Week 5 The Story of Nate Saint


My Daily Portion:
Monday: Exodus 7-8, Psalms 29, Mark 9.
Tuesday: Exodus 9-10, Psalms 30, Mark 10.
Wednesday: Exodus 11-12, Psalms 31, Mark11.
Thursday: Exodus 13-14, Psalms 32, Mark 12.
Friday: Exodus 15-16, Psalms 33, Mark 13.
Saturday: Exodus 17-18, Psalms 34, Mark 14.
Sunday: Exodus 19-20, Psalms 35, Mark 15.

Psalms 34:3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

One of the most inspirational things I like to do is to read a biography or watch a show about the life of someone I admire. There are heroes in every generation whose stories reveal their depth of character and incredible sense of a calling much greater than themselves, driving them forward even in hostile environments and causing them to become people of great influence on the earth. Being a person of influence doesn't mean that you must come from 'good stock,' or from wealthy background.

Psalms 16:3 says, the godly in the land are my true heroes. I can't help but dig up every story I can of godly people who have been influential in our history as believers. Recently I have been reading the story once again of the jungle pilot named, Nate Saint, who along with his wife, Marj, and 3 young children, moved to Ecuador to live and work as missionaries. Nate, along with 4 other missionaries gave their lives (killed by the spears of the people they were trying to reach). They were Auca people who had never heard the name of Jesus before. The story is retold in the movie called 'The End of the Spear'.

The story in itself is incredible, but in reading the book called, Jungle Pilot, The Life and Witness of Nate Saint, the last page is a copy of a letter written by Marj to her children, just a few years following the death of their Daddy. As I read her perspective which she gives to her children, I am in awe of her walk with God and her commitment to Him. She is a hero of heroes.....here is bit of that letter for you to read.

My darling children, The story of your father's life has now been written. A few years ago there would have been no need to write these things, but there came a day when I had to tell you our Daddy wasn't coming back to live with us - he had gone with four of his friends to live with Jesus in heaven....Some day, my precious jewels, your hearts will be even more tender and your minds more curious than now. Then you will ask, "Why did my Daddy go among those savage Aucas?" The very best answer I can give you is to recall the night Daddy read the story of Noah from the Old Testament, and to remind you how Daddy prayed afterward that he, like Noah, would be faithful and do all that God commanded him to do.....For a long time you children have prayed for the Aucas. Now Auntie Rachel and Auntie Betty are living down in the jungle with the Aucas. Someday, perhaps soon, you may meet some of the men who killed Daddy. Daddy would want you to love them and thank our Heavenly Father that our prayers for these Indians are being answered. It's my heart's desire, Kathy, Stevie, and Philip, that this biography will help you, and others who read it, to see the importance of knowing God's will for your lives and of following Him in simple obedience. Love, Mother.

The writing of this biographical book was dedicated to Marj Saint, and on this dedication page it was noted that Marj's husband, Nate, had chosen this beautiful Scripture verse to have engraved in her wedding ring. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. What a beautiful testimony!

I am encouraged to become like the Saints in my commitment to God and His calling. May their story also minister to you as it has to me.