Rooted in Love

The overwhelming effect of COVID-19 has changed the lives of everyone around the world, and collectively we have experienced loss, fear, and uncertainty. In spite of these difficult months, we have also seen communities bind together, neighbors look after one another, and an outpouring of support to those less fortunate. 

And so it is with the church in Mayajigua, Cuba.  The church recognized that they had an opportunity to be a positive force in their community in the midst of illness, economic chaos, and the increasing scarcity of food. Staples like rice and beans were nowhere to be found, even if you had money to purchase them. God prepared their heart and gave them the vision to farm a plot of land to provide food for their community. They started a cooperative and have planted root vegetables, rice, onions, garlic, and peppers. Eventually, they plan to raise pigs and chickens so their community can have meat. They did this with the little resources they had, rooted in their belief that this is where God was leading them. 

Most of the farming is done by members of the church who volunteer to do the exhausting work of tilling and tending the land in the hot tropical weather. Their desire to provide for their community overshadows the long hours of labor and the risk all farmers face of crop failure, largely because they are at the mercy of the weather. 

Volunteers weed the crops in Mayajigua, Cuba.

The Mayajigua church’s desire to care for their community is an expression of how God wants us to live: humbly, compassionately, and as servants who care for each other. 

We are a global community seen and loved by God as one, regardless of geography.  The church in Mayajigua serves as our example of how we can care for each other rooted in love that is selfless and generous.  We invite you to join us in prayer for our brothers and sisters in Cuba and to participate financially in this project or others that Aliento Cuba supports.

Participate in Giving Tuesday on May 5, 2020

This year, Giving Tuesday has come at a critical time for many around the world. Giving Tuesday is an international movement with a mission to “transform communities and the world.” In Cuba, the struggle to make a livable wage and have enough food to survive has only gotten harder with the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and Shelter in Place (SIP) order.

One of our partner pastors, Yaisel, took it upon himself and his staff to assist more than 90 elderly community members who were struggling acutely. Many were unable to get enough food due to the strict SIP order. Maricela, a blind elderly woman, wondered how she would manage with a meager pension of only $10 a month. It was hardly enough to purchase food for the month, and with orders to stay at home, she wasn’t sure how she was going to get the supplies she needed.

Maricela pictured in her home in Cuba.

Yaisel and his team brought ground turkey, beans, rice, potatoes, spaghetti, bananas, mangoes, and soap to Maricela, as well as 92 other elderly and sick recipients. They were able to do this because of donations received from Aliento Cuba to purchase food and soap. Now Maricela can live comfortably without worrying about food.

While food shortages are always an impending difficulty in Cuba, the situation has worsened with the spread of the pandemic. Please consider donating to Aliento Cuba to join the food relief effort this Giving Tuesday!

CAIBARIEN - A GROWING COASTAL TOWN

Caibarien is near the tourist area of the keys of North central Cuba. To fill the staffing demand of tourism in the keys, the government is building apartment complexes in Caibarien for people who work in the keys.  Because of this, a lot of people are moving to Caibarien.  This presents a challenge and an opportunity to the church in Caibarien.

One challenge for the church is how to best utilize their resources to reach the expanding population. Even a large town like Caibarien is not exempt from transportation problems and as the city grows the problem becomes more acute.  This makes it difficult for the elderly and children to be able to come to church, especially because as the town grows the distances people must travel to church increase.  Finding inexpensive ways to bringing them to church on Sundays and other activities requires creativity.

 The population growth also creates an opportunity for the church to shine its light in the community. It gives people in the church who are believers the opportunity to reach out to the new neighbors, to welcome them to their new community, to discover their needs and be of service to them. 

GOD LIKES TO HAVE FUN TOO

I believe that God always has a special pre-determined place for all the unrequested donations we receive. They provide the unexpected opportunity to bring a smile to someone’s face or fill a need no one knew about. 

This particular donation was not planned nor requested; but someone donated it and it went into our luggage. A glance at the photo below will explain why this particular donation made it all the way to Yaguajay. 

Yes, God likes sports and specially children playing soccer.  What a great God we have!

Note:  The new ball needs to be inflated J