Simplicity

By Boyce Mouton

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Cor. 11:3).

The Huaoranis, also knows as Aucas, were perhaps the most violent people on earth. These stone-age savages lived in the jungles of Eastern Ecuador, and were split into three mutually hostile groups: the Geketaidi, the BaVidi, and the Wepeidi. Some died of snake bites and disease, etc., but 60 percent of the deaths within the tribe came when they killed one another. They had no form of government, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes. By 1956 their numbers had dwindled to 500-600 and they were on the verge of extinction.

It was at this point, as you know, that five American missionaries died taking the gospel to them. The martyrs were Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, Roger Youderian, Ed McCully, and Pete Fleming. They died on Jan. 8, 1956.

Then Elizabeth Elliot (the widow of Jim) and Rachel Saint (sister of Nate) went into the jungle to live with and teach the Huaoranis.