ARMF Travels to Havana Cuba

After spending a few days with our family in Matanzas, we left for Havana to conclude our travels. Arriving in Havana on Thursday afternoon, we had a day off to unwind a bit and relax as we toured Old Havana. 

Saturday morning, we headed to the Comenius center for a facility update on the home that was purchased by ZZg (A Moravian mission group in The Netherlands) and refurbished that serves as a youth center in a very poor area of Havana.  It serves the children and families with an after-school meeting place for Christian education and worship.  The church and the foundation have supplied countless amounts of food, clothing, games, education material and many other items to support this initiative.

With the resources provided by our donor’s, ARMF has provided the funds to renovate this center to the point that it is the crown jewel of the neighborhood.  Whenever someone is in the center, the children flock to it for positive interaction.  With our donations, they have purchased, chairs, fan’s, a refrigerator, and now they have installed one of our large clean filtered water systems.  They have built a secure room to house the system and when completed will be available to the neighborhood.
 
As we took the tour around the facility, the church pointed out several areas of need that they will be asking to be addressed.  With the addition of the water system, they need to add steps to the roof where the tanks will be, the facility needs to be repainted, the window’s at the center and the front door need to be reinforced for security and some ventilation within the center needs to be addressed. To address the facility needs for security they have estimated a cost of $100 USD.  We are still waiting on an estimate to address all the new construction needs but based on the costs of previous similar construction, we would estimate the request will probably be $1,000 USD or less.

After our discussion about construction needs to support the water system, we visited with Tania Sanchez the President of the Moravian church to discuss further utilization of the Comenius center.  She advised us that the church has a vision to create a daycare for the neighborhood, patterned after the Guantanamo daycare centers to we visited and reviewed with you in an earlier update.  The founder of the Guantanamo daycare has committed to stay with Tania for 2 months to help organize and set up the daycare at Comenius.  During the discussion we identified numerous needs that the Comenius center will have to address to make this daycare dream a reality.

1. Microwave Oven
2. A  small stove
3. TV
4. 30 Cots
5. 6 tables and chairs
6. Washer Dryer
7. Blender
8. Exhaust fan, possibly an air conditioning unit
9. Games
10. Christian Education materials
11. First aid kits

I am sure these needs / requests will grow, but this would be our initial list that will have to be addressed.  This is certainly a large project undertaking, but the very reason this home was purchased in this neighborhood was the large number of families in that area who are dealing with single parent homes, physical abuse, alcoholism, and drugs. The need to serve the children is huge and one that is certainly in keeping with God’s message to all of us.  Serve all those in need. 
On Sunday we worshiped at the headquarter church in Havana.  It was so good to see so many old friends at the service.  As is their custom, many of the women and children took part in the service. What a glorious way to finish off almost two weeks of travel. 

Over two weeks, we worshiped and had fellowship with almost all our churches.  We caught up on all the projects ongoing to help make the Moravian church in Cuba become self sustaining.  We saw farm projects, water systems, daycares, we heard ideas and plans by each of the churches as to what they can do in their community to both support their community and grow the church.  It was very clear to us that in every case, the church leaders are all dedicated to growing the church and serving those in need. They are not looking for the foundation or other outsiders to do the work, rather they need the resources and guidance.  Once they have vetted an idea, or identified a need, and the resources are made available, they expect us to step aside and let them work.  AS we previously stated, the sweat equity that they provide makes a well balance team between our two groups.  They are extremely proud people and are truly thankful for all of you who have shared your good fortune and expertise with them to provide an environment that allows them to serve the Lord among their neighborhoods and across the island of Cuba.

I hope after reading these updates of our most recent travels across Cuba, you have a clear understanding of what is going on with the Moravian church in Cuba, and how your donations are clearly making a difference in the lives of thousands of needy people. 

If you have read about an activity or need going on in Cuba that you feel moved to support, please touch base with the foundation and we will be glad to discuss your thoughts in detail.  You have all been very generous and I think you will agree, the Cubans we are supporting are wonderful stewards of your donations.
 
