As In a Mirror

Jungle Pilot by Russell T. Hitt is the story of the life and witness of Nate Saint, a missionary pilot to Ecuador who was martyred in 1956. A love for God and a love for airplanes led this young man to commit his life to serving the Lord and His people in the middle of the jungle. This book shows how such a man was made, beginning from the Bible-based household in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, all the way up to how the vision he lived is still being fulfilled today. Hitt frequently uses Saint’s own writings to show how through his years of preparation for his life’s work, his years in service to his beloved King, and even to the point of his death, he strove to be unconditionally surrendered to the will of God, labeling himself “expendable.”

Nathaniel Saint was born in 1923 to Lawrence and Katherine Saint, the seventh of eight children. His parents were Bible-believing Christians who worked to keep their family “unspotted from the world.” Nate was an innovative lad with a keenness in mechanical and financial things. When struck by osteomyelitis at age fourteen, Nate promised the Lord that if He allowed him to live, He would turn over his whole life to him. Nate lived, and when he was nineteen he joined the Air Corps, greatly desiring to become a pilot. The Lord soon spoke to Nate through a series of occurrences that convinced him that the Lord wanted him to be a missionary. He threw all his energy into preparing for this task, eventually joining the Christian Airmen’s Missionary Fellowship (later known as Mission Aviation Fellowship). In 1948, he and his newlywed wife, Marjorie, arrived in Ecuador, to begin what would be nearly eight years of serving missionaries isolated in the middle of the jungle.

Nate and Marj set up their base at Shell Mera, an abandoned oil company station right on the edge of the jungle. Nate’s job as a missionary pilot was to transport people and supplies in and out of their jungle stations. Every missionary Nate served could testify that air travel was far more efficient than ground travel, especially over the rugged jungle terrain. Nate was always trying to work out ways to make mission aviation safer and more efficient. He even invented an alternate fuel system, a “bucket-drop” system, and created a humidity-controlled room. Three beloved children were born to the Saints: Kathy, Steve, and Phil. Nate became close friends with many missionaries, all who greatly admired him for his intelligence, humor, and dedication to God. Once, when Nate’s older sister Rachel paid them a visit, she expressed her desire to someday work with an unreached tribe. Nate flew her near Auca territory and said, “There’s your tribe, Sis.”

Nate had long before heard of the feared “Aucas,” a completely alienated tribe renowned for their deadly spearing raids against outsiders for unknown reasons. Protestant missionaries longed to bring the gospel to these people, but until Nate’s time, a window had not been opened. After Nate had located some Auca villages from the air, he and a few others planned to make friendly contact. They first exchanged gifts with the Indians with the “bucket-drop” system, and when it seemed good will was expressed, they took the next step. Nate and four others, Jim, Ed, Roger, and Pete, set up camp on a beach of the Curaray River. Here they were peacefully approached by three Aucas, though unable to communicate with them. Three days later, on January 8, 1956, they were speared and hacked to death by the Aucas, despite the fact that they were well able to defend themselves. Nevertheless, the story does not end here, for Nate’s flame was carried on. Through a miraculous story of redemption, Rachel Saint, and Jim’s wife, Elisabeth Elliot, were invited to live with the Aucas and teach them God’s word.

Nate’s death was not the end of his witness, for it helped the “Aucas” understand what Jesus did for them on the Cross. Jesus did not resist death, but gave Himself up as a spotless Lamb to be a ransom for sin. Nate’s son, Steve, tells in the epilogue how he continues to carry on his father’s vision by working among the Waodani (the real name of the “Aucas”), and now sees the fruit of his father’s sacrifice in the God-followers of the tribe.

As I read this book, I felt as if I personally knew the man, Nate Saint, and was stirred by his whole-hearted devotion and Christian character. Thus I was captivated by every page, seeking to know the fullness not only of how and why he died, but also how and why he lived. Through this, I saw a picture of Jesus, giving everything he had for the glory of God, whom he called upon as Father. Every once in a while, we read or hear of a man with a nature just like ours, but who completely entrusted their being to the One who gave them life through His death, and hope through His resurrection. But how often do we see such a person whose imitation of Christ continued until their blood spoke to people whose language they did not know? Calvary was illustrated to the Waodani on the Curaray River, and they were willing to repent and believe in this God of love. For me, that is the whole essence of Jungle Pilot, and it has made a mark on my life. I will remember what a precious flow was poured out for me, what holy and blameless Lamb of God was despised to bring me peace with my Maker.

I highly recommend this book to anyone, even if you’re not a missions nut. This will satisfy lovers of adventure, biography, airplanes, Christian life, Christian witness, travel, humor, or even fiction. Reason being? It is a fascinating story, so fascinating that only God could have written this story. It is so cool to think that the same God is writing our story!