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Jungle Pilot

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 Hear a story of faithfulness to Christ when pilot Nate Saint and four other missionaries were killed in Ecuador by the people they had come to serve.

 

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1959

73 people are currently reading
2248 people want to read

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Russell T. Hitt

12 books2 followers

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5 stars
1,179 (53%)
4 stars
652 (29%)
3 stars
293 (13%)
2 stars
60 (2%)
1 star
14 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
Profile Image for Becky Hintz.
262 reviews20 followers
February 23, 2016
I read this alongside my 11-year-old son, hoping to inspire him with the example of a young man determined to follow the Lord, no matter the cost. Most of the book is devoted to Nate's process of fully surrendering to God's call on his life, and the various places this call took him; the last couple of chapters tell the story of Operation Auca and its aftermath. I really appreciated Nate's take on dating and marriage decisions, and mentally bookmarked them for future conversations. Though it is not geared towards children, this book was very readable for my son and he enjoyed it thoroughly; he now considers Nate Saint one of his heroes of the faith. Recommended.
Profile Image for Matt.
52 reviews
February 8, 2024
One of the most spiritually challenging books I have read in a long time. I greatly appreciated the fact that the author included so much Nate’s personal journals and correspondence in the narrative. It gave great insight into Saint’s perspective on life and ministry and his constant pursuit of doing God’s will. Seeing these glimpses into his heart — his passion to know God, to do His will, to use every talents and ability to take the Gospel to the unreached tribes, and his keen insight into life, ministry, and missionary work — all were a challenge to me personally.

Before reading the book, I only knew of Nate Saint as a missionary pilot who was martyred along with Jim Elliot and three others. Now, I feel like I know the man Nate Saint, and not just his occupation.

Highly recommended! Will definitely read again!!
Profile Image for Jaclynn.
220 reviews
January 17, 2008
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this one, I think every Christian should read it. It was neat for me to get the perspective on Nate Saint’s life after having read so much about Jim Elliot all my life. It was another side to the story of the 5 martyred missionaries. I appreciated the epilogue at the end by Stephen B. Saint and in finding out what happened after that fateful day up until the early 21st century.
Profile Image for Yibbie.
1,403 reviews54 followers
February 11, 2018
“Obedience is not a momentary option...it is a die-cast decision made beforehand.” – Nate Saint
Nate Saint would be the first to point out that missionaries aren’t special Christians, and that he isn’t any more special than the rest of us. He wouldn’t want to be held up for praise. He saw his personal weaknesses, failures, and sins. He also saw that if he could obey Christ and be used by Him so could the rest of us.
That’s what this book encourages, obedience; not in a preachy manner, but through the beautiful testimony of his actions. Hitt starts the book with a story from Saints mission aviation days then moves back and chronicles his life. He gives us a very good look at the trials and joys that helped shape his faith. Then he starts including bits from Saint’s letters and journal. It’s so encouraging to see him struggle with the same temptations we do and have victory over them through his faith. It’s also convicting because he shows us that that could be our life too if we choose to obey as well.
I struggled with the style at first. It jumps back and forth between third person and first person a lot. Saint liked writing and wrote in a fascinating first-person narration style. His style and vocabulary are very similar to Hitt's own style. So every time he quotes one of Saints letters it sounds like the narrator has just switched tenses. It’s not made any easier by a change in font either. After a while, I caught on didn’t get distracted anymore.
The only other thing is the slightly disparaging way that Hitt treats Saint’s upbringing. He seems to think that the Saints were overly strict when Nate was growing up, but he also acknowledges that ‘despite’ that they raised their children to be strong Christians with several dedicated to full-time service.
I would recommend this book to everyone.
26 reviews1 follower
November 15, 2025
I was named after Nate Saint, so it was important for me to read this book.

Lawrence Bradford Saint was widely known for his stained-glass windows. He had so much skill that he was chosen to make windows for the Washington National Cathedral. While he was was working on the scene where Jesus fed the 5000, his young son Nathan sat and posed for him. No one at the time knew that this little boy would grow up to become even more famous than his father.

The Saint children were raised under a relatively strict regimen when it came to Christianity, although they had plenty of freedom in other areas. Sundays were just for church and family. But when it came to play, it was perfectly acceptable for them to walk on the roof, sleep in the woods, or tinker with machinery. Nate was always building toys and was especially interested in flying after his older brother took him in a plane and let him hold the controls. When he was old enough, he worked around airports and got as much flying experience as he could. His plan was to enlist in the army and eventually become a commercial pilot. WWII seemed to provide a good reason to fight. (This stands in stark contrast to the views of Jim Elliot, his future companion, who was against fighting in the war).

