Stories

When you talk to people in Cuba, they share their blessings rather than challenges, radiating a positive outlook that inspires others. When we created the itemized shipping list for the export license, wedding dresses weren't originally on the list—after all, the need for essentials like food and medicine is so great. Yet, God has a way of connecting people and...

If you don’t have a car, do you need a driver’s license? That’s the situation we faced when obtaining Atulado’s export license. The license itself was useless without a destination agent to receive the shipment and get it out of Cuban Customs. Individuals aren’t allowed to receive shipments—only registered businesses and churches aren’t registered businesses. This meant we needed someone...

Since the ministry’s founding in 2017, the Atualdo family has come together many times to support those who share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As we embarked on the latest project, I never imagined that equipping pastors with powdered milk as a resource would change everything. It not only became the tool pastors and leaders desperately desired to impact many...

Do you remember the day you first believed in Jesus? People are introduced to Jesus in various ways—by their parents or someone else, during a moment in worship, or sometimes at a special event. For Alberto Martinez Rodríguez, a brave Christian and a fundamental moment set the foundation for his belief in Christ. Alberto and his wife, Josefa Atie Caseros,...

Pastor Abel Pérez Mederos and his wife, Diana Torres Reyes, are two of the humblest people you’ll ever meet. Married for almost thirty years, they view challenges and hardships as opportunities and always face them with a smile. For instance, they consider caring for family not as a chore but as a privilege. They’ve cared for her 57-year-old uncle with...

Most Americans who travel to Cuba stay in a 5-star resort along the breathtaking beaches of the country’s north shore or at the Hotel Nacional in Havana. However, that's not the real Cuba. I wanted to go on my most recent mission trip to strengthen my faith. While I've traveled to Cuba several times, my trip in 2024 revealed something...

Your typical neighborhood grocery store may carry twenty or more types of milk, including dairy and plant-based options. With selections ranging from coconut to almond, soy, 2%, fat-free, organic, chocolate, and beyond, powdered milk might not come to mind when you’re perusing the milk aisle. Yet, for people in Cuba, it’s often the preferred choice over fresh milk. Before delving into why,...

Imagine putting your surgery on hold because your doctor didn’t have the necessary medical supplies to operate. Although we’ve always known about the medication shortage in Cuba, which includes basic over-the-counter items like Neosporin or aspirin, it took probing deeper to grasp the full extent and level of need for medical supplies. From syringes for a penicillin shot to cure...

How many times have you moved? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average American moves 11.7 times in their lifetime. Now, what if you had to move 26 times in six years? That’s a lot of packing and unpacking! Yet, this was the reality for a pastor and his wife in a small community in Cuba. Through each move, they remained...

I traveled to Cuba for the first time in 2009, and January marked my 40th trip to support what God is doing through His Church in Cuba. Throughout this incredible journey, I encountered canceled flights, countless delays, and so many Customs inspections, to the point where I became recognized as a regular. I experienced diverted flights to the Bahamas, lots...