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Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern part of the world's second largest island and is prey to volcanic activity, earthquakes and tidal waves. Linguistically, it is the world's most diverse country, with more than 700 native tongues.

Some 80% of Papua New Guinea's people live in rural areas with few or no facilities. Many tribes in the isolated mountainous interior have little contact with each other, let alone with the outside world, and live within a non-monetarised economy, dependent on subsistence agriculture.

Only around 1% of the land is suitable for growing cash crops, including coffee and cocoa, but abundant rainforests provide the raw material for a logging industry. Conservation groups have raised concerns about the social and environmental impact of the activity.

Mineral deposits - including gold and copper - are extensive, and there are reserves of oil and natural gas, but the difficult terrain and inadequate infrastructure make exploitation slow. The sector is an important source of revenue.

FACTS

• Full name: The Independent State of Papua New Guinea
• Population: 5.9 million (UN, 2005)
• Capital: Port Moresby
• Area: 462,840 sq km (178,704 sq miles)
• Major language: English (official), Pidgin, native languages
• Major religions: Christianity, indigenous beliefs
• Life expectancy: 55 years (men), 56 years (women) (UN)
• Monetary unit: 1 kina = 100 toea
• Main exports: Gold, petroleum, copper, coffee, palm oil, logs
• GNI per capita: US $660 (World Bank, 2006)
• Internet domain: .pg
• International dialling code: +675

(Information on Papua New Guinea from the BBC News: Country Profiles website. Visit the site for more information on Papua New Guinea)

- 12 July 2010

• Carver's 2nd Qtr PIM Newsletter [more]
• Richard & Andrea's May Newsletter [more]
• Carver's 1st Qtr PIM Newsletter [more]
• Inspirational Story: A Handful of Grain [more]

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June-July 2010 - Pray for Fiji Bible Teacher and Evangelist Rev Paitradra as he ministers and travels the country

June-July 2010 - Strength and wisdom to all those doing the construction on the building complex at the Bible School

Ongoing request - Uphold our National Leaders, missionaries and Aimers

Ongoing request - Pray for churches in outlying islands and areas of the country.

Need 1 - School fees are needed for the two children of our AIMER Richard and Andrea Carver.
Can you assist with this in any way? Please send your offerings to AIM account # 707

Assist us with our needs

November 2009 - The Peter Gration family have completed their fundraising in the USA and are on their return journey to PNG. We thank the Lord and those that have supported them. It will be wonderful for PNG to have another missionary family again.

October 2009 - The Richard Carver jnr. family have also returned to PNG after the birth of our grandaughter, Hannah born in July 2009.