Papua New Guinea, about 100 miles northeast of Australia, is the world's second largest island.  The western half, Irian Jaya, is part of Indonesia.  Papua New Guinea, located on the eastern half of the island and including several smaller islands, is populated by 5.5 million people.  In total the area is a little larger than California.  Many isolated clans and tribes, speaking over 800 languages or dialects, have now been reached by use of airplane and trekking.  Popular use of Pidgin English has helped missionaries to spread the Gospel.  Full religious liberty has continued since independence from Australia in 1975.  Today there are well over 350 assemblies.