San Luís

The second day of our trip west, we drove about 30 Km (18 miles) south from Pinar del Rio to reach this small church in the middle of a farming community. The major crop in the area is tobacco that is used in the making of Cuban cigars. The only work available in this area is in the production of tobacco or a related business like a cigar factory. The church (▼ right) is located in an area of town with small homes and apartments. It is set between a fire house and a small children's clinic and is the only building set back off the street and with a tree in the front yard. Pastor Roberto Hernandez (▼ left with his wife and children) is a dynamic leader and has formed a effective team with the guest evangelist.

	I would describe the Evangelists at this location, Hector Quiñones (◄ a pastor from Santa Fe, New Mexico) as "Mr. Excitement!" That he was having a wonderful time speaking for this campaign was very evident. The afternoon of our arrival he had played in a baseball game with some of the young men from the church. They had video taped the game and Hector struck out twice in the part of the game we saw.
We we arrived at the church, one our before the meeting was scheduled to begin, we found Maria Esther Valdie (►) was already there and hard at work!

As we saw so often, people arrived using many forms of transportation. In addition to walking or bicycles, a few came by car and a few more by horse-drawn wagons (▲ left). But by far the largest number arrived crowded onto dump trucks, flatbed trucks, or trailers pulled by tractors (▲). Soon after we arrived, two large trucks showed up at the same time and unloaded their precious cargo with a lot of joy and happiness.
	What a joy to meet these two wonderful ladies (◄): Barbara Barroso, in front and Caridad Barroso in the rear. Both are church members had participated in the program the evening before we arrived. We were shown a videotape of Caridad (rear) singing during the previous evening program and she had a wonderful voice.
The church choir (▼ left) sang beautifully several hymns to start the musical program. Then something happened that is a good example of the kinds of events that has made this journey so special to us. A young man (▼ right) stepped to the mike, tie slightly askew and shirt tail partly out. The pianist struck a few cords and out of this young mans mouth came one of the most beautiful voices we have heard on this journey. Though he trembling with fear he put his heart into his singing and warmed our hearts.

	We also met "Tony" (◄) the church photographer, platform decorator, and jack of all trades. It seems to us every church has someone like Tony, that very special person who is always there to make things work.
Nieve Mirka Pacheco (▼, 54 years of age) told us how she first learned of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Her mother had been a member but left the church when Mirka was still a child so she had not attended for many years. Nine years ago Mirka was baptized into the Nazarene Church where she was working as a secretary. But studying the Bible she discovered the Seventh-day Adventist Church is the only church that keeps all 10 commandments and she feel the had to belong to such a church. She had to overcome many obstacles to become a Seventh-day Adventist. Her Nazarene friends were in tears about her decision. Her brother was the Nazarene church treasurer. Since they he has been baptized as a Seventh-day Adventist and the night I was writing this story Mirka was also baptized as a Seventh-day Adventist.