do and he said, hold out your hand and tell him to stand up. So I did.” The man stood up and walked and is still walking today. We are hearing all sorts of stories like this here in Cuba. It gives all of us much to think about and ponder over. It is as if we are living in the first century church and we are constantly amazed at the signs and wonders we are witnessing.
After the seminary we visited the Old Folks Home for United Methodists. This is a home that is completely reliant on charity for all of it’s funding. The home is lovely and full of delightful older people who are grateful for a place to live and especially for the family of the church. A woman named Jilma asked us to be sure and tell our friends to pray for them. She is missing her sister who moved to the US 25 years ago and who she has not heard from for three years.
Our day ended in downtown Havana where we observed the ritual firing of the cannon over the harbor which has been happening for over 500 years. It was an interesting ending to the day and captured the great dichotomy between the vitality of the church and the pomp of the government presence in Cuba.
We are looking forward to returning home but of course we are filled with sadness at leaving our new friends here in Cuba.

Cuba Team June 1 Post 1

Today is Sunday here in Pilon. Sunday means quite a bit of church attendance here in Cuba. This morning I was given the honor of teaching the adults of the church (about 40). Needless to say I was a bit nervous. Of course the Holy Spirit was alive and the lesson went well. We then all gathered together for worship. I’m sure as others have explained – worship here is alive, loud, and spirited. What a way to start your day.

Having been here a week working, eating, being served and serving these people are truly our family. Brothers and sisters. How quickly and deeply we have bonded and tomorrow we leave. At the evening worship Barbara preached. Pastor Alcibiades convinced her to preach a second Sunday and basked in the “time off” grinning like the Cheshire Cat. The congregation responded so heartily to Barbara’s message as it was translated as fast as our coordinator Alba could speak. Near the end of the service we were prayed for as a team. Surrounded by the congregation, hands laid on us by the pastor, prayers came streaming forth from not only the Pastor, but the people surrounding us as well. The experience was intense and hard to fully impart the feeling of love, connectedness, and power of the Spirit moving around us. Gloria Dios, Bendiciones, Te Bendiga, Spiritu Sanctu, just a few of the words to be heard in the circle of escalating voices swirling around us.

The day was incredible and caps a week here in Pilon. I will miss my new family. Warm faces everyday, smiles, hard work, spontaneous praise songs from Joel and Alexis. They are honest, and humble with integrity and a consistent recognition of God in the center of everything they and we do. It is easy to come here and see the lack of what we have in the U.S. but to realize that they lack nothing from God. I’m trying to internalize a great irony; the freedom that they actually have in Christ and my bondage to my northern VA way of life. If I carry a fraction of their trust and faith what a blessing that will be.

Cuba Team May 28

I had the privilege to help in the kitchen. The ladies were very organized. They made huge meals. Working in very small kitchen everyone had an assigned task so it made the work flow very smooth. I also helped with the laundry. There is a small washer in the kitchen so it took hours to do laundry for ten people the clothes were hung on the clothes line to dry just like in the olden days. It was a joy to work with the ladies it allowed me to get to know them a little bit better.

Cuba Team May 27

Hace muy calor! Today we are mixing concrete, by hand, for the laying of tile around the church. Joel, the foreman, and Luis make it look like children playing in the sandbox but when we try to do it we realize it is hard, heavy and hot work.
The other night we were able to go to a mission church here in Pilon. A mission church is similar like a satellite church in the United States. The church was started by some members of Casa de Dios in another location in Pilon and is pastored by a man and his wife who started here are members at Casa de Dios. We were taken to the service by Manuel who drove our bus through the dark town, narrowly missing people on bicycles and dodging the deep, deep ruts in the road. The congregation, of about 35 were praising God with music and dancing when we arrived. We were greeted at the door by a young boy who completely understands the concept of radical hospitality. We were ushered into a very small room on the side of a house and given the seats of honor near the front. When the praise music stopped the pastor welcomed Pastor Alcebiades and he introduced each of us. After preaching, prayer and more music we were each given a gift made by a member and taken outside to enjoy cafe under the stars.
As I mingled with the congregation and enjoyed the fellowship of these warm, spiritual people I was struck by the depth of trust in the Holy Spirit they exude. Many of the people do not have enough to eat, because they are United Methodists they are often singled out for harassment by the local party members, and yet they eagerly gather to worship God. They use speakers to blast the music and speaking out into the streets and they enter into praise with all of their being. There was a CD playing as we were enjoying each other and the words brought tears to my eyes,
“Greater things are yet to come and greater things are still to be done in this city.” I have no doubt that this congregation with the leadership of this humble pastor and his wife can accomplish great things for Christ.

