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Bruchko And The Motilone Miracle
If not for what you have already done, there would be no Motilones anymore—only a few tattered peasants with neither land nor pride. You are pursuing the wisest possible course in educating people to fight their own battles with Colombian national society, while trying to maintain land and preserve a sense of cultural identity. With the strength and energy you have already shown you have performed miracles.” —Dr. Stephen Beckerman Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico
Bruchko and the Motilone Miracle, the powerful sequel to Bruce Olson's best-selling missionary classic, Bruchko, is a remarkable tale of adventure, tragedy, faith, and love. It shows how, despite incredible dangers and obstacles, one humble man and a tribe of primitive, violent Indians—by joining together in simple obedience—have been transformed forever by the sovereign will of god. This book, which details Olson’s missionary work and events from the 1970s to the present, will stir and encourage the hearts of readers to serve and follow God passionately.
About the Author
Bruce Olson, born in Minnesota and now a citizen of Colombia, is a linguist and graduate of the University of Caracas, Venezuela. He has won the friendship of four Colombian presidents and appeared before the United Nations. His first book, Bruchko, has sold more than 300,000 copies worldwide. He lives in the jungle on the border of Colombia and Venezuela.
240 pages, Paperback
First published July 17, 2006
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About the author
Bruce Olson
23 books18 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Bruce Olson is a Scandinavian American Christian missionary best known for his work in bringing Christianity to the Motilone Indians of Colombia and Venezuela.
Bruce Olson is a Scandinavian American Christian missionary best known for his work in bringing Christianity to the Motilone Indians of Colombia and Venezuela.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
May 27, 2008
A tall prophet with yellow hair will come to us carrying banana stalks. Knowledge of life and God will come out of those stalks, and God will show us the way back to him. –Ancient Motilone Legend
Does God still move like he did in the first century church? Are miracles possible? Or, are the supernatural events portrayed in the Bible simply fables of a wild imagination? If you have ever doubted the miraculous power of God be sure to read Bruchko and its newly released sequel Bruchko and the Motilone Miracle. At 19 years old, Bruce Olson did something many of us wouldn't dare do. Only a Christian of five years, he sensed God calling him to the Amazon Indians of South America. With a few dollars in his pocket and no ability to speak Spanish, he hopped on a plane to Venezuela, unsure of what to expect. In 1962, Bruce made contact with the Motilone Indians—the first outsider to do so and survive.
The Motilone, a stone-age Indian tribe living in the rain forest on the border of Venezuela and Colombia, almost killed Bruce too. They shot him with an arrow through his thigh, but allowed him to live. Over the next few years, he slowly and painstakingly learned their language and became one of them. In time, he heard them recount a legend of a blond haired prophet who would bring “banana stalks” containing knowledge of life and God:
One of the Indians walked over to a nearby banana tree, cut off a section, and tossed it toward us. ‘This is the kind of banana stalk God can come from,’ he said . . . Leaves still inside the stalk, waiting to develop and come out, started peeling off. As they lay at the base of the stalk, they looked like pages from a book. Suddenly the word raced through my mind. Book! Book! I grabbed my pack and took out my Bible . . . ‘This is it!’ (p. 10).
As the Indians learned about Jesus, God’s Spirit transformed the previously violent tribe to such an extent that a visiting anthropologist, Samuel Greenberg, noticed. It triggered his own spiritual journey and some years later he became a Christian. The book Bruchko and the Motilone Miracle goes on to describe the profound advancements the Motilone made after their spiritual awakening.
In 1962, when Bruce arrived, the Motilone had no written language. By 2003, there were 28 schools in the jungle led by Motilone and Colombian teachers. In 1963, the first medical clinic opened. By 2003, 23 health centers existed and 39 Motilone and other tribal natives had graduated from medical school to return to the jungle as doctors. The Motilone became leaders among the Amazon tribes, creating unprecedented unity among previously warring factions. So much so, they succeeded in bringing together leaders from tribes representing 50 languages—nearly all the Indians of Columbia.
The change in the Motilone garnered national attention, and in 1972 a Motilone delegation was invited to Columbia's Third Congress on Community Development. During the closing ceremony, Colombian President Misrael Pastrana invited Kaymiyokba to speak. In front of the entire assembly the president asked the how the tribe had been so transformed from violence to one that now dialogued with the government. When Pastrana attributed it to the advancements in education, medicine and agriculture, Kaymiyokba replied: These are not the reasons. These tools are a benefit to us. But the change is because our tribe now walks in the footsteps of a new leader.
