Eager to Learn

Eager to Learn  

There are an estimated 120 million people with disabilities in India. Christian Aid Mission helps support a ministry that runs a school for mentally handicapped children in Haryana. The school was started on World Disabled Day in December 2012 with the aim to educate and train these youngsters so they can enjoy some measure of independence in their lives. Eleven students are currently enrolled. Now three of the students’ families have become Christians and are attending church.

‘No Small Work’: Refugees and Terrorists Coming to Christ in Northern Nigeria

‘No Small Work’: Refugees and Terrorists Coming to Christ in Northern Nigeria

June 19, 2014

Northern Nigeria is experiencing a rash of attacks by insurgents who systematically destroy villages, marketplaces, and schools. Local gospel workers are ministering to refugees and to the militants who are becoming soldiers for Christ.

“I think we would have been overwhelmed in the mission field long ago if you were not here for us.”
That nod of thanks was expressed to Christian Aid Mission this past week by the director of a Nigerian ministry who has fought long and hard in the trenches of spiritual warfare. He has experienced his share of both victories and defeats. His life has been threatened. The ministry’s headquarters was forced to relocate because of insurgents that are terrorizing the countryside. Challenges abound, but he never gives up the work God has entrusted to him.
Families displaced by violent attacks on their villages are pouring into crowded displacement camps or crossing the border into adjoining countries. Using funds provided by Christian Aid donors, the ministry is delivering supplies to some of the refugees. However, travel to the camps is becoming increasingly difficult and dangerous.
The ministry leader sent the following report to Christian Aid June 13 detailing the hardships—and the harvest—experienced by Nigerian missionaries:

“For the past two months, the world and particularly believers have stood with Nigeria and with our Northeast region where we live. The insurgents have destroyed virtually everything within their reach. Women and men alike are being captured and taken into the forest, where it seems the military has been unable to rescue anyone thus far. The increasing number of men, women and children in the refugee camps is mounting to millions in three countries. We believe we must do our best to help them, even at risk to our own safety. We ask God’s people to send materials and resources to enable us to salvage the lives and souls of people trapped in this ugly circumstance.
The killing continues, and this week alone at least six villages were invaded and burned down by insurgents. This has happened without any challenge from the military, and these men are committing their evil deeds daily. More families are streaming into the refugee camp where we bring aid. Unfortunately for two weeks now, we have not been able to visit again due to intense fighting in the region. The military would not guarantee our safety on the more than 80-mile journey to the first camp. The road itself is littered with military road blocks. The insurgents have attacked some of these stations and killed the military personnel.
We are playing it safe for now. We have been able to repatriate some people, including children and ex-insurgents who left the rebel group and repented of their crimes. We have been training and feeding them at two of our stations—the School of Missions and our convert care center. Thank you for your support. To handle these crises is no small work.
We have to do the following as part of our added ministry activities:

1. Take responsibility to work in a refugee camp with over 300,000 people. We help provide food, medicine, and other services to some of the refugees, although not without difficulties
2. Strengthen those who accept Christ so as to empower them spiritually and physically
3. Resettle families to enable them to continue their lives after attacks on their villages
4. Help traumatized people who witnessed the killings
5. Provide education for their children

Serious challenges

The rainy season is beginning in the Northeast, and this is the time farmers plant crops. There will be an impending crisis, even if the insurgent attacks decline. Many of these farmers are in refugee camps, and they have decided not to return to their farms for fear of an attack by the rebels. In some cases, those who went to their farms to begin planting did not come back alive. The situation is serious, as it means that next year there will be massive famine in the land if care is not taken now. We are thinking of helping some of them by renting land in a safer location where they can raise crops while they wait to return to their villages.

Our field staff

Two weeks ago we rescued some of our staff in two eastern states due to the killings. None of them was affected but they had to evacuate. Now the hostilities have diminished, and we are already thinking of moving our missionary brothers back to the area. They will go, but their wives and children will remain behind. We will travel there to assess the situation and then begin the move.

Member care

Audio Bibles bring the gospel to remote Nigerian villages.

Our missionaries need care and support. They have been traumatized in some cases. The Lord has helped our brethren recover from this pain of running and escaping from dangers, sometimes leaving their hundreds of converts behind. This is terrible for a missionary.

“The Treasure” Audio Bibles

We were able to give out 45 of "The Treasure" audio Bibles to Muslims who were ready to hear. Some of them assured us we shall hear from them when we come back. Pray for one new convert who accepted Christ after listening to the Gospel of John. This is a great tool for reaching Muslims.

Testimony of a convert

It is impossible to think Banga* could be saved. He was the one who championed the attacks on two villages. He cries now when he remembers killing innocent people. I am personally working with him to help him overcome the trauma. He stays with one of our mission friends who takes care of him.”

Urgent needs

• A bus or truck to carry our mission support materials to the needy. A used bus costs about $17,000.
• Send refugee children to school. Some have been orphaned or their parents were seriously injured when insurgents attacked their villages. This is also a wonderful opportunity to introduce youngsters to Christ.
• Help support a missionary and his family by providing funds for food, clothing, and other basic needs.

*name changed

Use the form below to contribute online. Or call 434-977-5650 to contribute by phone. If you prefer to mail your gift, please mail to Christian Aid, P.O. Box 9037, Charlottesville, VA 22906. Please use Gift Code: 550WMN. Thank you!

Bringing Hope to Disabled Children in Jordan

Bringing Hope to Disabled Children in Jordan

June 19, 2014

Disabled Bedouin children like Ahmed are gaining confidence and independence at a physical therapy center in southern Jordan.

There was a determined look in Ahmed’s* big brown eyes. He gripped the handle bars of the tricycle, trying to steady his legs before he sat down.
His mother, Shada*, stood beside him, gently coaxing the youngster through the next series of actions. But Ahmed needed no help. Slowly he reached his right leg across the seat until his foot slipped down into the pedal strap. Balancing himself on the seat, the process of pulling his left foot into the other pedal strap was a bit easier.
Ahmed relaxed and grinned at the visitors from Christian Aid Mission in America. This was his opportunity to show off.
Once his feet found their rhythm, Ahmed gleefully pedaled his red and yellow “chariot” across the floor of the playroom. He back-pedaled to turn around, then sailed past his captive audience of cheerleaders who responded with clapping.

Newly found freedom

Shada brought her young son to the handicapped children’s center in southern Jordan last year. Crippled since birth, Ahmed was unable to walk without assistance. That lack of mobility posed as much of a handicap for his poor Bedouin family as it did for himself. The child had to be carried wherever he went, and he was of no use to his father, who needed his help tending their flock of sheep and goats.
The day center, one of four receiving help from a Christian Aid-assisted ministry, provided free therapy that Shada hoped would make a life-changing difference for her son. She was especially impressed by the compassion and patience of the staff.
Within months Ahmed showed progress. He moved about with the aid of a walker or cane. Then he made slow steps unassisted. And the tricycle that so delighted him was more than a toy—it was strengthening the muscles in his legs and giving him a sense of freedom for the first time in his life.

‘It’s a shame to them’

The handicapped center provides a loving, comfortable environment for children and their parents.

In Jordan’s Bedouin desert settlements, handicapped children are sometimes sorely neglected by their families. It’s not because parents don’t love their children. They just don’t know how to care for those with special needs, nor do they have the resources for doctor’s visits, medication, or therapy.
For those having children with severe afflictions, the burden turns into more than the family can bear. The ministry leader has seen and heard accounts of some of the abuse.
“The parents may put the child in a separate room in their home and lock them in the room. They may put them outside in the barn to live with the sheep,” he said. “Sometimes they treat them like animals, worse than animals. They prefer that the child die rather than live in his pitiable condition.”
While most village families do not want any harm to come to their disabled children, the ministry leader said there is a prevailing attitude of shame and guilt that is difficult to change.
“Let’s say a family has five boys and one of them is handicapped. Somebody asks the parents, ‘how many children do you have?’ They would answer ‘four kids.’ It’s a shame to them, like they did something wrong.”
He attributes the actual cause of the birth defects to a variety of issues, ranging from marriage of individuals within the same blood line to women who receive insufficient or improper medical care during their pregnancies.
During the past two years the ministry has assisted hundreds of youngsters who are brought to the centers with a wide assortment of physical and developmental problems. The children range in age from four to their late teens. Some have muscular dystrophy. Others suffer from autism. Still others live in a world of darkness or silence, unable to communicate their thoughts and emotions.

Made in God’s image

Two Christian Aid staff members visited the main handicapped center in May. They saw firsthand how physical therapy—combined with a little love and encouragement—is producing amazing results.
A gentle hug quiets a frightened toddler. Massaged arms and legs give atrophied muscles new strength. Harnesses help a teenager stand upright, a first step in the process of learning how to walk. Victories, whether large or small, build momentum toward greater achievements.
The ministry also provides equipment and mobility aids to children. Wheelchairs, crutches, canes, and specially-fitted shoes are among the most sought after items. Toilet seats and toilets for the handicapped are also popular.
Tricycles and even bicycles are available for youngsters, like Ahmed, who have developed the most physical agility.
All of the devices are donated to the ministry. Two containers full of medical equipment are ready for transport from Europe to Jordan, but the shipment and other related costs amount to $12,000 per container. The ministry is seeking financial support to help cover these expenses.

Orthopedic shoes give added support to help disabled children walk.

The handicapped center has accomplished dramatic changes in more than just the children it serves. By establishing relationships with the parents, too, ministry workers find that Bedouin families are more open to hear the message of God’s love.
“Parents will often talk with the therapists or volunteers and say, ‘Why are you doing all of these good things for our children? We would really like to thank you.’ This gives the workers an opportunity to speak about their faith,” explained the ministry leader.
“We begin to answer their questions and build friendships. I call it slow-cook, not microwave evangelism,” he said.
DVDs and tracts are available for free at the center and provide opportunities for parents to learn more about God’s gift of grace. Ministry workers also bring materials with them when they visit the homes of the families.
Periodically the ministry brings in teams for a weeklong outreach that welcomes children without disabilities as well as those who frequent the handicapped center. The events include singing, games, and lots of fun and laughter.
The unconditional love shown to the children, no matter what their developmental level may be, is what touches the hearts of parents most. Sometimes they are the ones desperate for a little encouragement or a sympathetic ear, said the leader. The outreach is intended to minister to their practical and emotional needs, as well, so they can be the best parents possible to all of their children.
“When you help a handicapped child, you’re really giving a better life to the family, too,” he said.
*name changed

Use the form below to contribute online. Or call 434-977-5650 to contribute by phone. If you prefer to mail your gift, please mail to Christian Aid, P.O. Box 9037, Charlottesville, VA 22906. Please use Gift Code: 420BAGD. Thank you!

SUKU SUMBAWA

SUKU SUMBAWA

Suku Sumbawa atau Tau Samawa adalah suku yang mendiami bagian barat pulau Sumbawa di provinsi Nusa Tenggara Barat, Indonesia, yang luas wilayahnya adalah 8.493 km2. Sebagian besar wilayahnya terdiri atas perbukitan dan pegunungan. Suku Sumbawa tersebar di kabupaten Sumbawa dan kabupaten Sumbawa Barat, yang meliputi kecamatan Empang hingga kecamatan Taliwang dan Sekongkang, termasuk 38 pulau kecil di sekitarnya. Batas Utara kedua daerah kabupaten ini Laut Flores, batas Selatan adalah Samudra Indonesia, batas Barat adalah Selat Alas, dan batas Timur adalah kabupaten Dompu. Populasi suku Sumbawa adalah sebesar 500.000 orang.

Seiring berjalannya waktu, suku Sumbawa mengalami percampuran dengan etnis dari Jawa, Sumatera, Sulawesi, Kalimantan, China, dan Arab. Suku Sumbawa yang telah bercampur dengan etnis lain biasanya bermukim di dataran rendah dan daerah-daerah pesisir, sedangkan suku Sumbawa asli menempati dataran tinggi pegunungan seperti Tepal, Dodo, dan Labangkar.

Suku Sumbawa pada umumnya bertani, mencari ikan, berburu, meramu hasil hutan untuk dijadikan bahan makanan, dan beternak. Beberapa produk andalan yang menjadi maskot bagi Sumbawa adalah madu lebah, mutiara, dan kekayaan flora-fauna berupa kayu gaharu, kuda, dan rusa yang mulai terancam punah akibat perburuan liar.

Suku Sumbawa berbicara dalam bahasa Sumbawa yang menjadi bahasa persatuan atau bahasa pengantar percakapan sehari-hari. Namun, suku Sumbawa memiliki beberapa dialek, seperti dialek Taliwang-Jereweh-Tongo, dialek Samawa, Baturotok (Batulante), dialek Taliwang, Jereweh, dialek Tongo, dll..

Bukti-bukti arkeologis di Sumbawa yang berupa sarkofagus, nekara, dan menhir mengindikasikan bahwa Sumbawa Purba telah memiliki kepercayaan dan bentuk-bentuk ritual penyembahan kepada arwah nenek moyang mereka. Konsep-konsep tentang kosmologi dan perlunya menjaga keseimbangan antara dirinya dan makrokosmos terus diwariskan lintas generasi hingga masuknya kebudayaan Hindu-Buddha dan Islam di Sumbawa.

Diperkirakan, agama Hindu-Buddha berkembang pesat di kerajaan-kerajaan kecil Sumbawa sekitar dua ratus tahun sebelum masuknya kerajaan Majapahit ke wilayah Sumbawa. Saat ini, suku Sumbawa mayoritas memeluk agama Islam. Sebagian kecil masyarakat suku Sumbawa menganut aliran Islam Wetu Telu. Aliran Islam Wetu Telu ini agak berbeda dengan agama Islam pada umumnya. Menurut Zolinger, agama Islam masuk ke pulau Sumbawa antara tahun 1450 -- 1540 yang dibawa oleh para pedagang Islam dari Jawa dan Melayu, khususnya Palembang. Setelah kerajaan Majapahit runtuh, proses pengenalan ajaran Islam oleh para mubaligh pada tahun-tahun awal abad ke-16 semakin mudah. Penaklukan Karaeng Moroangang dari Gowa-Sulawesi tahun 1618 atas kerajaan Dewa Maja Paruwa (Utan), sebagai kerajaan terakhir yang bersedia memeluk Islam, menghasilkan sumpah "adat dan rapang Samawa" (contoh-contoh kebaikan), yaitu mereka tidak akan diganggu gugat sepanjang raja dan rakyatnya menjalankan syariat Islam.

Meski sudah menjalankan agama mayoritas, dalam praktik keseharian mereka masih percaya pada makhluk-makhluk halus yang dianggap bisa mendatangkan musibah bencana dan penyakit. Mereka percaya adanya baki atau makhluk halus yang tinggal di hutan dan di pohon-pohon besar, kono atau makhluk halus yang sering berkeliaran di tempat-tempat sepi di siang hari, dan leak atau orang jahat yang bisa berubah menjadi binatang dan gemar memakan ketuban serta minum darah bayi yang baru dilahirkan.

Sistem kekerabatan dan keturunan suku Sumbawa adalah bilateral, yaitu sistem penarikan garis keturunan berdasarkan garis silsilah nenek moyang laki-laki dan perempuan. Dalam sistem kekerabatan suku Sumbawa, ada dua istilah:
- "misaleaq": saudara tua ayah atau ibu.
- "nde": saudara yang lebih muda dari ayah atau ibu.
Kelompok keluarga yang lebih luas ialah "pata", yaitu kerabat dari laki-laki atau wanita yang ditarik dari kakek atau nenek moyang sampai derajat keenam sehingga dalam masyarakat Sumbawa dikenal sepupu satu, sepupu dua, sampai sepupu enam.

Tata cara perkawinan dalam masyarakat Sumbawa diselenggarakan dengan upacara adat yang kompleks, mirip dengan prosesi perkawinan adat Bugis-Makassar yang diawali dengan bakatoan (bajajak), basaputis, nyorong, dan upacara barodak pada malam hari menjelang kedua calon pengantin dinikahkan. Upacara barodak ini mengandung unsur-unsur kombinasi ritual midodareni dan ruwatan dalam tradisi Jawa.

Untuk menjangkau suku Sumbawa, bahan-bahan berikut ini kiranya dapat kita gunakan sebagai referensi:
a. Audio kisah-kisah dalam Alkitab dan pelajarannya: http://globalrecordings.net/en/language/2817
b. Profil suku Sumbawa di situs SABDA: http://misi.sabda.org/suku-sumbawa-nusa-tenggara
c. Profil suku Sumbawa di situs wikipedia: http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suku_Sumbawa

POKOK DOA

1. Mari kita berdoa kepada Bapa di surga agar pintu-pintu penginjilan terbuka lebar bagi para utusan Injil untuk menyampaikan kabar keselamatan bagi suku Sumbawa.

2. Berdoalah kepada Tuhan Yesus agar masyarakat suku Sumbawa yang masih terikat dengan kepercayaan kuno dibebaskan dan menerima Yesus Kristus sebagai Tuhan dan Juru Selamat mereka.

3. Doakan kiranya Tuhan Yesus terus menambahkan pekerja yang bijaksana dalam memanfaatkan berbagai traktat dan media penginjilan untuk menjangkau suku Sumbawa.

Dirangkum dari:
1. _____. "Suku Sumbawa, Nusa Tenggara Barat". Dalam http://protomalayans.blogspot.com/2012/11/suku-sumbawa-nusa-tenggara-barat.html
2. Fikhsan, Didi. "Nilai - Nilai Budaya Pada Suku Bima, Sumbawa, Dan Dompu". Dalam http://didifikhsan-fisip10.web.unair.ac.id/artikel_detail-62581-Umum-Nilai%20%20Nilai%20Budaya%20Pada%20Suku%20Bima,%20Sumbawa,%20Dan%20Dompu.html

Mumuye, Gengle of Nigeria

Mumuye, Gengle of Nigeria Mumuye are farmers. Millet is the staple crop in the region and is used to make flour and beer. The religion of the Mumuye involves a "totemic" perspective, a system of belief in which each human is thought to have a spiritual connection or a kinship with another physical being, such as an animal or plant. Offerings and sacrifices are made to family ancestors to appease them and to thank them, especially during harvest times. The dancing of bush cow masks is known to be a part of a secret society whose main purpose is to ask the ancestors who are associated with the bush cow for abundance and agricultural fertility. Wooden statues that are carved to represent the dead are placed near the skull of the deceased person. It is believed that the spirit is then able to enter the statue which can be transported into the house where it is involved in the daily lives of the living. Ministry Obstacles Spiritual opposition will surely be encountered as Jesus is presented to these people held in bondage to spiritual forces. Outreach Ideas Pray that the believers from nearby tribes will be led to tell the Mumuye about Jesus, who he is and what he has provided for them. Pray they will be able to overcome tribal hostilities and barriers such as language differences. Pray for the followers of Christ There is probably not a single follower of Jesus within this small tribe. Pray the Lord will begin to give these people an interest in a Savior for their sin, that he will give them a hunger to find a Savior. Pray for the entire people group Please pray the Mumuye tribe will be completely delivered from superstition and fear of created things. Pray they will find truth: Jesus is Truth. Scripture Focus "And to Him was given dominion,Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations, and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed." Daniel 7:14		People Name: Mumuye, Gengle Country: Nigeria 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 5,700 World Population: 5,700 Language: Gengle Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions Bible: None Online Audio NT: No Jesus Film: No Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level: 1.1

Wala, Waali of Ghana

Wala, Waali of Ghana Tradition about the Wala people says that a people originally came from Mali and settled in the area of Ghana that is now known as Wa. These people were teachers in the Muslim religion and were powerful in prayer. They were invited by the Kantosi people (the original land owners in that area) to teach them, though they were already Muslim, and so there was a relationship that was established early on that still exists today. The majority of Wala people are farmers. Adherence to Islam stands out as the predominant trait of the Wala people. Traditionally, they have resisted Christianity and have been known to "chase evangelists out of their courtyard." Recent interviews with key leaders, however, show that there is an openness that seems to be developing among the Wala. They are open to talk about Isa (Jesus) who is mentioned and even lauded in the Koran. Ministry Obstacles Islam teaches that Jesus is not deity, the Son of God, and that he did not die for our sins. These obstacles to the Gospel can be prayerfully overcome, however. Outreach Ideas There are many evangelical Christians in Ghana. Perhaps the Lord will lead some to disciple the Wala people, helping them to become mature in the faith and to grow in numbers. Pray for the followers of Christ Please pray for Wala individuals who identify themselves as Christians. Pray they will be united in fellowship around truth. Jesus is Truth. Pray for the entire people group Thank the Lord the Wala people are increasingly open to talk about Jesus. Pray for workers who will pursue these conversations. Scripture Focus "...that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no one else." 1 Kings 8:60		People Name: Wala, Waali Country: Ghana 10/40 Window: No Population: 183,000 World Population: 183,000 Language: Wali Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions Bible: Complete Online Audio NT: No Jesus Film: Yes Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level: 1.2

SUKU BIMA

SUKU BIMA

Suku Bima merupakan suku yang mendiami kabupaten Bima dan kota Bima di provinsi Nusa Tenggara Barat. Suku Bima telah ada sejak masa kerajaan Majapahit. Pemukiman orang Bima biasa disebut "Kampo" atau "Kampe" yang dikepalai oleh seorang pemimpin yang disebut dengan "Ncuhi". Jumlah Ncuhi yang terdapat di suku Bima ada tujuh orang, yang memimpin di setiap daerah. Ncuhi dibantu oleh golongan kerabat yang tua dan dihormati. Kepemimpinan diwariskan turun-temurun di antara keturunan nenek moyang pendiri desa. Setiap daerah menamakan dirinya sebagai bagian dari Bima, meski pada kenyataannya tidak ada pemimpin tunggal yang menguasai kepemerintahan tanah Bima.

Kemasyarakatan

1. Orang Donggo

Orang Donggo dikenal sebagai penduduk asli yang telah menghuni tanah Bima sejak lama. Mereka sebagian besar menempati wilayah pegunungan. Karena letaknya yang secara geografis di atas ketinggian rata-rata tanah Bima, kehidupan orang Donggo sangat jauh berbeda dengan kehidupan yang dijalani masyarakat Bima saat ini.

Masyarakat Donggo mendiami sebagian besar wilayah kecamatan Donggo sekarang, yang dikenal dengan nama Dou Donggo Di, sebagian lagi mendiami kecamatan Wawo Tengah (Wawo pegunungan) seperti Teta, Tarlawi, Kuta, Sambori, dan Kalodu Dou Donggo Ele. Pada awalnya, penduduk asli ini tidak semuanya mendiami wilayah pegunungan. Salah satu alasan mengapa mereka umumnya mendiami wilayah pegunungan adalah karena terdesak oleh pendatang-pendatang baru yang menyebarkan budaya dan agama yang baru pula, seperti agama Islam, Kristen, Hindu, atau Buddha.

2. Dou Mbojo

Dou Mbojo yang sekarang dikenal sebagai para pendatang yang berasal dari daerah-daerah sekitarnya seperti Makassar dan Bugis, yang mendiami daerah-daerah pesisir Bima. Mereka umumnya berbaur dengan masyarakat asli dan bahkan menikahi wanita-wanitanya. Para pendatang ini datang pada sekitar abad ke-15, baik yang datang karena faktor ekonomi seperti berdagang maupun untuk menyiarkan agama sebagai mubaliqh. Mata pencaharian mereka cukup bervariasi seperti halnya bertani, berdagang, nelayan/pelaut, dan sebagian lagi sebagai pejabat dan pegawai pemerintah.

Agama/Kepercayaan

Kepercayaan asli suku Bima adalah Makakamba. Makakamba adalah suatu kepercayaan yang menghubungkan alam manusia dengan alam dunia lain, kepercayaan ini dipimpin oleh seseorang yang disebut "Ncuhi Ro Naka". Mereka percaya bahwa ada kekuatan yang mengatur segala kehidupan di alam ini, yang kemudian mereka sebut sebagai "Marafu". Sebagai penguasa alam, Marafu dipercaya menguasai dan menduduki semua tempat seperti gunung, pohon rindang, batu besar, mata air, tempat-tempat dan barang-barang yang dianggap gaib, dan bahkan matahari. Karena itu, mereka sering meminta manfaat terhadap benda-benda atau tempat-tempat tersebut. Selain itu, mereka juga percaya bahwa arwah para leluhur yang telah meninggal, terutama arwah orang-orang yang mereka hormati selama hidup seperti Ncuhi, masih memiliki peran dan menguasai kehidupan dan keseharian mereka. Mereka percaya, arwah-arwah tersebut tinggal bersama Marafu di tempat-tempat tertentu yang dianggap gaib.

Selain itu, dalam suku Bima juga terdapat orang-orang yang memeluk agama Islam, Kristen, dan Hindu. Hasil pelaporan Badan Statistik Nasional menyatakan bahwa 90 persen masyarakat suku Bima memeluk agama Islam, dan 10 persen sisanya adalah pemeluk agama Kristen, Hindu, Makakamba, dan berbagai kepercayaan seperti animisme dan dinamisme.

POKOK DOA

1. Berdoa untuk usaha dan pekerjaan misi di Bima, Nusa Tenggara Barat. Biarlah kasih dan kemurahan Tuhan menggerakkan para misionaris dan orang-orang yang terbeban untuk bermisi di Bima.

2. Berdoa supaya suku Bima membuka hati mereka untuk menerima pemberitaan Injil. Mereka boleh dibukakan dan mengenal Tuhan Yesus Kristus sebagai Tuhan dan Juru Selamat dunia.

3. Berdoa bagi kesejahteraan masyarakat Bima yang tingkat kematiannya masih tinggi dan tingkat pendidikannya rendah. Kiranya Tuhan menggerakkan setiap pemimpin dan pemerintah untuk membangun wilayah Bima dan meningkatkan taraf kesejahteraan masyarakat Bima.

Dirangkum dari:
1. _____. "Kebudayaan Indonesia Suku Bima". Dalam http://kebudayaanindonesia.net/id/culture/1118/suku-bima-dou-mbojo
2. _____. "Asal Usul Masyarakat Bima". Dalam http://web.bimacenter.com/2012/05/asal-usul-masyarakat-bima-dou-mbojo.html
3. _____. "Suku Bima". Dalam http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suku_Bima