A Contemplative Christmas

A Contemplative Christmas

Why were they risking their lives for the chance of making contact with the Aucas?

IN 1955 five missionary couples in the jungles of Ecuador were planning for a chance to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the remote and fierce Auca tribe. They had been conducting “gift flights” over Auca territory, attempting to create awareness of their presence by dropping packages of clothing, food, and gadgets to the natives from a small plane.

On December 23, 1955, Nate Saint and Jim Elliot flew over Auca territory and dropped a gift package of clothing, a flashlight, and other trinkets. This time the missionaries received a package back from the Aucas, who tied it to a long cord the missionaries dropped from the plane. It was full of fish, peanuts, bananas, a parrot, and other meats. The gift from the Aucas greatly encouraged the missionaries, and four of the five couples met that same day to plan the trip that would bring them face-to-face with members of the Auca tribe.

The group began assigning the specific duties each member would be responsible for on the mission. Providing shelter in the jungle, packing food and supplies, maintaining a communication link with the home base, transporting those who were to go to and from the remote location, as well as other vital tasks, were all necessary for the success of the mission.

It was decided that the men would set up a camp on the beach near the location of the Aucas’ main settlement. They chose January 3, 1956, for the mission as they knew they would need to arrive and depart before the onset of the rainy season, which would make takeoffs and landings impossible.

As soon as the plans were finalized, the missionaries turned their attention to making Christmas in their camp in Arajuno as much like home as possible. A meal was prepared, and a Christmas tree was made from bamboo and decorated with tinsel to celebrate Jesus’ birth.

Missionary Pete Fleming was still undecided as to whether he would accompany the other men on this trip. He waited on God in prayer continuously. For the wives it was a time of reflection and preparation for the dangers that were sure to confront their husbands on this mission. They knew it was possible they all could become widows as a result of this expedition. They also knew that the God they served held first place in the lives of each of their husbands. This fact seemed to hit home now more than ever.

December 23 was also a day of self-reflection for the men. Why were they risking their lives for the chance of making contact with the Aucas?

Nate Saint summed up their sentiments: “If God would grant us the vision, the word sacrifice would disappear from our lips and thoughts; we would hate the things that seem now so dear to us; our lives would suddenly be too short, we would despise time-robbing distractions and charge the enemy with all our energies in the name of Christ. May God help us to judge ourselves by the eternities that separate the Aucas from a comprehension of Christmas and Him, who, though He was rich, yet for our sakes became poor so that we might, through His poverty, be made rich.”

Reflection

During his college years Jim Elliot wrote in his journal, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Do these words ring true to you? What is their application in your life?

Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross. Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name.

Philippians 2:5-9