The West Papua province in Indonesia has a really long history before it is becoming a place like nowadays. Talking about that, missionary is a role that cannot be separated.
Many years ago, the missionaries came to that land to spread the good things from the bible. This history was happened for about 160 years ago.
In more detail, that moment happened in a land which is known as Mansinam. It is located in the Doreh Bay which is the part of Manifesto. For your information, Manokwari is the capital city of west Papua province. The history behind this land makes people want to explore more.
The Nature and Land of Mansinam
If it is seen, there is nothing special about this island. It is especially if you look at the nature and the geographical condition there. For your information, Mansinam is a place where not more than 800 people are living there. You can say that it is not as crowded as the other areas in Indonesia.
There are some sequences of the coconut trees in it’s beaches areas. Furthermore, the green hills and large trees are the common view to see there. This island feels so traditional since you will not find any large roads.
The roads which can be seen are made by concrete in the medium size only. That is based on the government instruction to boost the buildings and physical development in Papua. It is needed to support so many aspects there.
Privileges of Mansinam island in the West Papua
This land is basically not different than the other islands around. However, the privilege of this island is not from it’s panorama or scenery. It is the witness of a history where the new era was started there or in Manokwari.
After that, everything was spreader to the other areas. Besides that, it also has some other privileges that make it is special. Below are some of those privileges:
- Chosen by the missionaries from Germany
5 February 1855 is the tine where Carl Wilhelm Ottouw and Johann Gottlob Geissler set foot in Papua for the first time. They are the German missionaries.
They arrived at Mansinam Island after previously doing a long voyage and stopped in Batavia, Makassar, and Ternate. They came by a reason for sure.
As missionaries, their main task was to preach the good news written in the Gospels. However, in their implementation they were also required to be able to adapt with the locals.
They integrated with the west Papua people who were still very primitive at that time. They were teaching about the Christian teachings contained in the Gospels.
Besides that, these missionaries also taught the modern culture and ways of life to the local Papuan population. They got a warm welcome in that time.
- A support from the king of Tidore
They then received a road letter from Sultan Tidore who is one of the Islamic kingdoms in the archipelago. The Sultan granted them a permit.
He even ordered the chieftains to protect and help them if they lacked food. This event became a value of tolerance between Muslims and Christians at that time.
So that Mansinam Island becomes a symbol of religious harmony and tolerance that has been built since long ago. Until now, 5 of February is a date chosen to remember that moment.
- The historical monuments and statues were built there
At the front of the island overlooking the city of Manokwari, the memorial stands tall. This monument was built in an area with an area of about 50 x 100 m.
Two large statues stand near the fence. The statues are the representation of Ottow and Geissler that stand facing the land of Manokwari, west Papua.
In addition to the monument that is so phenomenal, the rest of the church building that was first built by Ottouw-Geissler can still be seen. It is currently only the foundation.
However, it is enough to be a reminder of how persistent the struggle of these two missionaries in introducing the modern world to the local population at that time.
The Popular Tourism Object in the Island
There is another very interesting object to watch on Mansinam Island. If a little traces the concrete road that snaking towards the hill, then a statue of Jesus Christ in giant size will be seen.
This statue is a positive idea from the Indonesian government that is a form of appreciation for the history of Papuan civilization in Mansinam. This west Papua statue is looked like the Jesus Christ object in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. However, the one in Papua is smaller.
This object has just been completed in 2014 where it stands very magnificent and full of authority. With his arms open, Jesus Christ seemed to lovingly accept anyone.
Around the sculptures the gardens are neatly arranged. That is including some concrete gazebos that can be used as a place to rest and enjoy dusk in Mansinam, West Papua.
