Through Gates of Splendor (plus music video)

Let the “Book Club� continue! As I stated in my last blog, the past few weeks have been full of many things- packing, saying goodbyes, and resting. Reading has been my new favorite way to slow my life down and rest. My roommate laughed at me when I walked into the apartment with my stack of books and videos from the public library. So maybe I went a little nuts checking out materials on each country I’m traveling to but it’s free! I love free stuff and I love the public library!
 
I think I may have checked out the oldest copy of Elisabeth Elliot’s book Through Gates of Splendor. It was missing the book jacket and had a blue hard cover- not like the pretty cover I have on display for you all. It was one of those books you go, “Huh. I should read this. I’ve heard good things. And I’m going to Ecuador. Yep, I’m going to check it out.� I read it quickly. I was captivated by the story of how God brought these 5 families together.
 
More than 50 years ago, 5 men and their wives came together with a common desire to see all tribes, tongues and nations reached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This included the Waodoni Indians of eastern Ecuador. This tribe was known for it’s brutal murders of foreigners and it’s own people. Few people had attempted to make contact with this primitive people group and those who had didn’t return. Until Operation Auca.
 
Nate Saint, Pete Fleming, Jim Elliot, Ed McCully and Roger Youderian, along with their wives, combined their talents to make contact with the Waodoni. They lived in remote areas of the Amazon, used radios to stay connected and had to be flown in and out of the jungle in Saint’s yellow plane. They celebrated small victories along the way, one being the  “bucket-drop� technique out of the airplane to give the Indians small gifts.

Nate Saint’s son, Stevie, running after dad’s yellow plane.

 
After consistent contact by plane, it was time to meet these people face to face, on ground level. Saint flew each man in, one at a time to Palm Beach, a small strip of sand long enough to land the plane on. After many days of waiting and shouting native phrases into the jungle, 3 Indians emerged from the woods. Contact!
 
The first contact with this tribe went well- Saint even took one of the Indians up in his plane! But the celebration was short lived. Soon after this first contact, the tribe returned. They weren’t back to make friends.
 
January 5, 1956 the Waodoni Indians speared these 5 men to death. News spread throughout the world. The wives and children were devastated. Though they were living their worst nightmare, they still trusted in God’s sovereign plan. Roger’s wife Barbara said, “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. The Lord has closed our hearts to grief and hysteria and filled it with grace and peace.�
 
Though this particular book ends with the conclusion of Operation Auca, many other books and videos tell the story beyond the martyrdom of these men. I recently watched the movie End of the Spear which is told by Saint’s son, Stevie (this movie is not recommended to watch with your mother one week before you depart for Ecuador J). A few of the wives and children went back to continue the work their husbands and dads had begun. Stevie was a young boy when all of these events happened. Hearing from his point of view, from childhood to adulthood, provides an interesting perspective, especially when Stevie becomes aware of the man who killed his father.
 
Eventually, the Waodoni tribe placed their faith in Christ.
 
So what? What does this have to do with me, with the World Race? Well, I like connections. Love them actually. Ask my roommates- I’m always connecting dots and getting really excited about them. Two connections from reading this book that really hit me- the first came after I found out Peru was not the first country I would be traveling to. Ecuador became first on the list. Guess where I’m going? That’s right, the same jungles of eastern Ecuador. What if I have the privilege to meet or work with people who have come to faith due to the efforts of Operation Auca? Goosebumps. I just got ‘em.
 
Second connection, Jim Elliot was 25 when he began his mission work in Ecuador. I’m 25. I just think that’s cool.
 
Finally, obedience has been a reoccurring theme in my life the past few months. Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book about obedience:
 
“Obedience is not a momentary option; it is a die cast decision made before hand.� Nate Saint
 
“A call is nothing more nor less than the obedience to the will of God, as God presses it home to the soul by whatever means He chooses.� Pete Fleming.
 
I leave in less than a week for this crazy adventure of obedience to begin (though I think it’s already started…) July 11^th I depart for Miami to meet my squad-mates, July 13^th we depart for Ecuador. Thanks for following the journey!

Check out the music video staring Ian and Oliva Van Ark set to the Casting Crowns song, “Until the Whole World Hears.” We made during our last slumber party in Stevens Point. They picked the song- very timely, huh?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViIRRucxND8