A family welcomes us into their modest home and waits for us to begin. Prayer and preparation have met opportunity, and we have work to do. This is my story about how a week in Cuba changed me personally by giving my walk with Christ a sense of urgency along with Spirit-given confidence and experience to act upon that urgency. How it happened:
One week in June I’m 59 years old and for the first time traveling internationally for a short-term mission trip, this opportunity provided by a partnership between my church and Filter of Hope. 35 years of Christian maturing and 6 months of specific preparation and I’m on my way with a team of 17 from Indiana to Havana, then into neighborhoods to our guests’ homes. Our team completed 42 home visits. 70 nonbelievers heard the gospel and 42 prayed to receive Christ. Our new brothers’ and sisters’ next steps include follow-ups from pastors who will help them grow their new faith by connecting them to their local churches.
We split up into groups of 4 or 5 plus a local pastor and translator. The pastors and churches have arranged meetings for us to deliver two gifts –
- An opportunity for clean water through a small filter.
- An opportunity for clean hearts through a discussion about who Jesus is and what he has done.
Visits follow a tried and true system. We greet the family and sincerely get to know them. We truly want to build relationships. When ready, we ask the family for a bucket appropriate to hold water, then one from our team (sometimes with the help of an assistant) begins the filter installation while explaining the process with the help of a translator. We drill a hole, attach a small connector with a hose to the bucket, attach the filter to the hose, add dirt to the water to emphasize the filter’s ability, then draw clean water through the filter, take a drink, and offer drinks to our host family. We then teach them how to clean the filter via backflush, they take over and finish the cleaning.
We ask about their water, most respond that they boil their water, add chlorine or other poisonous tablets, or just drink the water as is. The filters we deliver and install save them from their contaminated water, it is sufficient to take away the impurities. Nothing else needs to be added to obtain clean water.
The second gift builds upon the first, we use the water and filter to illustrate four truths about God:
- God loves us (John 3:16-18)
- Sin separates us from God (Romans 3:23, 6:23)
- Jesus died for our sins (John 14:6)
- We must receive Jesus (John 1:12)
The unclean water and the free gift of a filter illustrates our unclean hearts and the free gift of Jesus cleansing us from sin (dare I say “filtering?”) through his sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection. Just as the filter is sufficient for clean water, Jesus is sufficient for reconciliation with God.
My “a-ha” moment: The families we visit have urgent needs for both clean water and clean hearts. God has allowed me to be his ambassador for both needs. Our team has a sense of urgency, too. This is our first and best opportunity to clearly communicate and demonstrate both the filter and God’s good news of forgiveness. Who knows when the families we visit will have this opportunity again? The pastor and translator are local, but our team will be back home in the United States by the end of the week. The part of the gospel-centered conversation where I was weakest had to become my biggest strength in a hurry: Asking if they would sincerely repent of their sin and confess Jesus as Lord and Savior. Our windows of opportunity are short with each family we visit, the conversation must come to this point before we leave.
Now that I’m home, a-ha!: I would do well if my everyday walk with Jesus reflected the Cuba trip sense of urgency. Examples are many: Bible reading and prayer before phone scrolling. Prayers that go deeper and wider. Encouraging other believers in their faith walks. For those who still need to repent and believe, not assuming my windows of opportunity with those God puts in my path are endless streams of “maybe next time.” Maybe between now and next time, someone hardens their heart just a little more. A neighbor moves away. A co-worker takes another job. Aa-ha – I am an ambassador for Jesus everyday, on task to encourage others to be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).
A trip to Cuba is a great conversation starter. International travel doesn’t come up in casual conversation very often, especially a people and land so beautiful and intriguing, but so far away because of barriers. Since my return, my brothers and sisters in Christ are encouraged. Others are curious. I’m praying for and alert to opportunities to move conversations forward. It is still hard work and I’m certain it will be until either the Lord returns or calls me home.
A bonus highlight / take away: In addition to a deeper appreciation for the gospel in general and an affinity for missions to Cuba in particular, I consider myself blessed to spend a week with brothers and sisters in Christ in a gospel-immersion experience. During home visits when it was not our turn to lead the gospel discussion, we were listening as our teammates shared; when we weren’t sharing we were talking as a team or among ourselves about how previous discussions went and anticipating future discussions. We also took turns sharing the long versions of our conversion stories / testimonies. My faith was strengthened and my gospel sharing confidence and skill grew. Existing friendships were strengthened and new friendships formed.
If the Lord wills (James 4:15), looking forward to my next trip in God’s timing next year. Thankful for my teammates and for others who will be going again this year and also looking forward to supporting and encouraging them.