I've got just about enough fuel to get back, Pete! Un-be-lievable, man! You think we're the first to see that, Nate!? They're just not gonna believe this. 5-6 Henry to Shell Mera. Flying in to Arajuno Station. 'Back within the hour. Copy that 5-6 Henry. Weather clear. See you soon. Over. God can do anything, anything, anything...! A what!? A clearing, Jim... it was amazing... Tell'em, Pete! Several large houses... and about six smaller ones all around it. An Auca settlement-- the Indian tribe we've been trying to find! Where did you say it was? By the banks of the Curaray, Ed. It's 15 minutes by plane... 20 at most! But that's just right here! I say we make contact with them! Wait guys... the Auca's have killed anyone that's ever been near them. Remember the Oil company people... just, what... a couple of years ago? Four men surveying... after weeks of being in the same area... Speared-- All of them! I say go slow... one step at a time. I agree with Pete-- we make contact, but slowly. I know the risk fellas'... but man, the opportunity! These people have never ever had the gospel! An unreached tribe! I say... "with God nothing shall be impossible" And I say we keep this to ourselves. We speak about it and it's likely to get out of hand-- we may never have another opportunity like this. Hush-hush Except our wives. Other than that not a word to anyone. And if it be our loss... may it be to God's glory. And the Auca's salvation! Iím in! Operation Auca-- Yeah! It's beautiful. Quiet... Peaceful... lt always is up here. lt was not always like this. No. There was a time when we lived... in fear<i>....</i> Fear? Ah yes... Fear of the foreigners, fear of even of those in our own tribe. A time when we were killed and when we also killed... a time of darkness. Before they came... Jim? Yes, Jim... and Nate and Pete, Ed and Roger... The men God sent to show us His ways. God had put it in their hearts to search for us. Okay. Face off, you guys. Stay on your toes... circle-circle. Don't get too close to the edge there! Ha ha! Outta shape, Elliot! Arr... Not a chance, McCully. Yeah! Good move! Alright! Urh... Hey guys! Oooohhh! So who's blue trunks? Jim Elliot? Huh! Believe me, honey-- you're wasting your time! Here we go! Keep moving! Keep moving! So, you won the national public speaking contest, huh? You think you're just the greatest stuff, don't ya McCully? You got a lotta talent huh? Where'd you think you got that from... hmm? Iíll tell you where you got it! Get off of'a me you... God gave it to you McCully... So what're you gonna do with it, make money for yourself? Huh? You oughta be a missionary, Ed! And Iím praying God makes you one! Okay, Jim... you made your point! Oooohhh-- grips' getting' better! Ahh... Oow! That's gotta hurt! So Jim doesn't date? Single! One-track, Jim? One track mind! For the mission field that is! He'll be single forever! (All - sigh) Ugh... Oow! Think about what I said though! Maybe after law school! You become a lawyer and you'll be doing what someone else can do... but not many people are answering God's call to missions... Think about it, Ed. Umph! Then onward from the hills of light our hearts with love aflame Will vanquish all the host of night in Jesus' conquering name What time is it? Almost there... Too bad Ed couldn't come witnessing with us. Man! What happened? Dead. What!? Dead! Dead!! C'mon. Swell! C'mon! What's that noise? Aaauuugghhh!!! C'mon, C'mon!! Step on the gas! Step on the gas!!! ...Get out! crash Aaauuugghhh... Wow! You fellas' alright? Yeah. It's the second time... What...? First time I almost got killed was on a hunting trip when a bullet grazed my head. God's got something ready for me yet. Dad's gonna kill me! That's the car we were gonna take for the mission trip to Mexico next week. Now how are we gonna get there? Mexico was a way for Jim to work for God outside of his country for the first time and well... they found a way to get there. Thanks mister! Noe! Brilliant, Elliot! Goodness, he's picked up some basic Spanish quickly... How long has he been here? Six weeks! Hordes of determination. 'Tell you one thing... What's that? Jim Elliot's a resolute young man. That boy's going places. India!? You want to go to India!? Or South America. Iím really not sure! After being here... I... Iím thinking that God may want me to work there... A Dr. Tidmarsh and I have written each other. He works with Indians in Ecuador. So... Iím praying! Well, you'd make a great teacher. Folks could really use you in the states! Maybe... but I just don't think it's what God wants of me, Ron. Folks in the US have it all the time-- almost too much! What Iíd really like to do is work with people that have never heard the gospel. I feel God is calling me... To leave everything? Home... country... Once you go, you may never come back. Are you sure? Sure? Not yet... But one thing, I am sure of Ron, is that he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. He'll make the way clear when the time comes. Look at that Ron. Here we are, you and I, just abounding in God's goodness and looking up at that fantastic sight and somewhere in some part of the world that same moon is shining down on someone who knows nothing about Him... Maybe someone that has never even heard about God-- someone who doesn't even imagine a god. Wherever that person is, that's where I want to go! The poor thing is trembling! I can't understand a word she's saying! Found her here this morning, you say? Si, Senor. An Auca. Auca!? That tribe is so savage, they're feared by all the others! We've never been able to make any sort of contact... Of the friendly kind, you mean... she seems to have run away<i>..