INSIGHT # 1 - CUBA

february 2017
insight
inside: The Ultimate Missions Guide to CUBA

the surface of Cuba's hustle and
Under
are the warmest families you'll ever
bustle
a stir going on about Cuba, for
There's
reason, it is truly a magical place.
good
key information about 'doing
Some
in Cuba.
missions'
are certainly restrictions in Cuba.
There
does that translate in regard to what
How
contents
february 2017
WARM CULTURE!
meet.
LOOKING FOR THE REALCUBA
WHY ARE YOU HERE?
WHAT WILL WE DO IN
CUBA?
we can do on 'mission'?
THINK: RELATIONAL
MINISTRY
It's ALL about relationships in Cuba!
Wayfinder Insight
1

is both stunningly beautiful, as
Cuba
as the "warmest" of the warm
well
south of our border. Prepare
cultures
eat well, enjoy meaningful
to
and laughter, and to be
conversation
like family!
treated
you've been to Europe, you'll feel at
If
in Havana! And if you're
home
with the Caribbean, you'll be
familiar
by the European feel of the
surprised
a reason Havana was such a
There's
spot for decades, take one stroll
hot
the lawn of the National Hotel and
on
walk where almost every movie
you'll
and diplomat has walked since
star
1930's. It feels like a movie, pinch
the
because yes, you really are
yourself,
here.
Warm Culture!
great city.
2 Wayfinder Insight

grew up during the 'heat' of the
I
war'. During school we were
'cold
how to respond to a foreign
told
Although I am too young to
attack.
the Soviet Missile Crisis, its
remember
was alive and well, seemingly
shadow
over our entire culture like a
hanging
sky. I actually traveled to the
winter
Curtain' and stood in the middle
'Iron
the famous 'spy exchange' bridge
of
Berlin when it was a divided city.
in
bridge so famous for spy
The
came Ronald Reagan and the
Then
came tumbling down. Relations
wall
on a sizable island almost
Meanwhile,
enough to be spotted from the
close
Caye, stood a bastion of
Florida
under the strong hand of
communism,
folk-lore-ish hero and villain -
its
Castro.
Fidel
the island and its
Increasingly
to the United States
relationship
out as a strange anomaly, in a
stood
wanting to forget the Cold
world
Enter, President Obama's
War.
to open up relations, and the
efforts
that has begun to crack open,
door
very reason, no doubt you are
the
doubt, you are excited at the
No
of being able to finally
proposition
foot on the soil of our latin
set
so close and yet, so far.
neighbor,
I have good news, there is
And
to be excited to visit Cuba!
reason
of us who have been can tell
Those
Cuba and its people do not
you,
an early visit I had just finished
During
a biography of Sir Winston
reading
I knew in the National
Churchill.
there was a small bar, off the
Hotel
path, named after the great
beaten
It was a quiet place he was
leader.
I left a group to let them explore
As
hotel and grounds, I decided to
the
the famous haunt of Churchill.
locate
walked the great main hall of the
I
reminiscent of some scene
hotel,
a 1930's Hollywood gangster
from
(by the way, the mafia actually
movie
a meeting at the hotel in the
had
taking it over completely for
30's,
days. I'm told that Las Vegas
several
after the Cuban revolution
exploded
on the mob's plans to make
stepped
Northern Cuban coast into a gem
the
hotels and casinos!) Back to our
of
made the left off the main hall and
I
my way down toward where I
snaked
heard this Churchill hangout
had
No lie, as they say, as I came up
was.
the clear glass doorway, the
to
into this little hole, I had a
entrance
view of the little secret place and
full
charming yesteryear wooden bar,
it's
forward from my view. So
running
history....
much
eyes lifted to a bar tender
My
at the end of the bar,
standing
to kill in classic black and
dressed
attire, with his apron, he was
white
whisking dry a martini glass.
carefully
bar was empty apart from him.
The
eyes shifted and he looked at me
His
from the empty bar, as if to
smiling,
"come in Mr. Churchill, the place
say,
all yours!"
is
alas, I have a group to get back
But
Cuba, there are not enough
to!
to convey the variety of
pages
the beautiful people
experiences,
share more ahead, that's just a
We'll
snippet of my experience. And I
little
not even begun sharing what it's
have
to work with the local churches
like
be so blessed by them, and yes,
and
be a HUGE help to them!
to
features
looking for the
real Cuba
North American Christian organizations are sometimes guilty of dramatizing reality a bit,
without knowing all the facts, have you noticed that? For example recently one organization
said "be one of the first to share the gospel in Cuba!" If you know Cuba, you know this is quite
inaccurate. The Church is ALIVE and WELL in Cuba, despite their hardships! Travel there and
you'll be BLESSED by the Cuban Church and people. All that said - your visit will greatly
encourage the Church, and yes, there IS work to be done TOGETHER.
W O R D S B Y R O B G R A H A M
disappoint!
exchanges between 'east' and 'west'.
warmed, so much changed.
fond of and had loved to sit.
and warm, embracing culture.
story......
reading this!
Wayfinder Insight
3

