I had longed to see this part of Cuba, but circumstances and the difficulty in arranging transportation and a suitable escort had prevented me from realizing that wish. Nevertheless, on many of my stays I had had the occasion to talk with Magalys Mas, a native of that city and the person charged as lay pastor to lead the congregation.

It seems to me that there had always been some level of conversation going on about securing a permanent place for the mission. In Cuba, a special verb is used to express ideas and desires that may or may not come to be. That verb is: Intentar, to intend. A permanent place for that mission fell into that category. Funds are difficult to find and even harder to fairly allocate. Decisions at this level need to be made at their Synod level, letting all the Cuban Presbyteries reflect and prioritize internally.

So, it was no surprise to me that the conversations regarding Camaguey came and went; but truthfully, I began to see that there was always some level of intention surrounding the subject. It was a matter of waiting and remaining in solidarity with the Cabaiguan church whose leaders had for years applied themselves and their young adults to the building and development of the mission.

And so it came to pass in November, 2007 at the Centennial celebration of the Cabaiguan church that its pastor, Mairolet Vega Comas, pulled me aside one evening and spoke quite seriously about the newest opportunity: a member of the Camaguey church wished to donate the house in which they had been meeting for years and make it a permanent mission. I agreed to bring the issue before Baltimore Presbytery's task Force.

To do so fairly, I thought we needed to consider the history of the mission. Who began the work? How may people were involved? Returning home, I wrote to Pastor Yolanda Alonso of the IPRC Church in Meneses whose husband, Javier Naranjo, had been integral in its inception and operation.

Yolanda's history, redacted with the help of daughter and Pastor Miriam Naranjo of the church in Taguasco, Cuba captivated my imagination, so much so that I decided it was good for all of us to see just to what extent the pastors and youth of the Cuban Presbyterian Church are willing to go to share and live their faith.

The following story introduces the history as they themselves have told it. The translation is mine. I hope you enjoy the story.

The mission work in Camaguey was a constant concern from the time of the first missionaries. As early as July 1899, Rev. Juan G. Hall, pastor in Cardenas, wrote in a informational letter that: Among the immediate necessities of mission in Cuba are the following¦we need to have here, at minimum, five men by this fall: two for Cardenas, two for Havana, two for Camaguey.

In the report given by Rev. J. Milton Green to the Presbyterian Church USA in 1913, there appears to be an evangelical mission in Camaguey (and among the other works detailed with their pastors assigned) apparently a Mr. Salvador Cornejo is charged with leading Camaguey.

In our search for that facts about this work we find a period of silence in the efforts in Camaguey. A Presbyterian work (effort) existed, (however) there were periods in which the emphasis was placed on fortifying the places already established. Much emphasis was given to education. There were no recorded facts concerning Camaguey at this time. (Meaning 1913-1959 JW)

1959 was a period of historical change in Cuba. New goals arose (surged forth) for missionary work. In mid-1960's Rev. Rafeal Cepeda visited the historic city with the objective of reestablishing contacts with families long associated with the work. With patience, he was succeesful in celebrating the first worship service of the Presbyterian Church in Camaguey on December 18, 1960.

There not being a (permanent) place for the church, the service was celebrated in the Retail Center which is situated in Cisneros between Estrada Palma (Cuba's figure head President at the time) and General Gomez (a famous General of the Second War of Independence against Spain¦which became the Spanish American War when the Battleship Maine was blown up (probably by us) in Havana Harbor 1898. JW) The Christmas message was preached by Rev. Manuel Rodriguez, Agustin Pascual also participating. Worship services continued, Pastor Cepeda remained adamant, and even though he was pastor of the church in Versalles in Matanzas as well as director of the five year plan, he committed himself to the continuing to visit Camaguey on occasion.

Rev. Abi Castro (definitely a Galician. JW) is named circuit pastor for Tagausco ~ Ciego de Avila. He would live in Taguasco and from there travel to Ciego de Avila and to Camaguey. He insisted in the necessity of concentrating a major effort there.

