Ten years after missionaries first arrived in this island nation, the light and truth of the gospel continue to pour into the land. The coming of the gospel has blessed the nation as a whole, leaders say.

Papua New Guinea, sandwiched in the Pacific between the top of Australia and the equator, received its independence and was established as a democratic republic just 14 years ago.The nation is the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and also includes nearby smaller islands. The western half of the island is Irian Jaya, a very thinly populated area that is part of Indonesia. Tropical forests cover 80 percent of Papua New Guinea, and many high mountain ranges dominate the interior.

The Melanesians who make up nearly all of the population of Papua New Guinea speak 700 village languages. They communicate between villages in Pidgin English or Motu. Most villagers live by raising and selling agricultural crops - sweet potatoes, yams, cassava and taro root plants.

In a few short years, Papua New Guinea people here have been catapulted from village and tribal traditions into the jet age and life in the 21st century. The island nation is fondly, and appropriately, referred to as the "Land of the Unexpected."

"With freedom of worship, the Lord has been preparing these humble people," said Pres. Robert G. West of the Australia Brisbane Mission, who has since been released. "They are ready, and the words of the Book of Mormon ring true to their ears. They live close to the Spirit and have few worldly distractions." The Church has grown to 2,100 members in 13 branches in just one decade.

The conversion of businessman Benson Ariembo illustrates how the Church is accepted in this island nation.

Ariembo was riding a bus early one morning when he noticed two young women seated near him reading a book. When he asked what they were reading, the seminary-age young women shyly offered their book to him, explaining it was a Book of Mormon. The young women pointed out to him the promise contained in the book of gaining a personal testimony. They could get another copy for themselves, they said, and slipped off the bus.

Three weeks later, the businessman walked into the Gabutu meetinghouse in Port Moresby, and asked to be baptized "into the true Church, by the proper authority." He had read the Book of Mormon, been taught by the Spirit, and knew it was true.

He and his wife received the missionary discussions and were baptized. Three weeks after his baptism, he spoke in district conference, quoting passages from the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants. He asked if the young women who had given him the Book of Mormon were in the congregation. After the meeting, a touching scene occurred as two shy young women shook hands with the grateful convert.

In the next few months, he became a counselor in a branch presidency, then moved to a nearby city and was elected deputy premier of the northern province, and for a time was acting premier. He also became president of a branch that was organized in the city.

Although Pres. Ariembo's story is more dramatic than most, it reflects the readiness of residents here to discern truth. Although the first missionaries found just a trickle of converts in 1979, that number soon became a steady stream. By 1986, five branches under mostly missionary leadership had been established. Today, there are 13 branches under local leadership. Five sets of missionaries and seven couple missionaries from the Australia Brisbane Mission serve in the country.

The main body of 1,500 members live in Port Moresby. The remaining 600 members live in remote villages. They are either converts who joined the Church in the villages or were baptized in Port Moresby and then returned to their home villages.

One example of this was the John Oui family. Members of the Port Moresby Branch, they attended regularly and were progressing in the Church. Tragedy struck when their 10-year-old son was bitten by a poisonous snake and died. The Oui family followed tradition and returned to their ancestral, or "wontock," village for the burial. This village, Kuriva, is an hour-and-a-half drive, then a half-hour walk from Port Moresby.

After the burial, the family remained in the village for two months, again following tradition. During this time, Brother Oui began reading to the villagers from the Book of Mormon. The villagers were all so interested that he made a trip back to Port Moresby to obtain additional copies of the book. Before long they were having daily study sessions. A missionary couple, Elder and Sister Varsel Jenks, was assigned to visit the village once a week to help in the studies.

A number of the villagers asked for baptism, but the remote location of the village led leaders to postpone any baptisms until the district leadership could prepare for branch in the village. After several months, permission was granted for the villagers to be baptized.

The village investigators made extraordinary preparations for that day, including building a thatched, New Guinea-style meetinghouse. When Pres. West and his wife arrived, they were greeted by villagers in native dress, singing and dancing a welcome. Flowers, fruit and palms decorated the trail from the road to the meetinghouse. At a beautiful bend in the river that day, 29 people were baptized. Twelve men were ordained to the office of priest. Two months later a branch was organized. Three young men from this village are currently serving full-time missions.

To strengthen local leaders, Pres. West instituted leadership meetings, held biweekly.

"Actually, everyone in the branches wants to attend," said Pres. West. Many times there have been 200 people at the meetings.

"Extra instruction is provided for all, even the children, who love to learn."

During the past few years, the Church has reached several milestones. One was reached by Vaiba Rome, counselor in the district presidency, and his wife, Mauveri, and their daughters, who were among the first converts in 1981. They traveled to New Zealand and became the first Papua New Guinea family to be sealed in the temple. Others followed.

Twelve full-time missionaries are now serving from this country. All came from small villages with humble circumstances and adjusted well to a different life and environment, said their leaders.

Like other members in this "Land of the Unexpected," the gospel has given them light and truth, and changed their lives in ways undreamed of.