Jim Elliot in the Territory of Aucas
Jim Elliot in the Territory of Aucas
Jim Elliot, was born on October 8, 1927 in Portland, Oregon to Fred and Clara Elliot. Jim's parents had firm Christian beliefs, and raised their children in a home where obedience and honesty were enforced. At the age of six he put his trust in Jesus. As a little boy growing up, he listened carefully as visiting missionaries told about life on faraway mission fields. He asked them questions and dreamed about being a missionary himself some day.
On February 2, 1952, at the age of 25, Jim Elliot boarded a ship to Quito, Ecuador, South America, along with his friend Pete Fleming. In six months, both were speaking Spanish well enough to move to Shandia. After arriving here, they also had to learn the speech of the Quichuas. Three years later many Quichuas had become faithful Christians. Jim now began to feel it was time to tell the Aucas about Jesus. The Aucas had killed many Quichuas. They had also killed several workers at an oil company-drilling site near their territory. The oil company closed the site because everyone was afraid to work there. Jim knew the only way to stop the Aucas from killing was to tell them about Jesus.
Jim and his four Ecuador missionaries began to plan a way to show the Aucas they were friendly. Nate Saint, a missionary supply pilot, came up with a way to lower a bucket filled with supplies to people on the ground while flying above them. He thought this would be a perfect way to win the trust of the Aucas without putting anyone in danger. They began dropping gifts to the Aucas. After many months, the Aucas even sent a gift back up in the bucket to the plane. Jim and the other missionaries felt the time had come to meet the Aucas face-to-face.
One day, in Jan 1956, while flying over Auca territory, Nate Saint spotted a beach that looked long enough to land the plane on. The missionaries were flown in one-by-one and dropped off on the Auca beach. After four days, an Auca man and two women appeared. For the next two days, the missionaries waited for other Aucas to return. Finally, two Auca women walked out of the jungle. Jim and Pete excitedly jumped in the river and waded over to them. As they got closer, these women did not appear friendly. Jim and Pete almost immediately heard a terrifying cry behind them. As they turned they saw a group of Auca warriors with their spears raised, ready to throw. Jim Elliot reached for the gun in his pocket. He had to decide instantly if he should use it. But he knew he couldn't. Each of the missionaries had promised they would not kill an Auca who did not know Jesus to save himself from being killed. Within seconds, the Auca warriors threw their spears, killing all the missionaries: Ed McCully, Roger Youderian, Nate Saint, Pete Fleming and Jim Elliot.
Don't think Operation Auca ended there, because it didn't. In less than two years Jim’s wife, Elisabeth Elliot, her daughter Valerie, and Rachel Saint (Nate's sister) were able to move to the Auca village. Nate Saint's son and his family continued to work with the Aucas. The love of Christ shown through their forgiveness allowed them to have amazing success with the once murderous Aucas. Many of them became Christians. During his life, Jim Elliot longed for more people to become missionaries. Jim’s life, though short, was not a waste. In fact, God used his death to bring life through salvation to many Aucas. He probably inspired more people to go to other countries to share the love of Jesus!