Cuba Team May 24- Post 2

On Sunday we attended a church service at Casa de Dios in Pilon. It was very different from the church services we have in the United States, but it was also a refreshing experience. In the service, the children did dances and were active throughout the service which was fun to see because they were so lively. The whole congregation was so involved in the service and would shout, clap, and dance. I can’t begin to explain how amazing it was to see, how filled all of these people were with the Holy Spirit. When the band was singing, the whole congregation was either dancing or clapping and singing along with the words. It was a bit overwhelming to see how they worshiped, but it also made me wish that our churches back home were as active and lively as is Casa de Dios. I think that it is also great that time is not an issue for them when they are worshiping. I feel that in the United States we are so engrossed in our schedules that we need our services to be an hour and no longer, but here they will worship for hours and not care. Towards the end of the service, Alcibiades (the pastor) asked the people if they wanted to go home or if they wanted to keep worshiping. That was so amazing to hear because it really shows that they will give up their schedules to continue to worship. It was also very interesting to see people fainting and shaking because they are so taken by the Spirit. At the end of the service when the band was singing the last song, so many of the people were dancing and spinning in circles and it was so evident that they live their lives for God and giving everything they have to Him. It is very hard to describe how much of the Holy Spirit these people have here and trying to describe it does not even come close to giving them justice. It is such an eye opening experience to see these people and I can only hope that I will be able to take away an ounce of the faith that they have here.

Cuba Team May 24- Post 1

Today we traveled to Pilon from Camp Canaan. After our delicious breakfast of fried Spam sandwiches and fruit we were on the bus. We were excited for our planned stop along the way. After 6 hours of driving, Manuel, our bus driver, made a few turns on some dirt roads and then pulled to a stop across the street from a structure with a solid foundation, windows and a roof on the front of the building. Aldo stood up and announced, “There it is!” We were looking at the Methodist Church being built with funds that Floris UMC had donated a few years ago as part of the Christmas Eve offering.

We piled out of the bus and went to greet Blanca, the pastor of this church, who was eagerly awaiting our arrival. She was extremely gracious and kissed each one of us as if she had known us for years. Her smile was contagious and I instantly felt like a part of her family as we explored the church while the men continued to work around us. They have made great progress since razing the original structure and in our minds we can imagine the great celebration that will be held when the final touches of the church are complete. For now, Blanca holds services for the people near the structure under the stars, giving thanks to God for all things. What a blessing it will be to worship in the building. While Blanca wants us to return next year to celebrate its completion, we know it is unlikely that most of us will be able to be present. What we will know, however, is that because we are united in Christ, we can share in the celebration no matter where we are. We can stand anywhere and know in our hearts the joyful celebration to the Lord that will take place on that day.

The people of Blanca’s congregation had been preparing for our arrival as well. We drove a few miles to a home where Blanca’s mom and other women had been preparing a love offering for us:the meal of the century! We ate and laughed together and enjoyed our visit so much. I felt truly a part of a larger community visiting our Cuban brothers and sisters. We did our best to communicate in our cryptic Spanish, longing to knock down any boundaries that would keep us from loving one another. As we prepared to leave to continue our journey to Pilon on the bus, I felt a longing to stay longer. Blanca’s joy and grace was contagious and I wanted to stay and experience more of it. One of our team members captured her spirit perfectly when he remarked later that “love was just pouring out of her eyes”. Reluctantly we prepared to go. We made a joyful commotion as we left, hugging, kissing and taking pictures of each other as one would do at a family reunion. So much love and laughter between us; strangers just a few hours before. I felt truly blessed to be there and will remember that day for a long time.

