Auca Flights
Men armed only with the Gospel are again flying over the jungles of Ecuador where five young missionaries were slain last year by the Auca Indians, according to the Rev. Harvey R. Bostrom.
Mr. Bostrom has headed missionary work of the Christian and Missionary Alliance in Ecuador for 12 years. He predicted that the barrier of savagery built by the Aucas would be broken down.
“Missionaries are again flying over the Auca district dropping gifts,” he said. “But it will take time to gain their confidence. One missionary, his wife and child are living on the rim of the jungle inhabited by the Aucas. This family has not been molested.”
Mr. Bostrom headed base operations for the party that entered the jungle and recovered the bodies of the martyred five.
The Alliance leader said there were two theories as to why the Aucas had turned from apparent friendliness toward the missionaries and had become bitterly hostile.
“One theory is that the Aucas wanted to present a young girl to the missionaries as a gift,” he said. “The girl, a woman and a tribesman had spent a day with the missionaries, radio messages from the mission band had indicated. When the proffer was refused, it may be that the Aucas became infuriated.
“The other theory is that the Aucas became convinced the missionary party, bearing camp equipment, was setting up permanent quarters. The Aucas may have feared a trick.”
Mr. Bostrom said the martyrdom of the five young men had proved a great stimulus to mission work.
