Ministering to Tribal People

A Christian medical team travels to a remote village in the jungles of Papua New Guinea to help save the lives of women and children, and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

For generations the Hewa people have lived in isolated villages in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. A tragic mix of tribal customs, fear of evil spirits, and lack of basic health care have contributed to an infant mortality rate of more than 85 percent.

Jonathan and Susan Kopf have been living among the Hewa people for more than 12 years, sharing the Gospel and translating the Bible into Hewa, while serving as missionaries with New Tribes Mission.

Fato, a village leader, accepted Christ. Clutching his Hewa Bible, Fato boldly shares the Good News with the people in the village of Yifki.

Susan Kopf ministers to the women in the village, teaching them God’s Word in their heart language.

The Kopfs paved the way for a mobile medical team to come to Yifki. Physicians from the United States and Kudjip Nazarene Hospital in Papua New Guinea flew to a remote airstrip and were then shuttled by helicopter to the village.

Team members lived among the Hewa for a week, providing life-saving instruction through a Community Based Health Care and Village Childbirth Attendant course.

Susan Kopf, who is also a nurse, worked with the women as they learned about hygiene, childbirth, and infant care.

Dr. Allan Sawyer, an obstetrician and gynecologist from Glendale, Arizona, used a life-size doll to illustrate safe childbirth practices.

Hewa men learned how to assist their wives during childbirth and help care for newborns.

After the medical team left, women from outlying villages came to Yifki to ask Susan Kopf more questions about safe childbirth and infant care. Christ-centered medical care and education has brought new hope to the Hewa people.