Marilyn R. Bierling Collection, 2011-2013 | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

By Julie Busscher, Ed Gerritsen, and Richard Harms, 2012-2013

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Collection Overview

Abstract

Biographical Note

Administrative Information

Box and Folder Listing

Series 1: Project, 2011-Interviews: "Cuban Refugees and the Christian Reformed Church: An Oral History Project" --- 2011

Box 1

Folder 1: "The Cuban Immigrant Experience within the Christian Reformed Church," (with McGregor Fellow, Elena Brubaker) --- 2011

Folder 2: Ester Marina Ordóñez Marina: DVD [HHM518-1], Spanish transcription, and English translation --- 2011

Marina discusses her experiences with the founder of the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) in Cuba, Bessy Vander Valk. She describes the beginnings of the church there, specifically how the ministry was spread around the area with the help of CRC missionaries Clarence and Arlene Nyenhuis. The work of these first missionaries included English classes, Christian education in the form of the Ebenezer school (which Ester describes in detail), and Sunday church services in multiple locations. Marina also mentions an episode that took place during the Bay of Pigs Invasion where one of the church founders drove his station wagon to the battle site to cart wounded Cuban soldiers to the hospital. She goes on to describe her own work as a secretary in the church. She concludes that the CRC has done good work to decrease suffering in Cuba, but calls for attention to the needs of pastors in Cuba.

Folder 3: Ramón and Norma Borrego: DVD [HHM518-2], Spanish transcription, and English translation --- 2011

The Borregos discuss their experiences with the CRC in Jagüey Grande, Cuba. Ramón talks about his seminary education at Los Pinos Nuevos Seminary. He was the director of the CRC in Cuba from 1962-1966, before the family travelled to Spain in order to facilitate communication with the denomination. The couple goes on to describe their five-year mission trip to Argentina and all the different missionaries they came into contact with over the years. They explain that their attraction to the CRC stemmed from the CRC's belief in the life of people as being whole in Christ. Norma says that Cubans were attracted to the denomination because they came with little and church members were very generous and loving. Ramón adds that Nicaraguans fleeing the Sandinistas appreciated this help as well. The Borregos also mention the difficulties the Church had in Cuba as a result of Castro's regime there. They point out that in the CRC was willing to accept these Cuban immigrants because its members were at one point Dutch immigrants who struggled with the same difficulties.

Folder 4: Ana Pellecer: DVD [HHM518-3], Spanish transcription, and English translation --- 2011

Pellecer talks about her experience leaving Cuba in 1970. She highlights the difficulties in immigrating to the U.S., primarily her struggle to learn English and her mother's difficult work schedule. She describes her family's journey to join the Good Samaritan Christian Reformed Church in Miami. She marvels at the way CRC theology allows salvation by faith and compassion for the needy. Pellecer ends by stressing the importance of the Church retaining its youth, and suggesting that the Church incorporate more English into its services.

Folder 5: Marisol Fernández de Pérez: DVD [HHM518-4] and English transcription --- 2011

De Pérez relates her experiences under Castro's regime while living in Havana. Only 6 at the time, she recalls a specific incident where militiamen came to her school and gave the children candy, saying that it was Castro who would give them candy, not God. She talks about her father's business troubles and her move to Miami. De Pérez exposes the issues she faced with segregation against Cubans in Miami, especially in the workplace. Marisol describes how her family was brought to the church through the generosity of the Good Samaritan Center. She laments the ten years her father spent in a Cuban prison once he was caught by the Cuban authorities, describing the terrible time he had there. She also describes her brother's life in the United States. De Pérez states that the church is a trampoline for Cuban refugees, most of whom still hold out

Project, 2011-Interviews: "Cuban Refugees and the Christian Reformed Church: An Oral History Project, 2011" (contd.)

the hope of one day returning to their homeland. She finishes by describing the differences between Mexican migrants and Cuban refugees.

Folder 6: Jorge Fernández: DVD [HHM518-5] and English transcription --- 2011

Fernández discusses his family's exit from Cuba as a result of the effects of Communism there. He talks about how his nine-member family struggled in poverty before contacting the Good Samaritan Center, which donated food, clothing, and other essential items to satisfy the needs of Cuban refugees. He goes on to describe his family's sponsorship and subsequent relocation to Holland, MI. Jorge mentions the tough time he had speaking English and becoming accustomed to American culture while he was attending Holland Christian School. He moves on to describe his professional life and return to work with the Good Samaritan Church. Fernández praises the intellectual draw of the CRC, saying that he liked it because it challenged the Catholic theology he grew up with. He believes that the CRC has a great outreach and shows Christian mercy well, although he thinks its members should be more aware that the CRC is a global church rather than just a Dutch church.

