Papua New Guinea
Location:
Papua New Guinea is in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands (the western portion of the island is a part of the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua). It is located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.
Language:
Tok Pisin; English; Hiri Motu ; 836 indigenous languages (about 12% of the world’s total). Most languages have fewer than 1,000 speakers.
Common Religions:
Christian (approximately 27% Catholic). Less than 1% Baha’i; indigenous beliefs and other faiths account for about 3%.
Problems for people here:
Modern amenities and clean water can be difficult to find in many of the rural parts of PNG. The elements, in addition to mosquitoes with malaria, can often make life in this tropical region significantly difficult. In addition to disease spreading quickly due to the climate, poisonous ideas can often spread like wildfire in the missions of PNG. Even the most devout Catholics still hold on to some aspects of old mysticism, which can lead to disagreements and, in rare cases, violence and death.
How PIME helps the mission here:
PIME helps to establish a better infrastructure for the people of the isolated communities on Papua New Guinea whenever they can, this can include: digging wells, providing education, and establishing means for medical care. PIME Missionaries here often travel great and treacherous journeys simply to deliver the sacraments, and witness Christ among the people.
