Mantilla

	We (Bob and Sue Halstead) arrived at Mantilla on opening night, January 18, 2002, to find a medium-sized church, in a residential area of Havana, along a very busy road.
The church was already full and there were over 90 children who were wisely placed in the very front of the church. After a rousing song-service, the children (of all ages) viewed a puppet show, with puppets brought by the team by put on by local church members.

This church, like all the others, has a thousand stories. One story is about Felix Cuello (Below, center), who while he was in prison for several years, he led several prisoners to Christ. Though he is now and a member in good standing, he continues to go every Sunday to the prison. At the evangelistic meeting Bob and Sue Halstead met two former prisoners. Vladimir Espinosa (Below, right) had been involved in witchcraft. One day Felix went to the prison to offer communion and Vladimir's heart was touched. That was the start of his path toward God. He was baptized December 9, 2001. Roberto Sierra's (Below, left) wife had falsely accused him, told lies about him and, as a result, he was sent to prison. When Felix and his wife came to minister at the prison and told him about God's love, Roberto said, "How could God possibly love someone like me. Through study they led him to Christ and Roberto is attending these meetings and making plans to be baptized.

Lydia's story is just now evolving. She is a devil-worshipper who attended the opening night meeting. While at the meeting she told her friend she shouldn't be there because a voice told her that if she came the devil would kill her. She started to leave the meeting but the pastor came and prayed with her, so she decided to stay. During the meeting she got a terrible headache and so he prayed with her again. Her headache went away and she stayed to the end of the meeting. As she left she said she would not return. Many people prayed for Lydia and she came to church Sabbath morning with her sister. When she had problems again on Sabbath morning the pastor spent most of the Sabbath School period with her in prayer. She not only stayed for church but returned to Saturday night's meeting.
	It quickly becomes evident to all evangelistic participants that victories come not by preaching or by good organization but by much prayer. Not only are the speakers driven to spend quality time with God (see Dr. Powers on the left, just before his sermon) but every night a prayer team meets to pray continually for the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Dr. & Mrs. Powers (►couple on the right), who operate an employment placement service in Mesa, Arizona both lived in Cuba as children as did Carol Powers' sister Loella (on the left with her husband, Lee Johnson, who live in San Diego, CA). The Johnsons, both health professionals, contributed to each evening's evangelistic program through nightly health-education segments and conducting the a stop-smoking program.
Comments from the team: It was a wonderful privilege to be able to return to the loving people and the beautiful island of Cuba. Pastor Lache had his team of elders, deacons, and deaconesses very well organized. About 2/3 of the way through the meetings one of the church members stopped to talk, and she said, "I have been a church member for 40 years and in all that time have never heard these truths presented in such a loving way. This has really touched my heart. Jesus and His love shine through, even in all of our doctrines." Both members and visitors thoroughly enjoyed the meetings and we had new visitors every night--even until and including the last night. We also had a strong children's program and this attracted even many of the neighborhood children who came early and could hardly wait for the program to begin. The Pastor's wife is planning a follow up series for the children to begin next month. The stop smoking program and the health talks were also a big help to the people. One man had been unsuccessfully trying to stop smoking for over a year. After carefully following the program as given the first week he, along with several others gained the victory and were baptized. It was truly a great privilege to be involved. Try it and you will like it. Bruce and Carol Powers