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Board of Directors Spotlight: Chris Burch

Chris Burch has been involved with Third Lens Ministries from nearly the beginning of the organization. College friends with Third Lens’ founder, Lee Carol, Burch jumped on board with the new organization relatively quickly.  “Lee founded Third Lens in 2009, and then he told me what he was doing,” Burch said.  “When I heard about it, I told him I wanted to be involved. He knew that I was in construction, and he knew that I had also had a passion for serving the Lord however I could with my time and expertise.” The first trip Burch took with Third Lens was to Honduras in October of 2010. The project was to help Predisan Health Ministries build a clinic in the community of Wasparani, located in an isolated mountain region. “We came in and told them that we were there to help him,” Burch said. “That we were going to be coming back in a few months, and we were going to start construction on this building for them to build a medical clinic. So we called a meeting with … [Read more...] about Board of Directors Spotlight: Chris Burch

An American in Cuba: Faith and Ferry Rides

Our trip originally flew us into Havana directly from Atlanta, GA. Immigration as well as customs was simple and hassle free. It was the same way leaving Havana, returning home to the US.  In order to reach Pastor Enrique on The Island of Youth, we had to take another full day of travel. Kindly, Brian O’Neil had this all pre-arranged for us and in his words, “you’ll take a bus, and then a ferry to meet Pastor Enrique!” I’m a believer in all things bright and beautiful. I imagined a quick little tour bus picking us up, followed by a quaint ferry ride across a bay, as if we were headed to Statin Island.  This is not what happened. What did happen was this: a three hour wait at a bus station, a 2 hour bus ride to the water’s edge, a 2 hour wait at the docks, a three hour “ferry” ride (actually a ship) and then we met jolly Pastor Enrique. Our day trip was nothing like I expected, it was better. It was complex, it was random, it was questionable, there were … [Read more...] about An American in Cuba: Faith and Ferry Rides

An American in Cuba: Fishers of Men

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Mark 1:17 As a child I spent, my summers at the ocean with my family. I first learned to float with my grandmother in the ocean, and my first catch of fish as a child was on the beach.  I remember hovering over the innocent fish in my red sand pale for what seemed like hours. It was the only fish we caught that day. He was our little pet for the afternoon, and I remember throwing him back into the ocean.  I have fishing stories spanning my entire life, and it is something my husband and I do with our children today. We have fished streams, wide rivers in canoes, vast ponds and lakes all over East Alabama. I feel as though it is a life skill and a rite of passage for a child. “Teach a man to fish…” my husband says. And he’s right, it something you carry with you forever.  While in Cuba and visiting the Methodist church near Gerona (Herona), pastor Enrique told us of their “fishing … [Read more...] about An American in Cuba: Fishers of Men

Meeting Cuba, Face to Face

To bare honesty, I knew nothing of Cuba going into my trip. I had heard of a man named Fidel Castro, and my idea of Cuba was one of skepticism. That is all. I went into this adventure completely blind.  I see this as an offering. The ability to have a completely open and new mind, to learn and gather my own thoughts and opinions. My curiosity and eagerness to ask all the questions and learn as much as possible sat my soul in the hot seat. I was desperate to find out about these people, excited to dive into their world. I wanted to talk to them, walk into their homes, eat their food. I wanted to laugh with them and cry with them and put myself in their shoes, even if just for a tiny moment in time. We did this and so much more. We drank coffee with them, listened to their stories, broke bread with them, watched sunsets together, prayed with them, sat in their homes and simply listened to each other.  The stories to come in the following weeks will tap into each … [Read more...] about Meeting Cuba, Face to Face

The Next Chapter

I just recently got back from two months in Cuba. I was blessed with an opportunity to serve the Lord in Patria on the Isle of Youth working with the United Methodist Church of Patria and its ministries. I experienced the Holy Spirit movein ways that I never had before. I learned more about what the love of God looks like within his family of believers. I received more blessings than I can count. My Spanish improved a lot. I learned more about their culture and way of life. God showed me ways that I am weak and just how much I need him as well as ways in which he has given me strengths to bring glory to his name. God showed me his goodness and faithfulness in many different ways. I learned how to farm tomatoes and how to navigate the guagua (public bus). I ate more sweet potatoes, cucumbers, and ice cream than I ever had before in a span of two months. And I became part of a family that will forever be on my heart because when people seek after the Lord with all they have, the Holy … [Read more...] about The Next Chapter