When our team of six landed in Holguín, Cuba I was struck by the similarities in climate, vegetation, foods, even construction, between Cuba and Java, the island in Indonesia where I spent my childhood as a missionary kid. I felt right at home, especially so when I met the warm and friendly Cuban people. Java is a quarter larger than Cuba but with 13 times the population. I saw much of the eastern half of the island, viewing the lush country as we traveled several thousand kilometers to cities, towns and villages.
Don and Jacquie Cartledge, AGWM missionaries to Cuba, longtime friends dating back to our early years as missionaries in Chile, led our team of six missionaries. Don Exley who was our Area Director for many years in the Southern Cone, and David and Margot Woodworth, my new Area Directors in the Andean Region plus myself made up the rest. The Cuban National Superintendent and his wife traveled with us throughout the three eastern districts of Holguin, Santiago and Camaguey.
Splitting up in to teams of two, Jacquie and myself making up one of the teams, each team traveled out to the various sections conducting nine one day workshops with a total of 965 pastors. The theme was "The Cuban Peso Will Be a Blessing to the Nations" in that the Cuban Assemblies of God is stepping up to send Cuban missionaries across the globe. They are going beyond their Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria to the ends of the earth!
Please take the time to watch this video where I explain the amazing things God is doing in the Cuban Assemblies of God. I just ask that you NOT post it to social media, but DO feel free to show it at church.
© 2026 Laurel Ellis