Journeys of faith and resilience
Welcome to "Our Stories" – a collection of powerful testimonies and experiences from A Seed From Across the Seas. Discover narratives of hope, resilience, and spiritual growth that aim to plant seeds of encouragement in your heart.
From exile to new beginnings
From April to October 1980, about 125,000–150,000 Cuban and Haitian refugees arrived in Miami after the Port of Mariel opened. Driven by communist rule, economic stagnation, and shortages of jobs and food, many risked dangerous boat journeys—some capsized or sank, causing deaths. Those who made it felt relieved and grateful to reach the United States, often seeing it as a paradise and an escape from life under communism. Criminals, prisoners, mentally institutionalized patients, etc., were released from Fidel Castro's communist rule.
A personal journey across the seas
Exile is no stranger to groups of people worldwide, escaping control, communism, or slavery. It's been taking place since the biblical era, when the Israeli people experienced it. My biological father, Rene', was on the Mariel boatlift in 1980. He was one of the brave escapees who found refuge in Miami, Florida, where I was born four years later. I became a spiritual voice of freedom to the physical exile the Cubans faced. Freedom is ultimately in the mind, renewed in Christ. This is just one of many stories of individuals finding their way to a new life and renewed faith.
The power of a contrite heart
What makes these stories truly unique and powerful is the emphasis on spiritual transformation. The broken and contrite heart is who God is after. Pride, arrogance, and haughtiness do not have a place in God's kingdom. Through these narratives, we aim to encourage readers on their spiritual journey, reminding them that humility and openness to God's grace can lead to profound renewal and purpose.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11