When one of the villages we work in heard the Gospel for the first time, they believed and were overjoyed! However, they had some very difficult questions to ask the Australian missionary.
“How long did it take you to fly here from Australia?”
The missionary replied, “Oh, about eight hours.”
“And how long ago was it that Jesus died for us?”
“Well, it was about 2,000 years ago.”
“Why did it take so long for this Good News to reach us?”
Why did it take that long? I’m sure we can come up with a lot of reasons but the truth is, it shouldn’t have. These believers have had God’s Word in their language now for many years, thanks to the faithfulness of our friends who have stuck at it for over 40 years.
Tomorrow, 2,000 years later, another group of believers will finally be handed God’s Word, written down, in their own language. It wasn’t easy to get here. Albert and Lynne Castelijn have lived with these people for well over 30 years. At the time they moved in, the Castelijns didn’t know the language. They began the grueling process of learning it, teaching the people how to read, and sharing with them God’s story from the beginning. Now, over 30 years later, there is a thriving church among them. Praise the Lord!
But the work wasn’t done. How can this church stand on its own without having God’s Word in their heart language? And so the Castelijns worked and worked and worked on the translation. It had to be checked and rechecked and then checked again for context and understanding. It was a massive undertaking which has led up to this moment when the Castelijns can hand it over to them.
What a gift it is that we are so privileged to fly in tomorrow with the helicopter to dedicate the New Testament with them. It’s what we are here for…to see a thriving church among EVERY people. It’s what you’ve been a part of for all these years. The Banwaon people know that there is a huge team behind the Castelijns and behind the New Testament being completed and they are so grateful. Thank you for your faithfulness and support.
Would you pray for the dedication tomorrow? People are being flown in from all over the World to celebrate this huge milestone. Some nice weather would be a beautiful gift!
