Anita, we are thrilled to share part of your story through this blog. And even though you have already shared some aspects with me in our correspondence, I would love for you to tell even more of your story to our readers.
Tell us about your family and how you came to know Christ.
Before I was born, my mom prayed for me. I was taught to love God and obey His word. My father is a Pentecostal evangelist who is 81 years old and lives in Florida with my mom, who is 80.
I was a respectful child but misbehaved a lot too. I liked to play tricks on my sisters—I’m the oldest of the three. My father always called me Anny or my oldest and I liked when he called me that. We were always together. He would take me to church on his bike; he taught me to hunt and fish since we lived out in the country until I was seven and we moved into town.
At the age of 19, I had never heard of the church of Christ. December 29, 1980, my bus made a 50-minute stop in front of the church of Christ in Santa Cruz, in the north. I wanted to know what church it was, so I went over to ask. I spoke with a lady because I was hungry to know. A few minutes later, Julio arrived—same guy who is now my husband. We had barely met, but cupid’s arrow found its mark and I am still in love with him today.
Five months later, when we met again, he wanted to teach me the doctrine of the churches of Christ and I told him, “I have the same Bible as you have and the same God, so I will study on my own.” At this time, I was already a pastor in the Pentecostal church, so you can imagine how hard this was for me. I took a notebook and prayed daily, asking God to guide me into clear understanding. I would write in one column what I already knew and in the other column everything that was new to me.
Over time, as I finished my study, I made a decision and here I am in the church of Christ. My dad spoke with me only twice and very respectfully about my decision. “Think about it because in the church of Christ, the women are like clay vessels—they don’t do anything. You will lose your ministry and your desire to serve God.” At that time, it was true that women in the church didn’t do anything—like nothing at all.
Julio and I married. He was the preacher in Havana, the capital, (in a congregation called “October 10th") along with the preacher, Fernando Oliver. After two years of observing my attitude and my behavior, Fernando asked me if I wanted to work with the women. I didn’t even think about it, but immediately answered, “Yes!” I prayed, I prepared, and invited all of the sisters to the first ever meeting of the women in the churches of Christ in Cuba, in 1985. I was so happy and excited. The day came and there were only three women who came. I have an old black and white picture of that day. I kept praying and persevering. One year later, there were 25. And after two years, we were more than 35 that gathered to study God’s Word and visit the sick in hospitals.
They were difficult years in our country. Since my childhood, we suffered persecution and discrimination, but thanks to God, He helped us remain faithful. We would prepare food bags for those in need and for mothers who had children in prison. We gathered for prayer meetings. It was a difficult, but beautiful beginning.
Today, we see the results across the country from those first four women (me and 3 others), to the glory of God. Back then I also started working with children—a work that bore and continues to bear much fruit. Currently, when I make trips, I encourage them in the education of the children and support them by providing any materials I can.
Wow! What an awesome story to see how God has used you as His servant throughout the years. Thank you for your great work! And since you have been working with the women across the island of Cuba for so long, I think that’s why we had an instant connection when we first met. What dream have you always had for working with the women?
Yes, I work with women all across Cuba. The longer distance trips can get complicated, but I get ready for each trip with great hopes and love. It is not anything someone has asked me to do. I get no financial compensation for it. I pray. We plan. I contact the preacher in that location. And I go.
There are regions, especially in the country or the mountains, where 20 or 30 women are thrilled when I arrive in order to share with them and give them tools for their spiritual growth. The majority are women who have never had a meeting for the women and so every study or teaching is new to them.
I take as much as I can from the IRSM materials, including elements from each of the books, when I prepare each conference. I want them to have the main ideas and be able to hide them in their hearts and put them into practice. Sometimes, I bring them printed copies of the materials, so they can have a guide to continue studying. I love when these sisters from the congregations I have visited write me and tell me how encouraged they were to continue meeting with the other women for Bible study, prayer time, and visitations. Even though we can’t conduct any large gatherings, we do something beautiful at each congregation where I arrive.
