Waikabubak Orphan Home

Many children in Sumba are orphans and the local people are so poor that they cannot support their lives. Pastor Paulus saw these matters and felt a burden to establish an orphan home in Waikabubak, with Pastor Filmon.

A radio station had been established in Waikabubak, and now the site expands its ministry to Sumba Island as a Christian community center and Orphan Home. The building was contracted for 2 years and there is a plan to purchase the building. Pastor Filmon, graduated in 1995 from the Entios Theologian School in Solo and now is heading the GBI Waikaro.

The dominant religion in the area is Merapu (Their god's name) Animism. They worship to Merapu and make blood of the livestock as the offering. They celebrate Merapu Holy Day, Harvest, new home, wedding, and funeral cermonies. Many, though, are coming to Christ.

Wherever they go they still use traditional cloth and have a sword-like weapon (locally called a Pedang) put in their waist. They use kinang (a kind of nuts to chew instead of smoking cigarettes). Most of them cannot speak Bahasa Indonesia, the Indonesian National language.

The home is very new, so some of the orphans continue to suffer with Fevers, Malaria, Trauma and Fear. They still fight amongst themselves as they get acquainted, cry as they remember their past, and learn to trust and get settled in their new home.