Two months ago Albert and Lynne Castelijn returned to Australia from the Philippines where they serve among the Banwaon people. Their lives seem to whirl by at the speed of light.
In June they were wonderfully blessed as their son married. Almost all of their family flew in from overseas (three different countries!) to attend, participate and spend a little time together either before or after the wedding. It was a wonderful, meaningful, God-honouring, relaxed and fun day.
After years of travelling back and forth between Australia and the Philippines helping their children with re-entry to Australian life and caring for their mums, plus the intense push to complete the Banwaon New Testament translation, they are …. tired. Very tired.
They will be in Australia most of the rest of this year, on a sabbatical of sorts, although Albert may take one trip back to the Philippines.
Lynne will be speaking at a Women’s Refresh Conference in Melbourne on the 21st-23rd August. The topic is on finding joy. She will be concentrating on the book of Philippians. In their current season of sabbatical restoration, the focus will be on the very personal and apt underlying theme of “Contentment in the Chaos”
Albert has started planning for the Old Testament translation into the Banwaon language. If the length of time it took to do the New Testament is any guide, he estimates he’ll be 138 years old before he finishes it! There are so many logistics involved. Please pray with them as they seek the Lord’s guidance and strength for this, too.
Every day they miss their beautiful Banwaon brothers and sisters in Christ.
Generous gifts have enabled the Banwaon people to start work on a new Motorbike Repair Shop and a new Carpenter’s Woodwork/Furniture Shop. The project currently has sufficient funds to make an excellent start, all praise to Jehovah Jireh!
The church leadership continues to grow. Albert and Lynne are in touch with them regularly and there are so many joys which they share. They are doing incredibly well, handling things with discernment and faithfulness. But, people are people and life is life the world over – and so there will always be challenges to navigate. Albert continues to encourage and disciple the leaders via messages and calls, giving insight and discussing things when asked.
Please pray for the Banwaon leadership and believers!