I remember meeting Zenia for the first time during the hot Cuban summer of 2012. We arrived in Buenavista and stepped into a spotless, simple house. Pastor Omar and his wife Zenia embraced us with a humble hospitality, giving up their bedroom, opening their home, and going to great lengths to ensure that the table was heaped with food each night. I have a particular memory of Zenia insisting on washing my travel-worn clothes - by hand! It is a wonderful example of her heart, leading by serving.  

Last week Zenia sent us an email about the current difficulties in Cuba. In particular, the two motorcycles that the church uses to visit distant members of the congregation have not been holding their charge. Additionally, one of the motorcycles needs new tires; a commodity that is hard to come by in Cuba. 

Other hardships are at the forefront of Zenia’s mind. Buenavista is a small town, and many residents live miles into the countryside surrounding the town. A three to four mile distance is daunting when you don’t have a car, but the people of Cuba are incredibly resourceful. I remember a particularly bumpy ride on a trailer hooked to a tractor. For 50 miles. Ok, it was more like three miles but that jarring ride definitely left an impression! 

To alleviate the transportation gap, Zenia and Omar have been sending two large trucks to pick up church members who live far from town. However, the government has recently announced that gasoline will be unavailable indefinitely, meaning all of the distant church members will have no way of attending service on Sunday morning.

These are just a couple of examples of the many limitations that people experience in Cuba. Please keep Zenia, Omar, and the church of Buenavista in your prayers.