Nate Saint: Operation Auca (Torchbearers)

I read this book not knowing much about Nate Saint or his work. I didn't really know what to expect going in. I really enjoyed it! You really get a sense of who Nate Saint was, staring the story in his early childhood, talking about some of the pivotal experiences in his life, learning about his mission work and then seeing the aftermath and how God can turn tragedy into a miracle. I love how a major emphasis in this book is that when Nate Saint followed God's Will for his life, he was able to do what he loved. Nate loved building and airplanes and he was able to use his God given talents to go do God's work. It's an amazing lesson to kids that you don't have to choose between serving God and doing what you love to do. My 11 year old son read this book and loved it. It's well written, face paced, exciting and left me a bit teary at the end. I would highly recommend this book young readers and adults alike!

Nate Saint: Operation Auca by Nancy DrummondThe story of Nate Saint is remarkable one for anyone interested in knowing what it looks like for a man to follow Christ, to use his gifts, and to love his fellow man regardless of what they can do for him. Nancy Drummond has written an accessible mini-biography of Saint's life for children ages 7 and up to dive into. The chapters are written succinctly in roughly 6-8 page chunks. The story brings together Nate's passion for flying, his desire for the Waodani people to know Christ, and his ingenuity in creating the right repair parts for planes that were utterly demolished.The story begins with Nate having an ever-growing passion for flying. Even at an early age after sitting in the cockpit of a plane, Nate exclaimed, "It's the greatest feeling in the world!" (9) Nate grew up in a family that regularly worshipped the Lord, met in prayer meetings and were constantly gracing the doors of the church. The soil in which he was raised was fertile for the ministry that would come in his later years in Ecuador. Yet, what was also evident in his early years was the way he looked up to his big brother Sam, a pilot. From very early on, Nate was always tinkering with planes, their parts and the ways in which he could construct planes from scratch as models. Little did he know that his gifts for working on planes would be mightily used in the mission of Operation Auca.After his conversion at age 13, Nate developed a bone infection that was cause him great grief for a large part of his life. Through the prayers and encouragement of his family, he was able get better after a while. Nate, after spending some time in the Army began to pray for the Lord's leading for what was next in his life. At the right time, his dad led him to an article about a new ministry called the Christian Airmen's Missionary Fellowship which was `to use planes and pilots to service missionaries in remote areas, bringing news and supplies and offering necessary transport (31). Through various trials and hardships, Nate was eventually deployed to help in the remote areas of Ecuador. At one point, Nate's heart was stoked because of his meeting with a visiting missionary who had heard about an Indian tribe, the Aucas who were known for their savagery and willingness to kill anyone who meets them (68).Through Nate's effort alongside his team, they were able to drop all kinds of supplies, including shiny things in the area of the Auca people and forged what they thought was a initial relationship. The story ends tragically but Drummond tells Nate's story with a sensitivity that cannot be matched. A few of the things that Drummond brought out in the story that were very encouraging: One, God was preparing Nate at every step of the way for his time in Ecuador. His desire and passion for repairing and building planes was extremely valuable for the team. Therefore, God was faithful to equip Nate for ministry at every point. Secondly, this story encapsulates the vision of Nate that he had for the Auca people and his commitment to love a people who would eventually do them harm. There is something resolutely powerful when a man loves the Lord in such a way that he would lay down his life for a people he met once and were hostile to him. Lastly, the way Nate loved his family and kept them involved in every aspect of the mission is evident in the way his son Steve has been an instrumental part of helping the Waodani people.What a great book at introducing readers to the life, faith, and mission of Steve Saint. Younger readers will find much to be encouraged about here. Older readers, I included, were encouraged at the faithfulness of Nate, even to the point of death.Thanks to Cross Focused Reviews and Christian Focus Publications (CF4K) for the review copy of this book in exchange for review.

I read a lot of middle grade and young adult Christian biographies. A lot of them. They all tend to be edifying, to point my mind toward Christ, and to help me contemplate how I spend the hours of my own life. I've found they tend to do the same for my children.Few of them touch me so deeply that I cry.Nancy Drummond's new biography of Nate Saint is a rare emotional gem. Nate Saint: Operation Auca (Christian Focus Publications, 2012) is written for ages 9 to 14 (or to be used as a read-aloud for younger children) for Christian Focus' Torchbearers line. The Torchbearers series covers the lives of Christian martyrs in a narrative fashion.Nate Saint gave his life to the Lord at a summer camp when he was thirteen. He committed to follow God's leading in his life, and proceeded to pursue his life's passion, flying. Nate followed God's leading into the military during World War II, and then into service for Christian Airmen's Missionary Fellowship. Nate's work for CAMF in the jungles of Ecuador allowed missionaries on the ground to continue their work in a way they had been unable to without airborne support. During his time in the jungle, Nate invented a number of safety and communication features which improved aviation everywhere.It was Nate's passion for reaching an isolated, violent tribe that drove Operation Auca forward. Nate and five other missionaries conspired to make contact with the tribe, repeatedly dropping gifts. Eventually, they felt it safe to proceed with their plans to land on the ground and make physical contact with the Auca people. The plan was to create an outpost and visit the Aucas regularly.If you haven't heard the story of Nate Saint and Jim Elliot, I'm not going to ruin it for you. It's inspiring to say the least. In fact, you can find the story of Jim Elliot in another Torchbearers book. Nate Saint's sacrifice for the Auca people had far-reaching consequences. His life impacted the lives of others in amazing and unexpected ways.Nancy Drummond does a fantastic job of running the theme of God's sovereign guidance and provision through Nate Saint: Operation Auca. She repeatedly points to God's hand in Nate's life, even in the unpleasant events such as when Nate contracts pneumonia. Her writing allows kids to see the purpose in the pain.That's what made me cry.Nate Saint's martyrdom should be a terrible loss for humanity. It should be a pointless tragedy. We should shake our heads in horror at the savage loss of his life. Yet, Nate Saint's martyrdom was a victory for the Gospel of Christ. It's a heroic tale of a man and his wife -- sold out for Jesus and willing to give all for the cause of Christ. It's the story of how God uses people to bring glory to His name.It's the story of how our humble service in His name can continue generations after we have joined Jesus after our lives here are done.I highly recommend Nate Saint: Operation Auca by Nancy Drummond. Bravo, Nancy.I want to thank Christian Focus Publications for providing me with a copy of Nate Saint: Operation Auca by Nancy Drummond in return for my honest opinion.~ Danika Cooley

At long last; an accurate account of what happened.A real testimony to the power of God. A good word for those in need of a boost!