The Savage, My Kinsmen by Elisabeth Elliot
In January of 1956, the world received with shock the news that five American missionaries had been speared to death in the Equadorian jungles by Auca Indians – reportedly the most savage tribe on earth. Years later, it became clear that what seemed to be the tragic ending of those missionaries’ dreams was only the first chapter of one of the most marvelous missionary stories of the twentieth century.
The Savage, My Kinsman tells the story, in beautifully written text and pictures, of Elisabeth Elliot’s venture into Auca territory three years after the death of her husband, Jim Elliot. Elisabeth and her daughter Valerie, then tree years old, returned to the jungle along with Rachel Saint, the sister of one of the other slain men. The linguistic work of these women brought Christ’s message of salvation to the tribe that had killed their loved ones. They became the first to enter the Auca territory and live to tell the story. This is a coura
geous story of family, love, and above all, trust and confidence in a sovereign God to open doors of opportunity for the gospel.
Summary
The Savage, My Kinsmen chronicles one of the greatest missionary stories of the twentieth century. It begins by recounting the horrific news of five missionaries who had been speared to death on a beach in the territory of the Auca Indians. The family members of these men were overwhelmed with the news but were previously aware of the danger knowing that this tribe was said to be the most dangerous on earth.
After much praying, thinking, and weighing the options, Elisabeth Elliot decided to venture into the Auca territory to build on what her husband began. She, along with her daughter Valerie and Rachel Saint, began to meet the people, observe their daily lives, and learn the language. Through years of language study with the Dayuma, Mintaka, and Mankamu, Rachel Saint and Elisabeth create a filing system and recordings in order to learn the language of the Aucas. Years of service and labor among these Indians proved to be worthwhile as they saw them come to the knowledge of Christ. Their acceptance of the gospel was without question an act of God and a movement of the Holy Spirit. It was out of the death of the five missionaries that life began to flow to the Auca people through the witness of Elisabeth Elliot and Rachel Saint.
Elisabeth recounts the story of when she first entered the village of the Auca people. She said the Aucas were the personification of death in her mind as she could only associate them with the death of her beloved husband. It was possible, in her mind, that death also might be the fate of both her and her daughter Valerie. She describes the first Auca people she came in contact with. They were naked besides a cotton string around their hips, with large holes in their earlobes which were filled with disks of balsa wood.
Elisabeth soon learns that if she is going to live with the Aucas she must do exactly what they do – and nothing else. Her days were filled with writing down their language so she could give them the Bible and educating Valeria through correspondence courses. Their time was spent in a small straw hut with a hammock swinging between two beams of wood that made a nice relaxing place. This story is filled with ups and downs that only missionaries experience and can understand. It is filled with stories of triumph and disappointment, praises and hardships. It is a story of love.
Critical Evaluation
The Savage, My Kinsmen is written from the perspective of a grieving wife that turns into a God-sent missionary to those who murdered her husband. The reader can actually hear Elisabeth Elliot speaking from her heart through these pages as she speaks of her dependence upon God for everything while living with the Auca Indians. This book tells of the journey into the dark jungles of South America in a real autobiographical way. The reader learns who Elisabeth Elliot is and her work among the Auca people. It is almost like reading a diary or journal.
Another advantage of this book is the pictures that fill its pages. They show the daily life and faces of the people Elisabeth Elliot learned to love and care for. They show a daughter growing up in a foreign territory and the contrast of her curly blonde hair against the savage warriors. The pictures add a quality to this book that nothing else can add. The reader automatically sympathizes with the condition and work that lay before the feet of both Elisabeth Elliot and Rachel Saint.
This reviewer has read many accounts of the five missionaries that were killed on ‘Palm Beach’ by the Auca Indians but The Savage, My Kinsmen is another type of book. It shows another side to the story that many Christians know and love. It shows how the work of Christ and His kingdom must continue even after tragedy and lose. It shows how the gospel must be shared even with those we despise in our hearts. This book is a story of grace; grace in the life of Elisabeth Elliot and grace given by Christ to the Auca Indians.
Conclusion
The Savage, My Kinsmen is a work that I would recommend for anyone desiring a closer look at foreign mission work in a hostile part of the world. It is well written from a first-hand perspective which gives credence to its content. It will prove to be inspirational, eye-opening, and enjoyable to all who read it. Elisabeth Elliot and her family are examples to all missionaries and those who desire to do mission work. She is clearly a Godly woman who can teach us, drawing from years of experience, that complete and total surrender is the only way to serve God and make an impact upon his kingdom.
