Rural areas in Cuba are beautiful. That is what Wanda, one of the member of our team, keeps reminding us. Groves of tall palm trees adorn the green grassy fields. Mountains and sea surround us and the air is clean and fresh. Clear blue skies entice you to float along with the puffy white clouds.
It takes us 30 minutes to travel 10 miles on a dirt road that leads us to a village where we meet Midilady and her family. She is a beautiful soul whose tears express her overwhelming emotion when she sees us arrive. We are late—so late she thought we were not coming.
During the week Midilady walks a quarter of a mile down the dirt road to catch the bus that takes her to work. She is a professional singer who was trained in one of the best institutes in Cuba. But when the weekend arrives, transportation disappears. It disappears, that is, except for the bus that comes on Sundays to take her to church. There her soul sings as she celebrates and worships God. She tells us it is the best day of the week.
Midilady at church with her mom and daughter