Folder 7: María Infante and Ileana Lamberts: DVD [HHM518-6], Spanish transcription, and English translation --- 2011

Maria recalls the arrests Fidel Castro made of those who he saw as opposition. She discusses her struggles as Castro's men searched for her anti-communist husband. Maria and her three children were eventually able to make it out of Cuba via the Pan-American Freedom Flights, to be joined by her husband six months later. Ileana describes the event from her then six-year-old perspective. The women highlight the help that LaGrave CRC in Grand Rapids gave their family as they transitioned to life in Miami and then Grand Rapids. They express gratitude and wonderment at the help that they received from the Church. The women go on to describe their new lives in Grand Rapids. Maria's husband went to work as a lawyer for Amway, and Ileana attended Oakdale Christian School. Lamberts tells of their family's desire to join the CRC because she had truly accepted Christ into her heart, which was different than the nominal Catholicism she grew up in. She states that her family's story demonstrates an incredibly faith and trust in God.

Folder 8: Rosa Caro: DVD [HHM518-7] and English transcription --- 2011

Caro talks about her experiences with her husband being a political refugee in Cuba and her son's flight on the Peter Pan flights. She describes the beginning of her life in the United States, including how The Good Samaritan Church helped her and her family get on their feet and led them to the Church. Caro describes her life in Michigan and the struggle she had getting a good job because of her poor English language skills. She praises the CRC for being generous and friendly to her and her family, which led them to learn more about the Church.

Folder 9: Jim Tuinstra: DVD [HHM518-8] and English transcription --- 2011

Tuinstra describes how he became the director of the Good Samaritan Center in Miami. He elaborates on how exactly the Center met Cuban refugees' needs. He also outlines the importance of the people who sponsored refugee families to come and live near them. Tuinstra mentions the Freedom Flights that left Cuba, remembering that Castro had delivered an address claiming falsely that no one would ever want to leave Cuba. He points out that President Johnson said he would let anyone enter the country who wanted to. Tuinstra believes that Cuban refugees were attracted to the CRC because of the Christian love that Church members gave them.

Folder 10: Arlene Nyenhuis: DVD [HHM518-9] and English transcription --- 2011

In this interview, Nyenhuis relates her and her husband's experiences being the first CRC missionaries to Cuba. They arrived only two months before Castro took over.

She then describes their work at the Good Samaritan Center when they moved back to Miami. She mentions the Peter Pan program, but focuses on talking about the work they did with families in particular. Nyenhuis claims that Cubans were drawn to the CRC because she and her husband had been recent missionaries there, so the refugees knew that the CRC cared about and was familiar with Cuba. She emphasizes a continuing need for Spanish-speaking and bilingual churches.

Folder 11: Betty Diemer: DVD [HHM518-10] and English transcription --- 2011

Diemer talks about her family's work with the Good Samarian Christian Reformed Church. She discusses the troubles the church had in forming a consistory because there were so few members who were men. Diemer points out the work of the church's women's prayer group, who played a strong intercessory role. She finishes by pointing to God as the one who made everything possible and expressing her faith and trust in Him.

Series 2: Project, 2013-Interviews: "Cuban Refugees and the Christian Reformed Church: An Oral History Project" --- 2011-2012

Box 1

Folder 12: Description of Project: "The Cuban Immigrant Experience within the Christian Reformed Church," (with McGregor Fellow, Julie Busscher) --- 2013

Folder 13: Domingo Romero: DVD [HHM518-11], 2011; Spanish transcription and English translation --- 2012

Romero relates his experiences as a pastor in Cuba in the latter half of the twentieth century. He talks about his time in Spain and his move to the United States after three years there. He tells the story of the time he spent in New Jersey before being called to a Hispanic church in Grand Rapids. Romero explains how the doctrine of the CRC and his familiarities with church members drew him to the denomination. Romero finishes by describing what different members of his family have been doing in the Church and what has been going on in their lives.

