Through Gates of Splendor, by Elisabeth Elliot
12/30 | Started 02.03.22 • Finished 03.14.22
"The story is about the drama of Operation Auca. A real story, the first few chapters introduces the missionaries in Ecuador involved including Jim and Elisabeth Elliot. It included the story of how Operation Auca came to be. The goal was to establish contact with the savage tribe and teach them about Christianity. The first thing they did were gift drops where they would drop gifts into their territory. Over that time they established a mission compound called Palm Beach to get closer to the Aucas. One day the five missionaries there were visited by three Aucas who were friendly to them. The missionaries tried to persuade them to clear space for an airstrip. The Aucas left but in January Nate Saint spotted a group of Lucas trekking toward their base. He radioed Shell Mera and let the missionaries know that it could be their lucky day. Instead, all five were killed. When no radio coverage was heard at 4:30PM, the wives of the missionaries began to worry. By the next day is was apparent that the men were missing. Search parties were sent out to find them but they only found their bodies. The men were Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Pete Fleming, and Roger Youderian. It was a very tragic story. In the epilogue it is said that the Aucas were later converted which means that Operation Auca continued even after the attack."
Timothy, age 13
"Ten young missionaries were sent to Ecuador and came up with an idea: to preach to the savage Stone Age tribe known as the Aucas. This was named Operation Auca. They drop gifts and shout down things like "I like you! I want to pay you a visit!" from an airplane. Eventually, they land on an airstrip. The five men, who were Nate Saint, Roger Youderian, Ed McCully, Pete Fleming, and Jim Elliot, set off to meet the people. They never return. Later, one by one, the five bodies are found. The Aucas, after appearing to be friendly, turn out to have killed them because they thought that the men were cannibals. But the five widows, who were Elisabeth Elliot, Marje Saint, Marilou McCully, Olive Fleming, and Barbara Youderian, persisted in changing the Aucas. It took just under three years, but they completed the task."
Neph, age 11