Valdemar’s Cuba Mission Trip Update March 2023

I thank our Heavenly Father for all the support from DI to obey the Great Commission, that enable us to go to other nations to make disciples!

Last February, Irma and I had the opportunity to go on a Mission Trip to Cuba, from the 9th to the 23rd of February.

Before that, we were in prayer, asking God for direction, and for a way that we could go to Cuba again, to work with a church in Havana that may be interested in learning about the Equip to Serve series, and that they would have the desire to make disciples. Through the Baptist Conventions of Mexico and Cuba, we got in touch with the Shalom Baptist Church, in the Province of Havana. They responded to our proposal to learn about the ETS series and use it in their church, so later other churches and provinces would like to be discipled too. Pastor Onel, who is shown in the photo with his wife Tania and his children Jonathan and Beatriz, were interested in our discipleship series.

Pastor Onel invited me to preach at his church to share the challenge of getting involved in Discipleship, and he gave me the opportunity to preach about it for two Sundays. This is Shalom Baptist Church.

We had a group of eight people in this church, including the Pastor and two missionaries, and from February 11 to 20, I was intensively teaching Book 1 of ETS to them, and Pastor Onel concluded leading Book 1 with the group. Now, they are taking Book 2.

We had another group conformed by Missionaries from different provinces of Cuba, they are in a Seminary, where they started with the ETS series as part of their classes. This is going to be a great benefit because they will be able to share it in their provinces.

Pastor Onel also took me to a Meeting with Pastors, where I was allowed to fully explain what the DI ministry is, but although there was interest from several of them, they could only take ETS until there is a team of disciples in Havana.

Every day of our stay in Havana, Irma and I, with the Pastor, on mornings we visited relatives of the members of the church who were not Christians, to share the Bridge Illustration in their homes, and there were 25 people who received the Lord and to whom the relatives from the church will follow up.

We brought medicines, candies for the children and books to Cuba, the deficiencies down there are so many, that these products are very difficult for them to find.

Also, last year when we went to Cuba, there was a Pastor who got in touch with DI Canada, because of the contact info that appears in the ETS books, they had already finished Book 1 and they asked for Book 2 to continue, so we sent them the books to do it, the name of this pastor is Rodis, and we found out that he is a friend of Pastor Onel, so he will continue following up with this group.

So, at this moment, we have three discipleship groups in Cuba: One in Guantanamo with Book 2, the one in Shalom Baptist Church with the Book 2, and the group of Missionaries at the Seminary with Book 1.

Pastor Onel has the call to make disciples and he recognizes that need in his church and in the churches in Havana, he gladly implemented the Discipleship Training in his church and with the students of the Seminary. Irma and I met Pastor Onel for 15 days, we spent time with his family, we go to see his ministry, and we believe that he is the ideal person to lead the Discipleship International Ministry in Cuba. He never mentioned anything about an economic need to us, neither a desire to be in the ministry to earn some money, but the needs in Cuba are so many, and for someone to be able to implement the ministry effectively, we think that they need some financial support. I did not make any commitment with him, but I think that a monthly amount of $300 CAD could be a good financial support, and I’m sure that it would not only be for his benefit but also for the benefit of the missionaries who can also start discipling in the missions they have. 

I think it would be better to do another Mission Trip to Cuba later this year, for follow up and encourage the Pastor and groups. Also, I think that other Mexicans, and Canadians, could join us on the trips to Cuba in the future, because there are lots of things to do to support our brothers in that country.

We thank our Heavenly Father for the life of each brother and sister that supports us so generously for our Discipleship International Ministry in Cuba.

"If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him." John 12:26  

Irma & Valdemar Sanchez

Discipleship International Mexico