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Saturday, August 29, 2009

End of the Spear by Steve Saint


I recently read Jungle Pilot, the story of Nate Saint. It's probably my favorite missionary biography, although I think I say that about all the missionary biographies I read.

I came across End of the Spear not realizing what it was about. I thought it was just another account of the 5 missionaries who were speared in Ecuador. It was so much more than that!

Steve Saint shares about what happened after his dad died, how he went and lived with the Auca's (they no longer like that title, they prefer the Waodani) with his Aunt Rachel (Nate's sister). The book is more centered around after his Aunt Rachel dies and he goes back for her funeral. I would love to read Rachel Saint's biography (anyone know if one was written about her?). She went and lived among the Waodani people after Nate and the other missionaries were killed. She not only lived with the people, but shared her faith, and was able to lead many of them to the Lord. She later died among those people who killed her own brother, yet she had come to love them as family. Talk about a story of forgiveness.

After Rachel's funeral, Steve began talking with some of the Waodoni people, and heard the story of what happened the day his dad was killed. I never knew why the killed them, and was surprised to find out why. You want to know don't you? Well, you really ought to read the book!

The Waodoni's ask Steve to come back and live with them and show them how to do things on their own, such as building an air strip and basic medical things. Steve and his family moved to Ecuador and lived with the Waodoni people for a little over a year.

Later as many of you know he came back to the states with Mincayani, the man they believe killed his father. They share their story of forgiveness, and how Mincayani now believes in God, and follows His trail.

It's an unbelievable story, and I believe if the Lord allows those in Heaven to look down, I think Nate Saint would surely say "It was worth it all".

It was a privilege to meet Steve Saint last week at the Mission Aviation Show, and was able to have him sign my book. This is what he wrote -
G.W.T.Story
L.H.W.Y. Story
Steve Saint
Not sure why he put the abbreviations, maybe because he was about to do the bucket drop. But he quickly told me what it meant - God wrote the Story, Let Him write your story.

2 comments:

Julia said...

Thanks for sharing this. I have never heard of this book before. I will have to look into getting it.

Ellen said...

I may have to get that book. You have sparked my interest. I've heard the story and read other books, but this one sounds good too.