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End of the Spear
When I was a boy, I cried. But now I see it well.
Steve Saint was only five years old when his father was brutally killed by Waodani warriors, men from the most savage culture ever known. But in a story almost too amazing to be true, Steve eventually comes to know—and even love—the very ones who drove the spears into his father’s body.
Decades after their lives were changed by learning to walk God’s trail, the Waodani asked Steve to return to the jungle with his family to live among them again and teach them how to interact with the encroaching outside world. Striving to mesh his two very different worlds, Steve must face the tragic events of his past and learn to fully trust God through terrible danger, great loss, and remarkable joy.
Steve Saint was only five years old when his father was brutally killed by Waodani warriors, men from the most savage culture ever known. But in a story almost too amazing to be true, Steve eventually comes to know—and even love—the very ones who drove the spears into his father’s body.
Decades after their lives were changed by learning to walk God’s trail, the Waodani asked Steve to return to the jungle with his family to live among them again and teach them how to interact with the encroaching outside world. Striving to mesh his two very different worlds, Steve must face the tragic events of his past and learn to fully trust God through terrible danger, great loss, and remarkable joy.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
About the author
Steve Saint
13 books28 followersSteve Saint grew up in Ecuador in close community with the Waodani. His father, Nate Saint, was one of five missionaries martyred in their attempt to befriend the Waodani. After graduating from Wheaton College, Steve launched several successful businesses. He has also been a missionary in West Africa, Central America, and South America. At the request of the Waodani elders, he returned to the Amazon in 1995 along with his family. Steve's experiences living in the jungle led him to establish I-TEC, a nonprofit organization that assists the "hidden church" in its journey toward independence, self-sustenance, and maturity.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 306 reviews
February 13, 2021
"We acted badly, badly until they brought us God's markings. Now seeing those markings and walking Waengongi's trail, we live happily and in peace."
The beginning of this story is told elsewhere and is well known. Five men massacred on the beaches of the Ecuadorian jungle whilst seeking to share the Gospel with a group of cannibalistic warriors known as the Aucas. This book relays the return of the son of one of the men to the very tribe that killed his father. He initially went in order to bury his aunt, Rachel Saint, who had lived, along with Elisabeth Elliot, amongst the tribal people since the slaughter of their husbands.
Although the author, Steve Saint, explains at length his reasons for taking his own family, including four children, back to this tribe for just a year and a half. I didn't really get it. They weren't doing missionary work or seeking to ensure the people were spiritually still on track. They seemed to be attempting to provide them the tools to make their way in 20th century jungle land. The huge expense and emotional devastation that was caused when they left the tribe was heart-breaking. I'm just not sure that anything was really achieved by their return. I'm sure the Saint family believed it was the right thing to do but I would have liked to have read about more concern for the spiritual welfare of the people rather than just survival/progress in the modern world. I also couldn't believe it when I read that they accepted a new-born baby that was given to them by a tribal family who already had a lot of children. I was relieved that the authorities refused to allow the baby to leave Equador as this seemed to me to be a crazy idea that hadn't been properly thought through!
The visit of two of the tribesmen to the US was a definite highlight of the book and also the way these tribesmen helped, in their own simple way, to bring comfort when a tragedy strikes the Saint family.
The book is far too long and filled with a lot of technical detail about aeroplanes and such like. It is worth reading for the gems but it needs a good edit and sometimes the author's descriptions of his raw emotion made me cringe a little as it's too personal to include in a book.
Worth reading for some aspects but not really a missionary biography.
The beginning of this story is told elsewhere and is well known. Five men massacred on the beaches of the Ecuadorian jungle whilst seeking to share the Gospel with a group of cannibalistic warriors known as the Aucas. This book relays the return of the son of one of the men to the very tribe that killed his father. He initially went in order to bury his aunt, Rachel Saint, who had lived, along with Elisabeth Elliot, amongst the tribal people since the slaughter of their husbands.
Although the author, Steve Saint, explains at length his reasons for taking his own family, including four children, back to this tribe for just a year and a half. I didn't really get it. They weren't doing missionary work or seeking to ensure the people were spiritually still on track. They seemed to be attempting to provide them the tools to make their way in 20th century jungle land. The huge expense and emotional devastation that was caused when they left the tribe was heart-breaking. I'm just not sure that anything was really achieved by their return. I'm sure the Saint family believed it was the right thing to do but I would have liked to have read about more concern for the spiritual welfare of the people rather than just survival/progress in the modern world. I also couldn't believe it when I read that they accepted a new-born baby that was given to them by a tribal family who already had a lot of children. I was relieved that the authorities refused to allow the baby to leave Equador as this seemed to me to be a crazy idea that hadn't been properly thought through!
The visit of two of the tribesmen to the US was a definite highlight of the book and also the way these tribesmen helped, in their own simple way, to bring comfort when a tragedy strikes the Saint family.
The book is far too long and filled with a lot of technical detail about aeroplanes and such like. It is worth reading for the gems but it needs a good edit and sometimes the author's descriptions of his raw emotion made me cringe a little as it's too personal to include in a book.
Worth reading for some aspects but not really a missionary biography.
March 20, 2009
I've often read that a good author should be able to bring his readers to both laughter and tears, and this book did that for me several times. Not necessarily because Steve Saint is a great writer; with his heritage and experiences anyone should be able to write a great book.
"End of the Spear" is a book of many genres. It is the continued story of "Through Gates of Splendor", a missionary autobiography, a Waodoni history, and a commentary on so many aspects of life. There are several pictures, although it is too bad the ones on the cover are actors from the movie.
Speaking of the movie, if you have seen it, don't expect the book to parallel it. The book begins with Aunt Rachel's funeral, and jumps around a little. After Steve decides to bring his family to live with the Waodani, he learns more and more of the stories and accounts, so many of which are heartrending, that appear throughout the movie.
But then he continues with how he tried to them, and how he learned from them. What he did teach, and why he had to leave. How his children lived in the jungle, and the mutual love between them and the Waodani.
When he returned to the states, Mincaye made several visits, and they spoke at conferences together. Mincaye continued to be a part of his life, supporting him during a crisis he least expected.
If you have read about Nate Saint, Jim Elliot or the others of the 5 who were martyred, the Waodani or "Aucas", if you have seen the "End of the Spear" movie, if you enjoy missionary stories, if you are interested in the unreached peoples of our time, then this is a book you must read.
If you saw the movie and didn't like it, read the book anyway. It's much better, and I promise you'll be blessed by it. The power of God is illustrated so beautifully.
"End of the Spear" is a book of many genres. It is the continued story of "Through Gates of Splendor", a missionary autobiography, a Waodoni history, and a commentary on so many aspects of life. There are several pictures, although it is too bad the ones on the cover are actors from the movie.
Speaking of the movie, if you have seen it, don't expect the book to parallel it. The book begins with Aunt Rachel's funeral, and jumps around a little. After Steve decides to bring his family to live with the Waodani, he learns more and more of the stories and accounts, so many of which are heartrending, that appear throughout the movie.
But then he continues with how he tried to them, and how he learned from them. What he did teach, and why he had to leave. How his children lived in the jungle, and the mutual love between them and the Waodani.
When he returned to the states, Mincaye made several visits, and they spoke at conferences together. Mincaye continued to be a part of his life, supporting him during a crisis he least expected.
If you have read about Nate Saint, Jim Elliot or the others of the 5 who were martyred, the Waodani or "Aucas", if you have seen the "End of the Spear" movie, if you enjoy missionary stories, if you are interested in the unreached peoples of our time, then this is a book you must read.
If you saw the movie and didn't like it, read the book anyway. It's much better, and I promise you'll be blessed by it. The power of God is illustrated so beautifully.
May 6, 2009
I simply could not put this book down. The experiences of Steve Saint and his family in reaching the Wadoni (sp?) defines what it means to be a Christian, displays perfect execution of the Great Commission, and demonstrates again the lesson taught by Jesus that there is no greater love then to give your life so others might live. The book is essentially spot on with the movie, though the book covers more detail.
