LINGE, Indonesia Indonesian coffee farmers on the island of Sumatra have spoken out against a plan to mine for gold in an area that overlaps with one of the last known habitats of Sumatran tigers and orangutans. The Linge Abong project in Aceh province was conceived more than a decade ago, and was blocked […]
Peoples of Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia
Prayer Request
Peoples of Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia
(AH-chay) – There are 300,000 Gayo (pronounced GUY-oh) people living in Aceh province. The heart of their area is the Gayo Highlands, which lie along a mountain range. Most work as coffee farmers, but some are fishermen and craftsmen. The Gayo are known for a famous handicraft featuring fine gold embroidery. Most Gayo are Muslim, but they typically are not as strict as the people groups around them. They are more tolerant of people holding differing religious opinions but still frown upon people leaving Islam. Many Gayo believe in good and bad spirits. They revere holy men, both living and dead, and often make offerings to them for guidance about life problems and for spiritual protection. There are hundreds of Gayo believers but still no indigenous church. The Gayo have great needs in the areas of agricultural development, healthcare, and education. Pray that Gayo believers will overcome an