The home of Nate Saint, MAF Pilot martyred by the Waorani people in 1956, has been renovated to preserve its history and testament of Nate’s work among the Ecuadorian people.
Nate Saint and four other missionaries had made contact with the very isolated and widely feared Waorani tribe. The tribe were well-known for attacking intruders if their land was trespassed, regardless of provocation . The missionaries had lowered gifts in a bucket from the plane to the Waorani, who responded by returning gifts. Encouraged, the team of missionaries decided to try and meet them. They set up camp nearby and had a successful first encounter. However, five days later on January 8 1956, the unsuspecting team was speared on the beach by armed Waorani men.
Nate Saint’s home was originally built in 1948 by a team of missionaries for him and his wife, Marj. The house had
since become infested with flying termites and estimated that it would only stand for another year if it was left without intervention, thus giving inspiration for a new generation of support for MAF’s history.
Fuel the Mission, who fundraised and organised the renovation of the house, is a non-profit construction ministry who work with mission organisations around the world to support their building projects.
The Nate Saint house was finished in 90 construction days, using both Ecuadorian workers and two short-term work crews from the United States.
After the renovation, the house was dedicated to the memory of Nate and the missionaries martyred by the Waorani on that fateful day in 1956. The service was translated into three different languages which gave everyone a chance to hear the message of Christ.
If you would like to learn more about Fuel the Mission or how you can help fulfil the fundraising of the Nate Saint house, visit: http://www.fuelthemission.org/projects/nate-saint-house