For The Sake Of
THE GOSPEL
Wednesday February 20, 2013
I am on a flight returning from a week of
ministry in the Communist country of Cuba.
This country of 11.5 million people is one of the most unique places in
the world. There are for sure other poor
countries in the world, some even poorer then Cuba. What makes Cuba unique in that there is the
combination of poverty and oppression because of the very tightly controlled
political and economic system.
For about 11 years I have been travelling
to Cuba and assisting churches and Pastors in the work of evangelism and
discipleship through a missions organization I founded in 1980 called the
"Calvary Road Gospel Association". More lately we've been referring
to it as "Calvary Road Ministries."
Our special passion has been ministering to and resourcing Pastors and
churches in what we call the "forgotten places."
Large churches and those along the main
roads often receive visitors from abroad and thus some kind of financial help
and encouragement. We praise God for
those ministries that provide such help but the passion of Calvary Road is the
little places off the beaten track where there are small, and sometimes large
churches and mission stations that receive few if any visitors or help from the
outside and are often very desperate. It
has been my privilege to have been in places where no foreigner has been
before.
Let me tell
you a little about life in the "real Cuba" away from the resorts? Today, let's just focus on the food
situation. The average Pastor or church
planter in Cuba makes about $ 12-20 per month.
This is the standard wage and in fact I know a surgeon and a University
law professor who make $ 30 a month.
Food is rationed and rations, which are sold very cheap, last about 7-10
days. After that, life is very difficult
for the average Cuban. There are no
shops and stores that we North America's
would identify with. Families
are given ration cards which must be shown at the government shops whenever you
make a purchase.
Now in North America and most other parts
of the world, when you want to buy
something you just go to the store and buy it if you have the money. Not so in Cuba. Food is in short supply even if you have the
money. Everything is rationed. Let me give you an idea of your typical
rationed shopping list as a Cuban.
For each member of your family every month
you can buy (remember this is each month not each week); 4 ounces of coffee, 4
ounces of beans, 4 ounces of chicken, 4 ounces of sugar, 4 ounces of pork (it
is generally illegal to have beef but I won't get into the exceptions), 1/2
liter of cooking oil, 8 eggs etc. With
some of the recent changes you may buy some vegetables at private stands if you
have the money though for many Cubans vegetables would be a luxury. Children up to the age of 7 can have two
glasses of milk a day and after age 7 only if it is available and you have the
money and usually bought on the Black Market or farmer if you know one.
Many things are only available on the Black
Market, including food items, but at high prices. I estimate that perhaps as much as 70 % (my guess) of
Cuba's economy is the Black Market and without it people would not be able to survive. This presents a dilemma for the followers of
Jesus who want to be good and honest citizens.
My experience and observation is that Christians try their best to live
within the law but it is (because of economic conditions, contradictory laws
and government obstruction and harassment), virtually impossible to live one
single day without breaking some law no matter how hard you try.
Just so you have an idea, let me share with
you a typical days menu. For breakfast
every Cuban is rationed a piece of bread the size of an English muffin. You
would have that and a little coffee for breakfast. Off to school or work you go. At lunch time you'd be looking forward to
perhaps a little bean soup. Water or
coffee if you have it (Remember, you've only got 4 ounces for the month and it ain't Starbucks. As a matter of fact, the coffee sold to
Cubans as part of their ration is mixed with some kind of bean). You've had your lunch so it's back to work or
school (School often does provide a typical Cuban lunch). Soon you'll be looking forward to supper of
either more bean soup (perhaps over some rice) or the staple, Rice and
Beans. If you know someone with a farm
or have been sent money from family in America, you might have some cucumber or
tomatoes. Yucca is another staple and
Cubans have, earned a thousand ways to cook it. Personally, I don't care for Yucca but I do
Ike it fried in little balls. That's
pretty much all you are getting to eat today.
Of course some have more than others because they have relatives in
America or are involved in the Black
Market, government, illegal activity such as drugs or prostitution. Fortunately the government has opened 86
areas of private enterprise but this is only a recent development and has not
yet made a significant difference for a lot of people.
Though the ministry of Calvary Road is focused
on evangelism and discipleship, we cannot ignore the tremendous need for more
and better food. Our ministry is
partnering with churches to establish farms (these must not be owned by churches
but by individuals) to help feed thousands of hungry people. On this trip we evaluated and then provided
all the resources for another farm.
Typically the farm provides free food to
Cuban missionaries and church planters who
often do their work with no promise of wages or provision. They are passionate about seeing people come
to Christ and live by faith that God would provide their needs. We also provide free food to seniors who,
if they've worked for the government, receive a
$5 a month pension. Yes, you read
that right. (A pound of chicken leg would cost about $1.50 - 1.75, so you know how far that would go).
We have one farm near the Baptist Seminary
and so from time to time food is provided for the students. Food is sold to people in the churches and surrounding
neighborhoods for about 50% of the cost
elsewhere. In another blog, I will share a bit more of life
in Cuba and tell you about the struggle that continues after Hurricane Sandy
(October 2013), now long forgotten by
the outside world.
Still, in spite of all these difficulties,
I am overwhelmed by the passion of Christian Cubans to reach their countrymen
for Christ. They are absolutely
passionate and committed to reaching their country with the gospel. How is it my friends with you and me as we
live in relative ease? Are we willing to
lay it all on the line, to sacrifice our
comfort and ease for the sake of the gospel, to pour everything into the
Kingdom. I have received so much more
from them when it comes to eternal values than I could ever give.
