Greetings fellow co-workers,
We trust this letter finds you having had a very Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year. Jeanne and I enjoyed our time and it was fun to keep track with all the Christmas celebrations taking place in the different Wana villages, with some folks celebrating the true meaning of Christmas for the very first time. We thought back to 45 years ago when there weren’t any Christmas celebrations and can only praise the Lord to see what HE has done in the hearts and lives of the Wana people. We are so glad to the Lord for inviting us to be a part of what HE wants to do in their lives.
Christmas celebrations in Asia Pacific begin the first part of December and run through the whole month. This is a month in which folks like to go back to their home villages to celebrate with family and friends. Many of our Wana churches will hold multiple celebrations – they will have a young children’s celebration, a youth celebration, a lady’s celebration, and also a whole church celebration. Churches in a certain area – those within hiking, canoe, or motorcycle distance will often vary the dates of their celebration so the folks from the other churches can attend, as they love the large group gatherings. The church meeting itself can go on for a long time as they don’t like to skip over any of the Christmas story plus they really enjoy lots of singing together. They do not share Christmas presents but sharing a big meal together afterwards is always looked forward to. Pigs and chickens will often be butchered and sticky rice made from coconut milk is a specialty. My mouth waters just writing about it as it is all truly delicious. After the Christmas celebrations comes the New Years celebration. Each village will do something for this. One of the Wana villages even had some fireworks this year to welcome the new year in – that is the first time I have seen that! Another thing they enjoy doing around New Years is to have a big youth event. Sometimes the churches will take turns hosting this. They get together for Bible teaching and of course enjoy sports playing volleyball and soccer together.
The celebrations are now over so this week the Wana people are getting their kids settled back into school. Many of the interior villages only have grade school, so this necessitates them getting their kids enrolled in school in one of the coastal towns. We have helped the churches get dormitories set up in two major coastal towns which has been a blessing to them. This is important for the kids so they have some oversight and spiritual input while they are out attending school. So this week has been a week of travel for parents and kids. Our pilot is also helping by flying some of those attending school in the provincial capital.
Jeanne and I also want to thank you for your prayers for us and the Wana people, and accepting the Lord’s invitation to be a part of what HE is doing in the Wana hearts and lives.
God Bless,
Ed & Jeanne Casteel
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