GOD IS WORKING IN CUBA!!!!!!!!!

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WELL, IT’S BEEN A REWARDING 13 DAYS SINCE WE FLEW INTO HOLGUIN ON THE NORTH EASTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY.  WE TRAVELED SOME 1,500 KILOMETERS (930 MILES).  EACH TIME WE VISIT WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CUBA WE COME BACK WITH MANY FOND MEMORIES.  THE RELATIONSHIPS BUILT IS BEYOND ANY WORDS COULD EXPRESS.  

MANY THANKS TO ALL OUR DONORS, WHO WITHOUT YOU SO MUCH WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN POSSIBLE.  

IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY:  PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CUBA AS THEY DO FOR US. 
  
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK BRUCE LEDWITH FOR SPENDING MANY HOURS PUTTING TOGETHER THESE REPORTS.  THE TEAM MEMBERS WERE BOARD MEMBERS, BRUCE LEDWITH, EVON CROOKS, TOMMY COLE, JUSTIN RABBACH, BRAD PITTS, MONTY LONG, RON VOGLER AND JOE JARVIS.  ALSO TRAVELING WITH US WAS BILL BYRD AND FRANK CHITTY.
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AGAIN THANK YOU, THANKS YOU, THANK YOU.

​ARMF
APRIL 24-MAY 6TH, 2019
Jaguey Grande & Matanzas Province Church & Projects
Province of Matanzas and the town of Jaguey Grande
After a great day at the farm in Santayana, we packed up and climbed back on our bus and traveled another 5 hours east to the province of Matanzas and the town of Jaguey Grande.
Jaguey is the home of the largest Moravian church on the island and one of the most active.  Arriving later in the afternoon we had dinner at the pastor’s house (Obed and Alay Martinez, both ordained Moravian Pastors) and then prepared for worship celebrating the 11th anniversary of the Moravian church in Jaguey.
 The service drew about 150 people and consistent with our churches in Cuba, the service was led by many of the women and children.  At youth camp last summer, Joe Jarvis introduced the concept of a candlelight and love feast service, the church in Jaguey has readily incorporated that service into their services.  During our service in Jaguey, the love feast candles were passed out and additional candles were used to have a beautiful celebration of love and adoration of the churches 11-year journey with the Moravian church.  We were so blessed to see the dedication the church in Jaguey serves our Lord.
After church the 10 of us from ARMF were split up among the church members and spent the night with our Cuban hosts and dear friends.  While the team from ARMF speaks very little if any Spanish, (except for Justin Rabbach) and our host families speak little or no English, these overnight stays are always a highlight of our trip.  There is a lot of sign language, Pictionary, sharing photos of families but there is the love from God that allows us to communicate with each other.  To a person, those of us going through that experience will tell you that staying with the church families is the most rewarding time of the trip.  We stay up for hours laughing and bonding with our brothers and sisters and at the end of the day we feel a special bond with them.
The next morning Obed and Alay again hosted breakfast and then we met with the church leadership team who provided us detailed reports in each area of the church’s ministry.  This session alone lasted several hours.
Besides the main church in Jaguey, they have church homes in Bolondron, Agramonte, Quemado Grande, and their newest congregation in Santa Clara.  The province is led by Obed Martinez and his wife Alay.  Both are ordained pastors in the Moravian Church.  Alay is also a trained psychologist and is the Secretary for the National Cuban Council of Churches.
The major focus of the church in Jaguey falls into several areas.  Christian Education, Mercy, Visitation and Evangelism.  The embargo with the United States as well as their own government’s socialistic ways has caused severe problems throughout the country and as you have seen in our reports they have nowhere to turn.  That is why their focus on mercy is so prevalent in Jaguey’s ministry.
They have teamed up with the Catholic and Pentecostal church leaders in Jaguey to form a support team that meets every week to discuss needs in the Matanzas province. In the past year they have supported 42 families with psychological, alcoholic, spousal abuse, depression, domestic violence, child abuse problems.  They provide council, day care, food, and various other services to those families in need. The Moravian church in Jaguey started this ministry.
The church is still involved with their ministry to the local hospital for the highly mentally impaired which ARMF and you have supported over the years.
Besides the main church homes that I discussed earlier, the church in Jaguey has also set up 4 prayer groups led by the elders in the church that go out and minister to the shut ins and disabled that cannot get to one of the church homes.  The church in Agramonte has been in an elderly couple’s home for 11 years and they have a fear that the church will not survive when they pass, so they are working with Pastor Obed to have their house left to the church for the use of the Agrimonte fellowship once they die.  What a blessing to honor their legacy.
Brother Samuel spoke to us about the finances of the church and goals of self sufficiency as well as their future goals.  Besides giving 10% of their offerings to the Moravian HQ in Havana, (as all churches are now doing) 4 of the church leaders have invested 60,000 peso’s which in roughly $2,500 USD in a savings account to handle emergency issues that may arise.  What an amazing initiative for this church.
With this church update completed, the church leaders addressed their project and need projections.

