A Story of 2 Families This story covers 90 years, 2 continents, 2 families (North American, and South American) One family knew Jesus, the other family didn’t One family of missionaries, the other family were murderers, spearing their own people to death and any outsiders who came near them That was Dayuma’s family of savage killers, and Rachel Saint’s family wanted to reach that family by Christ’s gospel of grace and peace It’s a story of savages and saints (a Bible word for Christians, also the last name of Rachel)

The Story of Dayuma’s Family Born in Ecuador deep in the South American rainforest in 1930s (above picture from 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

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 of the missionary men, including Jim Elliot and Nate Saint, Rachels’ brother

In 1958, two women came out of the jungle to find Dayuma and ask her to come back and Dayuma did go back to her people with a desire to tell them the gospel that she had learned from the missionaries, the way of forgiveness rather than murder, the way of Jesus, not man Dayuma went back to her people and began to teach them what she knew but needed help

Dayuma went back to the Quechua village and invited Rachel Saint and Elisabeth Elliot to go back with her to her village to teach them Rachel Saint risked her life to reach the people who’d killed her brother. She spent her life there 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!

By God’s sovereign grace many of Dayuma’s family was saved and many more Waodani The homicide rate in the tribe overall dropped 90% as Christianity changed their culture Dayuma’s uncle Gikita and cousin Mencaye (the murderers of the missionaries) both were saved and are leaders of the Waodani church!

Me and Dayuma 9 years ago (unforgettable trip to Ecuador)

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

Steve Saint at the beach where his dad died telling story of God’s grace

Me and Mencaye in the jungle Mencaye laughing at my blowgun attempt

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

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. Steve’s kids call Mencaye their grandfather in the faith. Mencaye is the most joyful man I’ve ever met and the love these 2 have can only be explained by the gospel