There is a river which makes glad the city of God

LOGOI
3 hours ago
4 min read

My Uncle Paul (my dad’s youngest brother) has been a lifelong missionary. Like my father, he was born and raised in Cuba and dearly loves his Cuban brothers and sisters. In February of this year, he traveled to Cuba to try to help and encourage them in these days of trouble and turmoil playing out on the world stage. The following are excerpts of a letter he sent regarding his experience:

“I felt something eerie when I landed in Havana. It was hard to identify, but something was different. I checked in with immigration, collected my luggage at baggage claim and began heading into the city. What was it? Then it hit me…

Silence.

I know Havana, like all Latin American cities, as a hub of vibrant activity. It’s understatement to say that it’s noisy. Rumbling motorcycles, endless honking by car and taxi drivers, people hanging about loudly talking and laughing, radios blaring salsa and dance music. That’s Havana. It’s busy, alive, and noisy. But now…quiet.

When all fuel is taken away, silence is the result. Electricity is shut off for hours every day, schools are closed, even hospitals. Services like garbage are limited, so back streets are loaded with waste. A friend told me the black market is selling gas for $30 a gallon. Worse for me was the lack of water. Darkness is difficult, but not being able to bathe or use the toilet is not only uncomfortable but feels unlivable. A 500-gallon water emergency truck once delivered water to houses and people had every imaginable container out to fetch it, but now there is no fuel for the water truck so it doesn’t come by and the water crisis deepens.

I was in Havana to meet with pastors and leaders for a 10-day schedule, including traveling hundreds of miles into the interior. That possibility was quickly discarded. The only people I would be meeting with would have to be within walking distance. I, too, was confined to silence.

I didn’t have to go anywhere. It was amazing how people heard I was there and found their way to where I was staying. A deeply personal experience emerged. Hurting people came, I listened, asked questions, learned much, but was often too choked up to say much. I didn’t have to. The Holy Spirit filled the gaps.

Evenings were filled with groups who risked the dark and possible crime to spend a few hours together. The times were Spirit-filled and very “Cuban” filled with laughter, jokes and little complaining. One day, with the help of a Chinese electric car, I was taken to a church in a downtrodden section of Havana filled with prostitution, drug-addiction and poverty. We walked into the little church building and there to our great surprise was a group of people packed together, perhaps 50 or 60 sitting waiting patiently for a word of hope.

I found an empty seat in the font corner and while the pastor was introducing me, I desperately was praying: “Lord, this is not play church. These are hurting people and want something solid from you. I have no idea how to encourage them, please, please help.”

As I looked into their eyes and saw their eagerness, hunger, and even tears. Something triggered in my head and heart. That morning I had spent an hour or so reflecting on Psalm 46, “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.” I found a rich parallel to the Cuban situation. So, I told the story of the siege of Jerusalem. How must it have been for them to be without water and food and all the anxiety and turmoil that created? Then the climaxing affirmation, “There is a river which makes glad the city of God.”

Suddenly, that exploded in our hearts. Someone would shout out a problem and all would respond in unison: “There is a river which makes glad the city of God.” This went on for a good while; powerful and emotional. Then we examined the end of Psalm 46 to understand our part, “Be quiet (silent) and know that I am God.”

I came to Havana and found the city silent. But perhaps in this silencing, people are turning to God and discovering a river which makes glad the city of God in ways we could never have anticipated.”

LOGOI continues our ministry in Cuba providing free Bible training, courses and resources to pastors and leaders. I’m once again reminded of the wisdom of training, equipping, helping and encouraging men and women who were raised and live in their national communities. Thank you for being a part with your prayers and donations. Our on-the-job Bible training, resources, and encouragement to national pastors cost less than $60 a year per pastor. It remains a wonderfully effective and powerful investment in “building up the church, the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12).

“There is a river which makes glad the city of God.” Thank you for being a part of our LOGOI family and God’s amazing river of grace, peace, and nourishment.

Forever,