Grace and Peace Beloved Friends,
Thank you for your prayers for our Cuba Mission Team and our ministry partners at Melones Methodist Church. Our mission was to reconnect with the people of Melones and the leadership of the church, as well as to celebrate the opening of their new Sanctuary. I’m thrilled to share that the mission was a great success.
Melones is a small town of about 5,000 people, located 22 kilometers east of Holguín and about 22 kilometers south of Cuba’s northeastern coast. It’s a quiet place nestled halfway between the city and the beach.
The new Sanctuary is a striking blue building, certified by local officials as a hurricane shelter for the community. While the Sanctuary is complete, it still lacks bathrooms, which we hope to help with in a future project. Worship at Melones Methodist is vibrant and filled with the presence of the living God. We had the privilege of joining the congregation for Sunday morning and Tuesday evening services, where the joy and faith of the people were palpable.
Beyond worship, we shared meaningful moments of fellowship. They are gracious, kind, and giving people. On Monday night during the trip, we hosted and served a community dinner, reconnecting with the people of Melones in a spirit of celebration and gratitude. One moment of our trip was climbing to the top of a mountain overlooking Holguín. From this vantage point—on a clear day, you can even see Melones—we paused to reflect and pray for the people of Melones and their ministry.
Please continue to keep the people of Melones in your hearts and prayers. Their commitment to serving God and their community in the name of Jesus Christ is truly inspiring.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Jad