He believed that it was God's will that he learn to fly. It didn't take long for him to get plenty of hours in the air, but a medical condition from his past kept showing up on his record- osteomyelitis. Since this condition could come back any time, the army limited his capabilities. After receiving an award for marksmanship, he was sent to Sioux City, Iowa, and it was there that his dream was shattered- the osteomyelitis came back. Unable to fly in the military or fight, he was sent to Ft. Wayne and trained to be an engine mechanic. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant, and then sent to Detroit to study Ford's engine plant. While he was in Detroit, he attended Zoller Tabernacle. During a New Years Eve service at the Tabernacle, he realized God wanted him to use his flying ability and his ability to fix engines on the mission field. He gradually encountered Christian Airmen's Missionary Fellowship (the precursor to Missionary Aviation Fellowship).

While visiting friends in California, he met a girl named Marj, who felt a similar calling on her life. Yet it was not until after dating someone else that Nate realized they were a good match. While he had plenty of flying and mechanical experience, he still needed experience doing these things in a more primitive environment. Wycliff Bible Translators had recently begun air operations in Mexico and needed someone who could both fly and fix planes. A missions organization called CAMF sent Nate to fix a wrecked plane in southern Mexico. Despite not knowing any Spanish, he was forced to learn the language the hard way, while also learning to use whatever limited equipment was available in an environment where there was little communication and scant technological advancement.

After this assignment he enrolled in Wheaton College in Illinois for what would turn out to be only a year. News came of two major crashes by missionary pilots in Mexico- one of them involved Cameron Townsend and his wife. This highlighted the need not only for missionaries to have flying and mechanical experience, but also an understanding of safety. The more he heard about airplane accidents in the news, the more obsessed with safety he became. Some suggested that anyone who trusted in God didn't need to care about safety. But he concluded that safety was an issue that affected not just missionaries, but those who weren't Christians at all. His innovations helped to improve the quality of future missionary endeavors.

He was engaged a girl named Alice, until one day he received a letter in the mail that effectively ended their relationship. It was then that he became interested in Marj again. When they both realized that they had the same calling, they started dating and got engaged. Two missions opportunities opened: one in New Guinea and one in Ecuador. While he was deciding between the two, problems arose with the Dutch government in New Guinea, and he and Marj decided to take the post in Ecuador. Their decision came at a time when oil prospectors and the Ecuadorian government were clashing with the nation's indigenous population. One tribe, the Waodani, were so violent that most people wanted them done away with.

Anyone who has read "Through Gates of Splendor" knows what happened next. Nate Saint went to Ecuador and joined up with Jim Elliot, Roger Youderain, Pete Fleming, and Ed McCully. These missionaries would lose their lives while sharing the gospel with this violent tribe that few people loved or cared about. Instead of becoming bitter and getting revenge, their families went back and led many of the Waodani to Christ. Their story made headlines in the mainstream news outlets for years to come, and they were given multiple opportunities to share their testimonies.

We live in a time when Christian missions is unfairly equated with colonialism and cultural destruction by many. Yet we need to remember that popular opinion does not take precedence over the Great Commission. While Nate Saint chose the opportunity in Ecuador over the one in New Guinea, another missionary named Don Richardson went to New Guinea about 10 years after the 5 missionaries were martyred in Ecuador. He made the following observation:

"Those who advocate that the world's remaining tribal groups should be left to themselves do not realize how naive their notion is.... It is a foregone conclusion that even if missionaries do not go in to give, lumberman, crocodile hunters, prospectors, or farmers will still go in to take. The issue is not then, should anyone go in, because obviously someone will. The issue is rather, will the most sympathetic person go there first?"

The Waodani in Ecuador had already been discovered by the government and the oil prospectors. They were already in danger before the missionaries ever got there. If it had not been for those missionaries, the Waodani as a people may have been annihilated by the local government. Thankfully, this Indian tribe heard the good news that the Creator of the universe cared about them. It is the job of the Church to take the message of Jesus to every tribe, tongue, and nation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
101 reviews1 follower
January 4, 2021
I enjoyed this inspiring true story of Nick Saint and his journey to becoming a missionary pilot in Equador. With the turmoil that 2020 brought worldwide, this book was refocusing on what really matters in life. The Saint’s selflessness, generosity, kindness, and simplicity of life is beautiful. It is inspiring me to share my faith with others.
2 reviews
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October 14, 2020
Incredibly inspiring, and emphasizes how the "sacrifice" of mission work is actually no sacrifice at all.
Profile Image for Emily L.
21 reviews1 follower
October 23, 2023
We loved getting to know Nate Saint and family, but the rather journalistic style of the narrative was not a pleasure to read aloud.
Profile Image for Karina (Karina's Christian Reads).
369 reviews12 followers
December 16, 2025
Number of pages: 320

Genre: Non-fiction Missionary Biography

Series: N/A

Age recommendation: 15+

Summary: Nate Saint is well known as one of the 5 missionaries martyred at the hands of the Waodanis (Aucas) in Ecuador. But what was his life like? How did he end up on that mission in the first place? Jungle Pilot tells Nate's story - how he became a pilot for MAF and helped with Operation Auca.

