In End of the Spear, Steve Saint tells the story of himself and the Waodani tribe of Ecuador, the story of the son of martyred missionary Nate Saint and the very tribe that killed him. It is an amazing account of redemption and reconciliation, of how God takes the most tragic events of our lives and turns them around to do spectacular things. By miraculous circumstances which none are able to explain, the gospel has changed many of the Waodani for good. Hence, Saint came to love the very people who had killed his father and dramatically altered his life. Saint is a man who, having lived in the jungles of Ecuador as a child and then later in metropolitan America, has found himself torn between two worlds throughout his whole life. Many all over the world know of Saint’s father’s sacrifice and the Waodani’s salvation, but not many know the details of the story, or how it continues today. End of the Spear fills in those details, of what Saint himself says is a story that only God could have written.
Saint begins the book by telling of his trip back to Ecuador in 1994, to bury his Aunt Rachel Saint, who became one of the two first missionaries to the Waodani two years after her brother Nate’s death. Throughout the book, the author occasionally recounts previous events, to help the reader understand the full significance of everything told. Following Rachel Saint’s death, the Waodani asked Saint to return to their land, to teach them how to deal with the outside world and not be exploited by greedy outsiders. Thus, Saint found himself in an unlikely situation; he, the son of a man killed by primitive Indians, was now the only one qualified to represent them to the outside world, for he understood both peoples. His family came to live with the Woadani in 1995, helping them learn necessary skills to survive as an independent people, without having to rely on others to supply them with such things as medicine and tools. During his time in the jungle as an adult, Saint learned things from the Waodani about the events surrounding his father’s death that he had always yearned to know. The highlight of these events, in my opinion, is when Saint learned of what he believes were angels singing above the trees as his father and companions were dying. Tragedy certainly did not subside after Saint’s childhood; in 2000, his beloved only daughter Stephanie died of a cerebral hemorrhage. Saint shows what life is like for him and the Waodani in a realistic way, with sorrow and laughter interspersed throughout the whole. There is, for instance, unforgettable hilarity in some Waodani’s trips to the United States. While reading the book, I was once again overcome by a combination of emotions: wonder, amazement, bereavement, and joy. In the end, I was able to conclude with Saint that what took place in 1956 on the banks of the shallow Curaraye River was no accident.
The death of five missionaries was deeply traumatic to their families, but they were willing to do whatever it took to reach the people who had never been told the wonderful news of salvation in Jesus Christ. Thus, the Waodani were finally able to come to this knowledge, and many have become God-followers. But they are not the only ones touched; to this day, the past and continuing stories are reaching the lost and encouraging the saved.
End of the Spear is a first-person account of one who has seen the most traumatic experiences of his life worked out for good. It was certainly the most heart-wrenching book I have ever read, yet the overwhelming purpose made it definitely worthwhile. I find great honor in saying that I, too, have a small part in this marvelous story. I am very glad that I read this book after reading many others on the subject, for it helped me to fully understand the story that led me to Christ not many years ago. This story that is continuing through the children and grandchildren of the martyrs is another testimony to the fact that a life surrendered to God is never wasted; the Word of the Lord shall accomplish the purpose for which it was sent.
1 Comment » 
