Hermanamientos

In the last post, I shared the reflections of our amigos Cubanos that "our friendship has broken barriers." This is not just metaphoric. It is literal in the sense that very few Norte Américanos are able to travel to Cuba, and vice versa, because of the embargo and travel bans. So much political rhetoric surrounds the relationships between these two countries — which sit just 90 miles apart — and few of us are granted the opportunity to hear beyond the rhetoric, travel beyond the barriers, and see beyond the stereotypes to the people who are ... people. We were able to travel to Cuba on a religious visa, meaning we weren't supposed to be tourists, do any physical labor (such as building houses), evangelize beyond the church walls, nor bring anything back with us except for "information materials" (which, thankfully, include artwork). Most of these restrictions come from the U.S. and some come from Cuba.

While in Cuba, we learned what a crucial role partnerships between sister churches (hermanamientos) play in the relationships between Cubans and North Americans, and even between the countries themselves. These partnerships have opened up lines of communication and understanding, physical meetings, financial assistance, and mutual cultural and spiritual exchange that never would have been possible otherwise.

And in case you're wondering, yes — the Protestant Church is alive and well in Cuba! (When he asked what we had been doing in Cuba, the customs agent replied, "There are Presbyterian churches in Cuba?!" This has not been an uncommon reaction. Thankfully, he believed us. :) ) God has carried them through many difficult years, but they are thriving and growing and ministering to their communities in ways that teach us about the calling and great potential of the local church. Our sister church hosts such events as a movie night for teenagers from the community (and the church), where they watch films (not easily available in Cuba) and discuss the spiritual themes; a "Theological Café," where they serve coffee in their garden and bring in musicians, artists, and speakers (the space is always packed); fun Saturday morning activities for children that are specifically designed to teach certain values; much-appreciated English classes open to anyone and taught by highly-qualified church members; and much, much more.

(Picture above shows a rainbow over our sister church, La Iglesia Presbyteriana-Reformada de San Nicolas de Bari)