I WAS SHOCKED

After several months of preparation, preparing the seminar to be offered, getting the visa, buying the tickets and finally arriving to the airport on that long-awaited day, I was told by the agent when I gave her my passport that Cuba had denied me entry into the country.  

I paused a second because I wondered if my Spanish was incorrect. I asked her to repeat herself and she reaffirmed the nightmare. I asked, “Is there any reason given for the denial?”  She said there was not, just denied!  I felt sucker punched.  I had obtained everything they required and now they wait until I get to the counter to tell me I can’t go. They had my phone number and my email but they chose to wait deliberately.  Fortunately I was still in Mexico. About seven years ago Judy went to Cuba and found out once she got there to customs that she could not enter.  Had they not been able to find her a seat on the returning flight that day, she would have had to be guarded in a “closet” in the airport until the next flight to Mexico and that would have been several days. Weren’t they kind to tell me while I was still in Mexico?
 
With me was Raymundo, a young businessman and graduate from our Bible Institute.  He was stunned as well.  We retreated to the terminal and He asked me, “What are we going to do?” I thought and prayed for a moment.  I was still in some kind of shock.  I then looked to him and told him, “You’re going to go alone!”  When I said that his eyes widened like large dishes.  Now let me explain why.  Raymundo had never flown any where before. He had just gotten his passport and his Cuban documents like me and was so excited. But now you could see terror in his eyes.  I schooled him as best I could how to keep his documents close at hand, guard his bags, don’t get distracted and… wash his hands.  We divvied up the money for the saints there, he would be carrying it all.  He took the extra bags full of supplies and gifts, checked in and then after a big hug and assuring him I would remain in prayer until he returned, he passed through the gate and I came home. 
 
It was still early and I came to the cave. I asked the Lord, “Lord is this my fault?  Did I sin, do something wrong, or is this the work of the devil?”  My first consideration was, was this caused by sin or the enemy.  I know how to repent and I know how to crush the enemy, but this required discernment.  After a moment or two the Lord sweetly spoke to my heart and said, “Son, this is not your doing, this is my doing!” I know that that does not fit in some of our current theology but that is what he said and with that whisper came a soft peace!  On one side of the emotional spectrum I felt anger and great disappointment while on the other side I felt simultaneously this unspeakable peace.  He really had this under control.
 
Calls had to be made to the brothers in Cuba explaining what had happened and they would have to make the adjustments for my absence.  I was the main speaker at the conference but now the Father would supply with someone even better, and… He did!  
 
It was later that afternoon and Raymundo made it.  He was picked up at the airport by several brothers, they all went out to eat and then late that night they made it to Tony’s house.  
 
This trip was glorious!  Raymundo discovered something he had never seen before.  He discovered that God could use him way outside his comfort zone and could empower him beyond his imagination.  Also, all the flashlights, power packs, head lamps, powdered milk, medicines, and money made it into the hands to the saints there.  Because of you our supporters, over $7000.00 was given!  Let me put that in perspective.  The average income per month I was told, is the same as it was when we first started going to Cuba, $4.00 a month!  Most offering were between $200.00 and $300.00.  Tony the apostle over the work and Julio the director of the Bible Institute were given $1500.00 and $2000.00 respectively.  All of your gifts were given to people who you will never know in this life and their abounding joy is recorded in heaven to your account! 
 
But there is more.  Both the men above took those offering and went out to buy as many supplies as they could for their brothers.  In Julio’s case they bought what groceries they could find to prepare the people for the hurricane that was headed their way.  Tony bought supplies, filled his car and drove over 1000 kilometers one way to preach in several churches and bless those in dire need with both supplies and money!  
 
Raymundo did what he thought he could not do.  He spoke to the students and spoke in the conference as well.  His heart melted at the intense love and genuine commitment he encountered among the Cuban brothers.  Needless to say he returned home to Mexico a changed man, not filled with a temporal and frothy excitement that one would expect from such an experience but he came home with a humble resignation that God really does direct our paths, often on a path of impossibility and then He displays His strength and power to do what you could never envision. 
 
Meanwhile I set my heart to pray for them continually until everything was over and Raymundo was safely home. As the Lord had so clearly spoken, “This is not you’re doing but mine,” It proved to be true.  

Firm Heart