My Enemy is Here
“The LORD said, ‘What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.’” —Gen. 4:10, NLT
Sivini was ruthless. He took the lives of many people. He taught others to kill effectively and ordered the destruction of many 
of his enemies. His skills were highly respected by his people, and as a village elder, his word carried power in the Usarufa community.
Usarufa speakers live in the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea (PNG). Their community and the nearby Kamano-Kafe language group have been in conflict for years. It began with a series of rapes and murders—soon it was all-out war.
Sivini’s skills had helped the Usarufa become formidable contenders in the conflict. They speared or shot many Kamano-Kafe. Families were burned alive in their homes. Children were orphaned. Between the two groups, more than 100 people had been massacred.
“Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you.” —Gen. 4:11-12, NLT
For those that remained, life was bitter. Many found it unsafe to travel to the towns where they could find paying jobs. Even if they had money, it was often risky to visit the markets to buy food and provisions. Schools were shut down. Children who escaped death faced a crippling future. Life for both the Usarufa and the Kamano-Kafe was fraught with fear, grief and loss.
Concerned by the impact of this war, the PNG government pursued a peace agreement between the Usarufa and the Kamano-Kafe. When conversation failed, they offered a large amount of money as incentive for a truce. Unfortunately, this effort led only to more violence. Would it ever stop?
“I search for peace; but when I speak of peace, they want war!” —Ps. 120:7
Meanwhile, some Usarufa individuals were involved in Bible translation efforts for their people. They had made arrangements to attend a translation training course. At the last minute, one man learned he would be unable to attend; someone would have to go in his place. As a respected leader, Sivini was chosen.
As it turned out, some members of the Kamano-Kafe community had planned to attend the course as well. The atmosphere was charged with tension. One Kamano-Kafe student quietly whispered, “My enemy is here.” In spite of their emotions, the students held themselves in check.
The course walked students through the process of translation, beginning in the book of Genesis. Arriving at Genesis chapter four, they began to study the death of Abel at the hands of Cain. When Sivini read how Abel’s blood cried out from the ground for vengeance, the faces of those he himself had killed flashed before him. He was overcome with dizziness and broke into a sweat. He felt as if a spear had pierced his heart.
During devotional time, Sivini asked his classmates to pray with him as he repented of his hateful deeds. As a miracle of God’s healing power, even the Kamano-Kafe members participated.
“But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of His great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in Him and receive eternal life.” —1 Tim. 1:16, NLT
During the course, a peace meeting was held between the Usarufa and the Kamano-Kafe. With hundreds in attendance, several speakers—including children who had been orphaned by the conflict—addressed the crowd. Then Sivini spoke, telling the moving story of his heart change. Leaders from both the Usarufa and the Kamano-Kafe embraced one another
and wept.
Today, peace between the Usarufa and the Kamano-Kafe is still very fragile. Although the leaders have declared peace, not everyone agrees. A recent attack on the Usarufa threatened to stir up a new series of battles. But Sivini showed a true change of heart when he encouraged his people not to retaliate. Please pray that all Usarufa and Kamano-Kafe people would experience this same peace through the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ.
“When people’s lives please the LORD, even their enemies are at peace with them.” —Prov. 16:7
(Story by Matt Petersen)
Learn more about Serving in PNG
David Ringer, who took the photos used in this story, wrote about the Usarufa in his blog.
Wycliffe United Kingdom has examples of writing Usarufa.