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Christmas 2002: Mission in Cabaiguan, Cuba

Written by John Walter Friday, 28 March 2008 20:12

After four years of hard work in Cabaiguan, the Presbyterian Church has been restored to its original condition. The people of Cabaiguan have taken notice and have begun to return to services.

Ashland Presbyterian Church (APC) began its Sister-Sister Church relationship with Iglesia Reformada Presbiteriana en Cabaiguan in 1999. Every year thereafter, members of APC have traveled to Cabaiguan to broaden our cultural understanding, deepen our trust, share prayer and worship and plan for a tomorrow in which God will unite His Kingdom here on Earth.

Christmas, 2002 was a very special visit in Cabaiguan. Guests from Ashland participated in all of the rehearsals for the Christmas pageant and spent time talking to the Session about their mission vision for Cabaiguan. We will help create the vision together, now that the church facility is restored.

On Sunday the 16th of December 2002, trade winds were blowing; it was 70 degrees. Everyone piled into dump trucks for a ride to Santi Spiriti to attend an Ecumenical Concert in celebration of Navidad, the first public celebration of Christmas allowed in thirty years.

Inside a basketball stadium, choirs and soloists from all denominations celebrated Navidad together. An estimated 5,000 people attended. It is surprising how many North American carols are translated and sung in Cuba.

The Castro government began relaxing its grip on religious activity throughout the country; people who were once afraid of attending services are now returning, expecially young people seeking answers and a new sense of community.

As the Cuban churches reawaken and reinitialize their faith, the island's single seminary in Matanzas is struggling to fill the pulpits of many abandoned churches throughout the land.

For four years the Ashland congregation had received reports and testimonies from members of the Missions Committee who had visited Cuba. In early 2003, the Cubans came to visit Ashland. Ashland became fully united with her sister church as we all worshiped in Spanish, sang in Spanish and later shared a fellowship luncheon which included members of our local Maryland sister church, Ministereo Getsamani.