Raul Castro lifts restrictions for Cubans

Raul Castro has recently introduced a number of changes for Cuba. For the first time ever Cubans can legally own cellphones, computers and DVD players; additionally they are now allowed to stay at hotels which were previously only available for foreigners. The irony of this is that almost no one can afford to buy the electronic equipment or stay in a tourist hotel; nevertheless, the gestures do point to the possibility of Cuba opening up its economy, which may have interesting ramifications for USA-Cuba relations, and for the work we are doing in Cuba at the seminary. Time will tell.