October 19, 2022
So moving to witness through this story the power of Christ's forgiveness and love
August 2, 2018
I gave this five stars not for it's beautifully written epigraphs, pacing of plot points, or writing style, because honestly it has none of these things. It is a beautiful story that reminds you of what is important in God's economy. I think for Americans and other first world Christians this book will challenge you to redefine what a savage is as well. It points out that many times we don't run people through with spears, and yet we don't have to do that to be a savage. Instead we gossip about people we hate to get them fired, or ostracize someone from a group without even considering how much hatred we have for the other person. We just live in a cleaner environment. Everyone is a savage in his heart without Christ.
September 24, 2015
This is a great book. It is an unbelievable true story. I wish I was there to actually see the people and the places. The author, as a child, lives with the very same tribe that killed his father. He ends up having a love for these people anyway. How the tribe became "God followers " is unclear, but they did. It changed their lives and it changed their tribe for the better. I want to read more about this relationship.
May 30, 2016
It has probably been twenty or so years since I first read "Jungle Pilot," the life story of Nate Saint, and I remember being disappointed that his death, and those of his fellow missionaries, were never fully explained. Thus, I was quite interested when a friend (who has actually met the Saint family) gave me a copy of this book.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this riveting, "rest-of-the-story" account, especially the part where the truth came out about the real reason the five missionaries were killed. Even though their deaths seemed so pointless and wasteful at the time, we see through Steve Saint's eyes how God brought beauty out of the ashes of that horrible tragedy. Not only did their martyrdom directly result in the salvation of many of the Waodani, but indirectly, through the lives of missionaries inspired by the story, it has been used to bring many thousands more to faith in Christ. It's a good reminder that the "unsolved mysteries" of our own lives are perfectly clear to our Heavenly Father, who is even now working them for our good and for His glory.
I do feel the need to sound one cautionary note, which is also the reason this is only a four-star review. Having been basically raised in the jungle, among people whose lifestyle is still quite primitive, Steve Saint has what I would call a very "native" outlook on issues of modesty, taste, and circumspection in writing. I realize readers will have widely divergent perspectives on this matter, but I felt there were times when I was getting "too much information," especially regarding the pre-Christian culture and practices of the Waodani. (There were a few parts that I actually skimmed, in order to avoid some of this material.)
In summary, I would be happy to recommend this book to mature Christians, who won't object to the rather frank and earthy style of the author.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this riveting, "rest-of-the-story" account, especially the part where the truth came out about the real reason the five missionaries were killed. Even though their deaths seemed so pointless and wasteful at the time, we see through Steve Saint's eyes how God brought beauty out of the ashes of that horrible tragedy. Not only did their martyrdom directly result in the salvation of many of the Waodani, but indirectly, through the lives of missionaries inspired by the story, it has been used to bring many thousands more to faith in Christ. It's a good reminder that the "unsolved mysteries" of our own lives are perfectly clear to our Heavenly Father, who is even now working them for our good and for His glory.
I do feel the need to sound one cautionary note, which is also the reason this is only a four-star review. Having been basically raised in the jungle, among people whose lifestyle is still quite primitive, Steve Saint has what I would call a very "native" outlook on issues of modesty, taste, and circumspection in writing. I realize readers will have widely divergent perspectives on this matter, but I felt there were times when I was getting "too much information," especially regarding the pre-Christian culture and practices of the Waodani. (There were a few parts that I actually skimmed, in order to avoid some of this material.)
In summary, I would be happy to recommend this book to mature Christians, who won't object to the rather frank and earthy style of the author.
March 12, 2023
This book was soooo good! 100% recommend it to everyone. You will both laugh and cry. There are so many good stories - both of heartbreak and tragedy and of healing and restoration. Steve knows how to write in a way that moves you! His humor is spot on an there are so many stories to laugh over! His heart for the Waodani people clearly shines through. They're not a missionary project. They are his family. This book definitely made me think about some of the ways we do mission work and it just made me praise God for the way He works in this world. This is an amazing story!!
