UPG: The Stieng of Cambodia

The Stieng are a people group of Cambodia. There populations is approximately 6,000, although there are nearly 50,000 Stieng living in Vietnam. They are located on the Vietnamese border between Memut, Snoul, and Kao Sema.

Most of the Stieng live near Snoul, Kratie in Cambodia. They do not grow rice, as is the main means of livelihood in Cambodia. Rather, they own plantations of black pepper, cashew nuts, and durian. They also rely on hunting and wood cutting in the jungles near their homes.

Traditional houses of the Stieng are made from palm tree leaves, and because their roof strutcture is different from those of other tribes, theirs is easily recognizable.

The Stieng live very close to each other, and sometimes even intermingle with the Khmer. As a result, it is difficult to spot them.

The Stieng are animistic. Some have adopted Khmer Buddhism, but most retain their animistic practices. There are around 1,000 Stieng Christians in Cambodia, and more in Vietnam.

The Stieng are not appreciated or respected much. They live near major groups, such as the Khmer, and most speak the language fluently. Current land-rush in Cambodia has caused the Stieng their ancestral lands once more, as sections of the jungle are being given to private companies. It's sad, because the Stieng deeply rely on the jungle for their livelihood. Stieng villages have no schools or medical facilities.

Praise/Prayer:

• Thank God for reaching the Stieng earlier this century. Pray the Stieng believers would be fully committed and would turn away from their former animistic ways.
• Ask God to prevent the Stieng church from being inward-focused and ethno-centric. Pray many Stieng evangelists would be sent to the unreached all over Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
• Pray the Bible would soon be translated into both Bulo and Budip Stieng languges (two distinct dialects of the Stieng).
  

Resources:
http://www.joshuaproject.net/peopctry.php?rop3=109552&rog3=CB
http://www.peoplegroups.org/MapSearch.aspx?country=Cambodia
http://asiaharvest.org/pages/profiles/nonChina/Vietnam/Stieng.pdf
Picture from: http://www.joshuaproject.net