The Yaleba people of Papua New Guinea live on the peninsula south of Alotau in Milne Bay Province. Their staple foods include sweet potatoes and yams from their gardens, supplemented with leafy greens from the gardens and fish from the bay. The Yaleba people also occasionally hunt for animals such as pig and cuscus in the bush. They cook most of their food in coconut milk, which is prepared by squeezing shredded coconut in water.
Due to the presence of a nearby timber company, many people build their houses of lumber off-cuts that they buy inexpensively from the company. Those that do not use lumber build their houses using wood and palm tree materials.
The Yaleba people primarily speak their own vernacular language, also called Yaleba. Some people are also able to speak English, which they learn in school, and many are able to understand neighboring languages to a limited degree.
About 1918 the Kwato church, the largest denomination in the area, was brought to various points on the mainland and spread to Yaleba before WWII. However, the churches soon became non-operational during WWII, at which time people were forced to move out of Yaleba. After the war, the people moved back and the church reopened. Now many Yaleba people profess Christianity and some attend church. However, there appears to be a lack of understanding of the gospel among many of those professing Christianity. There is a need for God's word to be translated into Yaleba.
Scripture Prayers for the Yaleba in Papua New Guinea.
| Profile Source: Anonymous |
