The Amal people live in a very remote area on the border of Sandaun and East Sepik Provinces, cut off from all other language groups by rugged terrain. Their villages lie along the Wagana River near the confluence with Wanibe Creek in Sandaun Province. There are no roads. Nor is there any road from their district of Ambunti Drekkir to Wewak, the capital of East Sepik. To reach Wewak, the people must walk to the Sepik River, then travel down the river to Burui before catching a vehicle to Wewak.
All age groups speak their traditional language. There is no evidence that they speak any other language, which reflects their isolation. It is likely that few, if any, can read. The nearest high schools and vocational training centers are many days away.
The people in this district are subsistence farmers. Growing vanilla plants for export is one way the locals in other language groups have been able to earn an income. It is not known if the Amal people have been able to access this opportunity.
Not even half of the Amal people are Christian. Though they are a reached people group, there are fewer than with other peoples in PNG.
Though there are a large percentage of Christians among the Amal people, that percentage is low by PNG standards.
May they know they are loved by the King of kings.
Pray that they will have access to adequate medical and educational services despite their very remote location.
Pray that the Lord will raise up trained linguists and local translators to champion the work of Bible translation in the Amal language.
Pray that the Amal people themselves will desire more of God and his word.
Scripture Prayers for the Amal in Papua New Guinea.
Wycliffe Bible Translators
| Profile Source: Joshua Project |
