FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Initial deposit due Ocotber 6, 2017
How to register
Please send an email to David Isais and Scott Shaull. You need to send a non-refundable check for $100 made payable to the American Bible Society (please leave the memo line blank – failure to do so may mean that David will not be able to make arrangements for you to join the trip).
CHECK MUST BE MAILED TO:
American Bible Society
Attention: Rudy Doyle
101 North Independence Mall East FL8
Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155
Attention: Rudy Doyle
101 North Independence Mall East FL8
Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155
Guest house address:
Council of Churches Official Address
Calle 14 entre 3ra y 5ta Ave
Near La Casa de La Habana in Miramar
Miramar, Havana
Calle 14 entre 3ra y 5ta Ave
Near La Casa de La Habana in Miramar
Miramar, Havana
Tourist Stuff
Old Havana – La Habana Vieja (walking, auto, horse-drawn carriage)
Malecón (miles-long, famous seawall in Havana)
City of Havana tour (horse-drawn carriage, old car)
Morro Castle – Castillo de los Tres Ryes Magos del Morro
Jesus Statue - Cristo de La Habana
Hotel National – Hotel National de Cuba…classic property featured in the 2nd Godfather movie
Fusterlandia – cool neighborhood with art-themed elements
Art Studio – Estudio Taller Santacana near 5th Ave at 166th Street (Nautico Barrio) and 1RA, Playa, Habana
Art Market – Almacenes San Jose, on the water near Old Havana (look for Damien in stall 409)
Havana Cathedral/Plaza de la Catedral
The Forest of Havana – El bosque de La Habana
Museum of the Bay of Pigs – Museo de la Denuncia
Ernest Hemingway’s Cuba House – Finca La Vigia
Cigar Museum
Granma Memorial
José Martí House
Revolution Square – Plaza de la Revolución
Colon Cemetery – Cemeterio de Cristóbal Colón (as in, Christopher Columbus)
Museum of the Revolution in Havana
Malecón (miles-long, famous seawall in Havana)
City of Havana tour (horse-drawn carriage, old car)
Morro Castle – Castillo de los Tres Ryes Magos del Morro
Jesus Statue - Cristo de La Habana
Hotel National – Hotel National de Cuba…classic property featured in the 2nd Godfather movie
Fusterlandia – cool neighborhood with art-themed elements
Art Studio – Estudio Taller Santacana near 5th Ave at 166th Street (Nautico Barrio) and 1RA, Playa, Habana
Art Market – Almacenes San Jose, on the water near Old Havana (look for Damien in stall 409)
Havana Cathedral/Plaza de la Catedral
The Forest of Havana – El bosque de La Habana
Museum of the Bay of Pigs – Museo de la Denuncia
Ernest Hemingway’s Cuba House – Finca La Vigia
Cigar Museum
Granma Memorial
José Martí House
Revolution Square – Plaza de la Revolución
Colon Cemetery – Cemeterio de Cristóbal Colón (as in, Christopher Columbus)
Museum of the Revolution in Havana
Cigar Factory Tours
(tickets can be difficult to find…try Cubanacan at the Plaza Hotel or in the Habana Libre Hotel)
La Corona (Biggest)
"New" Partagas Factory
El Laguito (best!)
La Corona (Biggest)
"New" Partagas Factory
El Laguito (best!)
Cigar Lounges
La Casa del Habano – 5th Avenue at 16th Street in Miramar (walkable from the guest house)
Hotel Manazana near Old Havana – Ground floor shop (expensive) and 2nd floor lounge (Daniel is the GM…great guy))
Meliá Cohiba Hotel – ask for Rafael
Hotel Manazana near Old Havana – Ground floor shop (expensive) and 2nd floor lounge (Daniel is the GM…great guy))
Meliá Cohiba Hotel – ask for Rafael
Restaurants
We will be eating at the guest house, churches and some of the following:
Paladar Vistmar – Avenue 1RA NO. 2206 between 22 and 24 Streets
Casa Nostra – 9th Avenue at 130th Street
Razones – F Street between 5 and 3 Avenues
Habana Blues – H Street near Avenue of the Presidents between 19th and 21st Streets, Vedado
Mediterraneo Havana – Between F and G near 13th Street, Vedado
304 O’Reilly – O’Reilly and Aguiar, Habana Vieja
Toros y Tapas – 6th Street near 3rd Avenue
Paladar Vistmar – Avenue 1RA NO. 2206 between 22 and 24 Streets
Casa Nostra – 9th Avenue at 130th Street
Razones – F Street between 5 and 3 Avenues
Habana Blues – H Street near Avenue of the Presidents between 19th and 21st Streets, Vedado
Mediterraneo Havana – Between F and G near 13th Street, Vedado
304 O’Reilly – O’Reilly and Aguiar, Habana Vieja
Toros y Tapas – 6th Street near 3rd Avenue
Famous Bars
La Floridita – Hemingway’s spot for daiquiris
La Bodeguita del Medio - Hemingway’s spot for mojitos
La Bodeguita del Medio - Hemingway’s spot for mojitos
Cuba Fun Facts
Formal Name – Republic of Cuba
Population – 11.3 to 11.5 million
Size – Roughly 780 miles long and 119 miles across at the widest point. 40,369 sq. miles (about the size of Tennessee), making Cuba the largest island in the Caribbean and 17th largest island in the world
Administration - Cuba consists of 15 provinces and the Isla de la Juventud (an island on the southwest coast) which is a “special municipality.”
