October Cuba Trip

We are thrilled to share the joyous news that from October 26 to November 5 we will be traveling to Cuba to visit our partner churches . Under very difficult circumstances they continue to carry on the mission of bringing God’s light (no pun intended, but the power outages there are life disrupting) and hope to those around them. We are blessed to stand alongside them in this work.

MORE good NEWS

In addition to visiting all our partners in Cuba, our team includes the speaker for the

CONFERENCE FOR YOUTH LEADERS - DEFENDING THE FAITH

Traveling with us are Scott and Amber Symington. He is the guest speaker at a 3-dday conference for youth leaders at the Baptist Camp in Yumuri. The attendance there is expected to be close to 200 young people. He will also speak at church gatherings in 4 of our partner churches, and to seminary students and Havana pastors at the Baptist Seminary in Havana.

It will be an intense trip. We have a full and dynamic schedule ahead of us. Scott will be speaking 12 times in 6 days. We will travel more than 600 kilometers and meet hundreds of people. We are expectant on what God has for us in this trip.

We will pray with the people in Cuba, love them, serve them and bring them some RELIEF.

You go nowhere by accident

〰️

Wherever you go,

〰️

God is sending you there

〰️〰️〰️

You go nowhere by accident 〰️ Wherever you go, 〰️ God is sending you there 〰️〰️〰️

CONNECTING THE DOTS FOR THE WHEELCHAIR

• Mother in Cuba reaches out to a pastor’s wife to see if they can help find a wheelchair for there 8-year-old daughter who has cerebral palsy. She’s too big for a stroller and must be carried to school

• Pastor’s wife calls us to see what we can do. We know zero about wheelchairs

• Researched wheelchairs and opened communications with mother

• Obtain permission to load the wheelchair in a container going to Cuba that leaves in one week.

• Locate a reasonable wheelchair that is available and can meet the deadline

• A generous donor agrees to donate the new wheelchair.

• Only a few days to accomplish this mission, but it happened. With the help and generous heart of many people.

MEDICATION AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES.

We partner with four agencies that provide medical supplies, prescription and over-the-counter medication at very low cost or no charge.

This year we have a new partner Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB). We are always looking to network with agencies that can help us reduce costs.

how you can help

Here’s a list of OTC medicines that are needed in Cuba. You can purchase them through Amazon here. Or you can purchase at your favorite store. If you are near us in the Bay Area, we will pick them up. Otherwise mail to us to 12790 Watsonville Road, Morgan Hill, CA. 95037. We need to receive them by October 20th.

MEDS SAVE lives

Look how you’ve helped. We’ve sent antibiotics, cancer medication that extended a mother’s life, breathing pumps that have saved lives.

Let’s do more: Mosquito repellent is necessary to combat the latest virus “oropuche”. It saves lives. Rehydration salts are necessary to restore health. It saves lives. Vitamins for all ages keep malnutrition at bay. They save lives. Together we can save lives.

Prayer. Our most precious connection is prayer. Connecting with God and being open to sense His presence, hear His voice and allowing Him to direct us is what gives us the confidence to go forward. Pray for our trip. Pray that all we are taking arrives intact to its final destination.. Pray for Scott Symington as he speaks to hundreds of people about defending their faith. Pray that our attitude and posture be one of servants and God’s love and joy shines through.

CUBA UPDATE

Life in Cuba is challenging right now and only getting tougher every day. Inflation is out of control and basic goods are in short supply. People are spending most of their time just trying to survive, which leaves little energy for anything else.   In response to these challenges, churches are doing everything they can to help their communities. Aliento Cuba partners with eight of these churches, bolstering their programs so they are able to provide food, medications, medical supplies, and transportation to their communities       

The Top Needs of Our Partner Churches  With the help of our generous donors, Aliento Cuba recently sent 60 pounds of vital medication to our partners in Cuba. Despite this impressive feat, and the incredible blessing that it has been to its recipients, this shipment has only scratched the surface of the need for medicine. Among our other projects, acute needs include a vehicle for our project in La Larga and van for our project in the North Circuit.

How You Can Help Here’s where your donations make a massive impact! These funds help churches to provide the resources of medicine, food, and transportation to those who are really struggling in their communities. It also brings them hope with the good news of the Gospel. You can make a difference in the lives of many through this ministry. Even a small contribution can go a long way in helping these communities stay strong and maintain their faith as a guiding light for so many.

