Greetings all,
The first landing in this village
With this update I thought you may enjoy seeing one of our most recent projects going on in our region of Central Asia Pacific. A couple of months ago we purchased a small excavator which we could disassemble and sling load by helicopter into remote locations for building and updating our airstrips. This airstrip is a new outreach area in the Saluan tribe which up to now has only been accessible by a long hike or by helicopter. Just yesterday our pilot was able to land for the very first time on this airstrip! This is going to be a huge help and support to the outreach team and to the people whom they serve! BTW – The Saluan people and the Wana people, whom we serve, used to be bitter enemies. In fact, when we first moved to this island these two groups were still fearful of each other. The Lord has been all the difference in their lives and now they are best of friends and serving the Lord together in reaching out to others on this island with the gospel!
Thanking the Lord for his provision
Rejoicing together! The “check-out” was a bit uncertain due to all the bad weather – you can see all the rain clouds. But the Lord held back the rains and kept the airstrip dry for this special occasion.
From here the excavator will be taken into the Wana were we work. We have two airstrips in need of renovations – one needing straightened out some, and the other needing some leveling. We may also use this excavator to reopen our very first airstrip in Wana which we abandoned many years ago due to a threatening landslide.
The excavator
When we first moved into Wana we chose a place right in the center of the tribe which was only accessible by foot – a three-day hike for us! The aircraft have been a vital tool in helping us reach these isolated people with the gospel. We praise the Lord for the huge team the Lord has put together to make ministry like this possible – those of us who have been given the privilege to teach these people and translate the Scriptures, supply buyers, bookkeepers, consultants, our pilots who are able to use the aircraft to position us for ministry, and for you who “hold the ropes” and pray for us regularly. Thanks so much for being a part of this great work! It is SO VERY EXCITING to see what the Lord has been doing, and then to realize that He has invited all of us to be a part of it!
God Bless,
Ed & Jeanne Casteel
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