Cuba Perspectives - Central Florida Presbytery

Cuba Perspectives
November 2015
Taking Our Cue from Baby Goats
The babies were just hours old,
still trying to figure out where to get
milk from mom and what to do with
those spindly, uncertain legs.
Watching a mother goat clean her
new kids on a patch of grass at a
camp in the process of being rejuvenated seemed an appropriate beginning to our journey in Cuba.
Twenty-seven of us from churches
across Central Florida Presbytery
landed in Santa Clara Nov. 11 to begin
building relationships with our sister
churches in El Centro Presbytery in
Cuba. It was a time marked with firsts
in a landscape filled with reminders of
what had been, and hope of what yet
could be. But, just like those baby
goats, we would all have to be open
to learn, to explore, and probably
stumble along the way.
“I hope we can leave with good
feelings on both sides,” said Joe Vis-
conti from Lake Square Presbyterian.
“I’m hoping we can figure out how to
help in a meaningful way.”
Though the Presbyterian Church
USA and the Presbyterian Reformed
Church of Cuba have had ties dating
back more than a century, the current
political climate has both sides seeking to strengthen relationships. So
far, most of the partnerships have
been with churches in Havana or Matanzas. For El Centro Presbytery, our
group was the largest to ever visit at
one time.
“It’s very exciting for us,” said
Marlon Irrarragorri, moderator of El
Centro Presbytery. “It is an opportunity for more of our churches to share
our faith.”
El Centro Presbytery is comprised
of 13 churches in the Villa Clara and
Sancti Spiritus provinces. Before the
revolution, the Presbytery of Cuba
had 3,400 members in 34 congregations. Under Fidel Castro’s communist government, church facilities
were confiscated and members left,
fearing reprisal. As a result, membership dropped to just under 1,300 by
1979.
In the early 1990s, after meetings
with some 75 Protestant leaders, Castro declared on national television
that religious organizations provided
important services and should be respected. Soon after, laws were
changed, turning Cuba from an atheist state to a secular one.
Today, membership in churches in
El Centro Presbytery have anywhere
from a few dozen to around 100
members, with more attending regularly. Many of the churches are located in smaller, rural towns, and all
have outreach efforts to serve their
communities.
As Presbyterians and Christians,
our goal in Cuba, according to Hunter
Continued on Page 2
In Placetas, a New Church Rises on Faith
In a small dining room,
more than a dozen faithful
are gathered for their weekly prayer meeting. They sit
elbow to elbow, at points
two deep, around the table
as the leader reads a poem
about a bridge of love.
Across the street, a halfdozen men maneuver 30
feet up framing the roof of
what will be the new Presbyterian Church there. But
the work happening here
could not have happened
without the faith building
that occurs almost daily
back across the street in the
home that currently houses
the church.
For the Presbyterian
Church in Placetas, a church
founded more than 100
years ago, completion of the
new building will be a telling
testimony to their trust that
all is possible with God.
“When we started con-
rial is available, but we don’t
have money.”
In the meantime, church
members scramble to find
space for all of the activities
of a congregation numbering around 60.
Leaders believe the new
building will allow their
church to reach new levels
of community involvement.
“Even though we are
one of the oldest churches
in the zone, we’ve never
struction, we didn’t have
above the street.
had a real church with room
any promises for funding,”
Funding from some US
for a lot of people,” Conexplains Consuela, an elder churches has helped, but
suela said. “Many people
whose grandfather was one more is needed. Members
tell us that as soon as it is
of the original members.
would like to have the builddone, they’ll be here.”
“We call it a project of
ing finished in about a year,
faith.”
but projecting a timetable
One day as we walked
The plans are impresand cost is difficult.
outside the building, a man
sive: a new sanctuary able
“Sometimes we have
from the town approached
to hold about 200 believers money, but we don’t have
us. When we asked him
for worship, space for five
materials,” said Reile Ruiz, a what he thought about this
Sunday school classes, a
seminary student acting as new building, he said, “It
kitchen and fellowship area, the church’s lay pastor.
will be a good thing. I will
and a bell tower rising high “And other times, the mate- come when it is finished.”
