Journey to Cuba: Back to My Roots

Some of my earliest memories are wrapped in the sights, sounds, and flavors of Cuba, even though I had never set foot there. I remember my grandfather making me café con leche and my father stopping at the Spanish market to buy fresh pieces of sugarcane for me to taste. I can still hear my abuelo and me singing El Manisero ( “The Peanut Vendor”) together, a song that became part of the soundtrack of my childhood. Both of my parents spent part of their youth in Havana before escaping communist Cuba in the early 1960’s to begin a new life in America. They met in the Washington, DC area and I was born in America. Before this trip, I pulled out an old photograph of my father as a teenager standing on the streets of Havana, never imagining that decades later I would stand in the streets of that same city. As a second-generation Cuban American, I had always believed that one day the lord would lead me back to the land that shaped my family’s story. I simply never imagined it would be like this.

Just weeks after joining Proclaim Cuba as the National Partnerships and Development Director, I had the opportunity to join a vision trip with church leaders from Texas and Tampa, Florida. One pastor wanted to experience the ministry firsthand- to witness the work God is doing through the local church and ensure it would be a meaningful and safe opportunity for members of his congregation to serve. He shared at the end of our time that he was confident of both. When I arrived, I found myself smiling at the familiar rhythms of Cuban life. Our gracious hosts at the Havana Empowering Center greeted us each morning proudly with a cafecito, and one afternoon I spotted a peanut vendor on the roadside selling small paper packets of roasted peanuts. These simple moments felt like whispers from my childhood, gentle reminders that somehow, by God’s grace, I had come back to my roots.

Our host, Marjorie, with Pastor Alamino & his wife Idalmis.

Like many Americans, my image of Havana had been shaped by photographs from its glory days. I expected beauty mixed with hardship, but nothing quite prepared me for the reality before me. Nearly every building showed signs of neglect, many crumbling under decades of deterioration. The Cuban people are educated, resourceful, and deeply aware of the challenges surrounding them. We watched children walking barefoot through streets lined with towering piles of garbage that had remained untouched for weeks.

Yet wherever the darkness seemed greatest, the light of the Gospel shone brightest. The pastors and believers we met welcomed us with extraordinary warmth, generosity, and joy. As we worshiped, shared meals, laughed, and prayed together, I found myself deeply convicted. So many of the things that steal my joy are so trivial when compared to the daily realities our brothers and sisters endure, yet they possess a peace and steadfast hope that can only come from Christ. Their faith reminded me why God calls His church into unity. There is a refinement that happens when we draw near to one another, allowing God to teach us through the faithfulness of His people.

I returned home with more than memories; I returned with a calling that has only deepened. I cannot simply watch from a distance to see what unfolds in Cuba. I feel an overwhelming responsibility to stand alongside the Cuban church during this pivotal moment in history. This trip confirmed what I had sensed from the moment I joined Proclaim Cuba: while every act of generosity is deeply appreciated, it is faithful, consistent partnership that will strengthen the local church for the long and precarious journey ahead. I would be honored to have you join me in this mission-if you have not already. Together, as we celebrate 35 years of ministry, we can encourage pastors, equip churches, and remind our brothers and sisters in Cuba that they are seen, loved, and never forgotten. Will you join me?

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