It's taken a while to get this down, and I'm still not confident I will be able to express just what I want the way I would like. I've posted pictures and slideshows, attended a few of our presentations, and yet I still can't describe the emotion of hearing about projects, of seeing the pastors in action, of being a small part of such a great thing. Today's Cuba is not yesterday's Cuba and tomorrow's will likely not look like today's. Regulations are still complicated and bureaucratic when it comes to Christians meeting together, however each year we hear of new developments. This year's trip included working on a well on the seminary campus, which hosted (while we were there) the District Assembly. Government officials came and appear to have a fairly good relationship with the church, the seminary, the district. The seminary would also host several other events in the months after we left, and the well served to alleviate the water shortage for events that large. Pastors and delegates would stay on makeshift cots and bunk beds and classes would also continue. The district where we served has a large variety of churches, from missions to full two or three story buildings with rooftop space.
The church is multiplying in Cuba and, in a sense, its past has made it not only stronger but put them in a place to be participants in the global church, while holding on to the Cuban identity that the government so strongly protects. It's fascinating to see the sacrifices made, as many of the pastors have left strong careers that they have been strongly educated for (at one point, Christians could not participate in government education, but that has since changed and the education of the Cuban people was something I found intriguing. The church leaders are well-educated and most continue their education in one way or another in and through the church)
As I mentioned before, the government is very protective of the Cuban culture itself, and this has in many ways created a wiser and more contextualized church than one might find in other countries. I have yet to see worship so animated as in the Cuban church. When talking about projects, the churches are heavily in touch and involved in meeting the needs in their communities. The national church leaders are well organized and I would dare to suggest they are ecclesiastical and organizational geniuses as they learn from history's mistakes, allowing us to participate in the work of God in the church, facilitating the growth of relationships while also encouraging and building a structure where the local churches and the national church maintain and can continue to maintain self-sufficiency.