Once again our technique of sending out random emails to prospective missionaries pulled through in Ecuador. Throughout our travels we've tried to connect up with MAF, Missionary Aviation Fellowship, and in Ecuador we happened upon one of their largest operations.
photo by SWLocated in the former oil town of Shell, MAF flies 4 planes into the thick green jungle of Eastern Ecuador. 50 percent of the flights serve as medical assistance, the other half is devoted to missionary transport.
Fortunately, an extra seat in the plane was available and we sprung at the opportunity. Cruising over the vast green ocean of jungle was an exhilarating and humbling experience. Feeling a bit like an ant stuck in an unending shag carpet the sense of personal insignificance is palpable. The jungles of South America rarely yield to road construction and thus small airplanes serve as the primary form of transportation.
Buzzing over the canopy of trees, numerous coffee colored airstrips passed below, the lone features providing a color other than green. Indigenous Indians comprise the vast majority reached by the airstrips, many of whom Spanish is unknown or secondary to their native tongue. None the less, payment for such assistance is easily understood, as many times animals replace dollars as the currency. Unloading the plane we pulled out two roosters wrapped in leaves, looking a bit perturbed fulfilling their role as a monetary unit.
Jungle flights come complete with everything one would expect with no shortage of snake bites, infections, malaria, etc. The week prior to our arrival a women had just succumbed to a fatal bite. I can't imagine the mortality rate among the people before MAF began working in the area 50 years ago.
Shell, Ecuador is also famous for the site where the late pilot Nate Saint along with four other missionaries were killed by the Huaorani Indians in 1956. The story has resulted in several books and in a full-fledged movie is slated for next year. Hanging on the wall inside the MAF base lies a portion of the planes tail, where one can still make out the machete slices gouging into the soft aluminum.
Jungle Pilot is the heartbreaking story of the missionaries who first made contact with the tribe. Seeking first to show their peaceful intentions, each week gifts were lowered from the plane to the wary Indians. The goodwill was reciprocated as the Huaorani placed a parrot and headdresses in the basket for the missionaries.
After several landings in Aucu territory to bring in supplies, they attempted to make contact with the violent tribe. Several days of waiting ensued and finally two women and a man emerged from the forest. A brief plane ride was given to the man and they left without incident. Two days later contact was expected with the tribe again and they radioed their base with their plans.
When they failed to radio again in the afternoon, a search operation was organized. The damaged plane and martyred missionaries were eventually found, both showing attack by machetes and wooden lances. Fearing another attack the burial services lasted only 3 minutes. The events occurring in the following years are perhaps an even more powerful testament to the faith of those working with the Indians.
Shortly after the attack, 20 pilots applied to replace the vacancy left by Nate Saint's death, and more than 1000 volunteers signed up for international work in direct response to the story of martyrdom. And incredibly, two relatives of the murdered men returned to work with the Indians. In the following years they provided medical care and worked to develop a written language. Nine years later, exhibiting a level of forgiveness nearly incomprehensible, two of Nate Saint's children were baptized by the same warriors who had killed their father.
Contemplating the bold actions of such missionaries it is natural to wonder why people would give so much to reach a group of jungle indians. Why not just let them live in peace without our outside influence? This story illustrates quite emphatically that these people live in a world where peace is virtually unknown.
Before the arrival of the missionaries 60 percent of adult deaths were attributed to homicide. And when told the story of Jesus' crucifixion, their hero of the story was Judas. photo by SWBetrayal for them was more than just an aspect of their culture, it was a foundation. But through the work of missionaries, within 2 years the murder rate plummeted 90%.