The Simeulue people live o­n Simeulue Island located to the west of Aceh Province. Their largest towns are named Sibigo, Sigulai, and Lamame. O­n Simeulue Island there is no land transport available, so that to go from o­ne area to another o­ne must walk. Simeulue people are known as being friendly and brave. Their physical appearance is similar to Chinese or Korean people because they are pale and tend to have slanting eyes different from the general appearance of the Aceh people o­n the mainland. The Simeulue speak Ulau, which means "island", and it has two dialects. Sigulai is used in western Simeulue and Salang, and Devayan is used in eastern Simeulue, central Simeulue and southern Tepang. In general the Simeulue can speak the Aceh language because of the strong influence of Aceh culture o­n the Simeulue.

Generally the Simeulue make a living from planting cloves and coconuts as well as fishing. Each village usually has o­ne mosque or prayer-house. Beside using it for prayer, the mosque is also used for discussing religious issues, holding social functions, providing information from the government and encouraging the community to work together o­n community projects. The village head in Simeulue is called a kecik. Previously the Simeulue were ruled by a king before they submitted to the king of Aceh. The Simeulue house is built o­n stilts. Typically, the parents live in a large house with their unmarried children and the families of their sons. This group is called walli or walli akrab. Heredity is patrilineal (tracing descent from the father). Living arrangements after marriage are of three types. In the first pattern the couple lives near the husband?s family. In the second pattern, the couple lives for a few years with the wife?s family and the husband must help his in-laws. After this, they live with the husband?s family for the rest of their lives. In the third pattern, the couple always lives with the wife?s family and the husband must help his in-laws. This usually happens because the wife is an o­nly child.

Although most Simeulue embrace Islam, many are still influenced by animistic beliefs and various superstitions. These beliefs are focused upon seeking protection through magic by either appeasing or controlling both good and bad spirits.

The Simeulue people need more work opportunities. The Simeulue need doctors, as up to this point there are apparently no doctors o­n the island, o­nly government health workers in small clinics. They need information about health as those who live in the interior still drink unboiled ground water or rainwater. There are schools o­n the island, but teachers are badly needed. Roads between villages and towns need to be built so they can be reached by land transport.

PRAYER POINTS

• Ask the Lord to send qualified linguists to translate the Bible into the Simeulue language.
• Pray that God will strengthen and encourage the small number of believers living among the Simeulue. Pray for His protection over them from physical harm.
• Pray that God will raise up qualified laborers who can effectively cross the Muslim cultural barriers.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to the Simeulue that Islam and animism are religion of death, but that believing in Christ will give them life.
• Pray that the hostility towards Christians will cease and that they will be allowed to freely preach the Gospel.
• Pray that the non- Simeulue Christians living in Aceh province will be given open doors and opportunities to share Christ with the Simeulue.

links to related information: www.joshuaproject.net , www.1040window.org