Mission Trip to Cuba

Edited due to GoFundMe’s stupid requirements. Here I am in Cuba and I finally learn why I could not withdraw the donated funds before I left. They want me to include the following in my story:

1. Who you are and where you’re from.

Let’s see, the campaign says my name, Victor Rivera, and where I’m from, Flower Mound, so clearly the team at GoFundMe are a bunch of morons.

2. Your relationship or contact to the parties you're raising funds for.

I’m raising the funds for myself, something everyone who donated knows.

3. How the funds will be spent (be specific as possible).

The funds will pay for the mission trip to Cuba (duh, see title), and will include airfare, accommodations in 2 different cities, local transportation, airport/custom fees, etc.

4. Your withdrawal plan to get the funds from the campaign to the ultimate beneficiary/ies.

Again, the funds are for me to help pay for the trip and will be applied to the credit card I had to use for this unexpected God-planned opportunity.

There, I hope GoFundMe is happy now. Way to ruin a story. The real story is below.

Original story before GoFundMe interfered. Funny how someone can raise money for Trump’s wall, but I get hassled for a mission trip.

We all know that God works in mysterious ways. For a long time, I have felt called to help in Cuba. Unfortunately, due to my busy life, it has not happened. Yes, I was able to go a mission trip to Honduras a few years ago, which was eye-opening and changed my life, but Cuba has always remained in the back of my mind and in my heart. An island, very similar to Puerto Rico, where my family is from, yet the people are not as fortunate because of a decision made by their government officials years ago.  Well, fast forward to present day and with the changes made by our government allowing Americans to travel there, Cuba was in the forefront of my mind again. Then it all happened.

Me, my wife Clair, and the kids participated in Feed the Hunger at our church, Rockpointe, a couple of weeks ago, and we were assigned to the Cuba table. Under my breath, I said  "Is God trying to tell me something?" At the end of the event, the church and nonprofit organization brought forward Elio Martiz, a pastor from Cuba, who shared how Feed the Hunger helps Cuba. The next day during our service, sitting behind us was Elio Martiz. Then, Rockpointe allowed Pastor Martiz to speak about what our church is doing in Cuba, through him and other local pastors. This hit me and it apparently hit Clair as well. During lunch that same afternoon, I asked Clair what was on her mind. Before she could answer, I said, "What, that we're going to Cuba?" Clair was in shock because she was thinking that God was calling me to Cuba. She then contacted our Missions Pastor at Rockpointe and explained what was running through our minds. As God would have it, Pastor Randy stated that the church had just learned that their translator cannot go with them to Cuba in January. Wow! God is amazing. Now, I am headed to Cuba with the leaders of Rockpointe to help the youth and to be the church's translator.

Thus, I need some financial help since the trip is in less than 4 weeks. Would you consider this so that I can go do God's work in this little country?

Thank you and God bless!!!!

-Vic