Lent 2026 Guide-DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 27
Reflection
I was blessed to serve as a representative of this church to visit our sister
church in Cuba. As part of my preparation, I spent some time attempting
to learn some basic Spanish. Thankfully, our guides were fluent in English,
and I did not have to rely on my Spanish speaking skills. As part of our
experience our sister church planned daily sessions for us with selected
speakers who shared with us the history of their church, the ministries that
their church provides, and the effort that was involved to gain approval of
the Cuban Family Code, a historic referendum, on September 25, 2022,
which is considered one of the most progressive family laws in the world,
legalizing same-sex marriage and recognizing diverse family structures.
While Pastors Kim and Stan Dotson served as our translators, I soon came
to discover that, somehow, I could understand every word that our speakers
were sharing with us. I could feel it within me. After the session about the
Family Code, I discussed my experience with Pastor Kim, and we concluded
that the Holy Spirit was acting as the interpreter for me. I have never
experienced anything like this before and was certain this was true.
Action in Contemplation
My mother and father were journalists, so I came to love language at an early
age. Take time this week to learn a few basic phrases in another language.
When you are traveling across borders, hearing words in your native
language brings you a sense of home. Be brave and share those newly learned
phrases with a traveler in your neighborhood to provide them with a sorely
needed reminder of home, a welcome, and sense of belonging.
– Marti West, Cuba Partnership Team
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