Good news for the Gude Perez family, but still no solution 20/06/2012
Since we asked you a few weeks ago to pray and campaign for the Gude Perez family, we’ve had some good news!
The Cuban Government has been refusing to give Omar an exit visa, which would allow him to leave Cuba with his family and take up an offer of asylum in the USA. They’d been told that the offer was about to expire. They’ve now been given a new asylum offer which will remain in place until Omar gets his visa.
This is a huge relief for Kenia, his wife, and their two children Daniel and Kelia. They were facing the prospect of being separated from Omar indefinitely, if they left Cuba without him. Now we just need you to keep praying and campaigning for Omar to get his exit visa!
“Without you we might not be alive today” – Kenia Gude Perez
We’re also glad that an extremely helpful American official has taken over their case, and is working really hard to help them as much as he can. But because of the Cuban government’s intransigence the situation is still unresolved, and Kenia told us honestly how worried and stressed she is. Daniel and Kelia are barred from attending school in Cuba so they’re missing out on their education.
Kenia emphasised, however, that the whole family feels “blessed and protected”, knowing that you’ve been supporting them in prayer during the whole history of their case. She asked us to tell you how grateful they all are for your prayers, and to ask you to keep praying, in the knowledge that God does not want to separate families.
Omar was released over a year ago from imprisonment on trumped-up charges, as his church network grew rapidly. Read more about his case here.
Keep up the pressure by praying and campaigning!
It was a major answer to prayer when the Gude Perez family was granted asylum in the USA. They already know people there, and they will have support from US based churches. The new asylum offer, and the helpful American case officer, are direct results of your prayers and of the over 600 campaigning emails which have already been sent.
If you think this situation is unfair – if you believe that families shouldn’t be separated, children should not be prevented from receiving an education, and Omar should be given an exit visa so he can leave Cuba with his family – then click here to send the Cuban Embassy a message.
Once you’ve done that, please pray that the whole family will know God’s peace and strength as they face an uncertain future. And pray that God will change the hearts and minds of the Cuban Government, so they will give Omar his exit visa, and the family can start a new life together in safety.
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Pray
Please keep praying for a swift resolution to the asylum situation for the Gude Perez family in Cuba.
Protest
Send a message to the Cuban embassy - You can help by contacting the Cuban embassy in your country and highlighting the illegality of the Cuban authorities’ actions.
Provide
You can practically support Cuban Christians through Freedom Gifts. For just £15, you can pay for CSW staff to have a 15 minute phone call with pastors and families suffering persecution in Cuba. These calls are a vital lifeline of encouragement and support for them, as well as providing first-hand information to CSW, underpinning our advocacy work. Find out how to buy a Freedom Gift here: http://csw.org.uk/gifts/index.php?route=product/product&path=40&product_id=67
Make a donation to support CSW’s work in Cuba and around the world or call our friendly admin team on 0845 456 5464.