Although there are many sad stories to tell from Congo, one of the saddest is the plight of the Pygmy people. Certain other tribes actually considered them as less than human, and up until only 50 years ago they were cannibalized by these tribes. Very few can read and write as they have clung to their traditions and avoided civilization.
They moved frequently to follow the game in the forest. Their traditional houses look like small igloos in shape, made of sticks with leaves laid over the top. Generally, they clear a small area in the forest and set up camp, leaving the largest trees for shade. The men went to the forest daily, hunting with poison arrows in their bows. Women built the houses and cared for the children. They traded meat for grain with other farming tribes.
Now, their world is collapsing around them. When Hutu’s from the Rwandan genocide fled to Congo in 1994, Congolese people fled in terror. These misplaced people cleared land and started farming, thus pushing the Pygmies out of their traditional areas. Soldiers terrorized their villages, leaving a trail of death and rape.
Laws were passed that prevented them from hunting big game like buffalo and elephants, so they began to move towards the roads to search for work. As the war ended and the roads were repaired, lumber companies invaded huge sections of forest, cutting down the big trees. The illiterate Pygmies watched helplessly as the trees disappeared and the chain saws scared all the game away.
They own no land legally, so they often work as laborers for farmers or loggers. With no education and skills, they carry lumber like human mules or hoe in the hot sun for minuscule wages. Although
they still hunt some, most are living in utter poverty with pitiful clothing and few cooking utensils. Medical care is usually unaffordable and they eat anything that moves. Some have turned to alcohol as their situation is so discouraging. Most of the 600,000 Congo Pygmies are animists. Now, for the good news! They are beginning to see the need for education and are very open to the Gospel.
Recently, we traveled to Beni to investigate their needs and learn how best to begin work among them. We met with Brother Yang, a Korean Adventist who has been working with certain Pygmy camps for the past several years. He came from Uganda to meet us and show us several of the Pygmy camps where he has stationed SDA pastors. This is only one of his many projects in different countries and I was amazed by his enthusiasm and energy.
Although usually shy and suspicious, the Pygmy people welcomed us over and over. We sang together and shared the simple Gospel truths. They seemed as anxious to see us as we were to see them. We met the pastors who live near them and better understand the challenges. They really need to learn to farm to sustain themselves. They need clean water sources. It is not a short term work and
they need people to live among them, gain their confidence and teach them how to improve their lives. They need education for their children and education about healthful living. But most of all, they need to know Jesus who not only made the world they live in, but died for each one of them.
Please help us to reach these beautiful people. I was moved to tears by one story I heard of Pygmy children who had started to go to school. The other children had pencils, but they only had little pieces of charcoal to write with. The other children laughed them to scorn and they hardly wanted to go back.
We currently have only one church planter to the Pygmy people and 28 of them are worshipping with her each Sabbath. This is a most urgent need. Many more church planters will be needed. As they accept the gospel truth, we hope to develop workers among their own people who will work as church planters. We feel the Lord has called us to carry the three angel’s messages to this down trodden people. Won’t you help with your prayers and support?
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