Why Cuba is a Good Destination for Mission Trips:

For the first time in half a century, Cuba is more open to Americans.  With a population of 11.3 million, and about 10% of the population being active Christians, Cuba is a nation hungry for Christ!

Grow you faith as a Christian. Short-term mission trips give you the chance to experience the Gospel like no other. Emerge yourself with Cuban pastors, and brothers and sisters of the faith, exploring the power of the Gospel in Cuba.  Explore new ways to live out the Gospel. Witness a miracle first hand with a trip to Cuba. You may travel alone or with a group.

The Cuban church is longing and willing for improvement of social services. In fact, the amount of ministries inside the churches are increasing daily because of the great need that the Cuban community has: youth, elderly, and dysfunctional families are the most common issues. There are locations where the Church plays a quite important role specifically in Old Havana (Habana Vieja), Cerro, and some other municipalities inside the capital and some province capitals too. If you would like to be part of any of these ministries, we invite you to come on a mission trip that will touch people lives.

If you would like more information you can schedule a "Cuba Night", a session that informs your church or other small group on the possibilities of taking a mission trip to Cuba.  You can do so by calling 305-884-0441.

An adventure waits for you in Cuba!

WHY MISSION TRIPS ARE IMPORTANT?

Whether you are a church group that wishes to serve, a group of university students interested in learning, high school students who enjoy exploring another country, a team of professionals that want to help, or simply a gathering of like-minded people, we can coordinate your trip so that you can relax and enjoy your unique experiences in Cuba.  Here are some reasons why mission trips are important:

Get a better understanding of other countries and universal needs. 

You will realize that other countries and cultures are different. That other people have different ways of looking at life and doing things. Your thinking will expand to consider other ways of doing things, which you never have before. You find out that people, though they may look different, are the same all over the world. They have the same feelings, hopes, and desires -- they are human just like you. You will have become more compassionate about helping others.

Do What Jesus Did. 

Jesus Himself spent time with the poor, healing the sick, cleansing lepers, and bringing hope to the hopeless. A mission trip will change your perspective.  Most people will have a more thankful attitude, and less desire to complain about their life, after a mission trip. Most of us have felt sorry for ourselves over insignificant things. We are more apt to realize this after seeing what people in other places face.

Encounter God's heart. 

Our God is big and He cares about the nations. He is a global God. When you travel to a foreign land, you will sense God's amazing compassion for other cultures. You will know Him as Lord of the harvest. On a mission trip, our eyes are opened to seeing God in ways we never have before.  We regain focus, and our distractions are left behind us, leaving us open and vulnerable to the love of God.

Challenge Comfort Zones. 

Every now and then you need to step out of your comfort zone and allow God to stretch you. Recognize that the way we do ministry in the United States is not the only way!

Build Relationships. 

When you minister alongside Christians in another country, you find that the Holy Spirit bonds us together. God gives us this strong bond so we will link arms and work for a common purpose across racial and cultural lines.

Be Obedient to Christ’s Plan. 

Matthew 28:19: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Someone has to GO. There is no way around it. To share the gospel with the whole world, we must be willing to pack our bags sometimes and leave our comfort. Doing God's work, and seeing results, is like starting a fire. It is natural for it to continue and grow larger. Once you get a taste of it, you will want more.

Be Empowered.  

Mission trips that are done well help one to take ownership and initiative. Eyes are opened. Passions are ignited. Possibilities flourish. Pursuits begin. 

ECHOCUBA > CELEBRATES 22 YEARS!

Our long-standing presence in Cuba has positioned EchoCuba as one of the leading evangelical Christian organizations.  We are excited and blessed to be celebrating 22 years!

TESTIMONIALS

I have traveled to Cuba with the help of Echo Cuba a couple of times over the last 3 years.  I plan to use them again in the future and I would recommend them to others.  The first time I used Echocuba they helped me visit Cuba for the first time in 46 years.  I immediately noticed the beautiful green palm trees and how much some things have changed and other remained the same.  What I liked the most was having the opportunity to help the church to see what God is doing. 

-Enrique

I just got back from a trip with my family.  My father has used EchoCuba numerous times and I thought the trip was really organized.  Everything seems to run very smoothly.  I know my family will use them again in the future.  Cuba is so beautiful but also sad how low the poverty level is. I really enjoyed meeting the people, speaking with them, and forming relationships.

-Sydney

I went to Cuba in January 2014.  EchoCuba organized everything.  Whatever we asked for was done.  It was great!!  The staff was very helpful.  I’m a photographer so Cuba was great to visit.  I had a lot of opportunities to take pictures.  I enjoyed the music in the streets and meeting the people.  They are kind and happy.  I’ll definitely want to visit again.

-Herbert

BRING A GESTURE OF KINDNESS WHEN TRAVELING TO CUBA.

When you travel to Cuba you get to see and experience the beautiful island, delicious Cuban food, relaxing outside cafes, good music, and friendly people.  You can expect those things, but you may also experience a feeling of compassion when you see those that are in need not having some of the essentials we use everyday.

One question we are regularly asked by travelers is, “what are some gifts we can bring to Cuba?”  Cubans enjoy receiving gifts, no matter the size.  Anything you can give to them is a gesture of kindness.  We recommend that you do not give gifts or money to people on the street, but instead find a children ministry, church, or school.   If you need suggestions, we work with many wonderful organizations in Cuba, reach out to us and we can direct you. 

