Dear Ministry Coworkers,
We trust this letter finds you well and enjoying the Lord’s blessings. Our household is doing well but this autumn has been a bit different for us. Seven years ago Jeanne had right hip replacement surgery due to a deteriorated hip joint. At that time they told her the left hip was going to need it too, but it was not giving her any trouble so were able to leave it alone for the time being. This past year she started having pain in the left hip and a couple trips to our orthopedic doctor confirmed it was time to replace it as well. On September 9 I took her to the outpatient surgery center to have that done – Amazing that they can now do that kind of surgery as an outpatient! She reached the eight week mark yesterday and we are pleased with how well she is progressing. She is able to walk and get around quite well, and will be back to driving soon.
I have stayed quite busy with our Wana ministry. We continue to work on Old Testament drafts and still working on the book of 1 Samuel. This is all narrative which is the easiest type of translation to do, but ofttimes the way the Hebrew writers worded things makes it seem all out of order for the Wana people. So coming up with a way to make it make sense in the Wana language can sometimes be challenging, but I have a good team of Wana men I am working with and they are always up for that challenge!
The end of September we held our bi-annual Wana Bible conference in the village of Padalempe – the village where we still maintain a house. We have been studying through the book of Joshua and teaching them how to glean application from Scripture for their own lives. This conference we covered Joshua chapters 8-10. I wasn’t able to attend in person, but now with “Starlink” I was able to take part in the teaching virtually. With the 13 hour time difference it worked out well for me to take the first session each morning their time, which was night time here. I was able to get them going and then they went into breakout groups to study each chapter to see what application the Lord had their for them. They really enjoy interacting in this way and it has been a good study for all of us. For their part they are starting to realize the Lord can show them application for their lives without always having that given to them by the pastor or Bible teacher.
Geoff and I are already making plans for making a trip to Asia Pacific in March. I know it seems a ways off but it will be here before we know it. We appreciate your prayers as we begin making preparations for this trip, and for all the things we want to accomplish while there. I really enjoy working together with Geoff and treasure this opportunity for us to be together.
Jeanne and I also want to take this opportunity to thank you so much for your prayers for our ministry with the Wana People. We feel blessed that the Lord has included us in what He wanted to do in the Wana people’s hearts and lives and feel blessed to have you as our coworkers.
October 2025
Greetings all,
We wanted to send you out an update of some the past months happenings in Asia Pacific and more specifically in the Wana Tribe which we serve. The Lord is doing some great things and just wanted to share some of those things with you. Please excuse the What’s App images, as I know they leave much to be desired, but it will at least give you somewhat of a picture of what is happening.
For over two years we have been praying for the Lord to send us a brand-new Robinson 66 Helicopter which was wonderfully provided for us. This is now enroute and should be getting to the province within the next couple of weeks. After this last Wana Bible Conference and having to deal with so much weather it can’t come fast enough. The pilots/mechanics will be reassembling it as soon as it arrives and we hope to have it operational in February or March. A wonderful tool to help in the spread of the gospel.
As mentioned above we just recently finished our biannual Wana Bible conference. We studied from Joshua 8,9 & 10 this time and again found it to be a blessing to all. I attended virtually this time and with the difference in time zones was able to teach the first session each morning. The pastors then handed the breakout groups as they dug deeper into each chapter and then met together again to share what the Lord was showing each group from the passage we were studying.
One of our new missionaries from Germany helping with the youth at the conference
Outreach in Wana continues to move on despite many challenges along the way – Satan has not been blind as to what is happening in the hearts and lives of the Wana people. Here a small group meeting at the village of “Kilo 8”. They are just now beginning to understand the plan of salvation.
This past Sunday morning I had the privilege once again to speak to the outreach group at the village of Watusongu. We studied from Colossians Chapter 1 and learned about the Gnostics of Paul’s time and how that teaching was so similar to the former Wana people’s belief system. Before the Wana had placed their trust in Christ obtaining special knowledge from the unseen world was very important for them and something sought after. Yesterday we studied how that Jesus is the one who created everything – the powers both seen and unseen. That being the case why would we ever choose to serve the created rather that the Creator. Little by little these new believers are learning about their new position in Jesus Christ and what they have because of HIM.
As you can see above our current church building in Watusongu is a simple building with a thatch roof. Work had just started on gathering lumber to build a new church building which will also have a tin roof help to keep the elements out.
I trust this message helps give you a bit of a glimpse of some of the happenings in Wana land. Thanks so much for all your prayers – they are much appreciated.
God Bless,
Ed & Jeanne Casteel
Church Planting Asia Pacific
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