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“So tell me the expectations of you growing up” I ask Pastor Arturo in broken but passable Spanish over breakfast one day. Arturo unhesitatingly continues spooning a third helping of sugar into his already sweet Cuban coffee as he answers, “Amigo Adam, I was taught how to work -- really work -- at an early age. By the time I was 14, I was already employed at the local bakery.” It is through conversations that progress just like this one that I build my itinerary around for this trip in February. I realize that as much as I had thought about, strategized, prayed for, and even spent time with Arturo’s ministry, I don’t really know Arturo deeply! I also use this time to soak in what God has been doing through CVC, (Arturo’s soccer ministry). What I see that I hadn’t seen before is structure...structure to Arturo’s ministry strategy, structure to his schedule, and structure in his weekly youth group, such as a newly-implemented Sunday night youth fellowship. In trips past, I had felt Arturo was more “in in head” with the ministry’s strategy and future. This trip I saw tangible implementation of his theories.
This trip is rewarding in so many ways. To start, I just love building a friendship with Arturo. In him I see a mature spiritual leader with a storied past and a heart toward youth. Arturo’s story is tragic and beautiful; so many parts of it make so much more sense looking back, while others still are unclear. He is clearly not friends with us just because we have resources, ohhh no. He and I have made it extremely clear this relationship is built on God’s plans not ours, and that Arturo will call out anytime he disagrees with us or has a different plan for a particular reason. I know he’ll stick to this because it’s already happened (“Adam, you don’t get it for __ reason; this is how it really is here in Cuba).
I am also encouraged to feel a stronger, clearer partnership forming between FIEL and CVC. On this trip, Arturo and I sit between meals for hours at a time discussing not only how CVC is progressing, but also FIEL’s role in that. I listen as Arturo lays out his plan for becoming sustainable without FIEL one day, which warms my heart that I don’t even have to prompt that discussion. I think my favorite part of all was watching how much Rice Chi Alpha, FIEL, and “Americans” have made such a large spiritual impact on this community, but how much integrity to Cuban customs, culture, expectations, and relationships Arturo has kept his ministry. For example, in the States, when we think of a strong, healthy small group, we think many things, one being “life together.” But there is a huge tendency to spend money while doing life together, right? Chic-fil-A costs money (and transportation might I add). A dinner together costs money. You get the idea. But Arturo says to me that those ideas, they just don’t make sense in his community. I have found different ways to do “life together” with my guys, he tells me with. I smile wide and clap to no one in particular...he gets it! This is a partnership, not a charity.
Finally, this trip is about dreaming. I feel giddy as I walk a patch of ground (see picture above) where Arturo envisions a gathering headquarters of sorts to be built for youth in his discipleship ministry to gather and live “life together.” I feel anticipation as I look around at the Sunday night youth gathering and think to myself, “next year there’ll be twice as many here.” And I feel humbled and overwhelmed as I think about God’s majesty and his already-perfect plan for this ministry in the years to come.
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