Life is a Blessing: Lessons Learned from My Mission to Cuba

Nancy and I recently had the opportunity to visit Cuba as a part of a mission trip sponsored by our industry trade association: SIGMA, America’s Leading Fuel Marketers. 

Typical of so many points in my life since I joined our company in 1983, the visit to Cuba was another tremendous life experience and, subsequently, a blessing.

First off, you may be wondering how the SIGMA Board of Directors ended up on a mission trip to Cuba.  SIGMA typically tries to hold the winter board meeting in a warm place (much appreciated, I might add). Our current President, SC Fuels CEO Frank Greinke, suggested we try Cuba as a destination.  Simply put, one cannot travel from the U.S. to Cuba without a license, and it is not legal for U.S. citizens to do business in Cuba. Thus, we engaged an expert who helped us organize a licensed mission trip, therefore, combining our winter meeting with a humanitarian mission.

There were 47 of us—fuel marketers and spouses—who were licensed to travel directly from Miami, FL, to Havana, Cuba. We each took 9 lbs of over-the-counter medicine for people in need.  The medicine was delivered to:

• Elementary School Anglea Landa in Habana Vieja
• Convento Belen Senior Citizens Center in Habana Vieja
• Medical Clinic Ramon y Cajal in Habana Vieja

Believe me, 9 lbs of medicine is a lot of medicine to pack and transport!

Considering the state of U.S. relations with Cuba today, there are not many Americans who get the opportunity to visit this country that is so steeped in history, culture and beauty.  Thus, I would like to share some of what I experienced:

• Safety was first on our groups’ mind, however, we were quickly assured that the Cubans are grateful for every traveler to their country and treat all visitors as welcome guests.  Nobody exaggerated—the Cubans, as a people, were gracious, and we never felt at risk.

• Since Cuba is a communistic society, I assumed that Cubans’ lives were inundated with propaganda.   I’m eternally grateful to have grown up in a capitalistic society, yet I have a different view today. Even though the Cubans don’t have free press or much access to the internet, I didn’t get the sense of the government being covert.  On the other hand, I am now of the opinion that our own U.S. government may be a large propaganda machine itself.

• People say Cuba is like going back in time.  Being a bona-fide “car nut”, I found this to be so.  When the revolution started in 1959, they no longer imported new cars.  Most of the cars in Cuba today are 1953-59 Chevrolets.  They are all restored and kept in top shape.  It is almost surreal to walk around the town and see all these old Chevys lined up.

• Our own legendary citizen, Ernest Hemingway, lived the last 20 years of his life in Cuba. Our group got to visit the “Flordita” which is the bar he frequented and the “home of the Daiquiri”.  There is a life size bronze of “Ernie” sitting on the same bar stool as he did for years.  In addition, we got to visit Hemingway’s home, and I actually got to stand in front of the desk where he wrote the book “Islands in the Stream.”

• The architecture is magnificent, however, with the communism comes no accountability for ownership of all the great buildings; thus, many of them are deteriorating.  When the U.S. embargo is lifted, these will be restored and turned into wonderful enterprises.

Some other facts I learned on my trip:

• Every job pays $20 per month, regardless of the job. 
• Cuba has the highest literacy rate of any country on earth—virtually everyone goes to college.
• Every citizen receives coupons for food, while healthcare and education are paid for by the State.  They can even get voluntary cosmetic surgery done at no charge.

I could go on and on about this experience. We all agreed that it was a tremendous blessing to get to have this experience.  I would highly recommend Cuba as a destination, even though today you would have to go through Mexico or Canada to get to there.  Once the U.S embargo is lifted, I would expect that Cuba will get modernized quickly.  It is a beautiful country worth seeing—a truly phenomenal Caribbean destination!

I hope each of you takes the time this spring to enjoy your many blessings—particularly the gift that Mother Nature gives us at this time each year. I hope that your experiences bring you much inner peace and a true appreciation for the blessings of life!

Comments

[dy @ Seguros de Salud]

Nice article and yes life is a blessing always.