Credits

welcome

Introduction

Study Session

Activity 1

Activity 2

Activity 3

Activity 4

Activity 5

Activity 6

Activity 7

Activity 8

Activity 9

Activity 10

Activity 11

Activity 12

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What You Need

• a copy of Eloísa's Story (see below)
• two index cards
• felt-tipped marker

In Advance

1. Recruit an adult or young person to be the storyteller.
2. On two index cards print the following two situations
• choosing between church and other functions

a. Cuban: On Sunday, will you go to school or to church?

 b. North American: What conflicts, such as soccer practice, do you have with attending church functions? How do you make the choice?
 
 

• treating people who are different from you 

a. Cuban: Non-Christian children in Cuba often persecuted Christian children by throwing stones, calling them names, and refusing to play with them. What will you do?

 b. North American: Children in North America may go to school with children of different faiths. Some children make fun of those who do not believe as they do. What will you do?
 
 

1. Have the storyteller tell or read Eloísa's Story. 
2. Divide the children into two teams, North Americans and Cubans. Choose a situation card and read it aloud to the children. Allow each team time to discuss among themselves what their arguments will be.
3. Then have them present their arguments to the other team. Encourage the children really to think about how people would feel and to be ready to tell what Christian beliefs are guiding their arguments.

Eloísa was always a quiet girl, yet very strong-willed. She had learned to be, because people always were trying to make her like everybody else. Like the time her teacher announced that a math test would be given on Sunday morning.

"Sunday morning!" exclaimed Eloísa when she heard the announcement. I cannot miss church. 

All the students came to school that Sunday, but Eloísa remained faithful to Jesus Christ and told the teacher why she could not go to the test.

The other students laughed at Eloísa for going to church, because they did not believe in God. "Why are you going to church?" they would cry. "God does not exist!" 

One little boy, Pablo, was particularly cruel. He called Eloísa "stupid" and "crazy" for going to church. He thought it was a waste of time. He would round up some friends on Saturday and throw stones at the beautiful stained glass windows in the church. When he called Eloísa names, she tried to ignore him. Her parents had told her not to pay any attention to Pablo because Jesus would always be with those who believe in Him.

Eloísa had been a Christian since she was a little girl. Her parents were among the few people who stayed in church after the Revolution. That was thirty years ago and everybody thought all the churches would be closed. Because of those rumors most Christians either left the country or the church.

Eloísa s parents had to make a decision. At the time they were teenagers and there were many changes taking place in Cuba. Some people liked the new government because of the many new schools, day care centers and hospitals it built. Other people did not like the drastic changes in the country. Yet Eloísa had the rare opportunity of being raised in a Christian home. Most boys and girls in Cuba have never been to church.

At the beginning of the school year the teacher asked the class, "Who is going to be the president of the Martí Student Council this year?" 

The students knew this was a big honor. They had learned about their Cuban hero José Martí. In front of their school was a statue of Martí which read, "My sling is that of David."

The students looked around at each other, wondering who might be a good president of the school. By the fifth grade Eloísa s hard work had paid off and all the students respected her. Her classmates had begun to notice her honesty and good attitude.

Karla raised her hand and enthusiastically announced, "I nominate Eloísa." 

Everyone began to cheer, "Si! Si! Si!" to affirm the nomination.

Only Pablo was scornful and yelled, "Are you kidding? She s a Christian!" 

Karla quickly responded, "I know, but she s smart, honest and she is the only person everybody likes."

The teacher, Mrs. Alicia Torres, interrupted. "All right, children, settle down. We always choose the school president with elections. So each person will have one vote to decide who the next president will be." She turned to Eloísa and asked, "Eloísa, do you accept the nomination?" 

Eloísa answered thoughtfully, "There's never been a Christian president, but I like to help people and I would be proud to represent the school."

In the past Mrs. Torres did not like Christians, because she was told that they were against the Revolution. However, she thought to herself, "Eloísa is right. Christians just want to help people and that is the same as the Revolution." The teacher had seen that the Christian students were often among the best in her classroom. "The times are changing and Eloísa has the same right as anyone to be the president," Mrs. Torres silently concluded.

After two other students had been named candidates, Mrs. Torres said, "Okay class, if we have received all the nominations, put your heads down and raise your hand to vote for the candidate of your choice."

Meanwhile Eloísa began to wonder, "Do my classmates like me? Will they vote for me? Surely they will not vote for a Christian! Oh God, please be with me. I am scared."

"Time s up!" exclaimed Mrs. Torres as she turned to count the votes on the blackboard. "Three votes for Narcisa, two votes for Juan and eighteen for Eloísa." 

"You won! You won!" shouted Karla. " I told you Pablo. Si!" 

The other classmates joined in by chanting, "Eloísa! Eloísa! Eloísa!" 

Mrs. Torres intervened to calm the class and officially declared, "Eloísa is the new president of the whole school."

After school Eloísa was excited to tell her parents. "They will be so proud," she thought to herself.

"That is wonderful! You are dawning a new day," responded Eloísa's mom when she heard the news. "You know, daughter, that we went through very hard times as Christians. But we are happy to have stayed in Cuba to serve God. Now the churches are filling up with many new people. Even your classmate Pablo may someday join the same church that he used to throw stones at. There are many changes in our country. You being elected president is one of the signs of the times!"

"But," she went one, "we only pray and hope that the changes can occur without losing all the good we have gained from the Revolution. You are blessed to have such a fine school. When I was a girl before the Revolution in the eastern part of the island, we did not have a school in the countryside."

As Eloísa went to bed that night, she remembered her mother's words and kneeled down to pray.

"Dear God," she whispered, "thank you for my school because many poor children before the Revolution did not have schools. Thank you for my classmates who respect me. Thank you for my church, and-" 

Sensing that somebody was watching her, Eloísa stopped and saw her parents peeking through the door. "And thank you for my parents," she finished with the laugh. When she saw their smiles she knew that her parents were right. Jesus is always with those who are faithful to Him.

ORIGINALLY TITLED "A YOUNG CUBAN CHRISTIAN," IN CHOICES AND OTHER STORIES FROM THE CARIBBEAN BY ALMAFLOR ADA, JAN THORNE, AND PHILIP WINGEIER-RAYO. ©1993 BY FRIENDSHIP PRESS, INC. USED BY PERMISSION.