I was in Baracoa Cuba last week assessing the damage caused by Hurricane Matthew. Of all the natural disasters that I have responded to over the years, I still wasn't prepared to see and experience the loss and devastation that had become reality of 158,000 Cuban people overnight on October 4th and 5th.
Not only was I surprised by the degree of devastation, I witnessed something I had never seen before immediately following a disaster--indescribable joy that bubbled to the surface in face after face of the believers who were in the middle of total material loss and devastation.
Last Thursday I was with a pastor, his wife and his two girls. You'd never know that this presbyter and his family lost their home and had their earthly possessions blown away only a few weeks ago! The joy that I discovered in my new Cuban friends can never be erased by a hurricane or any other temporary earthly condition, because it is not based on circumstances.
Their outlook reminds me of a passage that I read yesterday in Habakkuk 3:3:17-19, "Though the cherry trees don't blossom and the strawberries don't ripen, though the apples are worm-eaten and the wheat fields stunted, though the sheep pens are sheepless and the cattle barns empty, I'm singing joyful praise to God.
I'm turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God. Counting on God's Rules to prevail, I take heart and gain strength. I run like a deer. I feel like I'm king of the mountains!" Message version.
The joy that my pastor friend and family had only comes from their deep trust that God has everything under control and is working things out for good. It's this trust that caused the joy that I witnessed in their faces.
Kristen and I pray that this same source will keep you singing joyful praises to God even when you find yourselves in extremely difficult circumstances. May there be joy in your journey.
David and Kristen Speer, Caribbean_US based Assistant Area Directors
Dale and Patti's Blog of the Caribbean Ministries of the Spanish Diaspora
Good word David. We're praying for all those impacted by Hurricane Matthew, especially in Cuba and in Haiti. We pray that God would bring them comfort and meet their needs during this vulnerable time. We pray that God would strengthen all that our ministering in these critical areas, including our National Brethren, our missionaries in each of these countries and on the relief organizations like the Convoy of Hope. Your brother and friend, Dale
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