Time Zone – CDT (see above)
Literacy – 100% not including those with disabilities/special needs
Population – 11.3 to 11.5 million
Size – Roughly 780 miles long and 119 miles across at the widest point. 40,369 sq. miles (about the size of Tennessee), making Cuba the largest island in the Caribbean and 17th largest island in the world
Administration - Cuba consists of 15 provinces and the Isla de la Juventud (an island on the southwest coast) which is a “special municipality.”
Time Zone – CDT (see above)
Literacy – 100% not including those with disabilities/special needs
RECENT HISTORY
Declaration of Independence - (from Spain, on 2/24/1895) – aided by U.S. as part of the Spanish-American War
Recognized – by Spain 12/12/1898 – occupied by U.S., to a gradually decreasing degree
Republic declared - from U.S. 5/20/1902
Revolution starts - 7/26/1953
Fidel Castro and 82 others travel by boat (Granma) from Mexico to Cuba - 11/56
Independence - 1/1/1959
Bay of Pigs – 4/17-19/1961
Cuban Missile Crisis – 10/16-28/1962
Raúl Castro succeeds his brother – 2/24/08
Fidel dies (at age 90) – 11/25/2016
Central figures in the revolution – Fulgencio Batista (dictator from 1952-59), Fidel and Raúl Castro, Che Guevara (yes, that Che), Camilo Cienfuegos (killed in 1959), Vilma Espín (married to Raúl)
Recognized – by Spain 12/12/1898 – occupied by U.S., to a gradually decreasing degree
Republic declared - from U.S. 5/20/1902
Revolution starts - 7/26/1953
Fidel Castro and 82 others travel by boat (Granma) from Mexico to Cuba - 11/56
Independence - 1/1/1959
Bay of Pigs – 4/17-19/1961
Cuban Missile Crisis – 10/16-28/1962
Raúl Castro succeeds his brother – 2/24/08
Fidel dies (at age 90) – 11/25/2016
Central figures in the revolution – Fulgencio Batista (dictator from 1952-59), Fidel and Raúl Castro, Che Guevara (yes, that Che), Camilo Cienfuegos (killed in 1959), Vilma Espín (married to Raúl)
American Bible Society (ABS)
Not many people know it, but Christianity in Cuba is growing rapidly! Yet there are few Bibles, and most people there cannot afford one even if they can find one. Easing of tensions between the United States and Cuba after fifty years offers an unprecedented opportunity for the Church, and American Bible Society and our partners are poised to help.
American Bible Society already has strong relationships with Cuban churches, Catholic and Protestant. In 2013, we began the “Million Bible Mission” to bring a million Bibles to this island nation over five years. In 2014, the government allowed our church partners to import and distribute the first 60,000 Bibles.
You can help accelerate this ambitious project. It costs $5.40 to print, ship and distribute a Bible anywhere in Cuba (Cuban salary for a family $30 a month)—whether Havana or the most remote village. You can help Cubans discover the life and love of Jesus found in God's Word.
American Bible Society already has strong relationships with Cuban churches, Catholic and Protestant. In 2013, we began the “Million Bible Mission” to bring a million Bibles to this island nation over five years. In 2014, the government allowed our church partners to import and distribute the first 60,000 Bibles.
You can help accelerate this ambitious project. It costs $5.40 to print, ship and distribute a Bible anywhere in Cuba (Cuban salary for a family $30 a month)—whether Havana or the most remote village. You can help Cubans discover the life and love of Jesus found in God's Word.
