Southeast residents help the people of Cuba

Twenty-five southeast Saskatchewan residents planted an organic garden for a church, and completed other activities, while in Cuba.

Twenty-five southeast Saskatchewan residents found a warm country to go to in the middle of February this year, but it was not the traditional vacation to escape the chilly southeast Saskatchewan temperatures.

The team of 15 young people and 10 adults from St. Paul's United Church in Estevan and Knox United Church in North Portal were in Cuba for a mission's trip from February 13 to 20. It proved to be an experience they won't forget.

Most of their time was spent in and around the resort city of Varadero. They stayed at a retreat run by a Presbyterian Church.

Carlee Dyck (L) and Blair Wrubleski (R) danced with Cuban pastor Joel Dopico during a recent mission’s trip to Cuba.

“They provided us with our meals and they cared for us,” said Rev. Pat Wotton. “It was wonderful hospitality.”

One of their primary tasks was to complete a large organic garden at a church outside of Varadero. Half of the garden had banana trees. But the other half hadn't been planted in decades.

The southeast Saskatchewan team spent two days restoring the garden.

“We had that satisfaction that it was a mess when we arrived, and when we left it was a beautiful garden for the community,” said Wotton.

Organic farming is a more established practice in Cuba, Wotton said, since Cubans don't have access to the chemicals that can be applied to the crops.

They were also able to participate in a Cuban Valentine's Day celebration. Valentine's Day is a bigger deal in Cuba than it is in Canada, Wotton said.

Team members witnessed a marriage blessing service. The state conducts marriages in Cuba, but some couples like to have the church bless the union. The church service that they attended on Valentine's Day was wonderful, Wotton said.

“They presented us with a Cuba clay plate … it's a plate and a cup for communion,” said Wotton. “It was special for us to bring back.”

They also travelled to the capital of Havana on February 16 and 17. Team members visited a school for children with Down's Syndrome, and witnessed how Cubans treat people with disabilities.

And they visited Cubans in their homes so that the team could see how the Cubans live. They brought gifts with them to every home that they visited.

“They're very, very joyful people,” Wotton said. “They were singing and dancing. Cubans are very loving people. Our kids didn't stop smiling. That was the thing. It was hard to stop smiling because Cubans were so much fun.”

Life is about sharing in Cuba, Wotton said. People take what they need, but nothing more. They don't have much, but they don't look poor, either, because they dress well, and everybody has something. Extremes between wealth and poverty don't exist.

Adults who participated in the mission trip paid their own way. Youth were asked to raise $2,200 each, which would give the team $35,000 that could be donated to the people of Cuba. Wotton said she doesn't know how much money they raised, but she knows they beat their goal by at least $2,000.

They brought assorted supplies that they collected, or that were donated by the community, including little soaps, toiletries, clothes, school supplies, children's toys and sewing equipment.

“Then we got into some bigger things, including two bicycles,” said Wotton. “One we bought new and the other one was given to us. We took them down, because they asked for bicycles.”

They also brought down ink cartridges for computers, toner for the church photocopier, wheelchairs, medical supplies, a guitar and garden tools.

Supplies are hard to get in Cuba, Wotton said. Not just because incomes are low, but the country has been shut off from American businesses, and any businesses with American connections, for decades due to Cuba's communist regime.

Wotton said the mission's trip was a “life-changing” experience. Each team member carried a journal, and they were asked to reflect on a daily basis the impact of the Cubans' simple, joyous lives that were devoid of greed. The trip will leave a lasting impact, Wotton said.

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