1. The most immediate need is the purchase of 2 water tanks, to complete the installation of the clean filtered water project.  The system is installed and secured so the church and community can get access.  They estimated the cost for these two tanks would be $760 usd so ARMF voted to leave those funds for the church.  Knowing how focused the church is on service and evangelism; we can’t wait to see this water ministry in action.
2. The next project they want to pursue is the rebuild of Brother Samuel’s farm.  He has 80 acres in an area close to the Bay of Pigs, that we have been supporting from the beginning of the foundation.  He had all kinds of fruits and vegetables at the farm and has supported his family, the church, the local schools and the community in need with his crops.  With your support, ARMF has supported this farm with funds to purchase plants, build caretaker huts, equipment, irrigation and wells, chainsaw’s etc.  This is such an effective and fulfilling ministry. Unfortunately, this farm has been destroyed twice in the last 3 years with hurricanes. Each time Samuel has built back and recovered.  After much thought and prayer, the church and Samuel realized that so much good has come from this farm, and it is time to rebuild and renew this ministry.  They have requested $1,000 USD to reinvigorate the farm ministry.
3. Another initiative is what they call the “Nino” project. Each Sunday, one of their elders drives his flat bed truck around the community picking up the children to come to Sunday school and church.  If he did not do this the parents would not bring them.  While they get to church, more than likely they have come with little or no breakfast.  They want to supply breakfast every Sunday for all the children.  This would touch on average 25 children each week and is in keeping with their goal of Christian education and service.  They estimate the cost of this ministry would be $300 cuc or usd a YEAR.
4. The last need the church is focused on currently is the refurbishing of the pastor’s vehicle.  The vehicle is running but the frame is rusting away, the sheet metal is disintegrating, and they are concerned they will be left without a vehicle to get to all their churches and outreach programs without transportation.  They have had the Russian Latta for 14 years and it was many years old when they got it. They have had it estimated that the work they need done would cost $1,000 USD.

Attached are some pictures of the church and its activities in Jaguey.  Hope after reviewing this document, you have a good feel for the efforts by our brothers and sisters in Jaguey to serve our lord. 

San Antonio del Sur, Guantanamo Church & Projects
 
After visiting with the daycare centers in Guantanamo, we traveled about 80 Kilos further east to the small village of San Antonio del Sur which is roughly 80 kilometers from the east coast of Cuba, and some 900 kilometers from Havana.
 
San Antonio is a very rural and remote area that has the usual Cuban attributes. Poor, no clean water, remote, little transportation and no streetlights.
 
The church in San Antonio is a thatched roof outdoor structure that can seat about 75 people on benches. The service is normally at night to limit the heat. There is no transportation to the church, so all the church goers walk to the service. It is such an inspiring time to watch the people walking to the church with flashlights. All you see is the flickering of the flashlights as they walk through the village to the worship service.
 
The service normally has 70-80 people with 30 of them made up of children. All the adults and children participate in leading parts of the service. It’s always one of our favorite times of worship.
 
The pastor and his wife live in a separate building beside the outdoor church. Up until the last year it had no indoor bathroom, so everyone had to use an outhouse that was very primitive.
 
Because of you our donors, we have been able to give them enough funds to build an indoor bathroom complete with a tiled shower.
 
The Cuban council of churches gave them a rudimentary water system that serves the immediate area on a limited volume basis. With your support, the foundation has approved the funding and installation of a new large-scale clean water system in a secure building that has been scheduled to be built and installed soon which will serve some 2,000 plus people.
 
To become self-sufficient, the church has three projects.

1. The church has purchased a 2.5-acre farm to grow banana trees, onions, and corn. They have determined that in the future the return on an onion farm would be the most practical and profitable, so they have plans to eliminate the banana trees and grow onions and corn and rotate a few other crops as well. On this trip we left them the funds to purchase a well and pump for irrigation needs on their farm. Thanks again for your efforts. We left them $120 for the well and another $350 for the pump.
2. They have an idea and need to purchase a horse and buggy to transport 8 people. They have so many disabled or ones who walk from long distances (some as many as 4 miles) that could utilize this transportation. This need would be a significant service for the church.  When not in use they could lease out to other institutions for similar services. Their intent is to put the money back into the churches budget. They estimate the horse to cost $300 and the buggy $625.
3. The pastor’s wife enjoys making pocketbooks. Based on other similar pocketbooks the foundation has sold at auction, we feel like we can sell them for at least $50 each. After discussion with the pastor’s wife, we left her money to purchase materials to make 10 bags thus giving the church $500 for their use. After this first trial she will make additional bags to make this an ongoing ministry. The need there will be material and a new sewing machine.

 
The fellowship in San Antonio has recently expanded and the pastor’s mother and father have started a fellowship in Baracoa which is on the extreme east coast of the Island. We have not visited that church but will update you on future visits to Baracoa. The one thing we do know is that once the large water system in San Antonio is installed, they will move the small water system to Baracoa.
 
I hope after reviewing each of these updates and pictures you have a good feel for what is going on with the Cuban Moravian Churches. You our supporters, are making a fantastic difference in the lives of those less fortunate.
 
God is clearly working in Cuba through YOU!!!!

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ARMF
APRIL 24-MAY 6TH, 2019
Guantanamo Daycare Centers
 
 
 
Thanks again for all your support. Your gracious donations are certainly making a difference in the lives and living conditions of our brothers and sisters in Cuba.
 
Yesterday’s email reviewed our visit to Holguin. Today I will review our next stop on our visit. We traveled about 4 hours further Southeast to the province of Guantanamo where we stayed in Guantanamo city.
 
A little over a year ago, sister Yadira, who had been in touch with Bishop Armando Rusindo was excited about what she had learned about the Moravian church and their dedication to the children of the church and decided to serve the community by setting up a day care center. She started by converting most of her home to create a day care center for children under 3 years old. She named it as you can see in the picture below Hogar Infantil “Los Moravitos” (Children’s Home of the Moravians).
 
The home can handle 16 children max and is set up with 16 cots, refrigerator, Christian Ed materials, games, TV, toys, and a bathroom. Her plan was to charge between 150 to 200 Pesos per month based on the family’s financial capacity. That would roughly convert to $6-$8 USD per month.
 
Since opening in January of 2018 her home has always been full. She uses the net profit of her daycare to go into the community and support those less fortunate. She focuses on the homeless, alcoholic’s and families dealing with drug problems. They often wash the clothes of those she is serving with her community outreach.
 
This ministry has now expanded to 2 additional homes, each serving 16 children. Those homes are also full with 16 children in each. One of the homes houses, ages 3 and under and the other ages 3-5. Currently serving 48 children, they are looking to add a 4th day care house that would support an additional 16 children.
 
A staff of 8 people are now employed at the 3 homes. Each member of the staff has backgrounds in childhood education and child psychology. One of the leaders in fact teaches child development at the Univ of Guantanamo. Other leaders have experience in Children’s hospitals and prison ministry.
 
Besides teaching Christian education to the children, she also has a weekly meeting with the parents of the children as well as people in the community she is helping to study Moravian history and Bible study. She refers to her daycare enterprise as the Church.
 
