What exactly is beginning?

Cuba has always been a big part of my life. When I was three years old, my family welcomed into our community in Connecticut a family from Cuba who we had sponsored as political refugees. My father, the Reverend Mark Pendleton, passed on to me a particular love for Cuba. He spent a year on the island in 1986 as a seminarian and a Volunteer for Mission for the Episcopal Church. I began my own interest in all things Latin American in first grade when I attended a Spanish immersion elementary school in Silver Spring, Maryland. Today, I have multiple visits of my own to Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Argentina and Cuba under my belt.

Currently, I am a Global Studies major in my second year at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York. My intention is to take a year off from my academic studies to experience first-hand the work of the Episcopal Church in Cuba that has played such an important part thus far in my own journey. I have been accepted into The Young Adult Service Corps (YASC), which is a ministry for young adults who are interested in exploring their faith in new ways by living and serving in communities around the Anglican Communion.

As someone who is already bilingual in Spanish, I hope to offer the Episcopal Church in Cuba my growing knowledge of their history, and my nascent love of their people, culture and music. My proposal will be an asset to the diocese by strengthening their vital multiple companion relationships throughout the Episcopal Church.

Specifically, I want to advance the ongoing work to fund and construct Camp Blankenship in Santa Clara Province, in addition to participating fully in the important youth ministry of the diocese. I will also be taking the lead in organizing a peace and reconciliation pilgrimage for the Community of the Cross of Nails in 2014.

In order to make this program possible I need to raise $10,000. My trip for the year can be fully funded with 100 gifts of only $100 a piece. Another option would be to sponsor one day for $35. The easiest way to contribute to this mission experience is to write a check made out to "Christ Church" and mail to: Christ Church, 43 Pine Street in Exeter, NH 03833. Please write "Will Pendleton YASC" in the memo line. Please Email me at PendletonYASC@gmail.com if there are any issues or questions that remain.

In thanks for your support of this experience, I will post updates throughout the year with news and the latest developments of my mission, via blog and email (keeping in mind that internet access in Cuba is very limited and expensive.) Thank you for considering helping me make this experience possible!

Que Dios le bendiga – May God bless you.

Will Pendleton