If you’re following along in the news, and believe me I totally understand if you’re not, you know that President Trump has placed tighter travel restrictions on Cuba. This is in an effort to stop Cuba’s communist government from helping Venezuela’s communist government.
As soon as the news broke about these restrictions, we began getting calls and texts about the situation. People wanted to know how this would affect us and the work going on in Cuba. I’ve read many articles and poured over the wording of the Department of State’s policy on this matter and, thankfully it does not apply to us or any other mission work. While the People to People visa has been banned, the Support for the Cuban People is still an option. This is the visa we’ve been using to get into Cuba for the past two years. The support for the Cuban people category is broad enough to allow most U.S. citizens to travel to the island provided they stay in Airbnbs and eat at paladars, restaurants that are run by Cubans, rather than the state-owned establishments.
The bottom line is the Trump administration wants to limit US travel to Cuba and the economic benefits that U.S. visitors provide to the Cuban government.
Our goal has never been to further the communist regime by supporting government hotels or restaurants. Our goal is to help the Cuban people. We only stay at privately owned hostels/AirBnB and eat at privately owned restaurants or in homes. Our goal is and always will be the spread of the Gospel.
Our next mission is July 20-25 to Santi Spiritus and villages with Chris Bond of Designs for Hope. We are hoping to partner with them to accomplish the work that needs to be done in this area of Cuba. You can read more about their mission at: designsforhope.org. On July 27 another group will come in from Montgomery, AL, into Havana to work with Pastor Ricardo and the local church. Hudson Hufham will also be on the team doing some more videography and photography for us. You can see some of his work at: hud-productions.com.