December 16, 2013
If you read the January 30, 1956 edition of Life magazine, this 2005 release by Steve Saint will cover very familiar territory for you. Nearly a half century following that Life cover story, Saint revisits the savage murder of his pilot-missionary father and four of his co-workers. In addition to retelling the story of the spearing and butchering of those five men, Saint sets the record straight as to the identity of his father’s executioners. He notes that the Ecuadorean head hunters should be called the Waodani, not Aucas, a derogatory term that means “naked savage.” Actually, as Saint explains, a neighboring tribe, the Quechuas first called the Waodani “Aucas,” a term they used in a demeaning way to question their historical enemy’s humanity.
There’ve been a number of books published about the mid-fifties massacre of jungle pilot Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Jim Elliot, Peter Fleming and Roger Youderian at Palm Beach, a sandbar on the Ewenguno River. Here, Saint’s oldest son explores how and why his father and the other four men were martyred. The author then begins to unpack the incredible, supernatural story of how he came to deeply love his father’s killers and adopted a number of them as members of his own family.
“End of the Spear” also explains why Saint chose decades later to give up a successful business career to return to the jungle to live with the once-savage headhunting tribe. A spoiler alert here: I didn’t see a couple of “plot twists” coming. I wasn’t expecting the extreme brevity of the Saint’s return to jungle life nor did I foresee the shocking loss of Steve and Ginny Saint’s only daughter. If you ever wondered why bad things happen to good people, this book may leave you with more questions than answers.
There’ve been a number of books published about the mid-fifties massacre of jungle pilot Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Jim Elliot, Peter Fleming and Roger Youderian at Palm Beach, a sandbar on the Ewenguno River. Here, Saint’s oldest son explores how and why his father and the other four men were martyred. The author then begins to unpack the incredible, supernatural story of how he came to deeply love his father’s killers and adopted a number of them as members of his own family.
“End of the Spear” also explains why Saint chose decades later to give up a successful business career to return to the jungle to live with the once-savage headhunting tribe. A spoiler alert here: I didn’t see a couple of “plot twists” coming. I wasn’t expecting the extreme brevity of the Saint’s return to jungle life nor did I foresee the shocking loss of Steve and Ginny Saint’s only daughter. If you ever wondered why bad things happen to good people, this book may leave you with more questions than answers.
January 8, 2012
Another great book about the continuing story of the five missionaries speared to death in the Ecuadorean jungle. This book is written by the son of one of the martyred men. After his father was murdered when he was 5, his aunt, mother, brother, sister and him go to live with this once murderous tribe who become strong God-followers shortly after their attack. They become as close and dear as family to Steve, the son, and he grows up there and is eventually baptized by two of the very men who killed his father. After he moves back to North America and makes a life and family there, the tribe asks him to come back and bring his family to live with them again.
It's an incredible story of forgiveness and the tremendous power of God to change lives. It is deeply moving and hugely inspiring and just remarkable.
It's an incredible story of forgiveness and the tremendous power of God to change lives. It is deeply moving and hugely inspiring and just remarkable.
December 4, 2008
Amazing read on how a person can be so forgiving despite what's being done to their loved ones. Nate Saint, one of the 5 missionaries who were being savagely killed in Ecuador in 1956; and his sister Rachel still went back to the tribe, befriended them and stayed there till a ripe old age, died and requested to bury there with his jungle family, at the same place her beloved bro Nate was killed and buried with the other 4 missionary friends. She came to love her Waodani family like her own, same as Steve (Nate's son) & his family who didn't want to leave. Also a heart-wrenching read about what really happened on that fateful day.
October 29, 2020
Powerful, it's one of the most chilling missionary stories I've ever heard. Very convicting.
April 11, 2022
I've read this book many times, starting when I was eleven years old. It is beautiful, heartbreaking story. My dad, who never cries, actually broke down reading it. I would definitely recommend it.
April 28, 2019
This is a very powerful and moving autobiography, written by the son of one of the five missionaries who were savagely killed by the Auca's of Ecuador in the mid 1950's when they were making their initial face-to-face contact after exchanging gifts from a bucket lowered from the missionary plane for some time. The Auca's were at one time considered the most savage natives in the world, living an almost stone age-like life.
Steve Saint was only 5 years old when his father was killed, but his family returned to live with the Auca's for most of his childhood, and HE later returned with HIS family to live with the tribe as a middle-aged adult.
