When strangers first came to the Southern Highlands, the local people told new stories about their first impressions of these outsiders.

At the same time, the newcomers were very interested in everything they saw and heard. It was all new to them. They wrote reports and letters and took photographs. Now, over seventy years later, some Highland people would like to see those letters and reports, and find out about the early years of contact between their grandparents and people from other parts of the world.

In this website, you will find some of the records. They are part of the story of the Methodist Mission in Mendi and Tari, which later became United Church Highlands Region and United Church Hela Region.

Margaret Reeson has collected these stories from old church magazines and other records. She knew many of the old missionaries. Margaret and Ron Reeson lived in Mendi and Nipa between 1961 and 1978. They knew many of the local Highland people and have kept their old records and photographs about the Highlands church. Other old missionaries have helped with this work. They have also collected their old photographs of the Highlands so that they will not be lost.

The website is starting in 2024. It begins with memories from 1950 in Mendi. At the moment, you will find stories about the first years of contact. Bit by bit, Margaret will add more stories.

At the end of each chapter, you will find some key words to help you search for things that are interesting to you. Words like a year, or a place, or a person’s name.

You can also look at photo collections on different themes.