More than 150,000 Hmong Njua (pronounced "Joo-ah") live throughout a widespread area of northern and eastern Laos. The Hmong Njua are also located in China, Vietnam, Thailand and the United States.
The Hmong are invariably located at the top of the highest mountains in the areas they live. A Hmong proverb states, "Fish swim in water, birds fly in the air, Hmong live on the mountains."
The historical roots of the Hmong is intriguing. Some scholars have suggested they originated in Persia or Babylon, migrating north into Siberia for a time before entering northern China. Hmong legends and Chinese records support some of these claims. The Hmong claim they once lived in a homeland where "days and nights lasted six months, the water was frozen, and snow hid the ground. Only a few trees grew and they were small. The people, too, were short and squat, clothed in furs."
As recently as the 20th century it appears many Hmong still had Caucasian features. In 1924 Father F. M. Savina of the Paris Society for Foreign Missions wrote, "In appearance they are pale yellow, almost white, their hair is often light or dark brown, sometimes even red or 'corn-silk blond', and a few even have pale blue eyes."
An 80-year old Hmong man in Laos, Cher Sue Vue, remembered his childhood when the Chinese crossed into Laos looking for white babies... "At that time there was only one white baby in our village. The infant's parents were warned before the Chinese arrived, and they carried him into the forest where they hid."
The Hmong have a legend of a Hmong Savior who will one day reveal himself, throw off the yoke of opposition, and establish an independent Hmong homeland. Because of this belief the Hmong are especially susceptible to being deceived by strong, charismatic figures.
Despite having their own New Testament, Jesus film and other ministry tools, there are only about 1,000 Hmong Njua believers in Laos today. Almost the entire Christian community among them fled the country in 1975.
Pray for the Hmong Njua
Pray God will receive the glory worthy of His Name among the Hmong Njua everywhere.
Ask God to woo the hearts of the Hmong Njua to know Christ.
Pray Hmong believers scattered around the world will be called to evangelize the Hmong Njua in Laos