In the early 1950’s, missionaries from several organizations were led by God to the jungles of “Irian Jaya”, the far eastern end of Indonesia. Using their low flying, single engine planes, MAF missionaries discovered never before seen tribes. Courageously, other missionaries ventured up the rivers into the jungles to find nearly naked people who knew nothing of the outside world. Some were cannibals, almost all were fearful, warring tribes. Slowly trust was earned, languages learned, kindness and help offered and received. Over time the Gospel of Jesus Christ was shared and the response was miraculous, the evidence of God’s life transforming power.
Nearly 70 years later, some of those first missionaries, now elderly, still gather every three years, to remember, rejoice and celebrate all God has done. Younger missionaries are there working with churches throughout “Irian” today known as “Papua”, and those Papuan churches are sending missionaries, from their tribes to other people groups who have never heard of Jesus!
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