The men who killed the missionaries and others) became "God followers;" they were converted to follow "God's Trail", ceased spearing their enemies, and the man who speared Steve's father (Mincaye) adopted Steve and his siblings, and later his wife and children into their tribe. He felt responsible to help raise Steve as a father figure, and became a beloved grandfather to Steve's children.
After their conversion, they did not want to be called by the derogatory name Auca ( naked savage), preferring instead to be called by their language, Waorani.
When Steve grew up he left the Ecuadorian jungle and returned to the US to go to college, married, raised a family and was a successful businessman, but made trips back to the jungle now and then. On one of the visits for a funeral for Aunt Rachel, known to the tribe as Star, beloved by the Waorani, they asked Steve to return in her place with his family, which he did in the mid 1990's. Living in the jungle with his family, mostly living as the natives did, was a coming of age time for Steve, even though he was in his 50's by now.
Steve and his wife, Ginny, showed their true love for these people when they realized it was time for them to leave because the natives were too dependent upon them. The preparation for leaving and the things that happened after they left are the real meat of the story-- Steve's realization that his Dad and co-laborers had not died in vain, that their mission HAD been accomplished through Steve and his family. Their death was like throwing a pebble in a lake. The ripples from their death spread around the world. Their willingness to follow God's plan touched thousands and thousands of lives.
Steve Saint was only 5 years old when his father was killed, but his family returned to live with the Auca's for most of his childhood, and HE later returned with HIS family to live with the tribe as a middle-aged adult.
The men who killed the missionaries and others) became "God followers;" they were converted to follow "God's Trail", ceased spearing their enemies, and the man who speared Steve's father (Mincaye) adopted Steve and his siblings, and later his wife and children into their tribe. He felt responsible to help raise Steve as a father figure, and became a beloved grandfather to Steve's children.
After their conversion, they did not want to be called by the derogatory name Auca ( naked savage), preferring instead to be called by their language, Waorani.
When Steve grew up he left the Ecuadorian jungle and returned to the US to go to college, married, raised a family and was a successful businessman, but made trips back to the jungle now and then. On one of the visits for a funeral for Aunt Rachel, known to the tribe as Star, beloved by the Waorani, they asked Steve to return in her place with his family, which he did in the mid 1990's. Living in the jungle with his family, mostly living as the natives did, was a coming of age time for Steve, even though he was in his 50's by now.
Steve and his wife, Ginny, showed their true love for these people when they realized it was time for them to leave because the natives were too dependent upon them. The preparation for leaving and the things that happened after they left are the real meat of the story-- Steve's realization that his Dad and co-laborers had not died in vain, that their mission HAD been accomplished through Steve and his family. Their death was like throwing a pebble in a lake. The ripples from their death spread around the world. Their willingness to follow God's plan touched thousands and thousands of lives.
December 28, 2015
Wonderful, wonderful read. A very good follow-up companion to "Through the Gates of Splendor". I believe it is really is a necessary read to see truely how God was working through what on the surface is a real trajedy. It also shows that just because one does God's work on earth, they are not immune to trajedy....aka being a true Chrisitian does not make one immune to often unexplainable loss and hardship. While it's a serious book, I was in tears laughing when he brought the older Indian who had killed his father to the US because he did not understand our language or customs and attempted to use the jungle customs he knew in our culture...comedy ensued.
March 30, 2020
This is one incredible true story. Steve's father was killed by the Waudani tribe in the Amazon jungle in Ecuador. Now years later Steve and his family go to live with the very people that killed his father. By this time some of the Waudani had become God followers and learned to walk God's trail. These people became very dear to the Saint family. This is an amazing account of God's miraculous work.
June 9, 2017
An amazing true account of how the sacrifice of five men's lives changed a savage people group, and touched the hearts of all who heard about it. Told by Steve Saint, son of one of the men murdered in 1956. Includes photos of Steve and his family with the Waodani people, many of whom have been transformed by the gracious love of Jesus.
September 20, 2019
I was profoundly affected by the content of this story. There were multiple times I found myself both laughing and crying within a single chapter. I expected the writing to be terrible and was pleasantly surprised that, while it wasn’t poetic, it was actually fairly well-written.
