June 15th » 7:00p-10:00p
UBC FamJamz Theater
$15/ticket

Enjoy a night of live music, salsa show, conga, silent auction, lechon, a flan contest, dominoes, and a raffle. With all proceeds benefiting UBC’s missions in Cuba!

Unfortunatly the Cuba team does not have access to internet during their trip, but they called yesterday to update us on their trip.

The arrived safely and are doing well. They left yesterday to head to Vinales, which is a small town. For family members of the team: if there is an emergency, they can be reached at the international line of  011- 53-1013-22.

Betty, the team leader said they are doing fabulous and God is already doing amazing things! Keep the team in your prayers during this week on mission.

Here is a quick Photo Journal of our Cuba Mission 2009. Team members: Liz Matos, Maura Gonzalez, Katie Rodriguez, Katie Martinez, Patricia Tobon, Debbie Garcia, Maria Gonzalez, Adrian Pena, Eric Rivera, Tara Plyler, Keri Oneil, Michele Oneil, Lynette Villa de Rey, Vince Wallace

We arrived in beautiful Havana on June 23rd and settled in the missionary quarters of the Methodist Church in Vedado, an area we call the Coral Gables of Havana.

Each night we joined Victory Outreach Church led by Pastor Abel Hernandez. Left: a neighborhood group that meets on Wed. night. There are 40 neighborhood groups that meet throughout Havana. Right: Pastor Abel is preaching to about 150 church members for their Thursday night Bible study in “El Malecon,” the Havana waterfront. Any large gathering in Cuba is illegal, but they do it anyways!

Throughout the week we held a day camp for youth with art, dance, music and sport, located in Havana Vieja’s, Parque Curita. We saw many of the kids from the last day camp we had two years ago. Many of them gave their lives to the Lord and were connected to the neighborhood group in that area.

UBC missionaries with family in Cuba had the opportunity to meet their family members on Family Day. Families were invited to a lunch (roast pork), Pastor Abel shared the gospel, we handed out goody bags with clothing, toiletries and food and each family was invited to attend church on Sunday afternoon.

Victory Outreach (VO) Church and UBC have been in partnership for 3 years. VO reaches out to the least of these: addicts, prostitutes, criminals. They had grown to about 150 people and were spilling out of there one-room makeshift church. The government did not allow them to meet and an Assemblies of God church opened their doors to them. Their services are on Sundays at 4pm. Left: The VO dance team. Right: VO congregation

Day 1: The Cuba Team of 14 arrived in Havana on June 23rd. Their was clear opposition at the airport as most of the team was questioned about their reasons for visiting Cuba. It was a wonderful time to practice Spirit-led prayer and to have complete confidence in the Lord’s leading at the airport. We all got through. Pastor Abel Hernandez from Victory Outreach Church was waiting outside eager to be in community with his Miami family.
Day 2, 3, 4: The team hosted a children and teen camp at the “Curita” Park in Havana Vieja. The team played sports with the children, taught them dances and did arts and crafts. Even the adults walking through the park learned the dances. At the completion of each day, the children, teens and adults gathered as the camp leaders shared their testimony and the Gospel. Many people gave their lives to the Lord. Those who did were connected to Victory Outreach Church for discipleship.
Day 4: Friday evening the team along with the church’s young adults gathered for a time of worship and sharing the Gospel at the Park “G.” A demon-possessed man attacked the group and specifically our team. We continued to worship and pray fervently to be able to do the work the Lord had planned for us. He finally left in a rage and we moved to preach the good news of Jesus to teens and young adults at the park.
Day 5: The team and Victory Outreach Church crammed inside two yellow school buses and headed to Lenin Park about 30 minutes outside Havana for a time of worship, fellowship and food. We had a great day!
Day 6: Sunday was our “Family Day.” The team members invited any family living in Havana to gather for lunch and a devotional time. Pastor Able shared the good news of Jesus and invited them to attend the afternoon church service. During the church service many team members shared their experience in Cuba.
Day 7: As we headed to the airport, there was concern that 2 members of the team would not be able to travel back due to immigration problems. The team prayed at the airport and the issue was resolved immediately. We arrived in Miami on June 29th.

Pictures coming soon!

This is a video from our partners Victory Outreach Church in Havana, Cuba. Liz Matos

http://www.youtube.com/get_player

I spent a week in ministry with Alcance Victoria Internacional (Victory Outreach International) Church in Havana, Cuba. Pastor Abel Hernandez and his wife Angelica started this church in 2002 in the living room of their home. They said the first 30 members of their church were former prostitutes, alcoholics and drug addicts. Their church is located in a garage-like room in the home of one of the church members in Habana Vieja (Old Havana), which is the inner-city of Havana. Abel and his wife reach out to young people who are on the fringes of society. They go out to preach to the “cucarachas” (cockroaches), which is what most people refer to them as and so their ministry usually starts after midnight most evenings.

The Photo: We spent a Sunday afternoon at the park after church with the entire congregation! This is a pic of the youth leaders of Victory Outreach.

Can’t wait to go back next year! Anyone want to join me? Liz Matos

Entry by Missy Basti 

I am so blown away by the generosity and openness of the Cuban people. Anyone I made eye contact with was willing to speak to me! They are a true inspiration. They have so little, but you would never know by they way they act. They will literally give you the shirt off their back- even if they don’t have another. I hope I can take what they have taught me and put it into practice in Miami.