Introduction / History

The few thousand Jair Awyu speakers live in Papua, Indonesia. Indonesian is the language of instruction in the schools, but at break times the elementary students use both Jair Awyu and Indonesian. The largest town in the area (Getentiri) is located at the edge of the Digul River and can be reached by motorized or paddled canoe. The Jair Awyu area is often swampy (it is less than 100 meters above sea level). Boat service from Merauke takes about 5 days, but floatplanes can easily land on the Digul River.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The women plant gardens (of vegetables and tubers) and gather food from their surroundings. The men hunt and fish. The main food of the Jair Awyu people is sago. Sago worms, pig meat or hunted game serve to supplement their diet. The Jair Awyu people frequently use machetes, steel axes, bows, and arrows. They also make (from wood) and use a tool for getting the sago from the felled sago trees.

What Are Their Beliefs?

A majority of the Jair Awyu people are Catholic as the Roman Catholic church has served in the area for more than 45 years. Nearly three-fourths identify as Christian.

What Are Their Needs?

Jair Awyus need hospitals in their area. If there is a medical emergency, they can't get to a hospital in time.

Prayer Items

Pray for hundreds of Jair Awyus to be blessed with an unwavering faith in Christ, one that will not be shaken, no matter what comes their way.
Pray for God to bring about his purpose for the Jair Awyus people.
Pray for Christians to have love, joy, peace, and patience as they tell others about the King of kings.
Pray that soon Jair Awyus disciples will be spreading the word of the Lord to other villages.

Scripture Prayers for the Awyu, Jair in Indonesia.

References

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