Here are some more books and a documentary as a follow up to the last post on the lives and deaths of the five men who were missionaries to Ecuador. So, if you haven’t read the last post, titled “Through Gates of Splendor”, go do that now to get the background for these resources! 🙂

One of the great features in this documentary, is that people are interviewed individually, including members of the Waodani tribe, as well as the widows of the five men. In these interviews, they share their memories and experiences of the five men and the events of that time in Ecuador and the years leading up to their time there. Another interesting feature is the original video footage of the men and their families.

I love this documentary.

Jungle Pilot is a biography of Nate Saint, the missionary pilot who served missionaries in Ecuador and who was also involved in the mission to reach the Waodani people. It is one of my favorite books. Included in this book are letters written by Nate as well as some of his journal entries. He had a gifting in writing; his writings are very interesting and help capture one’s attention. I love the insight into the story that this book gives as well as the window it creates through which we can look and get a glimpse into Nate’s thinking process, and his love and commitment to the Lord. Highly recommended!

Rachel Saint was the older sister of Nate Saint and she too was a missionary in South America. After Nate’s death, she went to live with the Waodani tribe for 20 years, loving them and sharing Jesus with them, and remained with them until her death. Hers is another story of faithful service to the Lord.

I’ve only recently discovered this book! It’s wonderful. This book begins with Jim’s childhood, continues with his growing up and college years, his life on the mission field, and then his final mission in life. It is filled with excerpts from journals and letters he had written, making this a much more personal book than what is sometimes found in biographies.

“Weaving together first-person accounts from friends with revealing excerpts from Jim’s own journals and personal letters, Elisabeth Elliot has crafted a stirring account of a man whose legacy will endure longer than he could have imagined.

“This gripping story of a life ignited by spiritual commitment will kindle within your own spirit a burning desire to enter fully and passionately into the adventure of faith.” (Taken from book cover)

This book’s content is different from the movie of the same name. This book was written by Steve Saint, son of Nate Saint. Awesome book, and very humorous. This is the ongoing story of what has happened since the death of the five men.

This book was also written by Steve Saint and in it he shares stories of his life and his family’s life. For a time his family lived in the jungle with the Waodani. Very enjoyable and encouraging book.

As with the book in the last post (“Through Gates of Splendor”), discretion should be used with all of these resources for young people, due to the nature and location/culture of the story. Some things also may not be appropriate for younger readers as the main characters in this story were in their 20s and 30s. Parents, reading these stories aloud to your children is a wonderful option as you can easily make them appropriate for your particular children, as you choose what information to read and what not to read. (Parents, you can also read these books, or watch the documentary, before handing them to your children if you feel your child is ready for this particular story.)

This list does not include all of the resources that are available on this missionary story, but this will get you started. 😉

-Annie

Photos by: Matt Enterline

Let me introduce you to 5 young men who have been, for the last 10 years, some of my greatest encouragements to live life well; to live life in light of what really matters and will last….

Ten years ago this month, my parents, Rebekah, and I went to a missionary conference and among the speakers that day were Steve Saint and his friend Mincaye. Since then I have read (and re-read) the books and watched the documentary that records the remarkable story that Steve Saint and Mincaye are so intimately connected with. Through Gates of Splendor was the first book we read, and it tells so wonderfully the incredible story of the 5 young men (one of whom was Steve’s father), who moved from America to live in Ecuador as missionaries, eventually giving their very lives for the sake of the Gospel and the people God loves.

God has used these men: Roger Youderian, Ed McCully, Pete Fleming, Nate Saint, and Jim Elliot, to be an influence that has continued long past their lives on earth. Their lives ,    stories of devotion to God, and sacrifice, touched the remote tribe that they loved even to death, eventually bringing the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But, their story has touched many more, my life among the very many. I have found that while profoundly impacted by these men’s deaths, I in some ways, have been even more impacted by their lives. These were men who lived their lives for God, seeking Him and seeking to make Him known. In this book Elisabeth Elliot records, “From Rome, an American official wrote to one of the widows: ‘I knew your husband. He was to me the ideal of what a Christian should be.’”

This book, Through Gates of Splendor, was written by Elisabeth Elliot. She was the wife of Jim Elliot, and after his death, went to live with the tribe that had speared her husband. The other wives were Barbara Youderian, Marilou McCully, Olive Fleming, and Marj Saint. These women are incredible examples of faithful, steadfast service to the Lord; they loved and served the Lord before marriage, while married, and did not stop when they became widows.

Barbara Youderian wrote after the deaths:

“I wrote a letter to the mission family, trying to explain the peace I have. I want to be free of self-pity. It is a tool of Satan to rot away a life. I am sure that this is the perfect will of God. Many will say, ‘Why did Rog get mixed up in this, when his work was with Jivaros?’ Because Rog came to do the will of Him that sent him. The Lord has closed our hearts to grief and hysteria, and filled in with His perfect peace.”

This month marks the 60^th anniversary of these men completing their races that they ran, and ran well. May we receive from their examples encouragement, and a challenge to us, that we would lay aside every sin and the weight that so easily ensnares us, so that we might run with endurance this race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith…

*Due to the nature and location/culture of the story, this makes for a great read-aloud for children (the parent can choose what to read and what pictures to show). Rebekah and I first became acquainted with the story when we were ages 11 and 13 (and our mom read it aloud to us then – screening it for our ages).

This is just one resource (and the one I would recommend starting with) that tells the story of this missionary venture. I plan on referencing more books and a documentary  about this same event…so get this book here at amazon or here at CBD (link to the edition we have – you can check to see if there’s a newer one) and read it so you’ll be ready for more! 🙂

-Annie

Photos by: Matt Enterline