Greetings Team,
I had intended this update to go out much earlier as a follow-up to the previous one I sent after arriving home from Asia Pacific. The day after we arrived home my sister, Shari, was taken to the hospital and then went home to be with the Lord some days later. So the past couple of weeks have been busy with family and working through the funeral and all. We will miss her, but thankfully she knew the Lord as her personal Savior and is now safely in His arms.
We were thankful that Geoff and Tina had not yet returned back to Peru at her passing. They were able to change their tickets and were a big help to us as we worked through all of the arrangements. Then three days after the funeral we took them to the airport to see them off to Peru, South America where they serve. Needless to say, things seem too quiet around our house now. We do appreciate your prayers for them as they immerse themselves back into their ministry in Central Peru.
We are continually grateful to be able to be a part of what is happening in Asia Pacific and for the Lord inviting us along to participate in what He is doing in the hearts and lives of the Wana people. Geoff and I were really blessed to be rubbing shoulders with the Wana believers and “getting into the trenches” so to speak with them. There are always lots of challenges, but the Lord is faithful and continues to build His church in Wana. A lack of church leadership has been one of the challenges we face, so it was a blessing on this last trip to be able to do some teaching on “Shepherding” and then to participate in an ordination of both an elder and deacon in one of our churches and then to be able to make preparation for an ordination of two elders in another of the Wana churches. Another highlight was to be able to participate in the first Baptism of a believer from our outreach in the village of Watusongu as he made a public testimony of his faith in Jesus Christ. This was a huge step for him to take as he came out of a church who preached infant baptism for salvation – a church that basically felt he was denying the faith to be rebaptized by immersion. By making this public statement through baptism there is no doubt in their minds now as to where he stands and what he believes! He excited to serve the Lord and is starting to get involved in outreach – What a blessing! Here are a few of the highlights:
Ordination service
The men and their wives
Baptizing “Pa Nanda”
This is my disciple “Pak Esron” in the white shirt hugging his disciple “Pak Nada” who has just been baptized! – 2 Timothy 2:2
Thanks for being a part,
Ed n Jeanne Casteel
Church Planting Asia Pacific
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