Caring gift ideas:     
Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Mouthwash, Floss
Deodorant, Feminine hygiene products
Vitamins
Reading glasses and sunglasses
Toys for kids
Flip-flops or crocs
Soap, Shampoo, Conditioner
Utility gloves
Musical instruments and art supplies
Sporting equipment (bats, gloves, balls, helmets, etc.)
Band-aids, medical gloves, Aspirin, baby and adult diapers
School supplies, Spanish/English dictionaries
Laptop computers no more than four years old
Shoes and clothing

Some additional information to keep in mind is that each traveler’s bag can weigh up to 44 pounds.  There is a charge of $2 for each additional pound.

If you aren’t traveling anytime soon but still would like to help the people in Cuba with a financial donation or if you have any additional questions, please contact us at sd@oaausa.org. 

NEW CUBA TRAVEL REGULATIONS

Some questions and answers about the new rules for Americans traveling to Cuba: 

WHO CAN GO?

Any American can now travel to Cuba without the prior permission of the U.S. for the first time in a long time—so as long as the visit falls under one of 12 approved categories. The approved cattegories include professional, religious and journalistic activities, educational activities, family visits, official business of the U.S. government, public performances,  support for the Cuban people, humanitarian projects, research, exportation, importation, or transmission of information materials, and certain export transactions. 

WHAT ARE THE RULES?

Americans can now travel alone after asserting it's an educational, "people-to-people" experience. The bottom line is for a people-to-people trip to be compliant — the activities or the trip in its entirety can’t be for tourism purposes. The intent is to not just to do tourist activities, but to meet Cuban people and discuss the lifestyles in the United States and Cuba. White House officials suggested just about any interaction with Cubans would satisfy the requirement. 

Under the updated policy, visitors will have to keep records for five years about what they did in Cuba, but won't have to submit them unless asked.  Keeping records may include receipts, plane tickets, hotel receipts, meal receipts and types of activities one participated in. 

ISN'T CUBA HARD TO GET TO?

Not anymore….The U.S. opened the door to restoring commercial air traffic. The first of up to 110 commercial flights a day are expected to start later this year.  Eventually, Americans may also come by boat. European cruise ships now make regular appearances in the Havana harbor. 

WHERE WILL I STAY?

One of the biggest difficulties is booking a hotel room. The hotels have been sold out for more than a year. It’s one of the major bottlenecks to Cuba right now. There’s a limited amount of hotels that American travelers would find sufficient or satisfactory to stay in. It’s often easier to travel to Cuba if you go in a small group, because everything is taken care of.  One recently added option is AirBnB. The U.S.-based company allows you to search for private homes, known as "casas particulares," and pay through your credit card from the U.S.

A MISSION TRIP PACKED WITH LOVE AND SERVICE…

“I came not to be served but to serve…" Matthew 20:28. 
Just a reflection to share with you… 

 We are sure that in your most recent mission trip to Cuba you discovered many ways to serve God, and certainly you became more conscious of the abundant blessings God is bringing to your life. Please, remember that people in Cuba need you, they are starving for the Word of God, and  are desperately looking for the love of Jesus. We encourage you to bring to them the Gospel and the never ending love of Christ by sharing with them your uncountable blessings, and transform their lives.

Certainly, there are many experiences to share about the last mission trips. If you have not shared them with us, we would love to hear from you. Most importantly, give us the opportunity to serve you again by helping you with your next Mission Trip. Please advise us of the dates and your plans for the trip.

We hope to hear back from you soon, it is an honor and privilege to help you! If you have any questions about the planning process of the Mission Trip or a specific prayer request, do not hesitate to contact us.

Have a blessed day,

Sumaya

Mission Trip Coordinator 

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED… WHERE IN CUBA ARE PEOPLE IN THE GREATEST NEED?

Once I had a conversation that blew my mind. But before I tell you about it, I want to thank those that gave so generously of their time and talent in past mission trips to Cuba. Both you and I understand the complications and challenges of undertaking a mission trip to Cuba, but I am sure we agree the rewards are far greater than the little frustrations we all encounter on our path to answer God’s call.

It is well known that the people of Cuba are in great need of our help.  Many Cubans are not only starving for food, medicine and other essential resources needed on a daily basis:  they are also starving for love and the word of the Lord, starving for the love of Jesus who never fails us.

Now on to that mind-blowing conversation, I was asked by a humble pastor and a Christian lady, ”Have you ever thought about the Cuban people from the remote eastern provinces where help cannot get through? These regions are the least visited by missionaries. Thousands of Cubans in the eastern regions still do not even know who Jesus is! But as soon as they hear the good news, they become excited and long to know more and more about our amazing savior, his words and his works.”

Their message was strong and clear. In a flash, I realized the voice of the Lord was talking through them. I could hear the cries of many vulnerable Cubans trying to reach us through these caring, sincere people. Truly, in the eastern provinces of Cuba help is very limited and the people’s need to experience the love of our heavenly Father is great. There are abundant opportunities to serve God and bring the message of Jesus to the people in the remote eastern provinces of Cuba such as Holguin and Santiago.

As you feel the call in your heart to help meet this great need, I invite you to visit our website for more information. Let us know how we can support you in planning your next mission trip to Eastern Cuba.  We are happy to serve you!

Sumaya Davila, Mission Trip Coordinator