Why Are You Here?
Like every other country, as you enter Cuba you'll be asked
why you are visiting. Unless you have an explicit permit to
conduct religious training, or similar, you'll be traveling as a
tourist, visiting friends.
We are aware that many airlines are beginning to open up travel
to Cuba. However, you'll still need an agent to get the needed
tourist card. That said, things are changing rapidly, so who
knows what tomorrow may bring! Here are some key points for
you in regard to a short-term trip:
Travel to Cuba is legal, but remains 'restricted'.
You can share and do 'mission trip' type of activities, but
under specific guidance. We suggest you use an experienced
guide. We'd be glad to help you.
US Military personnel may NOT visit Cuba. Both countries ban
this. (Former military CAN travel, you just cannot have 'active'
status)
FBI and CIA personnel have restrictions, we're guessing if you
are one of those, you already know this!
Similarly if you have a high level security clearance, you'll
need your org to give you permission.
Children and teens are welcome! (Minors, like most places
will need a notarized letter when traveling without parents).
Cuba is, no exaggeration - SUPER safe!
A VISA is NOT required, just your passport and a tourist card.
Cuban health insurance MUST be purchased (approx $30
USD), again, agents arrange this along with the tourist card.
Worse case you can purchase upon arrival at a kiosk PRIOR to
clearing Cuban Customs.
Take cash, USA ATM cards do NOT work in Cuba.
You will need "tourist dollars" in Cuba called "CUC", a guide
can get you a good exchange rate (90 cents or more per US
dollar).
You need a guide to avoid running into trouble being
identified as 'evangelizing', with a guide - no problems.
4
Wayfinder Insight
Even of modest means,
Cubans find a way to
dress in style

Beautiful Varadero Beach
What Will We
Do In Cuba?
Wayfinder Missions there are a variety of
With
to this question. From a completely
answers
mission trip based on your particular
'customizable"
gifts and talents to "partner-planned' mission
team
where our in country partners have laid out
trips
known needs and we've vetted those to be sure we're
supporting a SUSTAINABLE ministry action. To us,
sustainability is everything.
The short answer is, you can pretty much do the same
type of "missions" activities you do elsewhere, so
relax! We hope that is great news. In Cuba there is
simply a need to be "in the know" and under the right
direction locally. Actually, we operate that way in all
locations so there's not much different there. The
real difference is the prep work you'll never see that
goes on before your trip and during. We have that
covered! Start dreaming of doing ministry in Cuba!
Wayfinder Insight 5

Think: Relational Ministry
One thing you will not be doing a great deal of in Cuba are huge 'work projects'. You are
free to raise money and we can get that delivered (and share such needs with you). Wayfinder
IS able to arrange extremely meaningful smaller projects. For example, funding and helping
build home access ramps for disabled family members. We have other similar projects.
The good news is that any project you do will be very important. The best news is that Cubans
are the most relational people you'll meet! Prepare for meetings to start late because the 'hang
out time' before events goes on a long time! Cubans love to interact with visitors!
6
Wayfinder Insight

even more information about
For
in Cuba, feel free to contact
missions
We're here to help. Wayfinder
us.
is a non-profit 501(c)3
Missions
to serving and mobilizing
dedicated
ready to go! Even for locations
those
do not currently facilitate travel
we
(and you may be surprised at all
to
places we CAN do that!), we're
the
to help you strategize and
happy
what can be difficult
navigate
from where you are - to
waters,
you feel called to go. We
where
understand.
We Can Help
success@wayfindermissions.org
Wayfinder Insight
7

Words by Rob Graham
Rob is Chief Navigator and Steward for Wayfinder
Missions Corp., a non-profit organization dedicated to
guiding churches, schools, medical professionals and
others in sustainable missions efforts across the U.S.A.
and overseas.
Rob is pursuing a life call to collaboratively discover what
is '21st Century missions?' He is available to help your
organization strategically think and plan through your
missions efforts, long-term and short-term, and to
arrange short-term missions trips.
Rob thoroughly enjoys leading mission teams,
collaborating with leaders world-wide, and is available to
lead retreats and as an event speaker.
When not in 'the field', he enjoys the blessings of life
lived with his wife Karen, and their three children and
one grand-child, in "old-town" St. Charles, Missouri.
Contact Rob at: rob.graham@wayfindermissions.org