Baby Goats
From Page 1
Farrell, Director of World Mission for PC (USA), is to find
ways to help strengthen the
church in Cuba so that it can be
voice of reconciliation, change
and hope for the Cuban people.
At the same time, we
learned quickly, we should be
inspired and strengthened by a
faith that kept the church in
Cuba alive for decades.
“You couldn’t meet another Christian family that could
be more caring,” said Jean
Breisch from Lake Square Presbyterian. “They make me feel
humble.”
Plans for the new Presbyterian Church in Placetas, Cuba
2
A Chicken Man and the Hen
Cuba Has Its Share of Colorful Characters
The group of six Americans is
pretty hard to miss. The inquisitive
glances, English chatter and cameras
are dead giveaways.
On a crowded street in Calabazar
where individuals are taking full advantage of an open black-market, a
man selling vegetables calls out asking
us to take his picture.
Another older lady tags along, calling us chickens. When asked why, she
tells us it’s OK because she is an old
hen. Up the street, a beer truck is
parked outside the Catholic Church
selling watered down glasses of beer
for a couple of pesos.
And in Trinidad, a man sits on his
stoop with a chicken nestled comfortably in the hat atop his head. Nearby,
street musicians serenade the tourists
taking it all in, while street vendors
battle for business.
Perhaps the most fitting word for
Cuba is character. It is a country filled
with colorful individuals, beautiful mosaics and murals on the walls of buildings neglected for decades, and, of
course, the classic old cars that are
somewhat iconic in the country.
It’s an odd mix of images that is
both intriguing and sad. At times, it
can feel like you’ve been transported
back in time. Yet, go to one of the
country’s few wifi hotspots, and it will
be packed with people using their
smart phones to access the internet.
In the small towns, people still sit
on their porches and invite strangers
into a house that is home to three or
four generations of that family. There
is a trust and a familiarity that is hard
to find in the United States these days.
But in Cuba, there are also so
many reminders of what has been lost
— or left behind.
Almost every home we visited had
ornate tile floors, but many of those
same houses had ill-fitting doors or
deteriorated wood windows.
Near the central square in Placetas sits a large, building with decorative concrete columns and a coat of
arms above the doorway. It once
housed a bustling casino run by a
Spanish immigrant. Now, it sits empty, leaving us to only imagine what a
Friday night might have been like in
that square before the Revolution.
And while those old cars can be
found in almost every town, most people travel more often by horse-drawn
carriage or bicycle.
The normalization of relations
with the United States promises to
bring rapid changes. Some told us
they are looking forward to the changes, but there is also concern about its
impact.
Cuba is proud of its culture. Our
hosts are proud of their faith, their
love for one another, and their ability
to maintain and grow the church
through hostile times.
The political changes might make
it easier to obtain materials and resources in the future, but the changes
must be balanced with preservation.
“Through your visit, we have an
opportunity to see ourselves from a
different perspective,” said Marlon
Irrarragorri, moderator of El Centro
Presbytery. “What we’ve learned is
that we have a treasure here in Cuba.”
3
Decades of Heartbreak Define “Relationship”
an told us at a prayer meeting. When
the group of 20 or so adults was asked
how many of them had relatives in the
United States, almost all of them
Her striking blue-green eyes capraised their hands.
ture your attention in an instant. It
Jesus, a recent seminary graduate
doesn’t take much longer for her
who will soon accept a call within El
beautiful, innocent smile to grab your
Centro Presbytery, has a father in Caliheart. Then you hear her story and
fornia he hasn’t seen in more than 20
your heart shatters.
years. And half-sibling he has never
For three months, this 6-year-old
met. He told us he hopes to try to visit
girl and her 9-year-old sister have
the United States next year to see his
lived with their great aunt while their
father.
