![]() ![]() 'It is impossible to get an accurate count of all the women and children across Hewa territory that are marked as witches, but the number is probably in the hundreds. 'They believe the only way to stop this spirit is to kill the innocent woman or child that is possessed. She said: 'The Hewa believe that evil spirits can enter a person, mostly women and children, and this spirit leaves their body at night consuming the insides of otherwise healthy people causing them to get sick and die. Mrs George said the most tragic Hewa belief is that evil spirits can possess people. 'We see a lot of asthma, lung, and breathing problems among our people,' she explained. Many believe that people can still be possessed by evil spirits The tribesmen are seen here sitting with their rifles and smoking. For example, they live in huts with as many as four fire pits in them, but have no windows and only small doors that they board up securely at night to keep the spirits out causing them to suffer from the effects of mass smoke inhalation. 'This often hinders their lifestyles greatly. 'Contrary to what most people believe, animistic cultures do not live in harmony with their environment. They are in a constant struggle to appease and manipulate that environment just to survive. ![]() 'They are animistic in their worldview, so they believe that there are spirits around them, both good and evil, that control the outcomes of their daily lives. I have seen them create almost everything they need just with vines, leaves and branches from their homes all the way down to egg cartons. 'Most of what they use in a day comes from the jungle around them. 'The Hewa are extremely remote and extremely primitive,' said Jessica She describes the community as 'primitive' but felt she had to live among them to gain their trust Mrs George cuddles a baby of one of the tribes people. ![]() The family have had to deal with several disconcerting occurrences while being out in the jungle, which has strengthened their resolve to establish Christianity among the Hewa tribe. Mrs George said: 'Many of the children were going to be sent away to attend school, and we felt this was dangerous for them and hard for their parents, so a school has been established until they can get a national teacher.' Recently one of Mrs George's co-workers set up a school for the children, as the village has been asking for a teacher for years and is yet to receive one from the government. 'My children are learning to garden with me and care for chickens just like the Hewa girls do with their moms. 'But from seeing our girls, the Hewa girls are starting to do more playing which mostly involves running, chasing games, climbing trees, and swimming in the local creeks and rivers. The siblings have become close friends with many of the local children Mattie (front) is pictured with other youngsters from the tribe and her sister. ![]()
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