Tony Fernández

Saturday morning we went to see a bus that the church has purchased. Transportation is a major problem in Cuba, and this 1964 former school bus is hoped to be part of the solution. The Matanzas church needs the bus on a weekly basis, transporting members out to the mission churches they have started. They also need it for special events. It’s taken a lot of work, but they are proud of the fact that they are on the verge of having a bus of their own.

After seeing the bus, we went to the building of the Versalles church where we met with our brother Gilberto, who is a professional cameraman. We spent time talking about the possibilities of doing media production in Cuba in the future. Following a wonderful lunch with Gilberto, Tony and Tony’s family, we went to visit a farm that the church has purchased. Scarcity of food is another problem, and the church hopes to alleviate that with this small farm (about 30 acres). The land was far from impressive, but the enthusiasm and optimism of our Cuban brothers is contagious, and we went away hoping for the best from this project.

In the evening, we spent time talking with Tony about the future of the work in Cuba. Hopes, dreams, fears and concerns… we laid it all out on the table and spent time praying over it. Tony has committed himself to the church in Cuba, come what may. He has had ample opportunities to leave the island, tempting job offers in various countries. But Tony will stay because he feels called to work in his homeland.

Bill, Steve and I ate supper and got some rest, knowing that Sunday would be a day of travel.