Amdo, Rongmahbrogpa in China

Introduction / History

Although ethnically and culturally the Rongmahbrogpa belong to the Tibetan nationality, they speak a language that is distinct from other Tibetan varieties. The name Rongmahbrogpa is a combination of the Tibetan words Rongba (villager or farmer) and Brogpa (nomad or herder).

Rongmahbrogpa - which contains "two or more dialects" - is part of the Northern Bodic branch of Tibetan languages. Although they may not understand each other's speech, all Tibetans use the same written script. Tibetans from different areas can often be seen exchanging notes to communicate.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Tibetan prayer wheel, or manichorkor, can be turned by hot air, hand, wind, or water. As it spins, the scroll contained in the cylinder is believed to release prayers to the heavens.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Outwardly the Amdo are Tibetan Buddhists, but the ancient Bon religion has experienced growth in recent years. Bon was characterized by shamans, whose job was to "present the sacrifices, appease the spirits with magic, heal the sick, and even control the weather. The shaman specialized in a kind of ecstatic trance that let him travel to the spirit world and serve as a medium for the ghosts of the dead. In addition to the shamans there were also magicians and healers who had the power to control gods, demons and locality spirits."

The Christian and Missionary Alliance church opened a mission base in the town of Xiahe in the early 1920s. They made little progress against the Buddhist stronghold. One wrote, "The main difficulties as they appear to me are: The food question. The food of the Tibetans is such that for a foreigner it is very hard to partake of, and still harder to digest, yet the itinerating missionary in this district has to eat it, for if he does not, he greatly offends his host and gets no opportunity to preach the gospel." The JESUS Film was translated into Amdo in 1998.

What Are Their Needs?

Without the guidance of Christ, these people are like sheep without a shepherd. They need the good shepherd in their families and communities.

Prayer Points

Pray for the spiritual blindness and bondage to the evil one to be removed so they can understand and respond to Christ.

Pray for the Lord to provide for their physical and spiritual needs as a testimony of his power and love.

Pray that the Rongmahbrogpa Amdo people will have a spiritual hunger that will open their hearts to the King of kings.

Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among them.

Text Source:   Joshua Project