Asmat, Casuarina Coast in Indonesia
Photo Source:
Keenan63 - Wikimedia
Creative Commons
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Map Source:
Anonymous
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| People Name: | Asmat, Casuarina Coast |
| Country: | Indonesia |
| 10/40 Window: | Yes |
| Population: | 14,000 |
| World Population: | 14,000 |
| Primary Language: | Asmat, Casuarina Coast |
| Primary Religion: | Christianity |
| Christian Adherents: | 60.00 % |
| Evangelicals: | 4.00 % |
| Scripture: | New Testament |
| Ministry Resources: | Yes |
| Jesus Film: | No |
| Audio Recordings: | Yes |
| People Cluster: | New Guinea |
| Affinity Bloc: | Pacific Islanders |
| Progress Level: |
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Introduction / History
The Asmat, Casuarina Coast speakers are sometimes known as the Kaweinag people. With their own family the Asmats use the Asmat, Casuarina Coast language and they use both the Indonesian and Asmat, Casuarina Coast languages with their friends.
What Are Their Lives Like?
The clothing people wear is generally modern but in some villages the children don't wear any clothes. The people eat sago, fish, bananas and other fruit, as well as hunt animals. The Asmat, Casuarina Coast people have tools like machetes, steel axes, bow and arrows, and shovels. Some houses are built on stilts with leaf roofs, sago branch floor, and sago stem walls.
By occupation they are primarily farmers, fishermen, hunters, loggers and wood-carvers. They also search for and gather aloe (resin) in the coastal swamps. With their land at an altitude of less than 100 meters above sea level the Asmat, Casuarina Coast people can best be accessed by boat. The nearest airstrip is in Kamur which is serviced intermittently by Merpati.
What Are Their Beliefs?
It is estimated that less than half of the Casuarina Coast Asmat speakers have understood the gospel but there are three Bible fellowship churches and a number of Catholic churches in the area.
What Are Their Needs?
If salty sea water floods inland (as it often does) the Asmats depend on the sometimes scarce rain for drinking. They sometimes boil the water they get from their wells or the river. Malaria, diarrhea, respiratory, and skin infections are common. The Asmats would like money for education, boats, and generator motors.
Prayer Points
Pray for hundreds of Casuarina Coast Asmats 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 Casuarina Coast Asmat people.
Pray for Christians to have love, joy, peace, and patience as they tell others about the King of kings.
Pray that soon Casuarina Coast Asmat disciples will be spreading the word of the Lord to other villages.