Can you believe it? Pastor Danny's Blog has lain dormant for an entire month! But, contrary to any rumors regarding my untimely demise, I'm happy to report that I'm still alive & well. And after a lengthy hiatus from the blogosphere—due to travels, family illness, and a host of pastoral responsibilities that I had to catch up on after returning home—I’m finally settling back into my cyberspace saddle again. I’ll try to get my journalistic juices flowing once more by sharing some thoughts regarding our church's recent mission trip to Cuba.
In mid-August, Sandy and I led a team of 15 persons from the Danville area to minister with a Baptist church in Cuba’s capital city of Havana. We worked with a congregation there that Sandy and I have known quite well since 2002. This was my fifth visit to the island and Sandy’s fourth. Returning to the church in Cuba and seeing familiar faces there—faces that we’ve seen year after year—is sort of like going home again. We have been there so often 
that, for Sandy and me, it’s almost like returning to a church that we formerly pastored. The people there are truly special to our hearts. This was Mount Hermon’s first mission foray into Cuba, and Sandy and I were truly delighted for members of our new church family to meet some of our dear Christian friends in Havana. (We had been there several times previously with members of our former church in Florida.)
During week one, our team was involved in a variety of mission activities. Every morning, we divided into 3 subgroups of five persons each, and conducted 3 simultaneous Vacation Bible Schools for children in 3 different neighborhoods. Much as in the USA, our VBS consisted of Bible teaching, music, crafts, recreation & snacks…except that 
everything is done in Spanish rather than English! (Thank God that love knows no language.) We ministered to some precious boys & girls throughout the week, some of whom are the children of prostitutes & prison inmates. One child we ministered to had watched his father hatchet his mother to death just a few days earlier. Another child’s mother had just died of AIDs. One group of kids we worked with came from a household of 
41 women & children crowded into a residence built for 10. But the children were all so adorable. And they have such an authentic spiritual hunger. They loved us & we loved them. Thank God for the work that the church there is doing in reaching them for Christ.
Following lunch, our team members were involved in afternoon adult discipleship training sessions. Some of us taught sessions each day. I did a series on the theology and practice of the various worship expressions mentioned in the Bible. Cliff Hudgins taught on conflict resolution, listening skills, and other practical matters. Whitney Clarke demonstrated the use of object lessons to communicate spiritual truth to children. Other team members 
provided special music (vocal and guitar), drama, dance/ creative arts, and personal testimonies. Throughout the week, every team member spoke at least once. Some shared multiple times. In the evenings, team members similarly participated in corporate worship services which were hosted at a different venue each night. Cliff Hudgins and I shared primary preaching responsibilities throughout the week.
Our team worked hard, they sweated profusely (at least I did), and they connected beautifully with their Cuban brothers and sisters. I was proud of the work they did. Because of the busy schedule that had been planned for us, there was very little down time for the team. Indeed, our sightseeing opportunities were limited to just 3 afternoon hours squeezed into one busy Sunday. But the whole week was a memorable experience for all and I’m sure it left an indelible mark on each member of our team.
At the conclusion of week one, most of the team headed back to the USA while Sandy and I stayed behind. We had been invited to stay for a second week in order to engage in some additional ministry opportunities. Originally, there had been talk of me preaching/ teaching/ lecturing at the Baptist seminary for a week. But, when that opportunity didn’t materialize, there was a plan for me to share in several different Havana churches during the second week. Right before our departure to Cuba, however, my close friend who is 
a leader among Cuban Baptists told me that Sandy and I had been invited to speak to a pastors and wives conference that week at a Baptist camp and retreat center out in the countryside. Sandy and I would meet various pastors and wives from throughout the country. I would have the opportunity to address the pastors, Sandy would teach a session for their wives, and then Sandy would sing each night of the conference. So, that was our plan when we arrived in Cuba. But then Tropical Storm Fay showed up a week later on the day the rest of our team flew home. That was a Monday. This led to the last minute 
cancellation of the retreat, which was to have begun on Tuesday. Although good ole Fay missed Havana (barely), veering to the east, she went right over the area where the camp was located. So, it probably was a good idea they canceled the event. But, this led to our personal plans changing once more. Our friend worked hastily to make new arrangements for us. And everything worked out beautifully as if God had planned it that way all along (which I’m sure He had.) 
After hunkering down for a day while the storm (such as it was) passed by, we headed out on Tuesday morning, traveling to different areas in & outside of Havana, meeting different pastors & leaders, being exposed to their vision & to their various ministries, hearing their hearts, discerning opportunities for future mission ventures, and speaking and sharing wherever & whenever God gave opportunity. 
During the course of the week, we attended house church meetings, addressed youth gatherings, spoke to a group of brand new Christians, participated in an inner-city ministry to prostitutes, drug addicts & alcoholics, and preached & sang during regular church worship services. It was a rewarding time of relationship-building, encouragement & spiritual renewal.There are many things about our experiences in Cuba and our friends there that I can’t post on the Internet. Thus, I’ll reserve those comments for unrecorded,
oral communication only. Over the next few days, however, I do hope to share with you some written reflections and remembrances of our island neighbor to the south, for Cuba and its residents are truly a land and a people that God has put on our hearts. Pastor Danny
