Our Story
Besides the work in Cuba, we are currently serving fulltime as directors at the Alfa Instituto, a wonderful Christian elementary school in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca Mexico. You can learn more about our ministry at the Alfa Instituto on our Facebook page.
For many years God had given Jes and I a love for missions and for missionaries. We were visiting Costa Rica in 2003 when the Lord spoke to us and said, “I am calling you to the nations.” We didn’t have any more specifics than that so we continued on our way, praying, saving, ministering, working and going to school as we obeyed God. It wasn’t until December of 2009 while we were in Brazil with our missionary friend, Josephine Hart, that God specifically placed “Latin America” in our hearts. We had a little more information, but not the full picture yet.
We were once again in Costa Rica in January 2010. While waiting for a meeting with Carlos Cordero, the base director in San Jose for Christ for the City International, I saw a plaque with Isaiah 41:10 printed on it. For some reason this caught my eye and I went upstairs to look up the verse. As I read it I suddenly started crying and I could sense the presence of Holy Spirit. I didn’t know why I was reacting in such a way or what God was doing. A few minutes later I was able to ask about the plaque. Carlos said it given to him from some pastors in Cuba. I didn’t know what God was saying or why I was so moved but I just put “Cuba” into my heart and left it at that
We were once again in Costa Rica in January 2010. While waiting for a meeting with Carlos Cordero, the base director in San Jose for Christ for the City International, I saw a plaque with Isaiah 41:10 printed on it. For some reason this caught my eye and I went upstairs to look up the verse. As I read it I suddenly started crying and I could sense the presence of Holy Spirit. I didn’t know why I was reacting in such a way or what God was doing. A few minutes later I was able to ask about the plaque. Carlos said it given to him from some pastors in Cuba. I didn’t know what God was saying or why I was so moved but I just put “Cuba” into my heart and left it at that
A few months later in the summer of 2010 God gave us a specific instruction. One morning as I was getting ready for work He said that my season for working at the church full-time was now over. After almost 17 years as an associate and children’s pastor at Eagle’s Nest Worship Center, we knew it would be a big transition. The interesting part was that we didn’t have clear direction yet as to what was next for us. We knew it was missions, but didn’t know much else than that. Jes and I had missions contacts in several countries and our hearts were open to anything God had for us, yet didn’t feel a specific call to any of those places. In obedience to God, I shared with our pastor that God had laid on our hearts that it was time for me to leave staff and after a few months of preparation, quit work at Eagle’s Nest that September.
One day in the early Fall of 2010 Jes came home from work and said, quite out of the blue, that he was interested in Cuba. If you all know Jes, sometimes he can be brash but as soon as he said the word Cuba, it instantly became big on the inside of me too. About a week later he spoke with an evangelist who travels frequently to Cuba. After that conversation, we both knew that God was calling us to serve specifically in Cuba. It was fast and very clear and within weeks God connected us with Los Pinos Nuevos and Jonatan Hernandez-Roche and Dr. Norberto Quesada in Havana. When we finally met them face to face in March of 2011, God immediately confirmed that they were the people God had chosen for us to serve alongside in that special nation.
The Lord gave us Psalm 90:16-17 “Let Your work appear to Your servants, and Your glory to their children. And let the favor of the Lord be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.” Since then God has graciously allowed us to become collaborating partners with Los Pinos Nuevos in Old Havana with their “Un Grano de Arena” (A Grain of Sand) program. This collaboration has been approved by the Cuban government, opening many doors for Los Pinos and GDM to work together.
So we invite you to continue to watch and listen alongside of us as God continues to write our story. It’s His story really – but He is graciously allowing us to get in on the fun as we serve and love radically together. Thanks for being a part of this adventure!
One day in the early Fall of 2010 Jes came home from work and said, quite out of the blue, that he was interested in Cuba. If you all know Jes, sometimes he can be brash but as soon as he said the word Cuba, it instantly became big on the inside of me too. About a week later he spoke with an evangelist who travels frequently to Cuba. After that conversation, we both knew that God was calling us to serve specifically in Cuba. It was fast and very clear and within weeks God connected us with Los Pinos Nuevos and Jonatan Hernandez-Roche and Dr. Norberto Quesada in Havana. When we finally met them face to face in March of 2011, God immediately confirmed that they were the people God had chosen for us to serve alongside in that special nation.
The Lord gave us Psalm 90:16-17 “Let Your work appear to Your servants, and Your glory to their children. And let the favor of the Lord be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.” Since then God has graciously allowed us to become collaborating partners with Los Pinos Nuevos in Old Havana with their “Un Grano de Arena” (A Grain of Sand) program. This collaboration has been approved by the Cuban government, opening many doors for Los Pinos and GDM to work together.
So we invite you to continue to watch and listen alongside of us as God continues to write our story. It’s His story really – but He is graciously allowing us to get in on the fun as we serve and love radically together. Thanks for being a part of this adventure!
Jes and Kristen – a little info about who we are:
We met at Eagle’s Nest Worship Center in Omaha, Nebraska. Our first date was May 28th, 1998 and we married on August 28th, 1999. We live in Omaha most of the time…for now :).
Our lives are blessed with our families, our wonderful friends and church families right here in Omaha. Eagle’s Nest Worship Center, Crossroads Fellowship International and Para Vida Church are all a vital part of our lives and we love them so much. Also, God has blessed us with an amazing board of directors for Great Door Ministries. Exceptional people, dear friends, and sold-out followers of Christ; they are Pete Henson, Channing Bunch, Mary Irving, and Sean Davis. God never ceases to blow our minds with the gifts He gives us in people!
We met at Eagle’s Nest Worship Center in Omaha, Nebraska. Our first date was May 28th, 1998 and we married on August 28th, 1999. We live in Omaha most of the time…for now :).
Our lives are blessed with our families, our wonderful friends and church families right here in Omaha. Eagle’s Nest Worship Center, Crossroads Fellowship International and Para Vida Church are all a vital part of our lives and we love them so much. Also, God has blessed us with an amazing board of directors for Great Door Ministries. Exceptional people, dear friends, and sold-out followers of Christ; they are Pete Henson, Channing Bunch, Mary Irving, and Sean Davis. God never ceases to blow our minds with the gifts He gives us in people!
Plus, God is giving us a whole network of men and women who love us, love God and support the work of GDM through their giving, their prayers, and their encouragement. They are each a part of our GDM family and they are a vital, life-giving part of our lives and what God is doing in Cuba. Our hearts are continually grateful for this big and growing family we have.
Just as precious to us is our family in Cuba! God has blessed us with our Cuban pastor, Dr. Norberto Quasada and his wife Marilyn, along with our dearest friends Jonatan Hernandez-Roche and his wife, Alina. We cherish every minute we get to spend with them and their children and the rest of our family in Havana.
To hear about us, you have to hear about the people in our lives – because that really is who we are!
Just as precious to us is our family in Cuba! God has blessed us with our Cuban pastor, Dr. Norberto Quasada and his wife Marilyn, along with our dearest friends Jonatan Hernandez-Roche and his wife, Alina. We cherish every minute we get to spend with them and their children and the rest of our family in Havana.
To hear about us, you have to hear about the people in our lives – because that really is who we are!