Happy Easter!
I often get asked about Israel and Cuba in recent weeks. We are keeping in close contact with our friends and partners in both countries. In this newsletter, I would like to share just a little of what they are reporting.
Ted and Linda live in North Central Israel in a village. I asked Ted how long it took them to walk to the bomb shelter and he said 15 minutes. In many cases, when the incoming missile sirens go off, there is not enough time to walk to the shelter. Last week Linda fell and broke her wrist, so now they huddle inside a hallway in their house when the sirens go off.
Israel
From Ted and Linda Walker:
Hi Doug & Marni. An Israeli lady, Tsamira from our public bomb shelter, came by to visit Linda today, as well as other friends, and a Jewish believer from Sweden who will bring us a hot meal later today.
7:48 a.m. Linda’s wrist and ribs are what is super painful.
7:54 a.m. Another Red Alert (Iranian cluster warhead sent to our area).
9:12 a.m. Easter in Israel is called Yom Bikkurim (Day of the First Fruits). Christians celebrate Jesus’ Resurrection from the dead. When we ran a Guest House in the Galilee and there was peace, we took our staff sailing with Captain Daniel (an Israeli Jewish Believer) on the Sea of Galilee at 6 AM. The sun was rising as we worshiped our LORD and Savior together. It was such a blessing! The first believers gathered to worship our Messiah on the first day of the week to honor Easter Sunday. (Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2 and Revelation 1:10). This year will be challenging if the war continues. The Passover dinner is April 1st, and Resurrection Day is April 4th.
Service on Boat on Sea of Galilee
Cuba
From Cuban Pastors Arnaldo & Tonya:
“Agua Viva” Church in Pueblo Griffo, Cienfuegos. Cuba.
Greetings Dear Brothers:
Regarding Easter in our church, we have planned a series of special activities for Easter, including a special program with the children. We also have special activities planned with the entire church, remembering all the biblical events of the last days of the life and work of our Lord Jesus, beginning with Palm Sunday and ending with Easter Sunday, where we will have a special Holy Supper service. Each activity scheduled with the church is limited and affected by not being able to celebrate at night, due to the lack of electricity. This prevents the brothers from coming to congregate at night. It also prevents us from using the audiovisual media that supports the teaching and worship program. Children’s activities are also affected for the same reason, and by the high costs and shortage of products.
From Associate Maria Elena:
Dear friends in Canada:
I’ve got electricity just now and I can reply to your message.
Yes, we have enough money from what you left me in November to support the Pastors for most of 2026.
My health is getting better from the Chikungunya virus 5 months ago, thank God. I have less pain and inflammation in my knees and ankles, but I don’t have a lot of strength in my legs so I have to walk slowly and carefully. I wish you could visit us, but it is good that you made the decision not to come to Cuba at this time. There are no flights from Canada to Cuba, there is no transportation within the country, there is no electricity, and there are many more difficulties. Better to not come to Cuba for your safety right now. All pastors continue to work on their Churches with a lot of effort. In the midst of so many difficulties, many more people are getting closer to the Churches to seek spiritual comfort.
I ask God to continue to pour out his richest blessings upon you and those that pray for us and support us here in the church in Cuba. Thank You So Much for Praying fort the Pastors and Me.
From Michel, our Associate in Cuba:
The government in Cuba used to provide items to buy very cheap from the government “Rations stores” – rice, beans, eggs, sugar, and oil to cook. Allowing one person in the family to buy at a reduced price is not quite enough for everyone in the house. The change now is that since 2024, the rations stores have had less in them every week, almost nothing for the people. Now they allow private individuals to import from other countries, even from the United States, food, rice, beans, chicken, and coffee for example. What this has done is force the prices higher because everything is now being sold in US dollars and the dollar exchange is very volatile with daily fluctuations on the black market. This week the price of rice is 50 to 65 US cents a pound. The beans are 90 cents a pound, but if imported are more than $1.30 a pound or a kilo. The egg price is around $6.00 to $7.00 for 30 eggs; $2.00 or $2.50 a liter for cooking oil; four pounds of chicken costs $6.00; one pound of pork is almost $2.00. The worst price is now on the fuel with every liter costing $7.00 or $8.00. And everything must be shipped so that also increases the price on the products. There is no propane to cook with, and we have electricity once a day (for a few hours) to cook or charcoal to prepare the meals. Our day is waiting in the house for the electricity to come on and quickly charge our phones and cook enough food for the next day. With no consistent electricity, we cannot store food in refrigerators as it will go bad. Even with charcoal we limit cooking because the price is high. The people are really down and discouraged with everything that’s going on and no hope.
Douglas Springer reports:
Here is what we are doing regarding Cuba:
Our plan was to go just after Easter, but we have put that off until October. However, the Lord had planned ahead for us. Last fall we took more money than usual, and now we have enough to support the pastors until November. Fuel is scarce and is $7 a litre, and very little is available even at that price. It is expensive to get a taxi anywhere, whenever possible. I contacted Michel in Cienfuegos and Maria Elena in Santa Clara, and they agreed that I should not go until October or so. Havana does have power most of the time. I read in a news article this past week that Cuba does produce 40% of its own fuel and some solar power. This has been keeping the grid stumbling along. Most towns do get a few hours of electricity each day.
Doug Springer
Executive Director
Prayer Requests
- Please pray for Linda Walker. Last week she fell and broke her wrist. Pray for her recovery and all they need during this time.
- Please, keep praying for the situation of our pastors in Cuba.
- Pray for Maria Elena and the complete recovery from Chikungunya virus and for all her needs.
- Pray for Karen and our education program in Peru.
