These are triumphant moments for Rev. Ray Gimenez in Clinton.
He watched on a computer at Victory Center Ministries as President Obama unveils the start of a new era with the United States and Cuba, Wednesday, December 17, 2014.
"Beautiful," Gimenez said.
Each sentence in the news conference is like a victory.
"I'm 100% for this," he said.
And for the Havana-born man, 64, this is amazing.
"This is the greatest news I've heard," he said.
Rejected five times in recent years to visit his homeland, Gimenez learned on Tuesday, December 16, that he will finally return in April. That's when he'll speak at a conference and visit relatives.
"For all of us Cuban-Americans, I think that the time has come to really make a difference in people's lives," he said.
It will be a symbolic and spiritual journey.
Gimenez fled Cuba as a child to escape Castro's regime in 1961. He was just 11 years old.
"We were right there when the revolution started," he said.
He still remembers ducking under a bed to avoid flying bullets. He saw that same bed, still in place, during his only visit back to Cuba in 2005.
"The same mattress," he remembered. "The same frames."
Stepping into his childhood home 44 years later, nothing had changed.
"It was like time stood still," he said.
America's new course with Cuba establishes diplomatic relations. It will also open travel and trade.
It's also about hope and heritage for Pastor Ray.
"Basically begin to indicate to the Cuban people the amazing component America has that's called freedom," he said.
After waiting more than a half-century, that elusive day is here.
"Closed doors can now be opened," he concluded.