Pastrana: Ah, I see. You walk in the footsteps of the missionary Bruce Olson.
Kaymiyokba: No, not Bruchko. We had to teach him how to speak our language, how to suck the juices from insects, how to survive in the jungle. When he was naked we clothed him. Bruchko is not the leader who brought peace to our people.
Pastrana: Then in whose footsteps do you walk?
Kaymiyokba: Saymaydodji-ibateradacura. God incarnate in human flesh. Jesus Christ.
It’s been over 40 years since Bruce first responded to God’s prompting to share Jesus with the Motilone. He has lived among them as family all this time, and is now 65 years old. Over the years media groups around the world have written stories about him; he has received invitations to speak at prominent universities in the United States (including Harvard); he has had friendships with four Colombian presidents; he has endured imprisonment and torture at the hands of guerrillas; he has been shot at more times than he can count (one bullet is still lodged in his neck); he has had a supernatural encounter with a ChigBari (angel); he has suffered jungle diseases like malaria, typhoid and Chagis. He also lost his best friend, a Motilone, to murder, and his Columbian fiancée to a senseless car accident. Bruce is a bit like a modern day Paul the Apostle.
I met Bruce when I was 16. He came to our house for dinner. Our church was having its annual missions conference, and as a financial supporter of Bruce's work, the church had invited him to speak. Except for his looming 6 foot frame Bruce was an unassuming man, an introvert who seemed slightly uncomfortable making small talk with a group of strangers. I wondered, sympathetically, if he wouldn’t rather be back in the jungle. While I don't recall the dinner conversation that night, I do remember the moment he stood up to speak in front of the congregation. There was a confidence and power in his message that gripped my heart and made me sit up straight.
Bruce Olson’s life reminds me of what God does when we take a step of faith, when we act in obedience to what God is telling us to do. A teenager with no money, mission board or official training simply got on a plane and trusted God’s voice. The result was a people transformed by the truth of Jesus.
Does God still move like he did in the first century church? Are miracles possible? Or, are the supernatural events portrayed in the Bible simply fables of a wild imagination? If you have ever doubted the miraculous power of God be sure to read Bruchko and its newly released sequel Bruchko and the Motilone Miracle. At 19 years old, Bruce Olson did something many of us wouldn't dare do. Only a Christian of five years, he sensed God calling him to the Amazon Indians of South America. With a few dollars in his pocket and no ability to speak Spanish, he hopped on a plane to Venezuela, unsure of what to expect. In 1962, Bruce made contact with the Motilone Indians—the first outsider to do so and survive.
The Motilone, a stone-age Indian tribe living in the rain forest on the border of Venezuela and Colombia, almost killed Bruce too. They shot him with an arrow through his thigh, but allowed him to live. Over the next few years, he slowly and painstakingly learned their language and became one of them. In time, he heard them recount a legend of a blond haired prophet who would bring “banana stalks” containing knowledge of life and God:
One of the Indians walked over to a nearby banana tree, cut off a section, and tossed it toward us. ‘This is the kind of banana stalk God can come from,’ he said . . . Leaves still inside the stalk, waiting to develop and come out, started peeling off. As they lay at the base of the stalk, they looked like pages from a book. Suddenly the word raced through my mind. Book! Book! I grabbed my pack and took out my Bible . . . ‘This is it!’ (p. 10).
As the Indians learned about Jesus, God’s Spirit transformed the previously violent tribe to such an extent that a visiting anthropologist, Samuel Greenberg, noticed. It triggered his own spiritual journey and some years later he became a Christian. The book Bruchko and the Motilone Miracle goes on to describe the profound advancements the Motilone made after their spiritual awakening.
In 1962, when Bruce arrived, the Motilone had no written language. By 2003, there were 28 schools in the jungle led by Motilone and Colombian teachers. In 1963, the first medical clinic opened. By 2003, 23 health centers existed and 39 Motilone and other tribal natives had graduated from medical school to return to the jungle as doctors. The Motilone became leaders among the Amazon tribes, creating unprecedented unity among previously warring factions. So much so, they succeeded in bringing together leaders from tribes representing 50 languages—nearly all the Indians of Columbia.