In our churches we sing a hymn that goes: God himself goes with us in our journey. As for Camaguey mission, a new encounter arose in the work of the Presbyterian Church in 1994.

It happened in a way that some might call by chance. We say it was the work of the Holy Spirit. A young girl, for reasons of study, came to live in the house of her aunt who belonged to the church in Cabaiguan. The girl was Roman Catholic, and it was she who through making friends with one of the Cabaiguan youth, invited him and a group of enthusiastic youth to come to her house so that they could learn something about Camaguey.

Those youth, not slow to engage, nor lazy, prepared everything for the trip. One beautiful day they arrived in Camaguey. There the young lady's mother was awaiting them with the family; she was a former member of the church in Cabaiguan. Those were the Glory Days for the church in Cabaiguan and for the work to come in Camaguey. Without any kind prejudice, (I like hesitation better JW) the group visited Christ Catholic Church with the daughters of the sister who attended the Catholic church, and where Father Cambra, a very special priest, officiated.

The Presbyterians sang their hymns and even the Bishop, when he found out (they were there) wanted to meet them. So they performed before the Bishop. There was a propitious interchange, our youth incorporated the Catholic hymns into our liturgy.

Goodbyes are almost always hard, and perhaps for that reason a Catholic youth said to his Presbyterian friends, “Wouldn't it be great if you had a church here! Our youth asked Rev. Javier Naranjo, then pastor in Cabaiguan, if it would be possible to open a mission in Camaguey.

Pastor Naranjo looked at them and responded, “Why not? Then the arrangements were made to begin worship services in Camaguey. The first problem that arose was the issue of where to have them. The kids began to pray for this work, their enthusiasm was contagious and involved the whole church. Then there was a small waiting period. One morning a sister from Camaguey visited and she expressed, We're praying for the Presbyterian Church to be founded in Camaguey.

Pastor Baranjo said to her that we were only waiting to establish a place there. She said she knew a family that was disposed to renting a house. The Cabaiguán church committed to renting it and the youth were charged with the development of the work. Each week two different youth would go to visit and preach.

The first worship service in this new era was celebrated in the house of sister Ada Garcia Blanco on the 11th of November 994. This is a very special day for us Cubans because we celebrate the Day of the Missionaries, it’s the day not only to remember those who preceded us, but also to rejuvenate that energy and make new plans in the development of mission.

With renting the house being an impossibility, Pastor Naranjo spoke with the Episcopal Pastor, Juan Antonio Rodriguez Diaz to use that church on Sunday afternoons.

The youth began traveling to Camaguey. They spent two nights practically without sleep; well, they were going by train. The Camaguey youth would buy the return trip tickets. The trip was never an excuse to miss their regular Monday morning classes or work.

And so for a while it went on a time this way. Pastor Naranjo went to celebrate communion and to do baptisms. Sister Yolanda regularly sent study materials in order that they wouldn't leave off meeting and studying the Word. When transportation problems grew, adults were enlisted (incorporated) into the list of brothers who were going.

The work has endured during all these years thanks to the work of the brothers there as well as Ada Garcia and Iris Martinez, the Treasurer, who was present at the 1960 service, among many others. We've also received help from other workers designated by the Presbytery in some periods.

Today we meet in the house of Sonia Ruiz. Magaly Hernandez Mas, Elder from Cabaiguan, is in charge of evangelization, and who since 2001 resides in Camaguey with her family. Mairolet Vega Comas is the current pastor.

Since 1994 we've had a permanent mission in that city. We meet in the house of Sister Sonia to facilitate the timely attendance of the brothers and sisters. Our dream is to be able to count on our own place where we can hold different kinds of activities. For he who believes, everything is possible, says the Lord. We relieve that it's possible to realize the dream of the first Missionaries, we're praying and working to this end. Amen.

Bibliography:

1. Facts taken from the book: Notes on the History of Presbyterianism in Cuba, by Rafael Cepeda.

2. An article from the magazine: Christian Herald in 2004 by Magaly Mas

3. Testimony from Javier Naranjo, Yolanda Alonso, Miriam Naranjo, and Mairolet Vega.