Keeping in Touch Devo #25

Can you guess what country this is? Our mission team went there in 2009. Classic cars Cigars Really strong, extremely sweet coffee Fishnet hose on female employees at the airport Beautiful beaches - Varadero beaches/resorts – 2+ hrs. from the capital city Tostones – twice-fried plantains Bring your own toilet paper Sandwich named after this country Most popular religion is Christianity (Roman Catholic first, with Methodism second) Santeria was brought from the Yoruban nations of West Africa Official state party is the Communist Party Only Calvin Coolidge and Barack Obama have visited this country as U.S. presidents Bibles were banned in 1965 but in 2015 the ban on printing Bibles was lifted hung out at the El Floridita Propaganda signs everywhere Park bench with a bronze statue of John Lennon with real removable wire-rimmed glasses (Retired Juan Gonzalez’ job is to keep the glasses in his pocket and then put them on the statue for picture-takers.) Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro (Construction by slaves began in 1589, and it took 30 years to build.) Flea market on Obispo St. Switzerland was the protecting power of the U.S. Interest Section in its Chancery Bldg. in 1977- 2015. In 2015, the U.S. Embassy was established in its own bldg. in Miramar. Hotel Nacional

I’ve found that the most treasured keepsakes when going to other countries are all the new things I learn about both the country and its people. The list above is only a taste of what we discovered on our mission trip to a country that’s only 90 miles from the southern tip of Florida. I realize that we have members of our church whose life experiences in were drastically different from our 10-day experience as missioners. I know people who lived there during the revolution in the late 1950’s and whose established, well-educated parents lost everything and were even imprisoned by the Castro regime, only to emigrate to the U.S to re-establish themselves. There is no arguing that those people were harshly treated. What we brought back was a deeper understanding of the soul of the people who call Cuba home.

There is a huge difference economically, even today, between the U.S. and Cuba, but the people we met and worked with were beautiful inside and out! We experienced the challenges of living in Cuba – like trying to find just one sewing machine within the city of so we could sew curtains at the Methodist Center where we stayed or trying to find enough paint that we could water down to whitewash the walls of a church. We saw the meager rationed weekly list of items for a family but were treated to delicious homemade meals including a whole roasted pig one night when the UMC Bishop and a U.S. diplomat joined us for dinner. We felt safe walking the streets of Havana as long as Alba, our guide, gave her approval. I wondered what residents of a retirement home would say about us Americans but was humbled by their warmth and acceptance. They were surprised that we were so nice being that we were from the United States! I was moved to tears as we prayed the Lord’s Prayer together. Once again, I was reminded to look for the things we have in common rather than our differences.

Most of the buildings have rebar protruding from the top. We learned that if the building remains unfinished without a roof, it can’t be taxed. Laundry is hung to dry in this unfinished space. It’s also a great place to sit in the evenings and listen to the sounds of Havana – the people and its music. A Methodist Church was next to the building where we stayed. We weren’t taken to services there, but we watched, one night, a 3-hour service which was nothing like any Methodist service I ever attended. It was very charismatic with congregants dropping to the floor and speaking in tongues and laying on hands and more. The first Sun. we were there, we had been special guests at a Methodist Church that was celebrating its anniversary. It was packed to the gills, and we sang, watched the children perform, and prayed for at least a couple of hours after which we were taken into a small room crammed with people sitting on folding chairs and served boxed lunches with silver cutlery marked Made in France, not Made in America!

In addition to sewing curtains and white washing a church, we helped some of the local women make jewelry, and we moved cinderblocks and sand for a church adding a second floor. Every evening and a couple afternoons, we were able to see the sights. We were able to have Cuban coffees seated on the veranda at the Hotel Nacional overlooking the ocean that still had pictures of Frank Sinatra and Luci and Desi and other 50’s stars on the walls. Oh, if those walls could talk! We shopped at a huge market and found art done by local artists. The piece I bought was done by a professor at the . We toured the el Morro and watched the 9 PM fireworks at a distance. We drove the Malecón and viewed all the once-beautiful buildings that have fallen into disrepair or needed a good power- washing. We watched the elderly gentlemen who gathered in groups along the street to play dominos and checkers, and we saw the elderly women smoking big cigars in the doorways of shops and apartments. We met a man whose entire family was lost at sea in a man-made whirlpool as they tried to escape to the USA but were intercepted by the Cuban police. We traveled past the military schools that all young adults attend with our destination being the absolutely beautiful beaches at Varadero.

There are always funny stories that happen on mission trips. I was in a room with Pat and Maria. We had three twin beds, but mine squeaked a lot. One night in the middle of the night, my bed collapsed head- down and feet-up! I eventually woke the other two women as I struggled to get out of the predicament. I also discovered, after breaking mine, that sunglasses are not available anywhere in Havana! If I go again to Cuba, I’m taking an extra pair!

Just as those elderly folks in the retirement home, I was surprised by Cuba, its culture and its people. I went with some doubts and trepidation, but what I found was a beautiful country with people who have similar doubts and trepidation about us. It was good to pull down the veil that divided us so that the true character of those on either side could be revealed. We don’t need to go to another country to experience such a divide. Sometimes, it’s in our own backyard! Opening ourselves to other cultures and people we don’t know or understand often erases the doubts and fears and fills that space with friends. I’m guessing that we all have new friends to be made!