The change in the Motilone garnered national attention, and in 1972 a Motilone delegation was invited to Columbia's Third Congress on Community Development. During the closing ceremony, Colombian President Misrael Pastrana invited Kaymiyokba to speak. In front of the entire assembly the president asked the how the tribe had been so transformed from violence to one that now dialogued with the government. When Pastrana attributed it to the advancements in education, medicine and agriculture, Kaymiyokba replied: These are not the reasons. These tools are a benefit to us. But the change is because our tribe now walks in the footsteps of a new leader.
Pastrana: Ah, I see. You walk in the footsteps of the missionary Bruce Olson.
Kaymiyokba: No, not Bruchko. We had to teach him how to speak our language, how to suck the juices from insects, how to survive in the jungle. When he was naked we clothed him. Bruchko is not the leader who brought peace to our people.
Pastrana: Then in whose footsteps do you walk?
Kaymiyokba: Saymaydodji-ibateradacura. God incarnate in human flesh. Jesus Christ.
It’s been over 40 years since Bruce first responded to God’s prompting to share Jesus with the Motilone. He has lived among them as family all this time, and is now 65 years old. Over the years media groups around the world have written stories about him; he has received invitations to speak at prominent universities in the United States (including Harvard); he has had friendships with four Colombian presidents; he has endured imprisonment and torture at the hands of guerrillas; he has been shot at more times than he can count (one bullet is still lodged in his neck); he has had a supernatural encounter with a ChigBari (angel); he has suffered jungle diseases like malaria, typhoid and Chagis. He also lost his best friend, a Motilone, to murder, and his Columbian fiancée to a senseless car accident. Bruce is a bit like a modern day Paul the Apostle.
I met Bruce when I was 16. He came to our house for dinner. Our church was having its annual missions conference, and as a financial supporter of Bruce's work, the church had invited him to speak. Except for his looming 6 foot frame Bruce was an unassuming man, an introvert who seemed slightly uncomfortable making small talk with a group of strangers. I wondered, sympathetically, if he wouldn’t rather be back in the jungle. While I don't recall the dinner conversation that night, I do remember the moment he stood up to speak in front of the congregation. There was a confidence and power in his message that gripped my heart and made me sit up straight.
Bruce Olson’s life reminds me of what God does when we take a step of faith, when we act in obedience to what God is telling us to do. A teenager with no money, mission board or official training simply got on a plane and trusted God’s voice. The result was a people transformed by the truth of Jesus.
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April 7, 2015THE MOTILONE MIRACLE is one of my favorite books about how the gospel of Jesus Christ can impact a tribe of people and an entire nation. Truly Bruce (Bruchko) Olson has decreased in order for Christ to increase. His selfless life of living among the Motilone Indians for 40 years in Colombia South America reveals how the gospel of Christ is the power of God for those who believe. Only Christ can change savages into saints. I don't think there is another story of a christian missionary in the 20th century who impacted a culture like Bruce Olson . Bruce's work with the Motilones helped establish churches, an education system, a cooperative work force, and medical facilites. He did this without changing the Motilone culture or trying to "Americanize" the motilone tribe. Read this compelling story and see why it's entitled The Motilone Miracle. His love and compassion for these people changed a tribe....changed a country....and changed the world. Do you believe in miracles? I do !!
November 13, 2021
Audible.com 7 hours 7 min. Narrated by Gary Diceos (A)
The true story of Bruce Olson from Minneapolis, Minnesota, who at age 19 in 1962 left home with a few dollars and a plane ticket to Venezuela . Bruce had a burden to take the life-changing gospel story of the freedom from sin he had experienced personally to unreached Indians of South America. His compassion for the primitive Indians and his complete obedience to God's call took him eventually to the Motilone Indians of Columbia. This book is his fascinating story of the hardship's he endured to fulfill his commitment.
This book was published in 2006, and I did some research to find that Bruce still at age 80 lives and continues to work with Indian tribes in Columbia. They have become his real family!
For a more in depth review see the one written by Karen in Feb. 2012
The true story of Bruce Olson from Minneapolis, Minnesota, who at age 19 in 1962 left home with a few dollars and a plane ticket to Venezuela . Bruce had a burden to take the life-changing gospel story of the freedom from sin he had experienced personally to unreached Indians of South America. His compassion for the primitive Indians and his complete obedience to God's call took him eventually to the Motilone Indians of Columbia. This book is his fascinating story of the hardship's he endured to fulfill his commitment.
This book was published in 2006, and I did some research to find that Bruce still at age 80 lives and continues to work with Indian tribes in Columbia. They have become his real family!
