Medical evacuation

Two weeks ago, I received a WhatsApp message from Damusi saying, “Your friend Salomo Hanai is dying!” He sent me a photo of Salomo being cared for by his family in Waina. This was a shock to me because Salomo was one of the first converts in our village twenty years ago. I contacted some friends in Danowage, a village close to Waina. They had heard that he was ill, but not that it was that bad. A few days later, they visited him in Waina and realized that he was indeed in very bad shape.

After some consultation, I contacted Helimission, who were ready to fly him to the hospital. However, Salomo's family had to accept the possibility that Salomo would die in the hospital and that his body would not be flown back. At first, they found this too difficult to accept, and it took another two days before they finally gave their consent for a medical evacuation. Jimmy, an evangelist friend, and his brother Demus accompanied Salomo to Wamena.

Upon arrival at the hospital, the doctor determined that they were too late, and Salomo passed away the following night. His internal organs had suffered too much from his illness and from dehydration. The next day, supported by fellow believers from the local evangelical church, Jimmy and Demus burried Salomo's body in Wamena.

We praise God for the life and testimony of Salomo Hanai. He grew up in the jungle, in a culture filled with fear of the spirit world and of each other. In 2005, he came to faith in Christ and since then he has faithfully and enthusiastically shared the gospel in his community, right up until the very end. Many Korowai people have come to know Jesus through him.