This ministry also has 6 acres of land in Guantanamo where they plan to raise livestock and vegetables to provide food for the daycares as well as the community. They have one of their bible study participants and local farmer who will manage this enterprise.
 
The day care ministry has quickly become a huge outreach mission supporting not only the children at the centers but those at risk in the community. Not only are they a model for our church in missions to those less fortunate, the city of Guantanamo and the Mayor have issued a certificate in recognition of the work of the Moravian Church in city of Guantanamo.
 
We were clearly very impressed with this ministry in Guantanamo and are excited to know it is part of the Moravian church in Cuba. This model is already being set up to become a reality to deliver this same ministry at the Comenius Center in Havana with Sister Yadira consulting at the church in Havana.
 
 
As you can imagine the needs for this ministry are many. While we met with Yadira and her staff, we picked up a laundry list of needs that ARMF will begin to address.
 

1. 3 Microwave Oven’s for the day cares to be able to warm the children’s food. (Cannot find Microwaves in Cuba)
2. Refrigerator
3. Floor Fans
4. Small stoves
5. Children’s bibles in Spanish

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Having just returned from a 12 day trip to Cuba visiting all of our church’s across the island, We wanted to share with you the progress our Cuban brothers and sisters have made growing the Moravian church and using your gracious donations to improve the lives of those in their church and villages.
 
Our first stop was Holguin. Holguin is a province roughly 600 kilometers east of Havana. When the foundation started in 2014, Holguin had 2 worship centers. The lead church was in the home of Jose Manuel Turro. The worship center was in their living room / dining room. They had 50 youth and about 30 adults worshiping there. The home had no working indoor bathroom and Jose’s family and the church had to use a makeshift outhouse with no running water. In Feb 2017, ARMF gave Jose, $1,200 to fix and redo his indoor bathroom and build a new bathroom outside with running water and shower that the people of the church could use. What we found last week was a working bathroom and shower both inside the church and in the backyard. What a wonderful sight.
 
Without asking the foundation for funds Jose and the church have tiled the room that also serves as their sanctuary. They have begun work on building an extension to Jose’s house, that when completed would give Jose full use of his house and the church would have a separate building to worship in.
 
A clean water filter system that the foundation is supplying our churches has been delivered and the installation is schedule soon. This will allow the church and community access to clean water for some 2,000 plus people.
We will be funding construction of a shelter that will securely house the water system so that the people in the village will be able to bring their buckets and pails at designated times and get clean water from the system and the church.
 
Holguin now has 5 worship centers across the province and ministering to over 250 people. These 5 areas are as spread out across the province and have worshipers traveling as much as 15 Kilometers to church.
 
As we sat with the pastors and leaders of all the church’s several needs were discussed that ARMF will be considering. All their needs would be used to benefit the church and community.

1. The ladies fellowship makes clothes for church members and for sale to the community, but they lack working sewing machines to support this ministry. They requested 4 sewing machines, needles, and thread to support their effort.
2. 4-6 bicycles for the pastors to use so they can travel to their worshipers. Currently they walk to their visits and activities.
3. Fund the building of a secure building to house the water system.
4. Eventually they want to build a woodworking shop so the men of the church could build housing necessities that they could sell to the community and plow the proceeds back into the church.

I hope you can see the growth in Holguin. All their focus is on becoming self-sufficient, supporting their villages and growing the church.

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APRIL 24-MAY 6TH, 2019
 
Well we are now on the 5th day of our trip.  Many kilometers have been traveled and much has been accomplished, but we still have 8 days to go.  The relationships we have built is indescribable.  To many of us they are not only our friends but family as well.  We have laughed together, worshipped together and cried together.  We hope that you are enjoying our daily reports as we visit the sites that the foundation supports.
 
ARMF TRIP
APRIL 24-MAY 6TH,2019
CAMAGUEY CHURCHES & PROJECT
 
We hope you have enjoyed our trip updates from Holguin, Guantanamo Day Care Centers and San Antonio.  We hope that you have gained an understanding of how the Moravian church is growing in Cuba, and how your contributions and support have been critical in the lives of those less fortunate.
 
