Over the next couple centuries little else changed in the islands. The people and their culture remained fairly static, while no foreign powers attempted to settle the islands in significant numbers, although many arrived in small numbers. It wasn't until the mid-1800s when the people truly changed. At this time numerous missionaries arrived to the islands to spread Christianity and soon after colonization efforts began.
The missionaries made headway throughout Vanuatu in the mid- to late-1800s, but few foreigners actually settled the islands and the strongest outside influence at this time came from these missionaries. Most of the local people converted to either Protestantism or Catholicism under the influence of these missionaries. However these missionaries also divided the people; the different sects of Christianity gave the people different belief systems and they even adopted new languages and customs relative to the missionaries who contacted them. Most Protestant missionaries were British and taught English, while most Catholic missionaries were French and taught the French language.
More than religion and language, the culture was also changing in the mid- to late-1800s due to economic changes. As many European countries began colonizing the South Pacific they sought to make a profit in numerous industries. In some cases this led to the deportation of the people to work on foreign islands and, later, it led to the growth of the domestic economy, which was based on farming. Under the direction of foreign settlers, coffee, bananas, and coconuts became popular crops to grow and trade as many of the people undertook this profession and much of the country's lands were occupied with these plants.