</i> Yes... well she's terribly frightened to whatever was the cause, poor girl! Dr. Tidmarsh will be very interested. And how is the good doctor? Oh, busy as usual. They left for Shandia this morning. Which is where Iíd better start heading! Senor! Very kind, Don Carlos! My pleasure! Senor... Dr. Tidmarsh-- there has been an accident! Hmmmm! A letter from Dr. Tidmarsh. My dear Jim, I need to know if you are seriously contemplating coming to Ecuador. As we recently suffered a set-back. Having boarded a missionary plane to return to our base, it crashed not long after, and my wife was injured. We can no longer care for the work we began. And we need someone to come and work among the Quechuas and reopen Shandia. Ecuador! Dear Dr. Tidmarsh... I am on my way! My dear Jim, wonderful news! I hope you and your friend, Pete Flemming, like water! You'll be at sea about 20 days. And I am sure that upon arrival, Quito will seem another world to you. Fresh plantains! Good price! Newspaper... get your newspaper! My name is Jim. Now you'll have to learn the basics of Spanish first, about six months of study, which you'll do in the Capitol. Not here! I need to go to Central P.O.-- further ahead. Alright sir! You should have told me. We're on our way. And then you'll be ready for... Shandia! lt will need rebuilding. And I will not stay there long. You will need to learn Quechua, tend to basic needs, clear land for an airstrip. If Quito seems like a different world, Shandia will be a different universe! And be sure, Jim, that as you are obedient to God, there will be tests. Many tests. Quickly! Run! Saturday, August 1 , 1 953-- They say it was the worst rainy season in 30 years. For 36 hours we dismantled the house and moved barrels of material non-stop. Our language notes, five buildings, the kids playing field, a hundred meters of airstrip... a year's work-- Gone! I knew there would be tests but hardly anything like this! It's hard to understand what God is doing... Shandia is no more. ln the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Thank you Lord! A time of reaping! Yes! ln the last two weeks they've just been so open to the Word-- 20 in Dos Rios, Pano the same-- and here in Shandia, about a dozen more. It's amazing what God's done in one year, isn't it? Like getting McCully to the mission field! Uh huh! And one track Jim getting married! Miracle of miracles! Pete-- honey! And there's my miracle! Coming, hon! Not your usual church, eh? But a live one! Isn't that the truth, Ed. Isn't that the truth. Okay folks get ready! Hon! C'mon squeeze in a little... Daddy! Okay! C'mon! C'mon! Pose and... Smile! So, Jim wasn't alone? Oh no... God called others who were serving Him. Jim prayed for help. God sent it. God had a plan. Nothing here. Hang on... What!? Hang on! Aauuughhhh!! What was that all about!? Over there... I think... Yeah... Look! Where, where, where...? Oh my goodness!!! Oh my goodness!!! They're just not gonna believe this! Whoo!!! I've got just about enough fuel to get back, Pete! It's Auca alright! I don't know how we never saw it before! You know what? This is what it's all about. I feel as though this is what God has been leading me to all these years. I say we attempt communications. Sounds good... how? Weekly flights. With gifts-- we can drop them in a basket, just like we do for other missionaries. And some phrases. ln Auca? How? Daiyuma, the Auca girl that escaped her tribe. Never met her, but have heard about her. You guys go for the flights. Iíll get some phrases, so we can show them that we're friendly. See anything? Not yet. They're there... just a matter of time. Bito emite waa ponemo... We are your friends. Thank you, Daiyuma. You've been very helpful. You want to meet them? We want to try, Daiyuma. Do not trust them. They will appear friendly... and then... Then!? ...they kill. The men were patient and persistent at the same time. They prayed...their wives prayed... We... we were afraid-- and hid until one day... Let me try calling again. Praise God! There's one! What are they doing? They got it, Nate! Ha! Ha! We're getting a gift! Ha! Ha! Ha! Whohooo! Yes! Praise God! Time to plan the next step! So we're in agreement-- Roger Youdarian joins the team. We trust your judgment, Nate. He's got experience-- he's a lot more jungle savvy than the rest of us! Okay, so January 3rd-- you fly us in one at a time with the prefab tree house. Ed, Roger and I stay, and