mother and father attempt to reach
“I have to see him,” he said with
the United States in search of a new
sorrow and determination in his eyes.
life. No one knows when – or if – they
For the families of El Centro Preswill succeed and be reunited.
bytery who have been torn apart by a
The aunt reassures us that they
50-year-old political conflict, the idea
are able to talk to their parents almost
of relationship takes on a particular
every day. But how desperate must
responsibility. When people leave,
they be to leave these precious chilfaces light up as they tell us of a sister, they may not be able – or want -- to
dren?
brother, child or grandchild that lives come back, they’ve learned.
Across Cuba and in the churches
in Tampa, or Miami or Jacksonville.
For these families, it’s important
of El Centro Presbytery, it is a familiar
“We are so glad you are here be- to be able to believe that someone
story. “Where are you from?” we are cause it helps us to feel closer to our
will come back, because there have
asked. As we reply, “Florida,” their
family in the United States,” one wom- been too many goodbyes.
Separated Families
Welcome Connections
Cuban Youth Fueling Hope
For Church’s Bright Future
Youth in Calabazar perform traditional
Cuban dance during community event.
Gracefully, she moves from one
person to another, passing along her
spirit with a light touch on the shoulder. Each responds by passing along
their own act of love to a neighbor:
handing a cane to a blind person, placing a shawl around the shoulders of a
neighbor, and sharing a burden of another.
The dance by the youth at Calabazar told a beautiful story of the
love that comes from the Holy Spirit,
and across Cuba, the youth are taking
a lead in spreading that love to their
communities.
In Remedios, the youth decided
they wanted to start a mission for
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some people who live several kilometers from the church. The youth
found the location, developed fliers to
advertise the service, invited guests,
and planned and led worship.
These types of missions are important to that church because their
home sanctuary is unusable.
“One of the youth told me, ‘We
are the temple, not the building,’” recalled Suzi Marshall who visited Remedios. “I was blown away.”
In Caibarien, Pastor Edilberto Valdes is chased down the street by
youth eager to come to church.
“We called him the Pied Piper,”
Continued on Page 6
Opening Their Doors for a U.S. Invasion
Passengers clapped
when the plane touched
down in Cuba on November
11. Many of them were
celebrating a chance to see
loved ones. Our group of 27
Americans, decked out in
matching mint-colored
camp shirts, was excited
about embarking on an adventure.
For the pastors and elders of El Centro Presbytery,
the moment marked the
start to the biggest American invasion their churches
had ever experienced, and it
presented a daunting logistical challenge. Not only did
they have to figure out how
to house and feed us, they
had to plan our transportation between churches during our stay.
But to a person, our
group could not have been
more impressed with the
hospitality everywhere we
went.
In both Placetas and
Calabazar, members of the
church seemed to spend all
day in the kitchen preparing
our meals. They picked
through rice, boiled and
morning, and members of
the congregation enthusiastically turned out in the
pouring rain.
Throughout the week
we were treated to special
events that featured live
music and dance by members of the church or the
community. In Calabazar,
the youth presented a traditional Cuban dance, and a
cowboy sang for us. In Plashredded meat, picked and fresh sheets and pillows,
cetas, Consuela’s daughter
cut fresh fruit, and prepared and we were told repeatedand son-in-law performed
yucca or plantain — all of
ly to make ourselves at
after a dinner served by
this in kitchens not well
home in their home.
their youth. And in Sancti
equipped and certainly not
Spiritus, two different live
“I have never felt so
spacious.
bands performed as our
loved and cared for,” said
Breakfasts usually inCindy Britt from First Pres- group relaxed, danced and
cluded eggs, bread and
byterian in Deland, who was visited with new friends.