Today we will review the activities from the province of Camaguey and the village of Santayana.  After leaving Guantanamo, we traveled west almost 8 hours to the Camaguey.  Camaguey is located nearly in the center of the island of Cuba.  It was once one of the early hubs of a vibrant Cuba prior to the revolution.  The village of Santayana is about 5 kilos outside of Camaguey. 
 
Santayana is one of the original church homes for the Moravian church.  The village inhabits around 3,500 people.  The foundation has worked with the church in Santayana in 3 areas.  The purchase and refurbishing of a church building, a clean filtered water system, and the funding and building of an 80-acre farm that supports both the church families and the community.  Since we have known the folks in Santayana from the beginning of our foundation, we have become very close to them and our visit was as much a business update as it was a family celebration.
 
The first need we addressed was moving the church from the back-garage shelter amongst the pig pens and rabbit cages, to a standalone house that they have completely renovated into a sanctuary, library and Sunday school rooms.  Three years ago, the need for a temple was solved when we were told the neighbor right beside the old church and pastors’ home was up for sale.  With your help we had the funds to purchase the home and the church members went about renovating it from a house to a temple.  Maybe you have heard this story.  After we purchased the house there was much renovation needed. On our next trip six months later, as we were riding to Santayana with Aldo the pastor, he was so excited to show us what had been done.  When we arrived at the house church and walked inside, we saw a miracle.  The church had been completely restored, complete with furnishings.  We could only ask how they did it since we had sent no funds for this project. Their answer was simple, “We sold enough goats off the farm to raise the money”.  Not only did they raise the funds, but they did all the work except for some labor that a team from Home Moravian provided earlier.  Is God working in Cuba?  How can there be any other answer but YES!!
 
The second need was to figure out how to get access to clean filtered water.  We were advised that over 300 people in the community, almost 10% had contracted Cholera.  Santayana has been our test case on water systems.  We first found a filter that would help only the church house.  After realizing that while this put a bandage on the situation it was not a good fix.
 
The foundation found a 2nd solution that would deliver clean water to the church house and the church goers, who could come by the church and get some clean water.  Even with this in place we could only accommodate 50 or so folks in the church.
 
The 3rdsolution is the charm.  Due to our close relationship with the Cuban Council of Churches we established a relationship with a foundation called United Servants Abroad who specialize in water systems for Cuba and other underdeveloped countries.  On our visit, we were able to see the system we purchased for $6,000 installed in a secure room in the church.  The last hurdle was the purchase of 2 roof tanks.  Those funds ($525) were left for this purchase.  Systems must be contained in a secured building for safety reasons. A complete system may cost upwards to 8,000.  Once the system is up and running a schedule will be set for ALL the community to be able to come by the church with their bottles and secure clean water.  The community will have days and times that they can get access.  What a wonderful solution.  We have not only helped our Moravian brothers and sisters, but we are helping an entire community without limitation of what faith they may or may not be.
 
I have attached a picture of the system and the first two we tried in Camaguey.  I think you will agree with your help we have progressed logically to the final solution.  This is the same system we are setting up across the island.  We currently have 4 systems in different stages of implementation and several more being ordered.  We could not do it without your support. 
 
After meeting with the church leaders in the morning, we went out to the farm the foundation supports for an afternoon of fellowship with our Cuban family.  This farm has gone from 80 acres of brush to an active working farm with goats, chickens, turkeys, cows, bulls, horses, bees and pigs.  They have gone from pulling water out of a well to, pumping by hand to installing a windmill for automated use.  They have gone from no business plan to an active plan of clearing the land methodically and producing meat, milk, cheese and vegetable for the church AND the community.  They started with on caretaker’s house to now having two houses.  The church continues to have big plans for this farm and feel very blessed to be doing God’s work and feeding and supporting the needy. 
 
We are so proud of all the work the church in Camaguey has done and could not be any prouder to watch them gain their footing and strive toward self-sustainability.
 

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