From Savages to Saints: A Story of Gospel-Powered Forgiveness in Ecuador, and Our Story                                                             

From Savages to Saints: A Story of Gospel-Powered Forgiveness in Ecuador, and Our Story                                                             

The Saint family of Pennsylvania had 2 children who became missionaries in Ecuador in 1950s. Below is Rachel Saint, a Bible translator.

Rachel’s brother Nate Saint (a missionary pilot in Ecuador) with his family; wife Marj and their children Kathy and Steve Saint

The Story of Dayuma’s Family She was born in Ecuador deep in the South American rainforest in 1930s (pictured in 1960) She was part of the Huaorani or Waodani tribe (known to outsiders then as “Auca Indians” –the most feared savage violent society any knew)

When Dayuma’s family was being murdered by a warrior from their people, she fled for her life She was accepted by the Quechua indians, and years later met the missionary Rachel Saint who began to learn the Waodani language from her in hopes of one day reaching those people Dayuma became the first Waodani Christian!

In 1955, Rachel’s brother Nate Saint (a pilot) and Jim Elliot and 3 other missionaries met with Dayuma to learn her language so they could try to fly in and make a friendly visit to her people to tell them about the gospel of grace in Jesus In 1956, they flew into the jungle and were met by 3 Waodani, including Dayuma’s sister Gimade for a friendly visit on a river beach

Nate Saint trying to explain an airplane to a man who had never seen anything modern before

The 5 men who had a heart to reach these unreached savages of South America deep in Amazon jungle and made contact with them in 1956

Jim Elliot’s journal, October 28: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose”

This man later went to his people and lied, telling them the missionaries were bad men and they should kill them. The Waodani (led by Dayuma’s uncle Gikita and cousin Mencaye) attacked and killed all 5 missionaries on the beach

Nate Saint’s son Steve was 4 years old at the time How would this affect Steve growing up?

Nate’s wife Marj Saint back at camp waiting for radio contact How would she feel towards her husband’s killer?

Jesus said “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you … for He Himself [God] is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful … pardon…” (Luke 6:27-28, 35-37) Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” What if they killed your brother, husband, or father? Does the gospel give us power to obey the Lord’s commands even then?

In 1958, two women came out of the jungle to find Dayuma and ask her to come back Dayuma did go back to the people who killed her family to tell them the gospel she learned from the missionaries, the way of forgiveness rather than violence, the way of Jesus, not man Dayuma forgave and gave what she knew to her people, but needed help to teach more

Dayuma went back to the Quechua village and invited Rachel Saint and Elisabeth Elliot to go back with her to teach the Waodoni the Bible Rachel Saint was moved by the gospel to risk her life to reach those who took her brother’s Elisabeth Elliot with 3-year-old daughter Valerie moved to the jungle as well, risking their lives to reach the people who had killed her husband!

Elisabeth Elliot and daughter Valerie walking into the jungle

Rachel Saint and the Waodani

By the power of the gospel many of Dayuma’s family were saved and many more Waodani Christianity changed their culture of death Dayuma’s uncle Gikita and cousin Mencaye (the murderers of the missionaries) both were saved and are leaders of the Waodani church!

Rachel Saint spent the entire rest of her life with the Waodoni people

They renamed Rachel “Star” as the one who showed them how to “walk God’s trail”

Marj Saint in 1997 embracing Mencaye, former murderer or her husband Nate Saint, now forgiven friend in Christ!

What happened to the children of Marj and the late Nate Saint (Steve and Kathy)?

Nate Saint’s children Steve and Kathy also became close to the Waodani Nate Saint’s daughter Kathy baptized by Waodani tribesmen Kim & Dyuwi (now saved, but before Christ they had murdered the missionaries). Her brother Steve Saint is waiting in the background for his turn. Date: June 1965 (9 years after their dad was murdered near this very spot)

The third generation: Steve Saint’s children Shaun, Stephenie and Jesse Saint were also baptized by Waodani where their dad Steve and Aunt Kathy were years before (where their grandpa Nate Saint had died). 7 other Waodani were also baptized that day.

Right: Steve Saint (Nate Saint’s son) Left: Mencaye (Dayuma’s cousin, former killer of Steve’s dad, now forgiven brother in Christ!) Mencaye says: "We acted badly, badly, until they brought us God's carvings [their word for Bible]. Then, seeing His carvings and following His good trail, now we live happily and in peace.”

Mincaye and Jesse Saint (Son of Steve Saint) Mincaye and Jesse Saint (Son of Steve Saint). Jesse considers Mincaye his “adopted grandfather”                                                                

I got to travel to Ecuador in 2002 with Steve Saint (standing) to hear him first-hand tell this story of God’s grace in that very place in that river

I got to meet Dayuma on this trip, one of the great heroes of the faith in missionary stories, one of the great moments of my life!

Me and Mencaye, an unforgettable time with an unforgettable man who God’s forgiving grace had changed from savage to saint (and whose story changed my life and still has a big impact on me)

Right to left on stage: Steve Saint, Mencaye, John MacArthur (2003 Shepherd’s Conference in Southern CA)

Beloved brothers in Christ                            .

Mencaye and my daughter Ella in Southern California (2003)

Mencaye (Dayuma’s cousin) and Steve Saint (Nate Saint’s son) Steve truly deeply loves this man who once killed his father. Steve chose to move his own family to live with them in the jungle. I have rarely seen 2 men as close as them. Mencaye is the most joyful man I’ve ever met and the love these 2 have can only be explained by power of the gospel

Jesus said “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you … love your enemies, and do good … for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful … pardon [or forgive] …” (Luke 6:27-28, 35-37) “ … forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Be imitators of God as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us …” (Ephesians 4:32-5:2)