Yanis, a Hewa Bible teacher, is boldly teaching in another village twice a day, several times a week, in spite of the death threats that hang over his head.
Actually, the death threats are a concern for everyone in his home village. A neighboring tribe continues to say that the entire village is given to witchcraft. Culturally, this gives the accusers a license to kill anyone they want at any time without repercussion.
The continued threat of "witch killing" is a concern to missionaries Jonathan and Susan Kopf and Keith and Angie Copley who had to leave the tribe several months ago for safety concerns.
The missionaries had been asked by one Hewa man to fly his daughter to America because the village knew that she was one of the next to be killed. But another solution was found.
A missionary couple from a different and distant tribe found a man in their village that was willing to marry Fainyam. He would adopt her into his village where she would be safe. Fainyam's father and relatives agreed that this was the best way to go.
Arrangements were made and Fainyam was safely flown to her new home.
"We hear that she is safe and happy and that she is starting to learn the language and culture of the new village," the Kopfs wrote.
Another young woman could not escape to safety. One of Susan's friends, Niti, has been brutally murdered.
But in the midst of the sadness this brings, the Kopfs do have reason for rejoicing. Yanis reports that more Hewas are "showing strong signs of true trust in the Lord."
"Yanis is much more skilled in communicating in his language than I am," Jonathan wrote. "I am so excited that God is doing something beautiful, and truly, every bit of the credit goes to Him (as it always should). He is doing miracles in human hearts in the jungle. Please join me with a sense of deep awe and admiration for His incredible power."
And join us too in praying that God will move in the hearts of those who have threatened death to the whole village.
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