A Cuban father arrives home after a long day of hard work. He counts the coins while his children ask what they will have to eat. His heart breaks as he looks into their pleading eyes.
In another Cuban home, a Christian man feels the stress of his family’s gnawing hunger. He knows the strain of caring for his wife as she battles cancer. He knows the agony of needing to decide between a piece of fruit for his ailing wife or the taxi fare to travel home from the hospital.
In yet another home, a father tosses and turns as he tries to sleep. He needed to borrow money again to ensure his children wouldn’t go to bed hungry. The weight of debt hangs over him. And to make matters worse, he has no reason to believe that tomorrow will be any different.
A woman looks up at her leaking roof. But her leaking roof is the least of her worries. She processes the sorrow of a drinking husband. She thinks about her pantry, which is nearly always empty. Her stomach aches since she hasn’t eaten in days. Sadness seems to always lurk at her door.
These are the stories of recent recipients of nutritious canned chicken from CAM’s cannery in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, and other food aid made possible through your generous support.
Workers in Cuba share the responses of those who receive desperately needed food.
- They praise God for His provision.
- They weep openly.
- Their hands tremble as they clasp the precious gift of food.
- A father smiles a vibrant smile—knowing that at least for tomorrow he will have food for his children.
A CAM staff member who visited Cuba in December wrote: I must admit, I was and am shocked and troubled by the fact that on the back doorstep of the United States is a country with such need! It took me a bit to acclimate and see past what is the leftover shell of past infrastructure and to get inside, draw back the curtain, and see the real Cuba: a place in which isolation from the rest of the world, hunger, and poverty are a grim reality for thousands and thousands of people. People vacationing on the beaches of Cuba would be shocked to know that mere miles away children are going to bed with almost nothing to eat, and the struggle for survival is similar to what you might expect in Africa or Haiti.
I am coming home with a significant burden for the Cuban people and their plight. I am also deeply inspired by the Cuban church and its active outreach among its own people. May the Lord build His church in Cuba—both in numbers and obedience to His Word. God is at work mightily in this tiny nation in the Caribbean.
Since this trip in December, the plight of Cuba’s people has only worsened. The country has almost entirely run out of fuel. The economy is in shambles. International pressures are severe. Caught in the middle are millions of innocent people.
But God is at work in Cuba! Time and time again, as our staff visited with pastors, this theme came through: Cuba is going through a very hard time. In times of crisis, only the church is helping the people. As help is given, hearts soften, and people turn to the Lord. The church is growing!
In the words of Christian workers in Cuba: “We can’t thank you enough for partnering with us to share God’s love with the people of Cuba. Your prayers, generosity, and compassion are changing lives. Please continue to pray for the people and local churches as they face ongoing hunger and hardship. The need remains great—but our God is greater. And with every can of chicken shared, He is reaching more of His children with His love and the promise of Jesus Christ. For that, we give Him all the praise.”
If you wish to help with these needs, your support will be greatly appreciated by the suffering people of Cuba.
To help provide food for hungry Cubans, please click Donate to give a gift.
