The people of Mendi were busy with their own lives, their own ideas, traditions and beliefs. They saw that the foreign Methodist mission people, and the Government patrol officers, were living in their valley and making some changes, but most of the Mendi people were more interested in their own activities. The mission staff atContinue reading “17. Drama and death among the people of Mendi, 1955”
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15. Life in Mendi, 1954
People who liked to fight By 1954, it was clear that there were many challenges for both the Australian government administration and for missions working in the Southern Highlands. Tribal fighting was one of many problems. When some people asked why missions were there at all, the MOM General Secretary Cecil Gribble replied. “But behindContinue reading “15. Life in Mendi, 1954”
Synod and other meetings
Every year representatives from the churches in the Highlands would gather to find out what was happening and to make important decisions together. The annual meeting was called the ‘Synod’. This photo collection from 1959 to 2006 shows Synod meetings and other important meetings of church leaders. Click on the arrows to move forward orContinue reading “Synod and other meetings”
Highlands Baptisms
The first baptism service in Mendi was in May 1961. After that there were many baptisms as more and more people became Christians. This photo collections shows groups of people who were baptised from the 1960s onwards. Click on the arrows to move forward and back to see the slides.
10. A New Beginning in Tari, 1953
Tari, 1953 Why did a new Methodist mission start in Tari in 1953? In some ways this is surprising. In 1953, the mission work in Mendi was still very new. The mission group had only been there for two years. They were a very small team, with two ministers, one agriculturalist, one teacher, one nurseContinue reading “10. A New Beginning in Tari, 1953”
12. The First Church Building in Mendi.
Mendi, 1953 The people at the new Mission in Mendi were very excited when the first church building was opened. Gordon Young wanted to build a church as soon as he arrived in Mendi, but they had to wait until they had houses to shelter their workers. The new building was opened on 27 SeptemberContinue reading “12. The First Church Building in Mendi.”
07. Elsie Wilson, Teacher in Mendi, 1952
Mendi, 1952 Miss Elsie Wilson came to Mendi as a teacher to work in the new little mission school. She arrived with Rev Roland Barnes and his wife Miriam, and Sister Joyce Walker in October 1951. Elsie Wilson was an experienced teacher. She went to New Britain to teach in the Methodist Mission school atContinue reading “07. Elsie Wilson, Teacher in Mendi, 1952”
05. Setepano Nabwakulea: a Teacher from Papuan Islands District, 1951
Mendi 1951-1953 ‘We are thankful for the strong missionary instincts of the Younger Churches and for the gift of these young workers from the Solomons, Papua and New Guinea.’ Missionary Review 1953 Setepano Nabwakulea was one of the first men from Papuan Islands District to go to work with the new mission in Mendi. HeContinue reading “05. Setepano Nabwakulea: a Teacher from Papuan Islands District, 1951”
04. Memories of Mrs Grace Young, 1951
Mendi 1950-51 While Rev Gordon Young was busy establishing a new mission in Mendi, his wife Grace Young was also preparing to join him. At first, she had to wait while her husband went ahead. Gordon and Grace Young had been working in Namatanai Circuit on New Ireland with the Methodist Church since the endContinue reading “04. Memories of Mrs Grace Young, 1951”
03. Starting a New Mission, 1950
Mendi, November 1950 As soon as Gordon Young heard that the MOM Board had approved their new mission, he was very keen to make a start. The next time Assistant District Officer Alan Timperley went on a patrol to Mendi from Mount Hagen, Young went with him. In his first letter from Mendi, Young wrote:Continue reading “03. Starting a New Mission, 1950”
Margaret Reeson 