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One of the stories of this
church is of Yasmin Lemes (◄), a 14-year-old young lady. Her
grandmother was hospitalized with abdominal problems. She had once
attended the Marianao SDA Church. Faithful members visited the grandmother
several times while she was in the hospital. These visits touched the
heart of young Yasmin and her mother. When her grandmother got out of the
hospital, Yasmin started attending church regularly. Yasmin soon came to
realize there were things she needed to change in her life. She wore a
great deal of jewelry and danced a lot. She talked with her mother who
encouraged her saying, "If you want to be a good person you have to do
this." So, Yasmin prayed to God and said, "Something inside of me told me
I needed to give up jewelry and dancing." She has, and will be
baptized at the end of these meetings. Her mother was baptized
during 2001. Yasmin says, now, when her friends ask her why she doesn't
wear jewelry and doesn't go dancing, she is able to witness to her faith. |
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Comments from Elder
Mittleider: What the Cuba series did for me:
1. Every time I hold a series I get my spiritual batteries recharged. To
see the Holy Spirit working in the lives of other is thrilling. To
pardonship with the Holy Spirit and know that He is working through you
and your team does something that no language or words can describe.
2. I became acquainted with many new brothers and sister in the church who
I had never met before but now we already know one another and the
friendship will only deepen in eternity.
3. We had the privilege of becoming acquainted with other who now have
accepted God's call and have joined His church family. These we also have
a head start in knowing and will continue to develop a deeper friendship
in eternity.
4. Working in a community where they have so little shows us how fortunate
we are to live in the USA. And shows us the privileges we have as USA
citizens that other from other countries can't even imagine. And my being
a first generation America it is easy for me to imagine what could have
been. Also, to see the apparent happiness shown by those who have so
little proves that happiness doesn't come because of things and
conveniences. Rather it comes by a commitment to God and being satisfied
with what we have.
5. I receive a blessing and inspiration from all who were traveling in to
do evangelism in Cuba. Knowing that others were engaged in meeting on the
same nights and face similar challenges inspired me. The friendship
developed among this group of workers was great. To see some who had never
worked in an evangelistic series be willing to preach a series did
something for them and all of us that will have a lasting impression.
There is much power in prayer and to pray for one another doesn't bring
God down to us but brings us up to God.
6. Holding a series yearly help refresh our memories in several ways. It
shows the clarity of God's last day message. We are witnessing the drama
of the ages being playing out. The simplicity yet depth of the message for
these last days appeals to the educated and uneducated. Reviewing all of
the Bible texts on any given subject of Bible doctrines is most inspiring.
7. This series also had a special blessing in store for me. Two of my team
members were really unknown by me. We had the chance of becoming well
acquainted and they with Harold, a long time friend, will from this time
on be special close friends.
8. The pastor we worked with was a great teacher to me. He knows how to
get his church members involve. He didn't micro-manage but had his church
organized so that his members became a complete body ready for work. Every
church member was needed and had their role to fill. I wish that the
pastors who have only one church to shepard, some with several pastors to
assist them, could see what they are missing in not making their church
members team members with them.
9. I saw again what the NAD is missing in not having full time Bible
workers. It reminded me of how much Bible workers use to accomplish in the
USA. Our Bible workers were worth their weight in gold in our series. The
church on its own and at their own expense has three full time Bible
workers. Two men and one women. The men can not attend seminary unless
they first prove their calling by doing Bible work. Thus they learn the
importance of home visitation which is nearly a lost art in the developed
parts of the world.
10. Transportation, I had forgotten how some parts of the world have
multiple challenges in this area. I again realize how smooth our roads are
and how comfortable we have it. Also, I learned that GM's will continue to
move even in old age.
11. Last and most important the power of prayer again became a reality. We
had to depend on God for electricity, equipment working properly, safety
in travel, and bringing victory over being slaves to sinful practices. Am
I glad that I went? Yes, Yes, Yes. Would I recommend that others go? If
you want a growing Christian life I believe it is a must to witness. Do
you want to experience a deeper appreciation for what the Lord has blessed
you with? By all means go to a developing country. It will show how
wealthy we all are.
Only the Lord know what this year holds for all of us. Since I have
arrived home my team members assure that we must do this again next year.
You know that India wouldn't be my choice of countries. But if the Lord
leads us to go to India next January so be it. Our son and his family say
if we go to India next year they wish to join us. We will leave this
entirely in the Lords hands. Keep us in mind should we be needed. I wish
above all things for God will not mine be done.
Special regards,
Ken
Daryl Skaggs wrote:
I have spent many a day pondering as to what to write about our Havana,
Cuba Campaign. How do you put down in words the incredible experience of a
lifetime such as being given the opportunity of working for our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ? I am forever humbled and thankful for this great and
wonderful moment in time.
Such a brief period of time it was, arriving in Cuba on January 14 and
leaving on February 3, a mere 21 days later. The entire time was a day to
day and moment by moment of Holy Spirit led meetings.
It was so inspirational seeing the Holy Spirit strive with a rough, large,
unkempt man, and to finally see him leap to his feet to join the already
formidable crowd coming forward for baptism. To see this same man, night
after night come to the meetings clean, smiling and clutching his Bible as
if it were his best friend, is enough to bring tears of joy to the eyes of
this writer. There were many tears of joy at these meetings.
I am reminded of a woman who was just embracing the truth for the first
time and the visit we made to her home. As we entered her humble abode,
her prayer was only for everyone to enjoy the peace she was privileged to
experience through her newfound truth in Jesus and for her to be able to
eat
that day. As we stood in the first room of her home just barely enough
room for the four of us to stand, I noticed the single bed covered
with plastic
sheeting probably found in some type of shipping container. The concrete
floor was clean and each humble article in the room was placed in perfect
order. We were allowed a tour and pushing the clean rag of a curtain we
moved into the second room. It was then I observed two more single beds
also
covered with the same type winkled opaque plastic smoothed as best as
could be possible. My wonder as to "why the plastic" was soon dispelled
when I
looked up at the ceiling and could easily see daylight here, there and
everywhere. In this room the walls were full of holes, channels of light
piercing the darkness and making it completely unnecessary for me to use
my video light mounted atop my camera. In the corner of this room, about 1
foot off the floor was her kitchen, consisting of single burner propane
stove, water spigot with no sink and three or four battered pots and pans
along with a few unmatched plates and accompanying bent, and twisted
silverware. Proceeding into the last room of the home again sweeping
aside a curtain "rag" albeit clean, I entered the bathroom. A room
about six feet by five feet with only a commode with neither water closet
nor seat, and a one-gallon bucket, used for bathing. The most
extraordinary thing in all this was the utter peace and happiness this
dear sister in Christ was most obviously experiencing. I am sorry to
say that I have been blessed beyond measure with material things in this
life and didn't even realize it. I hope I never again complain about any
circumstance I find myself in, in the future here on this earth. Bless
this dear Christian Sister.
Time or space doesn't permit me to tell of all the astonishment and wonder
I was privileged to see and feel on my trip to Cuba. God only knows the
extent
this journey has affected my spiritual life and every other aspect of my
existence. No one, in my opinion, can attend a missionary trip such as
this and not be positively affected in their spiritual life.
Thanks to all the other members of our entire team in Cuba and to the
wonderful friends and family I have adopted while there.
Warm embraces to you all.
Daryl Skaggs MrSkaggs1 AT aol.com
88B Skaggs Way
Talking Rock, Georgia 30175
Member of Pastor Ken Mittleider's Team |
