Day 11 - The Sunwar Nationality
Found in the Eastern region of Nepal in the districts of Ramechhap, Okhaldhunga, and Solukhumbu
| Population: |
Language: |
Religion: |
| 30,000 |
Sunwari |
Animism |
The origin of the Sunwar people is unknown, but it is probable that they came from the east because they look very similar to the Chinese peoples. They are rather short with a fair complexion and slanted eyes.
Agriculture is the main occupation of the Sunwars. They grow rice, wheat, and barley in the river valleys, and maize and millet on the hill slopes. Many of the men also join the Royal Nepal Army. They live in one-story houses built of stone and mud. The walls are white washed and the windows painted black. The marriages of the Sunwars are generally arranged by the parents when the children are between 8 and 12 years old. However, many of the children do not live to see this age because the child mortality rate is around 60%.
The Sunwars are Hindus by name, but are actually animists. They worship their ancestors, perform animal sacrifices, and call evil spirits at their festivals. Every village has two priests that are called upon to perform these and many other rituals for the people.
Although many Sunwars have heard the name of Jesus, they still do not have a concept of a creator God or of sin and many have never seen a Bible. They often verbally abuse new believers and may even throw them out of the family. Some Sunwars may allow another Sunwar to share the gospel, but they are generally uninterested and resistant.
Key Prayer Points:
- The women are suppressed and often uneducated. The men tend to be lazy and let the women do most of the work. Pray that God would convict the men for treating the women in this way and that freedom would come to the Sunwar women.
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- There is a great amount of demon possession and witchcraft in the Sunwar villages. Pray against the forces of evil that are holding these people in bondage.
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- A New Testament has been translated recently into the Sunwari language and some of the villages are becoming more open to Christianity through this. Pray for God to continue spreading His Word throughout all the villages of the Sunwars.
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