Cuba 2006

In 1998 a Cuban music group, Kairos, visited Europe, touring several European countries, giving concerts in many Baptist churches. They also visited Norway, including my local Baptist church. The leader of the group together with two of the members stayed in our home. That was the beginning of a warm friendship via e-mail that resulted in my husband and I visiting Cuba last summer 2006, for our holidays.

We did not know what to expect. We had heard a lot about Cuba, but now we were going to find out by ourselves.

The first week we spent in Havana, the capital. We stayed in a privete home with very friendly and nice people. Havana is a very interesting city, with Old Havana on UNESCO's World Heritage list. On our first Sunday in Havana, we went to service in one of the Baptist churches in the city, a very big one. We were met by smiling people and joyful song and music. The pastor preached about peace, the absence of war, the importance of peace in society, between people. But above all he preached about peace of heart, which only God can give, and which is not dependant on the world around (John 14:27).

The next week we went to Santa Clara to visit our friends. Again we were welcomed in the most cordial way, and at once we became members of the family. We spent the week visiting many historical and interesting places in the region. But above all we spent time meeting with the people of God. We travelled in the region together with our friends, a missionary family, visiting Baptist churches and groups meeting in private homes. We felt strenghtened by their testimonies about what God is doing in their lives and in Cuba. We also gave our testimonies, feeling the community that only God can give people with such different backgrounds. We prayed together, and even if we didn't understand each other's words, we felt the presence of God very strongly.

On Sunday morning we took part in the service. During the service they announced a prayer meeting on Capiro Hill, which is a hill (small mountain) in the middle of the city, with a memorial of Che Guevara on the top. At six o'clock in the afternoon 100-150 people met on top of the hill. There were music and singing and dancing, praising the Lord. We prayed a lot. Finally we joined hands in a circle. Everybody stood with faces turned to the city, and we prayed for the city. We had a lot of strong and wonderful experiences and blessings with our brothers and sisters in God during our stay in Cuba.

Our last week in the country my husband and I spent at the beach in Varadero, also there meeting with the people of God. I thank the Lord for our brothers and sisters in Cuba, this beautiful island. I pray the Lord to bless the expanding church of Cuba, enabling them to meet the future, whatever it will be. (Ef 1:15-16)

Margun Warem, Norway

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