Pisa, Awyu in Indonesia

Introduction / History

The Awyu are sometimes known as the Miaro or Pisa people.

What Are Their Lives Like?

They primarily live by fishing, gardening, hunting, food-gathering, eaglewood logging in their lightly wooded home area. With their land at an altitude of less than 100 meters above sea level, the Awyu people can best be accessed by boat. Most of the villages are on the Kampung, Asue, and Emogon rivers. There is also an airstrip in Miaro. They enjoy dressing up traditionally with gourds and kasuari bird feathers to greet visitors. They also perform welcome dances with drums and arrows. There are a few written songs in their language.
The women primarily gather food and garden. The clothing people wear is generally modern but rarely washed. The people eat fish, yams, sago, sago worms, pig, and vegetables. For tools the Awyu folks use knives, steel axes, and shovels. Houses are generally formed by log posts, with wooden floors, and plank or stem walls. They often also build and utilize a 2nd hunting home. The physical development in the area does not include roads, but there are 3 SSB radios (in Eci, Kaibu, Homang), and a few folks use personal generators to make electricity. The people get their drinking water (which they sometimes boil) from either a river or wells.

What Are Their Beliefs?

It is estimated that less than half of the Awyu speakers have understood the gospel but there are Pentecostal and Bible fellowship churches and a number of Catholic churches in the area.

What Are Their Needs?

There are some health workers within the area and some clinics but there is a lack of medicines and equipment. Malaria, skin, and lung disease are common. The Awyu people have had the gospel of Mark on cassette but no film or videos in their language.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to provide for their medical needs.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to bless the Awyus with revival fire.
Pray for them to soon become a mission force in Asia.

Text Source:   Joshua Project