Made for the Journey
Made for the Journey: One Missionary’s First Year in the Jungles of Ecuador
By Elisabeth Elliot
In her first year as a missionary to a small group of native women in the Ecuadorian jungle, Elisabeth Elliot faced physical and spiritual trials. In Made for the Journey, Elliot captures the mysteries and stark realities surrounding the colorful and primitive world in which she ministered. More than just a recounting of her early days, this is a beautifully crafted and deeply personal reflection on the important questions of life and a remarkable testimony to authentic Christian obedience to God.
About the Author
When I saw the cover and title of this book, I immediately thought of another missionary book I’d read in school. I remember the story being so interesting, the kind that could put a reader on the edge of their seat. Plus, reading about the sacrifice these individuals made to bring the Gospel to remote parts of the Earth…wow. If only I were so brave. I’m referring to those who are called to bring the Gospel, the Word of God, as well as to show God’s love to people that might otherwise never be given the opportunity. Elisabeth Elliot worked hard, first learning the language of the Colorado Indians, then developing an alphabet with the ultimate goal of translating the Bible so these families could then read, explore and learn for themselves.
In this book, Elisabeth describes her first year as a missionary in Ecuador. She initially tells of her travel along with Dorothy to this remote location, where she would join two other women. What an amazing, yet nervewracking experience…at that’s just with the truck ride. Most might think of missions trips as a quick plane trip down, and a comfortable bus ride in. Not for Elisabeth. She spent hours on the truck (around 10 hours) to travel from the smallest of towns to the village (if you could call it that) to where she eventually settles into her new life alongside Barbara and Doreen. She could have focused on the negative: the extreme weather, the bugs, the snakes, out in the middle of nowhere. Yet she found the beauty in her surroundings, not only of the jungles and animal life but also in the people. Elisabeth Elliot has written several books on her life as a missionary. She was married to Jim Elliot, who was killed in 1956 while attempting to make missionary contact with the Auca (Huaorani), the same tribe she later spends two years ministering. If you enjoy nonfiction reads about overcoming obstacles to help others, you would enjoy this book. There’s a little bit of humor and a lot of heart as she shares her first experience in the jungles of Ecuador. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Revell. The thoughts and honest opinions expressed in this review are my own. And I will be happy to share this copy with a friend of mine. She’ll love it.
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