“I always knew there were people praying for me, always. I knew all over the world there were angels who prayed for us – angels who walk on earth, like you.”

When we met Caridad last month, she told us that she always knew there were Christians around the world praying for her and that she felt the strength of those prayers.

Caridad is a human rights defender, independent journalist and member of the ‘Ladies in White’ movement. As a Lady in White, Caridad was part of peaceful demonstrations for freedom in Cuba. The ladies protest by attending mass each Sunday wearing white dresses and then silently walking through the streets dressed in white clothing. But even these acts of peaceful protest can make them a target for persecution from the government.

Caridad was repeatedly prevented from going to church. Her house was usually surrounded, she would be picked up and detained on either on Sunday morning or Saturday night so that she couldn’t go to church. CSW spoke to her every week for solidarity and to keep in touch with what was going on. In turn, she was documenting other religious freedom violations not related to her personally, but to others in her region, and feeding them back to us. Caridad and her family are now safely living in the USA, but many in Cuba still experience the same kind of persecution that she did.

This week, PLEASE:

• Give thanks that Caridad and her family can now practise their faith in freedom in the USA;
• For the family as they adjust to their new life;
• That God would settle the family in their new home and church, and provide Caridad with the opportunities she desires to continue speaking up for religious freedom in Cuba;
• For protection for members of the Ladies in White movement as they speak up for freedom in peaceful ways;
• For Christians like Caridad who are monitored by the government and repeatedly arrested.