For a more in depth review see the one written by Karen in Feb. 2012
February 25, 2025
This is the sequel to the first bruchko book. If you combine the two memoirs, it makes for one of the most insane missionary stories I’ve read about. I only give this one a 4 star because I wasn’t a fan of how this second book was structured and that the first 3 chapters was just book 1 summarized. Some crazy cool stories tho
September 11, 2018
This is definitely one of my favourite Christian missionary books. I'll definitely try to re-read this book again as it depicts struggle realistically and describes the beautiful friendship that blossomed. I remember sitting in a bar in Portland and crying by the window while reading this book.
June 7, 2013
A very inspirational true story about a young man who feels called to bring the gospel to the Motilones. He is not sent by a mission or church at the age of 19 but he did an amazing work that left a group of people stronger to face the influences of western culture. I gave it a 4 because it is some what repetitive.
January 19, 2016
"Why God? Why is it so hard?" "It's for this cross."
Bruchko is a story of a man who truly understands that the gospel belongs to nobody but Jesus. And for that reason, it's not meant to be shared just one way. This book is a great story of God moving through a man with nothing but a desire to fulfill Gods will. No training, no theology; just obedience. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
Bruchko is a story of a man who truly understands that the gospel belongs to nobody but Jesus. And for that reason, it's not meant to be shared just one way. This book is a great story of God moving through a man with nothing but a desire to fulfill Gods will. No training, no theology; just obedience. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
July 7, 2024
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Its hard to know what you're going to get when you have someone write a book on their own experiences as a missionary. This was definitely not the status quo. Not only was the story heartfelt and engaging, but Bruce's pioneering work becoming the hands and feet of Christ to the Motolone people was authentic and inspiring. He spent years living with and truly getting to be completely integrated into the tribe before he even spoke of Christ. The Motolone people had received a vision from God previous to Bruce's appearance. Bruce prayerfully and beautifully engaged the tribe members in their own time. Bruce also respected the culture structures and did not impose western ways on the tribe. He gave honor to those who were already respected in the tribe, and new developments such as medicine and vaccines were established by integrating them with the witch doctors, on their own terms.
January 11, 2025
Incredible, inspiring story of God’s work through Bruce Olson. I love the way he shares the gospel with the Motilone people for the first time, drawing from the tribe’s own folklore. The people have this story of a Motilone man who wanted to help an ant colony build their home. The ants were afraid of him and didn’t trust him until he became one who looked like an ant, spoke like an ant, and lived among the ants. In the same way, Christ took on human form and lived among us so that He could save us. From this illustration, the Motilone name for Jesus became Saymaydoji-ibateradacura: “God incarnate in human flesh.”
September 2, 2019
I love reading about the things God does. When we obey Him, great things happen.
This is the continuing report of what is happening in Columbia with the Motilones. Bruce continues to obey and sees amazing results! I especially was encouraged by how, even when he was captured by guerilla forces, he stayed strong in his faith and led others to Christ.
Read this book and Bruchko to be encouraged and challenged to more obedience.
This is the continuing report of what is happening in Columbia with the Motilones. Bruce continues to obey and sees amazing results! I especially was encouraged by how, even when he was captured by guerilla forces, he stayed strong in his faith and led others to Christ.
Read this book and Bruchko to be encouraged and challenged to more obedience.
July 19, 2018
This fascinating, quick read brings to life the story of one man's journey into the South American jungles, and his interactions with a feared tribe. Forty - five years after his first meeting of the tribe, he recounts the successes God has given him in 5 major areas. Very convicting and encouraging.
January 28, 2019
A reminder of Gods provision during the times it’s least expected . An encouraging read for those looking to enter the missions/remote area outreach fields with the Gospel . Not a fan of the authors writing style, however the book was translated from a different language into English which explains the simplicity and a few grammar errors I stumbled upon .
March 7, 2024
Heart-warming, humbling story of a man who heeded his call at a young age. Bruce Olson takes us through miracles, heartbreaks, humor and great insight of a man's willingness to be God's instrument to a feared, indigenous tribe. A wonderful book and testimony, an awesome reminder of God's sovereignty.
May 17, 2019
Very powerful reading of faith and courage
Bruce Olson is an inspiration and a hero of anyone who has any desire or interest towards mission. I do and what he accomplished over his 40 years is beyond amazing!
Bruce Olson is an inspiration and a hero of anyone who has any desire or interest towards mission. I do and what he accomplished over his 40 years is beyond amazing!
