As you are probably aware relations between the US government and the government of Cuba have worsened in the recent period. The U.S. recently expelled 14 Cuban diplomats from the U.S. They were posted at the Cuba Interest Section in Washington, D.C., and at the United Nations in New York City. Cuba is listed as a terrorist nation by the US government. The US has announced tighter restrictions on travel to Cuba and that now a Department of Commerce license along with a US Department of Treasury license will be required to make financial gifts to Cuban churches.

Of course, these developments have implications for our partnership. We are monitoring these actions and hope you will join us in prayer that somehow more peaceful relations may be forthcoming instead of these continued bellicose maneuvers.

While at the Alliance of Baptists annual national convocation in Vienna, Virginia, Glendalers met and talked with Dr. Francisco “Paco” Rodes-Gonzales, the president of the Fraternity of Baptist Churches in Cuba and a professor of Baptist Studies at the Ecumenical Seminary in Matanzas, Cuba. We asked him to take funds to the Fraternity to provide for a theological studies scholarship for the pastor (Niubes Montes de Oca) of our partner church in Santa Clara. We also sent arts supplies for the children’s program in Santa Clara with the Cubans who were able to get visas to travel to the US for the Alliance meeting. Also we asked him to take a letter to Niubes from our Associate Pastor April Baker.

In our conversations, we discussed the fact that we have had no direct word from our partner congregation since we were there in November, 2002, for its service constituting it as a church. Paco promised to help us obtain mailing addresses and work on other means of communication, such as email addresses.

Please continue to pray for our partner congregation in Santa Clara: Iglesia Bautista Alberto J. Diaz (Alberto J. Diaz Baptist Church). Also work and pray for peace between our nations.