September 30, 2010
Very moving with some valuable life lessons.....
September 17, 2020
A thought-provoking, honest and incredible story of the Waorani's encounter with the outside world.
I find the terms "primitive" and "Stone Age" used to describe Waodani (or more commonly Waorani) offensive. And as a mother of mixed-race children, I found the term "mixed-breed" extremely offensive on a personal level, reducing people to animals.
There is a huge mistake in the book, in that Quechua people live in Peru; each time he uses that word, it should be Quichua or Kichwa. It's quite an oversight for someone who lived in Ecuador for so long. Also where he writes Atshuar, it should be Achuar.
The patriarchy is, at times, palpable and female pespective is very lacking. Do Waorani women have to obey their husbands? How do the Waorani view periods? What childbirth practices are there? How have women adapted to the changes? Is rape common? etc.
That said, I did also learn a lot about the Waorani and things I never understood before now make sense, e.g. why the Waorani ask for so many things from tourists visiting their communities- gas tanks, money, watches etc. And I enjoyed the Waorani words and grammar that were skilfully woven into the narrative.
I find the terms "primitive" and "Stone Age" used to describe Waodani (or more commonly Waorani) offensive. And as a mother of mixed-race children, I found the term "mixed-breed" extremely offensive on a personal level, reducing people to animals.
There is a huge mistake in the book, in that Quechua people live in Peru; each time he uses that word, it should be Quichua or Kichwa. It's quite an oversight for someone who lived in Ecuador for so long. Also where he writes Atshuar, it should be Achuar.
The patriarchy is, at times, palpable and female pespective is very lacking. Do Waorani women have to obey their husbands? How do the Waorani view periods? What childbirth practices are there? How have women adapted to the changes? Is rape common? etc.
That said, I did also learn a lot about the Waorani and things I never understood before now make sense, e.g. why the Waorani ask for so many things from tourists visiting their communities- gas tanks, money, watches etc. And I enjoyed the Waorani words and grammar that were skilfully woven into the narrative.
December 14, 2021
This is a familiar story to many, or at least part of it. This book is much more than the story of the five missionaries murdered by the Waodani natives in Ecuador. The book tells that story, but mostly as a way of telling Steve Saint's own story with the Waodani.
It is a remarkable tale, and worth reading to see how God worked what had been meant for evil, for good, and for his own glory.
It is a remarkable tale, and worth reading to see how God worked what had been meant for evil, for good, and for his own glory.
January 21, 2024
A great message of how God works for good what others meant for evil. While discussing one difficult circumstance in his life, Steve said: "I did not want to ask God for what I desperately wanted in the short run, only to find it had cost us what God wanted for us in the long run."
February 5, 2024
Captivating book! After reading Through Gates of Splendor many years ago, this answered some of my questions about the "Auca" Waodani people I knew very little about and what happened to the 5 missionaries that were killed. Steve Saint made the stories he shared come alive and I could picture myself living right there in the jungle with him and his family. The testimonies of the Waodani God followers will forever be engrained in my heart and mind. I will say the last chapter or so caught me off-guard in a sad way.
Very highly recommend reading this book!
Very highly recommend reading this book!
August 12, 2020
I recommend this book very much. I love how this explains what happens after the movie. I have always been interested in knowing about indigenous people groups. So to read that the Waodoni people want to be independent from the government and not have to depend on others for their survival makes me happy. I am glad that they are in charge of what happens to them.
June 13, 2023
I've known the story of the 5 missionaries killed in Ecuador since I was a child. This book, by Nate Saint's son, tells about his relationship with the Waodani tribe. The man who had speared his father became like a father to him and a grandfather to his children. The book explains how he and his family moved to the jungle for a time to help the Waodani become more self sufficient. What a fantastic story of God's grace- this book made me laugh and cry!
March 3, 2010
This book was not what I expected, but, I was not disappointed.
It's an amazing story of change, courage, acceptance, love, hard choices, tough love, priorities, understanding,... and so much more.