you and Pete fly back to meet us in the morning and out again in the evening. And we use the radio to stay in contact with our families. Hi, Daddy! Speaking of which!! Ha, ha! Woo! Supper's ready guys! Jim, Iím frightened! Don't worry. We're in God's hands. What if-- Honey, all my life I've tried to be obedient to what God has called me to do. We can't stop now just because there's a bit of danger involved. I know, but you won't do anything silly, will you? I promise. Try it again, Pete! Oh my... Whooooaa... slow down Jim! Slow down. Pete! Pete! Roger! Ro-ger! You? Praise God! This is great! Nate, you getting' this? Nate! Huh? What?! Are you gettin' this? Oh yeah... sure! Thank You, Lord! Thank You! Ed! Hey Ed! Huh? Show'em the cockpit. Okay-- Sure! Hey, Pete! What's up!? Let's tell them about the landing strip. We can't keep using this one. It's too sandy! So plane lands... swooooshhhhhh! Ouch! Boom! Bang! Hits the trees! Nooooooo! Trees out of the way! Swooosh! See? Good landing! Way to go! Ha, ha, ha! ls he saying what I think he's saying? I think he is. lt was a special day for the missionaries-- a day they and their families had been praying for. Among them was joy... but among our people... fear. Our new friends stayed till the evening after a full afternoon's visit. Pete and I are back in Arajuno for the night. We're thrilled with such an answer to prayer, and trust God for further visits in the next few days. God bless you there. Over. Well we're so relieved to know that all went well and that you're safe. You are certainly in our prayers and we look forward to more good news. I love you honey! Good night. Two days and no movement! If they don't come out here in five minutes, Iím heading out to their village! Hold your horses, Jim! Give'em time! Wait a sec... I see something! Let's see what we have here... Woohoo!! Ha! Ha! Ha! Get ready boys! They're on their way! Alright fellas'... let's get a move on! We got company! Thank You, Lord! Finally! Finally! Looks like our neighbors will be here for the early afternoon service! Iíll get right back in touch you with you at 4:30! Over! That's wonderful! We'll be standing by. ln the meantime, you are all in our prayers! Over and out! Can I say hi to daddy? Oh, sweetie! He'll call back at 4:30! Hi, daddy! Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory! Oh glorious victory that overcomes the world! Whoahhh! Hallelujah guys! This is the day we've been waitin' for!! How many coming? Seven-- maybe ten at the most. Sounds like a welcoming committee to me. I wonder if we'll go to their village today? Nate, your camera! Got it right here! Well... this is it! Rog, what are you doing? Taking notes, man-- this is historic! What time is it? Uh... 3:05! They're here! Welcome! Welcome! And if it's our loss may it be to God's glory! AUUUGH! Jim! NO! NO! Augggh! And the Aucas salvation. Stop! Stop! AUUUGH! We're friends! Stop!! 5-6 Henry! Come in Shell Mera! 5-6 Henry! Come in Shell... Aaauuuggghhh! He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. Shell Mera calling 5-6 Henry-- come in 5-6 Henry. Shell Mera calling 5-6 Henry-- come in 5-6 Henry. But why were they killed? We were afraid... we thought they had come to trick us and kill us-- so we did what we had grown accustomed to... we ended their lives. Later... years later... we found out they had weapons... but they did not fire on us... they did not fire... When Daiyuma later returned to our tribe, she told us more about the men and why they had come to visit us. We realized then, that unlike others, they had not harmed us even when they had guns and could have. They were different from the other foreigners. We had watched them from afar. Later we understood love and forgiveness-- for they gave their lives willingly for us, just as Jesus did before them. A few months later, Jim Elliot's wife, Elisabeth, and their daughter, Valerie, and Nate Saint's sister, Rachel, bravely came to our village. They forgave us, and through their forgiveness we learned to forgive. And through their love, we learned to love. Through their courage and prayers... we came to know God. Five men died, five women and their families forgave us. Some of us-- including some of us that had killed the men, found God and became Christians. Because they were obedient to the God they loved and brought His light to our people. Elisabeth Elliot and her daughter Valerie, lived and worked among the Aucas for two years later to become a well-known author, Marilou McCully set up a home for missionary children in Quito. Olive Flemming returned to the United States and also wrote her account of the story. Barbara Youderian returnedto work among the Jivaros, where she and Roger had previously labored. Marj Saint took up a new missionary post in Quito, and Rachel Saint, Nate's sister, remained with the Auca'suntil her death in 1 994. No longer known as Aucas-- the Quechua word for "savage," the tribe is now known by their real name-- the Waoranis. Steve Saint, Nate's son, continues work among the Waorani to this day.