October 10, 2025
For the most part, this was a retelling of the first book, Bruchko. Olson elaborated on quite a bit, but the final product felt a little disorganized. I'm still glad I read it though. Still an incredible testimony to God's missional heart.
February 6, 2019
Loved this story. Exciting and inspiring. My favorite missionary story.
January 7, 2020
nebyla to špatná kniha .Byla hodně dobrodružná.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2021
A cute mispronunciation of someone's name does not a noble remote tribe contact make. At least Bruce stuck with the peoples for life and helped the fight for their survival.
January 12, 2022
I love a missionary story that’s full of adventure, and this does not lack. I want to know MORE about his story and missions progress.
September 4, 2022
A must read for all interested in missiology AND for all Christians.
Currently reading
November 7, 2023p. 4- end
July 1, 2024
A must-read for missionaries!
November 28, 2024
If you want to see how Jesus works, this is one man's story where Christ clearly shows himself💕
July 22, 2025
En kristen banger
May 25, 2017
this books is a good book to read it is very interesting. It can get the readers interested into finding more about what happened to the person in the story. Someone should read this book because it can show how good it is to have trust in God. It also tells us not to take what we have for granted.
October 16, 2009
Seeing as I didn't rate the first book with 5 stars I won't rate this one with five either but I've really, really enjoyed reading both of Bruce's books about the 45+ years he has spent living with the Motilone Indians in Colombia. They are both on my list of favorites. Reading about his many near death experiences, nine-month captivity with revolutionaries (better known as terrorists), his absolute acceptance of God's will in his life, the issues facing the indigenous Indian tribes in the 21 century, the cooperatives, and many other faith-filled experiences was an experience full of amazement, joy, and deep appreciation for the many sacrifices this one man has made.
Having also read "Three Cups of Tea" I found the issues facing how to deal with revolutionaries/terrorists and change terrorist thinking/actions an interesting juxtaposition to Greg Mortensen's ideas that building schools will make a most significant difference. Olson's ideas bring in an aspect of God/Christ that as a firm believer in the power/healing that Christ offers I find missing in Mortensen's plans. Maybe missing isn't the right word, but the realization that with a focus on Christ and following his ways the changes this stone age tribe has made will continue throughout the generations and hopefully allow the corruptness the modern world brings to this innocent group of people to be mitigated through their willingness to seek God's guidance as the issues facing them become more complex.
Read it and let me know what you think.
P.S I didn't read the kindle edition but that was the only edition I could find to add. I'll also be adding this book to the list of mandatory reads for my children. Mandatory reading may just end up being bribes-whatever it takes to expose my children to this type of literature.
Having also read "Three Cups of Tea" I found the issues facing how to deal with revolutionaries/terrorists and change terrorist thinking/actions an interesting juxtaposition to Greg Mortensen's ideas that building schools will make a most significant difference. Olson's ideas bring in an aspect of God/Christ that as a firm believer in the power/healing that Christ offers I find missing in Mortensen's plans. Maybe missing isn't the right word, but the realization that with a focus on Christ and following his ways the changes this stone age tribe has made will continue throughout the generations and hopefully allow the corruptness the modern world brings to this innocent group of people to be mitigated through their willingness to seek God's guidance as the issues facing them become more complex.
Read it and let me know what you think.
P.S I didn't read the kindle edition but that was the only edition I could find to add. I'll also be adding this book to the list of mandatory reads for my children. Mandatory reading may just end up being bribes-whatever it takes to expose my children to this type of literature.
September 15, 2013
This is a sequel of the first Bruce Olson's book and continues the story in the Colombian jungles up to the 2004 year. The first 20% of the book is a summary of the first book (mid-1950s up to 1972 when Bobby has been murdered by land settlers). If you've just read the first book and immediately begin the sequel you may start with chapter 3. However, there are some slight dissimilarities and the first two chapters worth reading.
Both books reveal a truly fascinating story of adventures and miracles, almost on every page (especially in the first book). At one moment I though that this sounds like a fiction novel and I searched something about the Bari Indians. I found some interesting Bari sites and read an oil worker witness about their encounter with the then hostile Bari in 1958 that confirm the truthfulness of Bruce Olson's books. I recommend his books to anyone loving true stories.
I have found some interesting additional info that lacks in these books in the Charisma magazine's summary of Olson life named "The Jungle Is Still His Home" (June 2007).
However, I took one star of this book because the publisher have decided to put quotes extracted from the main text almost on every second or third page. Quotes are in a very big font (2-3 times bigger than the main text font on Kindle). This is really distracting as reader have to skip 1/2 to 2/3 of those pages to continue reading the main text.
Author plans to write another book as we can read at the end of this one. This is great news. I look forward to reading it. What I would be glad to find in it which lacks in the existing two is:
1. A photograph of the alphabet that Bruce Olson has taught Bari in schools? Is it Latin or some new alphabet?
2. Some excerpt of the Bari New Testament.
3. What happened to the Bari that live in Venezuela?
Both books reveal a truly fascinating story of adventures and miracles, almost on every page (especially in the first book). At one moment I though that this sounds like a fiction novel and I searched something about the Bari Indians. I found some interesting Bari sites and read an oil worker witness about their encounter with the then hostile Bari in 1958 that confirm the truthfulness of Bruce Olson's books. I recommend his books to anyone loving true stories.
I have found some interesting additional info that lacks in these books in the Charisma magazine's summary of Olson life named "The Jungle Is Still His Home" (June 2007).
However, I took one star of this book because the publisher have decided to put quotes extracted from the main text almost on every second or third page. Quotes are in a very big font (2-3 times bigger than the main text font on Kindle). This is really distracting as reader have to skip 1/2 to 2/3 of those pages to continue reading the main text.
Author plans to write another book as we can read at the end of this one. This is great news. I look forward to reading it. What I would be glad to find in it which lacks in the existing two is:
1. A photograph of the alphabet that Bruce Olson has taught Bari in schools? Is it Latin or some new alphabet?
2. Some excerpt of the Bari New Testament.
3. What happened to the Bari that live in Venezuela?
April 9, 2015
This is a great book not only for Christians or missionaries, but for anyone doing cross-cultural work. Olson spent years living among the Motilones learning their language and culture before he attempted to share his faith. When he did share, he worked hard to respect and affirm the Motilone world.
He says one of his goals all along was to help them become more independent, rather than dependent (on the government, a mission board, etc), which is a great philosophy. As a consequence he helped them learn new agricultural techniques and worked to build native leadership in education and medical centers.
God's providence is a powerful part of this narrative, as Olson shows how Godly decisions lead to unexpected consequences down the road.
What didn't I like? The layout style-- using pull-quotes on nearly every other page to highlight text. It's one thing in a periodical article, but is no more than a distracting space-filler in a book.
Ignore the big quotes and enjoy the book. It's amazing and inspiring.
He says one of his goals all along was to help them become more independent, rather than dependent (on the government, a mission board, etc), which is a great philosophy. As a consequence he helped them learn new agricultural techniques and worked to build native leadership in education and medical centers.
God's providence is a powerful part of this narrative, as Olson shows how Godly decisions lead to unexpected consequences down the road.
What didn't I like? The layout style-- using pull-quotes on nearly every other page to highlight text. It's one thing in a periodical article, but is no more than a distracting space-filler in a book.
Ignore the big quotes and enjoy the book. It's amazing and inspiring.
June 12, 2016
inspiring story if a missionary who faced much suffering and torment to reach a village of unreached people. The book starts off very slow with very fluffy theology, but as the book progressed it became very engaging and intense, being shot by arrows, starvation, sickness, etc. Olson has shown his intelligence by his ability to quickly learn languages on his own and by observation. He had a decent balance on Sharing the Gospel but being culturally sensitive, though strayed away at times like claiming the witch doctor "prayed to God the best she could." Instead of claiming at least in the book that it was not the God of scripture. In the end, you can see that Olson had a call from God and God Preserved Him, guided Him and called Him to where he needed to be. Olson shows the power of relationship building in other cultures is.
October 30, 2007
A story of one man (Bruce Olsen aka Bruchko) who dedicated his life to becoming apart of and assisting the Indians of Columbia. An incredible change for a group of natives...From living near extension to thriving in the 21st Century all through education and weaving Christianity into the Motilone culture. Bruchko did not try to change the way of life or force religion on these people. He instead, over the period of 40years, developed deep friendships, mutual trust, shared his knowledge only when asked, and always chose to preserve their ancient culture and way of life.
Very uplifting and incredible story. Don't put it down until you get past the first 30pgs as the beginning text reads very juvenile, flat, and a little preachy.
Very uplifting and incredible story. Don't put it down until you get past the first 30pgs as the beginning text reads very juvenile, flat, and a little preachy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews