Shan

WHO are they? Agriculture is the driving force in the Shan economy. Rice is the major

cash and family crop. Other crops include tea, soybeans, peanuts, coffee, and cotton.

People living near larger villages or towns grow vegetables to sell in the market.

WHERE do they live? Shan farmers live in villages of ten to five hundred or more

households clustered or lined among trees along roads or riverbanks. The Shan have

neither clans nor family lines. Marriages are monogamous, based on the couple's

mutual consent. Newlyweds usually live with the bride's parents for the first two or three

years or until they can set up their own home.

The Burmese Shan are a large group of civilized people who migrated south from China

in the twelfth century and established three small states in Myanmar (Burma). The Shan

language belongs to the southwestern group of tonal languages. The people refer to

themselves as the "Great Tai."

HOW many? 4,084,000

WHAT do they worship? Buddhism was introduced into Myanmar in the fifth century

and the majority of the Shan are Buddhists. The Buddhist's goal is to seek the middle

path to nirvana, or ultimate peace. The Shan view of the world centers on the idea of

'power protection,' which protects people from the consequences of their actions,

allowing them to do as they please. Buddha and Buddhist monks are the most powerful

beings, followed by spirits of the village, spirits associated with fields, households, and

the forest. For the Buddhist, death is not a threat if one has done good deeds; it is

simply passing from one life to another.

The tiny Shan Church needs more leadership and the opportunity to train their leaders

within Myanmar. The Bible is available in the Shan language, as are the Jesus film and

Christian radio broadcasts.

PRAYER needs:

• Ask God to strengthen, encourage, and protect the Shan Christians.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to complete the work of adequate discipleship begun in the

hearts of the Burmese Shan.

• Pray for the effectiveness of the Jesus film among the Burmese Shan.

• Pray that God will raise up prayer teams to break up the soil through worship and

intercession.

• Ask God to grant wisdom and favor to the missions agency that is focusing on

the Burmese Shan.

• Pray for opportunities to train Shan leaders within their country.

• Ask God to anoint the Gospel as it goes forth via radio to the Burmese Shan.

• Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Burmese Shan.

Akha

WHO are they? Swine and poultry are the most important livestock of the Akhas. Dogs are used for hunting but they also like to eat them. The Akhas mostly get married around 12 or 14 years old and they live in extended

family units averaged about 10 people in each family. An Akha man can take more than three wives. The Akhas speak the language of Tibeto-Burman that is closely similar to the Lahu and Lisu tribes language.

WHERE do they live? There are hundreds of unreached Akha villages in the Golden

Triangle. There are more than 1.5 million Akhas in Myanmar. The Akhas usually do not

stay in one village for long. They will move from one place to another and they prefer

the hilly mountain sides. The distance between the villages may be three or four days

on foot.

HOW many? 234,000

WHAT do they worship? Ethnic religions

PRAYER needs:

• Pray for the salvation of the Akhas and the unreached peoples of the Golden

Triangle in Myanmar.

• Pray for the salvation of the chiefs in the Akha villages.

• Pray for the Akha children in the Akha region. Most of the Akha children are not

in school since there are no schools, no roads and no medical facilities. The

children are addicted to drugs. Pray for deliverance from their addiction.

• Pray for protection of all the laborers of Christ.

• Pray for provision of workers and resources.

• Pray for peace in the country.

Northern Thai

WHERE do they live? More than six million Northern Tai speakers live in Thailand. The

traditional center of Northern Tai culture is the city of Chiang Mai.

HOW many? 7,369,000

WHAT do they worship? Buddhist

PRAYER needs:

• Pray the Tai Yuan Jesus film would be used to evangelize many people inside Laos.

• Pray the things keeping the Tai Yuan from salvation would be cast down.

• Ask God to send Tai Yuan Christians from Thailand to reach their cousins in Laos.

Wolio

WHO are they? Wolio people live as farmers on the land and sea. Primary land crops

are rice, corn and cassava. In the sea, especially from June to September, vast

stretches of water are used to cultivate agar-agar (seaweed) that is ground up and used

to make a variety of products. Many people also work as sailors and shipbuilders.

The Wolio houses are built using boards, with small windows added. The roofs are built

with small boards and coconut leaves. These houses are raised up to two meters above

the ground. In the Wolio community, the men are mainly involved in labor outside the

home, while the wife works in the home and manages the family and their finances.

The Wolio people place a great priority on education. Good education for their children

has been a high priority. This, added to their willingness to study foreign languages, has

resulted in noticeable social advancement.

WHERE do they live? The Wolio primarily live on the island of Buton, around the city of

Baubau, but can also be found on Muna, located in the SE Sulawesi province. The

Wolio are at the heart of the culture of Buton.

HOW many? 215,000

WHAT do they worship? Almost all Wolio have beliefs centered in Sufi Islam.

According to their teachings, they practice mediation in order to receive visions from

God, or to find hidden truths far beyond their own reasoning. Belief in reincarnation is

also adhered to as a result of Hindu influence. They also believe that evil spirits cause

illnesses to occur while helpful spirits give guidance.

Pancana

WHO are they? The primary means of livelihood for the Pancana people is farming,

with corn as their primary crop. Other than corn, they also grow sweet potatoes, sugar

cane, other vegetables, tobacco, and coffee. The Pancana people practice migratory

agriculture (shifting from one field to another), mainly because they cannot maintain the

soil's fertility in their existing fields due to inadequate farming methods. New farmland is

opened by cutting down trees and burning the underbrush, this is the very common

"slash-and-burn" method. Their houses are spread out over land that has been cleared

for farming. Their houses are built on raised platforms 1.5-2 meters high. The Pancana

make their houses out of plaited thatch with very high roofs.

WHERE do they live? The Pancana people (also known as the Kapontori) live on

Buton island, located in the eastern part of the Province of South-East Sulawesi.

HOW many? 6,600

WHAT do they worship? Almost all Pancana people practice Sunni Islam. Even so,

traditional beliefs and animism have an important role in their lives. They will often

employ the services of a dukun (shaman/healer/occultist) for a variety of services, such

as healing illnesses, cursing enemies, and bringing good fortune to individuals and the

community.

Kaulisusu

WHO are they? Most Kulisusu families have their own farmlands and work together in

cultivating the land. They primarily cultivate cassava, corn and rice along with assorted

vegetables and fruits. In addition to personal consumption, produce is also sold in the

markets, and the Kulisusu are known for offering low prices. Some Kulisusu are traders

who travel to other islands in and around Indonesia or work on merchant ships.

Honesty and hard work are valued among the Kulisusu people, and they have an

extremely low crime rate.

WHERE do they live? The Kulisusu people of Indonesia are located on the

northeastern area of Buton Island, which is in the province of Southeast Sulawesi. The

Kulisusu live on the narrow hilly peninsula which juts southward separating the Koro

Bay on the west from the Banda Sea on the east. Although little has been written about

the Kulisusu, it’s known that they have been settled in their present location for at least

the past 400 years.

HOW many? 22,000

WHAT do they worship? The Kulisusu are followers of Islam, which came into their

area around the 17th century. The Islamic faith is expressed through activities such as

circumcision, attending the mesjid (mosque), and fasting during the month of Ramadan.

Despite their Islamic identity, their beliefs in Allah and the Qur'an (Islamic holy book) do

not prevent them from having special celebrations to satisfy evil spirits, or going to a

dukun (shaman) when they are sick or having difficulties.

Muna

WHO are they? The Muna people (also called Wuna) live in the province of Southeast

Sulawesi on the larger islands of Muna and the west coast of Buton, and the smaller

islands of Kadatua, Siompu, Bangkomalape, Tiworo, and Telaga.

WHERE do they live? The Muna make their living as farmers, with their primary crops

being cashews, corn, rice, and seaweed. Other crops include sweet potatoes, sugar

cane and various kinds of spices. A large portion of their commerce has come from

marketing the products of the jungle such as teak wood and rattan. The Muna usually

live in the interior of the island, though there are a good number of coastal communities.

They live together in kinship groups, which are called Tombu. Those who live by the

sea have been successful in pearl farming and cultivation of seaweed.

HOW many? 300,000

WHAT do they worship? The majority of Muna follow Sunni Islam. There is a Christian

minority, with two villages being historically Catholic. There was a Protestant village, but

those residents have moved to Ambon. Followers of Islam believe they will be judged

on their knowledge of the Qur'an (Islamic holy book) as well as their deeds done during

this lifetime. However, traditional animistic beliefs still influence many aspects of Muna

life.

Wawoni

WHO are they? The Wawonii live on the island of Wawonii (the name means 'coconut

mountain'), which is located off the southeastern coast of the major island of Sulawesi,

and on the tiny island of Menui to its north. Wawonii has two dialects, which correspond

to the two islands where it is spoken.

WHERE do they live? The Wawonii's primary livelihood is growing corn. Crops other

than corn include sweet potatoes, sugar cane, tobacco, coffee and various vegetables.

New fields are opened by the "slash and burn" technique of cutting down trees and

burning the underbrush. The Wawonii are forced to move each time their fields become

infertile, because their farming techniques do not include sustainable methods. Their

houses are spread throughout the new areas they clear out of the jungle. Houses are

built on stilts with high roofs made of woven thatch.

HOW many? 30,000

WHAT do they worship? Almost all Wawonii people practice Sunni Islam. Despite this,

traditional animistic beliefs are still strong in daily life. They still believe in the power of

unseen spirits that inhabit sacred places. The services of a dukun (shaman) are often

sought for many purposes, including healing sicknesses and exorcising evil spirits.

Balinese

WHO are they? Most Balinese live in very close knit villages with strong family, social,

religious and economic interrelationships. Much of the village's interactions are centered

on Hindu worship in the temples and agricultural cooperatives in the surrounding fields.

The Balinese' main livelihood is rice farming. The Balinese are known throughout the

world for their artistic abilities. Many Balinese villages specialize in one particular form

of art. Their artistic talents can be seen in the variety of their paintings, carvings,

sculpting, dancing, and weavings.

WHERE do they live? The island of Bali is probably better known than the country of

Indonesia. The word "Bali" brings to mind visions of a tropical paradise. Its beauty,

friendly people, exquisite art and unique dance have made Bali a favorite destination for

millions of tourists from around the world. On this "Island of the gods" reside the

Balinese. However, many Balinese can also be found on the nearby island of Lombok,

as well as in Lampung, Sulawesi, South Kalimantan, Sumbawa and Papua.

HOW many? 3,519,000

WHAT do they worship? Hinduism is the primary religion of the Balinese. Even

though Hinduism has greatly affected the culture, the Balinese have managed to

maintain their original culture, so that Balinese Hinduism differs from Indian Hinduism.

Balinese Hindus believe that there is one god that can be explained by the Trimurti, a

concept of three aspects of God: Brahma, the creator; Vishnu, the protector; and Shiva,

the destroyer. Both individual families and larger assemblies use this shrine to offer

food and flowers to their gods.

Baju West Coast

WHO are they? The Bajau have traditionally been known as sea-nomads, involved in

extensive maritime trading and dwelling in boats. However, the great majority of Bajau

are now house dwellers. While some such Bajau continue to derive their livelihood

primarily from the sea, others have adopted an agrarian way of life.

WHERE do they live? Currently the West Coast Bajau are spread along Sabah's

coastal regions from Kuala Penyu in the southwest as far as Terusan, east of Pitas.

They live primarily in the Kota Belud, Kawang, Papar, Tuaran, Banggi, and Putatan

areas. The Kota Belud District, on the Tempasuk plain about halfway between Kota

Kinabalu and Kudat, contains the largest grouping of West Coast Bajau in Sabah. Kota

Belud is the cultural heartland of the West Coast Bajau.

HOW many? 68,000

WHAT do they worship? The traditional belief system of the West Coast Bajau people

is animistic in nature; a variety of spiritual beings interact with human beings both

positively and negatively. For example, people are discouraged from going out on foot

alone at night owing to the presence of spirits of the dead, or ghoulish creatures that

seek to eat babies or the flesh of recently deceased people. Traditional beliefs interact

in complex ways with Islamic beliefs (the more current system). Most people subscribe

to a variety of both traditional and more current beliefs, and it is difficult if not impossible

to separate them. Various superstitious beliefs from former times still have some

prevalence among the West Coast Bajau.

PRAYER needs:

• Pray for translation of the Bible to begin in this people group's primary language.

• Pray for the availability of the Jesus Film in the primary language of this people.

• Pray for Gospel messages to become available in audio format for this people

group.

LEARN more!

Sama

WHO are they? The Sama people groups, who live in the East Malaysian state of

Sabah, are officially classified under Bajau. The Bajau are predominantly Muslim

peoples. They speak as many as seven different mother-tongue languages which

belong to what is known as the Sama-Bajau subgroup of Malayo-Polynesian languages.

The Sama people groups are generally referred to in Sabah as the East Coast Bajau.

The government does not distinguish one Bajau group from the other. While outsiders

call them Bajau, they most commonly refer to themselves as Sama.

Most of the Sama peoples originated from the Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines.

WHERE do they live? Sama settlements are found mainly along Sabah's eastern

coastal area and particularly in Tawau, Semporna, Lahad Datu, and Sandakan districts.

One Sama settlement is located away from the east coast on the Gaya Island of Kota

Kinabalu. Many of the Sama peoples of Sabah maintain close association with the

Bajau peoples of the Sulu region as boat travel is relatively easy and common

throughout the region.

HOW many? 54,000

WHAT do they worship? The Sama are predominantly Sunni Muslims. Islamic

practices, such as fasting during Ramadan, are closely observed. Daily prayers at the

prayer room and the weekly Friday prayers in the mosque are performed. Many,

however, still participate in religious practices that have been retained from traditional

customs. For instance, spirits of the dead are thought to remain in the vicinity of the

graves, requiring expressions of continued concern from the living. They believe that

Allah permits the annual return of dead souls to the earth. They honor these souls by

cleaning their graves and by offering special prayers in some kind of Islamic context

such as the reading of Arabic prayers.

PRAYER needs: Many of the Sama people live below the poverty level. They need

help especially in the areas of health and drinking water.

Better infrastructure in the areas of education and transportation is also needed. Ask

God:

• To send people to help the Sama with these needs and be a channel of God's

love and blessing.

The Scriptures are available in the Sama languages, pray:

• That the Sama will have access to available Scriptures in their language.

LEARN more!

Tausug

WHO are they? Tausug means “people of the sea current.” They make their living

through agriculture, fishing, & livestock raising.

WHERE do they live? Originally from the Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines, the

Tausug migrated to Sabah in the 18th century. The can be found mainly in coastal area

communities.

HOW many? 200,000 living in Sabah, Malaysia.

WHAT do they worship? Sunni Islam is the majority religion of the Tausug. As the

children grow, they receive religious instruction from the Quran (Islamic Holy book).

However, they have also retained some of their animistic beliefs & practices associated

with the spiritual world. They believe in spirits that may cause either good fortune or

sickness.

Their view of life after death mixes Islam & beliefs in spirits. They believe that once a

person dies, his four souls will leave his body. The body of the deceased goes to hell

where punishment of his sins will be revealed according to his wrongdoings while he

was alive.

PRAYER needs: Many of the Tausug people live below poverty leve. Efficient farming

methods and innovative fishing techniques will help raise the standard of living among

the people. Pray that:

• God will send helpers to the Tausug to assist in these needs and to bring the

Good News of Jesus Christ.

• God will create receptive hearts among the Tausug.

LEARN more!

Japanese

WHO are they? Racially, culturally and ethnically, the Japanese are one of the least

diverse people groups in the world. They share a common biological heritage, birth in

Japan, a shared culture and a common language. The mountainous nation of Japan is a

very developed nation, but many families still farm as a secondary occupation. Often the

wife stays home and tends to the farm while the male works a full-time job outside the

home. Gardening is the number one hobby for men and women. Many Japanese

people enjoy wearing modern clothing for their daily activities, but they still wear

traditional costumes during special religious ceremonies or festivals. Japanese women

can still be seen wearing traditional silk Kimonos.

WHERE do they live? Most Japanese live in the country of Japan, which is a large

group of islands located between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan.

HOW many? There are about 121,252,000 Japanese people in Japan, and only about

0.4% of them are evangelical Christians.

WHAT do they worship? The native religion of Japan is an animistic belief called

Shintoism, and Buddhism is also popular. In fact, many Japanese consider themselves

to be both Shintoist and Buddhist. They are often very skeptical of and not interested in

Christianity. On the outside, the Japanese seem to have few needs. However, many of

them have become obsessed with materialistic pleasures, careers, and possessions.

Their greatest need is to be introduced to the Father through His Son, Jesus.

PRAYER needs:

• Japan is a modern society with lots of modern conveniences, but their

greatest need is Jesus.

• Pray that God would soften their hearts and prepare them to hear the Gospel.

• Ask the Lord of the harvest to raise up missionaries to go share God’s love in

Japan.

• Ask God to strengthen the existing churches within Japan and encourage

existing believers to boldly share the Gospel.

LEARN more:

Visit http://www.pacrimjo.org/info/video.html for several videos about Japan.

Thai

WHO are they? Among the Thai people, there is almost no division of labor by gender.

That means both men and women pitch in to do the fishing, cooking, tilling, taking care

of babies, cleaning the home and washing clothes.

The actual lifestyle of the Thai people varies a great deal, depending on people’s

occupation. From rural farmers to merchants to the clergy, there are many differences

among Thai people. The wealthiest Thai live in very nice houses with plank floors and

tile roofs, while the poorest villagers live in bamboo homes with thatched roofs and dirt

floors. There are many health problems in Thailand. Hepatitis, Malaria, and HIV are common.

WHERE do they live? The Thai live throughout Thailand.

HOW many? There are about 60 million Thai people.

WHAT do they worship? The main religion of Thai people is Theravada Buddhism.

Almost all are devout followers of Buddha, who is considered “the enlightened one.”

That means that they seek to eliminate suffering and improve their own future by

earning merit in the pursuit of what they call perfect peace. They try to earn merit by

doing all kinds of things – feeding monks, donating to temples and attending worship

services. The Thai also sometimes incorporate their Buddhist beliefs with folk animism,

which means they seek help by worshipping spirits and objects.

PRAYER needs:

• Pray that God would raise up workers to work among the Thai people.

• Pray that as missionaries share, God would give them the words to say to help

the Thai understand the Gospel.

• Pray that as workers help with the Thai’s physical needs that doors would be

opened to the Gospel.

Waray Waray

WHO are they? The word Waray Waray means nothing. And that is what they have—

nothing. Many earn a meager living as farmers, harvesting architectural products like

coconut, rice, corn, white sugarcane and tobacco. The Waray Waray also have several

traditions that can be traced back to pre-colonial times. For example, the Kuratsa dance

is a popular traditional dance that the Waray-Waray often perform at many social

gatherings, especially weddings. The couple dancing the Kuratsa is showered with

money by the people around them. The belief is that the more money is showered upon

them, the more blessings will come their way.

WHERE do they live? The Waray Waray reside on Eastern Samar and Leyte.

HOW many? There are about 3,375,000 Waray people, and less than 2% of them are

estimated to be evangelical Christians. Some churches have been planted among the

Waray Waray, but there is still a great harvest that has yet to be reaped!

WHAT do they worship? The vast majority of Waray-Waray people are Roman

Catholic. They take their religion very seriously and celebrate many saint-focused

holidays.

PRAYER needs:

• Pray that God would provide for the physical needs of the Waray Waray people.

• Pray that the growing number of church plants among the Waray Waray people

would continue to grow and be strengthened.

• Pray that the evangelical Christians within the Waray Waray people group would

become passionate about evangelizing their own people group.

LEARN more: Watch a video filled with photos of a mission team’s recent work among

the Waray Waray.