CUBA TODAY
With a population of 11 million, a literacy rate of nearly 100 percent and an unprecedented growth in Christianity thanks to social, economic and political reforms, many Cubans are seeking guidance and hope found in God’s Word. As a result of this unprecedented spiritual and cultural shift, demand for Bibles and engagement resources has outpaced supply. In addition, many Cubans cannot afford to import high-quality Bibles.
OUR RESPONSE
American Bible Society is addressing this crucial need through the Cuba: Million Bible Mission. Through this five-year initiative, generations of Christians will have access to Bibles, which is the basis for discipleship, church planting, solid spiritual growth to help them cultivate a deeper relationship with Jesus.
American Bible Society’s Cuba: Million Bible Mission will reach five distinct audiences: school-aged children receiving their first Bible; teens and college-age youth; adult new believers; prisoners; and seminary students and clergy. Thanks to this critical program, Cuban children, youth and adults will experience the saving knowledge of Christ. By providing Church leaders and seminarians with Bibles and Scripture resources, even more people will experience the transformative power of God’s love for us.
American Bible Society’s Cuba: Million Bible Mission will reach five distinct audiences: school-aged children receiving their first Bible; teens and college-age youth; adult new believers; prisoners; and seminary students and clergy. Thanks to this critical program, Cuban children, youth and adults will experience the saving knowledge of Christ. By providing Church leaders and seminarians with Bibles and Scripture resources, even more people will experience the transformative power of God’s love for us.
Cuban Council of Churches
Concilio de Iglesias de Cuba (CIC)
Concilio de Iglesias de Cuba (CIC)
The Cuban Council of Churches in Havana was founded on May 28, 1941, on the theme “united to serve.” Originally named the Cuban Council of Evangelical Churches, it later became the Cuban Ecumenical Council, and in 1995 the Cuban Council of Churches. The Cuban Council of Churches is an entity of Christian inspiration; it is non-governmental, non-profit, and legally established. CIC is a bridge to the Churches from the government and a bridge from the Churches to the government. Both sides believe the council works for them.
It is a fellowship of Christian churches and ecumenical institutions confessing Jesus Christ the Savior with a common mission to the glory of God the Father and Holy Spirit. Its objectives are to promote the fellowship and unity of the churches of Cuba through participative programs, dialogue, theological formation and service to the community.
For more than half a century, the CIC has stood by its churches and people during economic unsettlement and natural disasters. The CIC gives unity to the Christian Churches of Cuba and to help unify Cuban churches with other churches around the world. The CIC encourages dialogue between different movements and institutions as a means for churches to expand their ecumenical vocation of service, thus deepening their responsibilities toward society and all of God’s creation. CIC also promotes study, dialogue, and cooperation among Christians to increase Christian witness and enhance life in Cuba.
Because Cuba is located in the Caribbean, it suffers from strong hurricanes and natural disasters. The CIC Committee of Emergency Relief stands committed to providing relief and building an emergency response infrastructure for the Cuban population. The Committee of Emergency Relief is deployed the minute an emergency arrives, and the CIC churches coordinate to help those in need to overcome damage and other issues that arise after a natural disaster. This has been very evident recently as a result of hurricane Irma. CIC emergency response teams were assessing and coordinating humanitarian relief operations from outside sources right away with the support from Europe, Canada, the USA and other parts of the world. Seven of the 15 Provinces were devastated by Irma. Others suffered major damage as well.
It is a fellowship of Christian churches and ecumenical institutions confessing Jesus Christ the Savior with a common mission to the glory of God the Father and Holy Spirit. Its objectives are to promote the fellowship and unity of the churches of Cuba through participative programs, dialogue, theological formation and service to the community.
For more than half a century, the CIC has stood by its churches and people during economic unsettlement and natural disasters. The CIC gives unity to the Christian Churches of Cuba and to help unify Cuban churches with other churches around the world. The CIC encourages dialogue between different movements and institutions as a means for churches to expand their ecumenical vocation of service, thus deepening their responsibilities toward society and all of God’s creation. CIC also promotes study, dialogue, and cooperation among Christians to increase Christian witness and enhance life in Cuba.
Because Cuba is located in the Caribbean, it suffers from strong hurricanes and natural disasters. The CIC Committee of Emergency Relief stands committed to providing relief and building an emergency response infrastructure for the Cuban population. The Committee of Emergency Relief is deployed the minute an emergency arrives, and the CIC churches coordinate to help those in need to overcome damage and other issues that arise after a natural disaster. This has been very evident recently as a result of hurricane Irma. CIC emergency response teams were assessing and coordinating humanitarian relief operations from outside sources right away with the support from Europe, Canada, the USA and other parts of the world. Seven of the 15 Provinces were devastated by Irma. Others suffered major damage as well.