fruit. Lunch and dinner in- one of the few members of
“The hospitality was
cluded chicken or pork,
our group who visited
overwhelming,” Pastor
soup, rice and beans, fruit
churches alone. “They
Laura Viau said during a
and dessert. We even had treated me like I was part of
meeting the El Centro PresGuava ice cream one night. the family.”
bytery Council. “Thank you
All meals were presentOur hosts even rearfor your patience.
ed beautifully and were
ranged their church sched“You opened your doors
served on china plates.
ules to allow us to particiand hearts to us – not just
Afterward, we had to beg
pate in their mid-week acyour joys, but also your
for an opportunity to help
tivities as much as possible. pain. The joy I can see
clean up or do dishes.
At Calabazar, Sunday worcomes from your ability to
Our rooms were comship was changed from Sun- see what is not yet and your
fortable and clean, with
day evening to Sunday
trust in God. It’s beautiful.”
5
Cuba Partnership Will
Have a Different Look
A chest freezer to store food that
is supplied for the community feeding
program. Supplies of over-thecounter medication to supplement
what is available in their communities.
Yarn to support a sewing ministry to
help support the church, or crayons to
use in Sunday school.
Money to rebuild or rehabilitate
sanctuaries that are no longer safe to
use for worship.
Cuba Trip
Participants
From POPC:
 Pastor Calvin Gittner
 Lee Gittner
 Gary Meredith
 Carolyn Fitzwilliam
From Christ Presbyterian Church
in Ormond Beach:


Bill Harrington
Roy Bertolet
There is no doubt about the needs
among the churches of El Centro Presbytery in Cuba, and there is no doubt
that the churches of Central Florida
Presbytery could provide resources to
meet those material needs.
But the leaders in both presbyteries have said the goal of partnerships
between the churches has to go beyond a supply of goods, or a sevenday trip to build something. It has to
be about relationship building and
helping the church in both countries
become stronger.
Over the next several months,
leaders in Cuba and in the United
States will be prayerfully considering
what such a partnership would involve and how to move forward.
There are obstacles to navigate,
such as an inability to easily communicate, and restrictions on sending supplies or money from the United
States. Our congregations must feel
called to engage and participate, and
we must spell out in clear terms the
expectations of each church.
We learned that some churches in
the United States and elsewhere have
simply sent things to the churches in
El Centro Presbytery without ever visiting or taking time to really learn
about the Cuban congregations they
are trying to help.
Central Florida Presbytery has
vowed to not make the same mistake.
Among potential projects is a oneon-one partnership between pastors
so that both people have a safe outlet
to discuss the issues weighing on
their hearts.
Another suggestion involved
bringing youth together from both
Presbyteries for a retreat away from
their home churches.
Additionally, there may be opportunities for skilled leaders and tradesmen from the United States to participate in leadership development and
skills training at a partner church.
With God’s help, our leaders and
congregations will discover opportunities for all of us to learn, grow and
strengthen our churches.
numbers of young children are growing. Like US churches, they struggle to
keep young adults who often leave to
go to university or find employment
elsewhere.
As we asked representatives from
El Centro Presbytery to share their
secret of motivating youth, we were
told it comes from empowerment.
“It’s important to give them
space,” said Reile Ruiz, a lay pastor at
Placetas. At his church, there is an
attempt to allow the youth to take
some control over planning their worship and activities. And the adults
provide a safe place to educate and
support them in facing many of the
same issues teen-agers in the United
States face.
“Many of the youth who come,
their parents do not belong to any
church,” she said. “We don’t overpreach to them. We let them grow
into their faith. We want to keep
them active and let them come and
see what it is all about.”
Cuban Youth
Continued from page 4
Becky Bros of North Lake Presbyterian
told us after her visit there. “They
love him.”
Church life across El Centro Presbytery is very active, with programs
for children, youth, adults and seniors
held almost daily. Many of the
churches offer feeding programs and
laundry service for people in the community, whether they are members of
the church or not.
And while most of the churches
still have older congregations, the
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