Folder 14: Carlos and Carla Tápanes: DVD [HHM518-12], 2011; English transcription --- 2012

Carla begins by talking about her life growing up and her experiences with several different Hispanic churches that had many Cuban members. She recounts her time spent aiding Cuban refugees and helping them find jobs in the U.S. Carlos mentions the episode with the Peruvian embassy in Cuba. He describes his own departure from potential imprisonment or drafting in Cuba as a part of the Mariel Boat Lift. He talks about the time he spent in a work camp in Arkansas before he was finally sponsored and sent to California. Carlos says he was attracted to the CRC him because he saw its members work to develop a life of church faithfulness, and he saw them helping Cuban refugees. He goes on to discuss CRC church leadership in the Hispanic community during his time. Carla adds how the Hispanic church has implemented more English programs to draw in Hispanic youths who would rather speak English, even if they still want to keep their Hispanic culture. Carla believes that CRC members were so willing to work with Cuban refugees because the two ethnic groups have many similarities. Carlos finishes by stating how the influx of Cuban refugees into the CRC has opened the denomination's eyes to be open to different cultures.

Folder 15: Ana María Cabús: DVD [HHM518-13, 2011; Spanish transcription and English translation 2012]

Cabús talks about coming to the United States in 1970. She describes how she met Christ and started attending Emanuel Church in Wyoming, MI. Cabús points out how hard it has been for her to learn English, and that she still only speaks Spanish. She emphasizes Christ's importance in her life.

Folder 16: Sara Lima: DVD [HHM518-14], 2011; Spanish transcription and English translation --- 2012

Lima describes her life in Cuba and the life of her late husband, Erelio Martínez, who was the president of the CRC in Cuba. She talks about her husband's leader personality and how he sacrificed himself for his work. Lima also mentions the exodus of pastors from Cuba, talking about how much of a struggle that was. She says that it was their decision to leave, but her and her husband chose to remain in Cuba, doing their work in the church there.

Folder 17: Carol Boersma: DVD [HHM518-15], 2011; English transcription --- 2012

Boersma details the work of the Good Samaritan Church, medical center, and aid center in Miami. She talks about these institutions met both the physical and spiritual needs of incoming Cuban refugees. Boersma describes her work reaching out to the refugees, many of whom needed physical, spiritual, and emotional help. She tells an anecdote about her language interactions with the refugees and the difficulties the language differences presented. Boersma explains that Cuban church members really knew how to "make a joyful noise," and that she thinks that has been a good way to strengthen the church. She thinks one of the reasons that it was so easy for the CRC to help the refugees was because many of them were educated and stable people.

Folder 18: Rey Romero: DVD [HHM518-16], 2011; English transcription --- 2012

Romero discusses his experiences growing up in the Good Samaritan Church in Miami. He talks about the different ministries the church has had, including the refugee relief and Vacation Bible School. Romero points out how many of the Cubans who came to the United States still focused on their former lives in Cuba, and that many of them still held out the hope of returning someday. He believes that through this experience with the Cubans, the CRC has become more open and diverse. Romero wonders how Hispanic churches can maintain their heritage while still catering to the needs of the bilingual and English-speaking younger generations.

Folder 19: David Lee Chang: DVD [HHM518-17], 2011; Spanish transcription and English translation --- 2012

Chang describes how he became a pastor in the CRC in Cuba. He talks about the psychological pressure that Castro's government created for churches and church members. They were accused of being parasites on society, so many decided not to attend church. Chang tells about the problem that the government would seize parsonages once pastors fled to the United States. He also talks about how he and other CRC pastors taught church members in Cuba about Reformed doctrine. Chang goes on to describe the relationship between the Church in Cuba and the CRC of North America. He finishes by discussing how he and others trained pastors and churches in Cuba to be leaders.

Folder 20: Haydeé Carballo Rodríguez: DVD [HHM518-18], 2011; Spanish transcription and English translation --- 2012

The wife of David Lee, Rodríguez describes her and her husband's lives working in different churches in Cuba. She talks about a time when she, with only her knowledge from Sunday school, had to preach at one of the churches because it did not have a pastor at the time. Rodríguez connects a story of an Asian man in a Cuban hospital to the Christian doctrine of election. She gives a strong testimony about her faith in Christ and His faithfulness in her life. Rodríguez then talks about the struggles the Church in Cuba had when many pastors were fleeing to the U.S. She says that there was a space for women to participate in church leadership because it was necessary to continue the ministry.