Pigs, Rice and Banana Leaves

Five large pigs, thirteen 110-pound sacks of rice, and thousands of disposable plates (aka banana leaves!) Let the rejoicing begin!

March 26, 2025, was, in Lynne Castelijn’s words, “without a doubt, one of the most brilliant days of our lives.” Finally, the New Testament is “100% completely translated, printed, in the hands of the Banwaon believers.”

Lynne and her husband, Albert, have labored over 30 years among the Banwaon people. During those years, Albert and his Banwaon translation helpers have spent countless hours to complete the New Testament in the Banwaon language.

March 26 was the day set for the dedication. Altogether, about 1,500 “neighbors” hiked or biked in “from the Tala Andig tribe, the Higaunon, the Manobo and Banwaon from the

mountains,” posted Lynne. The believers hosted them all, despite mud, lack of power and water, and with minimal resources.

Having positioned two R66 helicopters on location, pilots Alex Minium and Ryan deRoos spent a day bringing guests and more copies of the Bible, with more flights planned for the 26th. But the outlook wasn’t good. “The weather forecast for tomorrow (Dedication Day) is ‘100% chance of rain including torrential downpours,’” wrote Lynne. The people prayed fervently, and God held off the rain. Everyone made it to the event. Guests came from around the globe: the translation consultant and his wife from Italy; the pastor and elder from Castelijn’s sending church in Australia; a former Banwaon missionary from the USA; Castelijn’s adult children and families; and Filipino colleagues and mission leaders.

The Banwaon believers planned the whole celebration, a “beautiful juxtaposition and incorporation of traditional Banwaon culture, identity and worship as they praised God for His Word.”

After the celebration lunch, “the air once again buzzed with non-stop flights” — 20 in all — as the pilots took visitors back to town. Minutes after squeezing in the last possible flight, the predicted heavy rain began.

Though Albert and Lynne see the New Testament dedication as a milestone, Lynne says it’s just “one element of the bigger task to which the Lord called us ... being part of a team working towards a healthy, functioning, well discipled, mature body of believers amongst the Banwaon indigenous people of Mindanao.”

Ethnos360 Aviation has played a “massive role” toward reaching that goal among the Banwaon. You could use your aviation skills to bring God’s Word to other people groups in their own language. Investigate the possibilities.