Amid the dense tropical rainforest of South Papua, in a small valley called Danowage, stands a place that has become home to children from various tribes in the remote Korowai region — Samuel Dormitory.
From the outside, it looks simple: wooden walls, a tin roof, and a red-earth yard that turns muddy when the rain falls. Yet inside, every day is filled with laughter, prayer, and growing hope.
The Beginning of Samuel Dormitory
The dormitory began from the deep burden of a local evangelist, Evangelist Jimmy Weya, and his wife, Perin, who in 2009 started caring for several Korowai children in their own home. At that time, there was no school in Danowage, and most children had never learned to read or write.
Jimmy believed that to reach the hearts of adults, one must first reach the hearts of their children. He saw that true transformation in the Korowai community could only happen if the younger generation came to know God and received proper education.
As the years passed, more and more children came to live with them. Their small house could no longer hold everyone. Seeing their faithfulness and love for the children, Rev. Trevor Johnson —a missionary who had been serving in Papua since the early 2000s— was moved to help. He built a primary school, a teachers’ house, a small clinic, and finally, in 2017, the Samuel Dormitory.
The dormitory became a safe home and discipleship center for children coming from many remote Korowai villages. Some of them walked for days, crossing rivers and dense forests, just to reach this place where they could learn and live in safety.
Daily Life in the Dormitory
Each morning at Samuel Dormitory begins with prayer and worship. The children sit in a circle in the simple dining room, singing hymns in unison before bowing their heads in prayer.
After their lessons, they return to the dormitory for a shared meal — simple dishes like sweet potatoes, rice, local chicken, or cassava leaves. The afternoons are filled with reading, Bible study, football, or helping in the kitchen and small garden behind the dormitory.
Evenings are the most anticipated time of day. The children gather again for family worship, led in turns by the older students. Here, many of them learn to pray, read the Bible, and lead songs of praise. The atmosphere is filled with joy, even when the lights go out and only candles or kerosene lamps illuminate the room.
The caretakers teach discipline, responsibility, cleanliness, and love — values that not only shape the children’s character but also help them understand the love of Christ.
The Fruits of the Ministry
Over the years, Samuel Dormitory has nurtured dozens of Korowai children. Many of them have continued their studies outside Papua — some even at Universitas Pelita Harapan and a theology school in Tangerang. They stand as living testimonies that love and education can transform lives.
Children who were once shy and fearful now confidently lead prayers and worship. They have learned to dream — to become teachers, nurses, pastors, and leaders who will serve their people.
What the Dormitory Means to the Korowai
For the Korowai people, Samuel Dormitory is more than a building — it is a symbol of hope. Here, the children learn that God loves them, and that their future is not defined by isolation, but by faith, perseverance, and the love they receive each day.
The dormitory stands as a testimony that when the love of God is lived out in real action, lives can be transformed — even in the most remote places on earth.