Greetings all,
The week before last I received a text message from one of our pastors saying his wife’s grandfather was really ill and needed prayer. Just a few minutes later I received another text letting me know that he had just passed away.
Pa’ Goda (Father of Goada) was from the village of Uebone – the Wana village where we first located in over 40 years ago. He was one of the earlier believers and once he put his trust in Christ he never looked back. He has been a faithful follower of the Lord ever since and a blessing to all of us. His wife passed away a number of years ago, but his kids took very good care of him and made sure he had all that he needed.
I have enjoyed his regular visits where he loved to tell stories and say poems like only the older Wana men can do. This past visit to the Wana in March and April was no exception – we stayed with his granddaughter and her family so he stopped by on a number of occasions to pay us a visit. Pa Goda loved to wear hats and one of his favorite’s was one with “Bob Marley” written on it (Of course he had no idea who Bob Marley was). So with that he was affectionately called “Bob Marley” by many of us. Another thing he liked to do was play the harmonica. His kids and grandkids told us they thought he was 100 years old, but I think probably more like about 90. When he was born time and dates were not understood by the Wana, so there is no record of his birth, except with the Lord. Even though he was getting up in years his death still caught us a bit by surprise as when we were with him in March and April he was doing quite well and even hiked up to the “Easter Youth Camp” that was being held for the kids. When he was laying on his death bed the kids were trying to get him to take some medication as he had a fever, but he told him he was not going to take it as it was not from Pa’ Jefri (Me) – he would only take the medicine if I gave it to him. Needless to say “Pa’ Goda” is going to be missed. Many tears have been shed the past couple of weeks as his death has been mourned by everyone, but everyone is praising the Lord that he is now with Jesus and we will someday be reunited with him. His granddaughter’s husband told me his faith in Jesus was strong right up to the end – he knew where he was going!! Below a couple of photos of Pa Goda from this past trip and also a short video link of him playing the harmonica.
One of Pa’ Goda’s visits to us in March
My last photo with Pa Goda in April
Click on the image below if you would like to see Pa Goda play the Harmonica, and show off his “Bob Marley” hat:
With His passing we are wonderfully reminded of Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 5:8, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”
Blessings,
Ed & Jeanne Casteel
Church Planting Asia Pacific
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