Recent changes to the Cuban constitution have lead to the relaxation of restrictions against religious activity in Cuba. Mike Cole, General Presbyter of New Covenant Presbytery, has made recent visits to Cuba and reports an active Presbyterian Church structure developing there. Dr. Reinerio Arce-Valentin, the President of the Presbyterian seminary in Matanzas Province, was a speaker at the last Presbytery meeting. In order to support this Presbyterian movement in Cuba, the St. John’s/ChristChurch Living Waters team has joined forces with a new LWW team from Clear Lake Presbyterian Church and is planning a trip to Cuba in early November to install two water treatment systems and provide health and sanitation education at two Presbyterian Churches in Matanzas, Cuba. Brad Urquhart and John Freeman will join 14 others from ChristChurch and Clear Lake PC for the trip. Funds collected at last year’s Holiday Gift Market will pay for one of the water systems.
Thank you, St. John’s people, for making this possible.
This represents a shift of our water projects from Haiti to Cuba; however, the overall poverty rate of the two countries is comparable. The average per capita income in Cuba is about $2 per day. Clean water systems and health education are needed in Cuba and according to Pastor Arce-Valentin, the people there long for our loving spiritual support. - John Freeman
Living Waters For the World Team Update
