Missionaries Jonathan and Susan Kopf were safely evacuated from the Hewa tribe Monday morning after the murder of Tomas, a Paielan man.
Tomas was killed with a machete Sunday in the Kopf's front yard when arguments erupted at a village court. The young man that killed him fled while his family members shot volleys of arrows toward the the village to keep Tomas' friends from following him into the jungle.
Showers of arrows were shot back and forth for about an hour while the killer made his escape. His family then melted away into the jungle as darkness fell over the village.
One young man was shot in the leg, but there were no further fatalities.
Jonathan and Susan spent the evening and night grieving for their murdered friend and talking with friends while trying to get ready for their evacuation.
The Kopfs are now united with their children who have been in school at the mission's center in the Highlands Region.
The missionaries were sad to leave the tribe in a time of crisis. Besides the murder, several villagers have died recently from a vigorous strain of pneumonia.
Pray that the people can arrive at a peaceful resolution to the murder without further incident. Within the village cultures "pay-back" killings are the norm.
Pray too that those villagers needing medical attention will receive the proper care.
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