Greetings all,

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2Peter3:9

Years ago when we first started to teach the gospel to the Wana people there was one clan in particular that strongly rejected the gospel. This particular clan was instrumental in inviting us to come and live and work with the Wana but when they found out that we did not come to bring them material wealth, they wanted nothing to do with us or the gospel we were teaching. They, in fact, rejected the gospel so strongly that they moved from our village to a different village with strong instructions to their family to “not” follow the missionary’s teaching.

“Pa’a nTene” (the father Tenay) was part of this clan. Tenay was just a young teenage lad when we first moved into Wana and was one of our language helpers. However when his father and uncles decided to leave the village he of course was forced to leave as well. One of his uncles rejected the gospel so strongly that his dying words were “Do not follow that teaching.” To my knowledge none of the generation in that particular clan ever accepted the Lord and they have since passed away into a Christ-less eternity. Needless to say Tenay’s parents and uncles strong objection to the gospel had a great impact on him, his wife, and kids.

However Tenay was very curious about the gospel and a number of years ago started to ask to be taught the gospel. He was very cautious and very non committal for a long time, however we knew that a battle was taking place in his heart. After many years of listening to the gospel message, Tenay finally decided put his faith and trust in Jesus as his Savior! His wife is still holding out but some of his kids and one of their spouses have also recently trusted Christ. Tenay is just one example of others in that generation who’s parents rejected the gospel. Of course it is great to see the Holy Spirit’s work in their lives and to see this generation start to soften towards the gospel and many coming to know Him as Savior. Below is a very recent baptismal of Tenay, two of his children and the spouse of one. This of course is all great news and we thank you for your part!!

Tenay’s Dad on the far left – taken around 1980
Tenay in the yellow shirt, and his children in the following pics.

 

God Bless,

Ed & Jeanne Casteel