Children's Bible Ministry in Guanabacoa Cuba Update June 2025

A Lost Child, A Found Connection: How God Wove the Threads Together

Earlier this May, we at the Children’s Bible Ministry in Cuba had the joy of welcoming a team from The Outreach Foundation and First Presbyterian Church in Thomasville, Georgia. From the moment we gathered, there was a deep sense of shared gratitude and expectancy. Among our visitors was Rev. Deena Candler, whose heart for children in Cuba has never wavered. As we caught up, she pulled up photos from her last visit in December 2022—photos of the very first children in our “Learning with Jesus” program.

With genuine care, she asked about each child in the images. I was thrilled to share updates—until we came to one face I hadn’t seen in a while. Her name was Samantha González. We used to call her that to distinguish her from another Samantha in the group. She graduated from our Bible program in 2023 and attended preschool with my own son, Marcos. But sometime after starting first grade at a new school, Samantha and her family disappeared from our radar. I hadn’t realized how deeply I missed her until Deena’s question revealed the gap. I left the conversation both encouraged and wistful.

Then, just days later—on May 11—God answered in the most unexpected way.

As we welcomed Dr. Mark Mueller to preach at our church, a woman walked in for the very first time. I introduced myself, eager to help her feel at home. With a gentle smile, she said, “My name is Neri. You don’t know me, but I know you. I’m Samantha González’s great-grandmother.”

Tears welled in my eyes. In the same week that Deena’s visit stirred memories and prayers, God brought this beloved child back into our lives. Neri shared how Samantha was doing, where she was studying, and promised to bring her back to church. And she did. On Sunday, May 25, Samantha walked into Sunday School—smiling, growing, and eager to be part of the family again.

God is always weaving His story through faithful partners, heartfelt prayers, and divine appointments. He sees the one child, the one heart, and reminds us that none of His little ones are ever truly lost. In the midst of Cuba’s darkness, her words shone like a beacon. That moment, her testimony, shifted something in me. I felt the Lord’s presence and reassurance: this is part of His greater plan.

Thank you for making stories like this possible.

-Odi Sierra

Children’s Bible Ministry Co-Founder

THE OPPORTUNITY 

The Outreach Foundation is seeking gifts to help with the expansion of the Children’s Bible Ministry. All gifts of any size are welcomed to help provide Christian programming for even more children in Cuba. You may make a gift by giving online via the button below or you can send a check marked “Children’s Bible Ministry Cuba” to our office at the address listed below.