The Jamu Lady

This is a Jamu lady. She’s been trained in the ancient, herbal medicine traditions of Java. She carries herbal medicines on the back of a bicycle which she uses to make health drinks for her clientele. Most Jamu ladies are Javanese. Typically the Jamu lady has a circuit that she travels every day. She has glasses on the back of her bike for customers who meet her in the street, but as she does not have a sink to wash the glasses, it’s typically not very clean. Most clients use their own cups as the Jamu lady visits their homes to give them their daily dose of jamu. A cup of herbal medicine usually costs 2,000 RP (around 20 cents). Many Indonesians swear that drinking jamu wards off many types of illnesses. This tradition is much like our taking daily vitamins.

Everyone who drinks jamu will still eventually die. Pray that people on Sumatra will realize that only faith in Jesus will ward off (atone for) the consequences of sin.

Tradition is not a bad thing, but many traditions on Sumatra keep people from being obedient to God’s Word. Pray that the peoples of Sumatra will see that following God is more important than any tradition they may hold.

The 13 million Transmigrant Javanese are the largest people group on Sumatra. Pray for God to draw these people into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.