Cuba Team May 22- Post 2

The flight to Cuba from Miami went very well. Any apprehension was probably due to me wondering how the Cuban officials would react to Aldo, since he was now a US citizen but Cuba does not recognize the citizenship. This was my fear, not Aldo’s, as he has traveled in and out of Cuba many times. When we got out of the plane, we were directed to a Cuban Customs booth where an attractive young woman who was refusing to smile, took my passport, wrote down several things, and returned it to me saying “welcome.” A door lock buzzed and I stepped out into a larger area where lines were forming to go through what we think of security. An official who seemed to be ushering others to security lines looked at me, approached, and asked for my passport. I did not see him do this to anyone else. He politely asked that I wait where I stood. He then took the passport and disappeared. Aldo had arrived by this time from his check-in with Cuban Customs. The official who took my passport returned and talked with Aldo, taking his passport. Aldo was told he would be “interviewed” shortly. This had not happened to him before, in all the trips he had made previously to Cuba. Well, what did this all mean; was I causing a problem for the group? While I really not frightened, I was experiencing something that I would soon learn was just commonplace for Cubans — do what you’re told, you have no control over your life. All ended fine, my passport was politely returned, and Aldo’s “interview” went well.

We then met Alma and Manuel, two staff members from the United Methodist church in Havana, who would be with us for the remainder of our time in Cuba. Manuel drove us from the airport, into Havana. We stepped off the church’s bus and I saw it: IGLESIA METODISTA en CUBA OFICINA NACIONAL. We were at the Methodist church; the flame and cross was right before me; and I had a feeling of safety and peace, as I stepped through those doors. What I was soon to realize, again and again, was that the flame and cross is before me. And, what I will learn, again and again, is that the flame of the Holy Spirit is so alive in Cuba. The young Christians are raising their hands, saying “Here I am, Lord.” They are full of joy; they are so welcoming of us; they are so welcoming of each other. They are full of the Spirit and they want to share it.

Aldo told me that Cuba is like the 1st Century church. I am learning what this means, where the Spirit of God is in control and is accepted only with joy and without compromise, without apologies. As Barbara said to me, we are in the church described in Acts 2. We are seeing how early Christians can support each other, can meet in each other’s homes until churches can be built, and how existing churches like FUMC can help fledgling churches grow and mature into Christ’s Church. Oh, I am so blessed.

Cuba Team May 22- Post 1

On Friday, we went to visit Aldo’s friend, Alejo. He shared an incredible story and testimonial. Alejo told us he once had a lot of material riches. The people of the village called him “the millionaire.” He did not feel very rich or fulfilled in his life. He was very depressed. One night he went into the bathroom and cried. Instead of taking his life, he felt the Holy Spirit take over. Once Alejo accepted Jesus Christ as his savior, he said everything changed for him. While Alejo lost all his money which would allow him many luxuries, he now felt very fulfilled. Alejo had more joy now than he did when he had all the material things. Through accepting Jesus and listening to him, Alejo became an instrument of God.

One of these ways was through music. Alejo learned to play an accordion on his own to share Christian music in worship. Alejo noted he listens to God and confirms what is being asked of him by several nudges. He shared a story of how he was nudged by God recently. The doctor sent him to the hospital for his diabetes. While in the hospital sleeping, God spoke to him to visit his friend in the I.C.U. He questioned this request but again felt the nudge. So he went down to the I.C.U and asked to see his friend. The nurse said he could not visit him. Alejo persisted. After several attempts, Alejo finally was able to visit his friend. His friend was not Christian. He prayed with his friend and asked him if he wanted to be saved. His friend said, “yes.” In that moment, his friend accepted Jesus Christ.

Just sitting there and listening to the stories Alejo shared, you could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. The joy and positive energy was so powerful. While Alejo is now a Christian, he shared he still struggles with daily trials but trusting in God and having faith will get him through.

This is one of many stories that will be shared on this mission trip about the people and the power of the Holy Spirit living in them.