Project Updates    Part of how Aliento Cuba supports our partner churches in Cuba is to bring joy and hope to their communities. When most of the day is focused in simply surviving, a bit of joy makes a big difference. This summer’s joy also came in the form of Bible Camp.  In total our partner churches served more than 500 children and adults at Bible Camp! 

You can make a difference in the lives of many through this ministry Even a small contribution can go a long way in helping these communities stay strong and keep their faith alive.   Your generosity can make sure that even in hard times, faith remains a guiding light for so many in Cuba.

learn more about what we do

Farm in La Larga shares crops with community, the Center for Single Parents, and the Children’s Home

In Sagua the poorest community we serve, pastors Sadiel and Zady provide resources for emotional and physical needs

In Cascajal/Cayo Bejuco a mother who received medicines for her son, thanks to the generous contributions of our donors, is now teaching children about God. Small villages along the North Circuit of central Cuba joy is found in God, and in Barrio Africa people who are disabled are receiving care.

We at Aliento Cuba are immensely grateful to our generous donors. It is through your giving that we are able to serve these people in isolated communities bringing them joy and God’s love along with resources.   Go to our website (click here) to learn more about the communities we serve.

With gratitude, Rachel Sanchez-Parodi, Executive Director

CUBA UPDATE - MEDICATIONS and JUNE TRIP

We are preparing spiritually and physically for our first trip to Cuba since the 2020 pandemic. The pandemic changed the world. It is not only the incredible loss of life and emotional trauma brought by the virus. It changed the way we relate as a community, work, study, and lead our daily lives. The economic impact on Cuba is the worst in its history. Extreme shortages of food, electricity, gasoline, and medications coupled with a sharp increase in cost of living has been devastating. Yet, the people’s spirit to celebrate life, gather as a community, seek spiritual growth, and enjoy family is strong. People in Cuba are amazing! They are resilient! They find joy in what God has given them.

Because of your contributions, we have continued to provide funds for medicines, assistance to the elderly, and two farms that provided food to more than 2,000 individuals. There is not much we can do about inflation, electricity and gasoline. But there is much we can do to provide medicines and medical supplies.

NEW YEAR, NEW GOALS, SAME GRACE

We look forward to a new year, encouraged by what we were able to accomplish in 2021 and expectant of what God has in store for us.
Good used our organization and your generous giving to touch so many lives in Cuba—and it was definitely a challenging year of the Cuban people. This year, we are filled with hope and look forward to God’s guidance as we continue to support the people in Cuba

Last year, the spread of COVID and political turmoil exacerbated the already meager medical supplies and rapidly increasing inflation In 2020 Cuba had 11,863 COVID cases, but the number quickly grew to 966,004 cases in 2021. This rincrease was beyond what the healthcare system was equipped to handle; hospitals quickly became short on beds, oxygen, and medications to treat patients. This medical crisis coupled with astronomical inflation led to political unrest in the island.

Disposable masks ready to be reused after washing and drying on a clothesline

In 2021 we were able ship 22 boxes of medical supplies, equipment and medication to 12 communities in Cuba. This was possible thanks to your donations and Medical Missions International in Fresno California who donated the medical supplies. Those boxes, totaling 429 pounds traveled nearly 8,000 miles for 6 weeks, and by God’s grace every single one arrived untampered with to its destination.

Aliento Cub also partners with other pastors and they donors to serve the people in Cuba. In 2021 we procured an additional 102 pounds of medications shared with 6 other communities in rural Cuba.

These shipments have been a blessing to many—especially at a time when COVID medications are virtually non-existent.

Sample of medications sent to Cuba

Additionally,changes in government regulations in November 2020 prevented anyone in the. United States from sending funds directly to Cuba. This definitely put a wrench into our plans, but by God’s grace, we were able to find other channels of safe delivery. Through trusted partners, we were able to continue the financial support of all the communities and pastors we had committed to.

For example, the community farms project in Mayajigua that you help us support was able to continue operations. This farm provides local families with vegetables like rice, corn, beans and protein such as pigs and chickens—all for free! In a time of scarcity and ever-increasing prices, the farm has become a lifeline for many. Six others communities also receive funds for food, transportation, and emergencies. This is especially important for the elderly and people who are ill. We were able to provide mopeds and a motorcart to three pastors to facilitate their ministry

This year we are renewed with hope for the people in Cuba. We need to continue to support them with medications, transportation and financial support so they can continue spreading light and goodwill.

Thank you for your continued support; many are surviving on the food, medicine and everyday supplies that we are are able to provide with your donations. Above all else, please continue to pray for Cuba.

Peace and grace to you.

Content Link Block

Select a page and create a visual link to it. Learn more

Blog