I was in awe and fascinated by each of the people we met in this story. I was intrigued learning about the Waodani's culture, environment, and habits. I was inspired by their change and desire to 'follow God's trail'. I was saddened by the incredibly difficult task the Waodani face in meeting with the outside world. I learned so much about a lifestyle so absolutely opposite from my own, part of me yearned to experience it too. And, I found myself intensely admiring a man of faith whose life is firmly grounded in Christianity.
I must admit, End of the Spear was a slow book for me to read.
I guess I need to read 'Gates of Splendor' for the story I thought I was reading to begin with.
It's an amazing story of change, courage, acceptance, love, hard choices, tough love, priorities, understanding,... and so much more.
I was in awe and fascinated by each of the people we met in this story. I was intrigued learning about the Waodani's culture, environment, and habits. I was inspired by their change and desire to 'follow God's trail'. I was saddened by the incredibly difficult task the Waodani face in meeting with the outside world. I learned so much about a lifestyle so absolutely opposite from my own, part of me yearned to experience it too. And, I found myself intensely admiring a man of faith whose life is firmly grounded in Christianity.
I must admit, End of the Spear was a slow book for me to read.
I guess I need to read 'Gates of Splendor' for the story I thought I was reading to begin with.
December 13, 2011
"End of the Spear" is written in such a way that it feels like you're sitting down for a chat with Steve Saint in your living room. The stories of what happened next after five American missionaries were speared to death in the Amazon jungle of Ecuador in 1956 flow, startle, inspire, and awe. They would be the first to say that this book is only one chapter in God's grand history.
We learn how the murderers of Nate Saint and his descendents became one family - reconciled in a true plot Hollywood could never imagine. I cried for their sorrows and laughed for their joy, and my faith in Jesus Christ was renewed.
Today the plight of the Waodani is critical, but there is hope thanks to the loving providence of God carried out by the Saint-Damointado Family and many others. You can learn more at http://itecusa.org/ .
A must read!
Writing: B
Plot: A+
Vocabulary: B
Rating: PG13
Level: Moderate
Worldview: Christian
We learn how the murderers of Nate Saint and his descendents became one family - reconciled in a true plot Hollywood could never imagine. I cried for their sorrows and laughed for their joy, and my faith in Jesus Christ was renewed.
Today the plight of the Waodani is critical, but there is hope thanks to the loving providence of God carried out by the Saint-Damointado Family and many others. You can learn more at http://itecusa.org/ .
A must read!
Writing: B
Plot: A+
Vocabulary: B
Rating: PG13
Level: Moderate
Worldview: Christian
May 24, 2019
I do my reviews in the form of a letter, which is why they are written like this.
Dear Steve Saint,
Thank you for sharing your story with us. The parts that I did really pay attention to touched me. I found it really amazing how you learned to love those who speared your father. That is such a powerful testimony. I kind of liked to hears about all those treks that you made across the jungle all the time.
I got bored when you talked about fixing stuff, and near the end I skimmed. But perhaps I shall read it again.
Sincerely,
Lena Marie
Dear Steve Saint,
Thank you for sharing your story with us. The parts that I did really pay attention to touched me. I found it really amazing how you learned to love those who speared your father. That is such a powerful testimony. I kind of liked to hears about all those treks that you made across the jungle all the time.
I got bored when you talked about fixing stuff, and near the end I skimmed. But perhaps I shall read it again.
Sincerely,
Lena Marie
February 3, 2010
A true life story that could be considered the sequel to Through the Gates of Splendor and The Savage My Kinsman both by Elisabeth Elliott.
Steve Saint's father was killed with four other missionaries in 1956. Decades later Steve and his family return to the jungle to bury his beloved Aunt Rachel who lived with the same native people that killed those missionaries. A great example of how forgiveness and love can affect many people around the globe.
Steve Saint's father was killed with four other missionaries in 1956. Decades later Steve and his family return to the jungle to bury his beloved Aunt Rachel who lived with the same native people that killed those missionaries. A great example of how forgiveness and love can affect many people around the globe.
February 5, 2008
I was definitely left wanting more...I wanted to know a lot more about this fascinating culture, so for that alone it was worth reading, but the writing was not strong enough to keep me totally engaged.
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