I have more than one dream I am praying about and have been for a while. I would love to be able to get to the most remote locations—where no one else goes—in order to have a time with the women there so that they, too, can learn how to walk more closely with the Lord. I would also love to have prayer retreats and retreats for spiritual growth where women can be equipped to have a more intimate relationship with God and with one another.
What has most impacted you or inspired you from the time we spent together in Cuba?
The days that we spent together here were some of the most decisive in my life. I always wanted to do this kind of work with women. But I will admit and confess that I was afraid of being misinterpreted. Now I realize that it was a tool that the enemy was using in order to keep me from making a decision. Since that time, I told myself that I must decide to share with all of the sisters across Cuba and wherever God wants. These teachings have built me up and opened my eyes to a deeper relationship with God and with other sisters.
Anita, you don’t know the joy that it gives me to hear how God is using you to equip others with what you have been equipped! This is what it is all about my dear sister and friend.
Tell us a little more, please. What are you doing now with the IRSM resources?
I started here in the province I live, Mayabeque. Then I moved forward and have gone to provinces further and further away, on the eastern side of the island. I am confident that God used your visit and each of the conferences you gave as tools to help me to decide to reach out to other women who were unable to participate in those conferences God gave us through you.
With the IRSM resources, I share them with all of those I can, whether through letters or Bible studies. But I love to encourage the sisters and show them the possibility to grow, serve and grow closer to God and to one another.
You have told me a few stories, but maybe there are others you would like to share of someone who is being encouraged and equipped through this blog or through other things that you have taught them through the resources and IRSM books.
There is a large group of women that does not have email, nor the possibility of internet, but God always opens doors so that the IRSM blog can get to them. As long as one of them can get it, maybe through her husband’s work address, they get together and share the article and spend some time in prayer. There is one place called “Alto Montero” in the Gramma province. I received a letter from them recently, telling me that since I met with them for a Bible study and to share the IRSM materials, the sisters have continued to stay motivated. They meet to study the Word and serve God. And they have started a children’s class. Yes, the children were growing up without anyone teaching them, but I was able to share with them during the classes all the areas in which a woman can serve God. They sent me a picture of the children’s class. It is so precious to see the motivation they have had!
In the city of Holguin, one of the congregations there, similarly, has started to have women’s meetings for study and prayer. One sister wrote to tell me how sad she was that she has been unable to have children. It is uncommon for us to share such personal things, but she opened up and shared how the enemy has tormented her through the lies in this issue. What she didn’t know is that the exact issue that she shared with me is the same problem I had, which prevented me from ever having children. I found out about seven or eight years ago, from a gynecologist, that some simple pills to help control that aspect of my hormones would’ve allowed me to have children. Where I grew up and back in the day, those things were not talked about. But today, I was able to talk with this young lady and share some advice with her. She is going to the hospital to have some tests run where she lives and, Lord willing, she will have a baby someday. But she has learned to trust in God and put her hope in Him instead of being overcome by sadness because of Satan’s lies.
How can we pray for you and for the work in Cuba?
I plan to continue the purpose of helping equip more sisters. We are truly hoping that you will be able to come back and visit us again, enriching us with more knowledge and tools.
Pray for the Cuban women, that God will help us understand the truths from His word, grow, serve Him, and I can reach the sisters that live in the farthest reaches of Cuba that are harder to get to. We are praying that God will continue to bless Iron Rose Sister Ministries and thank Him for all of the brothers and sisters who, in one way or another, help make these things happen in our lives.
Thank you so much for your time, Anita, and for sharing your story. You are an inspiration and such an encouragement—through your words and your life in service to the Lord. May God bless, guide, and accompany you always.
P.S. Because of internet limitations in Cuba, Anita will be unable to respond directly through the blog, but I would love to pass on any messages of encouragement or prayers for her and other Cuban sisters.
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