Benediction Prayer

as we leave this hall today
do not leave the message here
make it clear, take it home
shine the light, keep it bright
the message of Jesus is dear
to our hearts, bless those who
were recognized today, those
absent, those of us who will
take on the struggle, the fight.
Lord, show us the light; amen



blognote: This is the Benediction I will use as Master of Ceremonies at the conclusion of the Membership Recognition Dinner today at Central Baptist Church.

a simple memory...

This is the town of Manaca, Santí Spiritu, Cuba where I bought the 'campesino' shirt I wanted to wear for the Recognition Dinner on Sunday at CBC. It has gotten so cold here it's definitely not anything like Cuba. So maybe I can wear it for the slideshow presentation I plan to do later.

I rode a 1940's steam train from Iznaga to reach the small town of Manaca. The train used to bring workers from Iznaga to work in the sugar cane fields. This simple short-sleeved white shirt made here of local 'linen' with wooden buttons cost 6 CUP [$7.20]. Jokingly I was told it was made of washed rice sack material with lots of starch. It has laundered beautifully and embodies so many of my memories of rural Cuba: pristine, honest and pure.

School Supplies

One of the two stops to donate supplies was a rural school outside of Trinidad de Cuba. It had been raining and mud had overtaken the schoolyard. The children had been sent home but when our bus appeared, they came running back to the schoolhouse. Some even stopped to put on their school uniforms.

They gathered in one classroom and greeted us. We took a tour of the four room schoolhouse and then presented our school supplies to the principal. The children were overjoyed; they sang to us and we sang to them. The school was very clean and neat but lacked most amenities that our schools here take for granted. They did have TVs in each room for beamed-in classes but not for internet activity.



This was a very humbling experience. What a difference my packets of encouragement stickers would make is beyond my comprehension. Others had crayons, rulers, notebooks, storybooks, etc. It was like a big party with lots of gifts.

In spite of the weather and the muddy spare conditions of the school, the children were so happy. This is what we found all over the island and it was not what I had expected. Whether or not we were bearing gifts, we were always greeted as friends and as Americans there was no ill will.

Medical Supplies

The first stop to donate supplies was at Caritas, a hospital/clinic/shelter run by the Daughters of Charity, Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul. We met Sister Judy, the sister in charge, and handed over many medical supplies, most of which are practically impossible to attain in Cuba. There were 17 members of our Humanitarian Mission and each brought between 10 to 15 pounds of supplies. The major part of my donation was 10 pounds of Oyster Shell Calcium with Vitamin D. We left them about 200 pounds of supplies.

The mission houses a clinic; one sister is a medical doctor. She will catalog everything, dispense it there and also make it available to the sisters that work outside the clinic. They also feed the indigent and the elderly. The nuns live there and work in the community. We also met 5 'orphans' but I will leave that wonderful story for another blog entry.

Cuba Humanitarian Mission

Just back from Miami where I stayed after my week in Cuba on a humanitarian mission and celebrated my 72nd birthday!

Will start blogging tomorrow!