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. I found it a little slower to get through than I was expecting, but it's a pretty thick book so I think I just don't read as fast as I thought I did.
This book was a collection of Nate’s own writings (diaries, letters, etc.) combined with some context that the author got from friends and family. I thought it was very well written and put together - the book flowed very nicely. There were only a couple of times that I found it a little annoying the way the quotes were incorporated.
I really enjoyed getting to hear more about Nate’s backstory. Most of the things I had read about him before just focused on "Operation Auca," which is very interesting but it was nice to get to know more about his growing up, what got him into flying and MAF specifically, and how he was able to help improve safety for other jungle pilots.
Another thing I liked about this book was getting to see how all the missionaries from different organizations worked together. I didn’t realize how much MAF worked with other organizations to help bring supplies and other aid to isolated missionaries. I also thought it was cool how many different denominations worked together. I find sometimes in western society we get caught up in who’s Baptist, who’s Pentecostal, who’s non denominational, etc. and forget that we’re all just Christians. It really made me happy reading this book and seeing people working together to bring the good news of Jesus to people who hadn’t yet heard.
There was an afterword by Steve Saint at the end, which basically summarized the work he did with the Waodani since his father's death. I thought it was really amazing that he could go back to those people after what they did to his father and family friends. It just goes to show how God can help us get through difficult things, give us His love for others despite what they do to us, and He can change peoples’ hearts. Steve Saint shares his personal journey and mission work in his book End of the Spear and I would definitely recommend checking it out too!
I appreciated how Nate brought out that not all missionaries come to the field with “missionary talents” and might actually come with other talents that they put aside for the sake of the gospel. For example, Marilou McCully had excellent piano skills, but as the jungle was not a great place to keep a piano, she gave it up for the sake of reaching the lost for Christ. I know stuff like that might not always seem like a big deal, but I just find it amazing to see how people are willing to give things up for Christ. I really admire that and it also shows how all God really needs is a willing heart that will follow where He leads.
I don’t know what more to say without just saying everything that happened, but I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the people behind Operation Auca (specifically the Saints, but it does talk a bit about the other 4 men and their families as well).

My personal rating: 4.5/5 stars.

Link to blog: https://karinaschristianreads.wordpre...
Profile Image for Emilie.
70 reviews
October 2, 2018
Jungle Pilot tells of the ministry of Nate Saint and his wife Marj in Ecuador. Nate had served during World War II in the Army Air Corps. After attending Wheaton college, he became a pilot for the Mission Aviation Fellowship. Nate used his little yellow plane to transport food, medicine, and other supplies to small outposts in the eastern jungle. Marj stayed behind in Shell Mera with their children and used the radio to communicate with Nate and his destinations. Aviation literally brought life-saving changes to the jungles of Ecuador; Nate flew doctors into the jungle and critical patients out. Just like Through Gates of Splendor references Jim Elliot’s journals, Jungle Pilot does the same with Nate Saint’s. These records provide an invaluable glimpse at the men’s perspectives and thoughts. The book explains the beginnings of Operation Auca, as the missionaries felt led to make contact with and minister to the Huaorani, an unreached and murderous people group. It tells of the tragedy that led to their martyrdom and its aftermath. Elisabeth Elliot and Rachel Saint, Nate's sister, continued the mission efforts to the Huaorani, which eventually came to fruition. Many of the Huaorani gave their lives to Christ, including those who killed Nate, Jim, Pete, Roger, and Ed.

Though cut short, the lives of these missionaries were filled with purpose, obedience, and adventure.
Profile Image for Jesse Ludema.
42 reviews7 followers
July 17, 2019
It was exciting to peer into the mind of someone whose journey and service to the Lord is completely different from mine- the life of a missionary jungle pilot in indigenous south America in the mid 1900s is about as far away from my daily reality as I can imagine. Furthermore, Nate's fervor for following Jesus under any and every circumstance is inspiring to say the least. That being said, it is only a 3-star book in my mind. Much of this book draws upon Nate Saint's journal entries, which are written in "old-timey" vocabulary. Perhaps I just have a brain the size of a raisin, but this vocabulary was difficult to understand at times. Additionally, as this is more of a biography, the book moved too fast for my liking. It seemed like every page I read I was meeting a new person, or discovering a new place, or a new problem. This book went wide, but it left me craving detail, elaboration, and engagement with my imagination.
Profile Image for Sharon.
422 reviews22 followers
July 14, 2022
A thrilling but heart tearing account of a most courageous man & his family & fellow missionary adventurers. All of the people in this story are amazing & unbelievably dedicated, loving, and forgiving than I would have thought anyone could ever be, particularly in "modern" (1950's) times. When I was a child I would read stories of Mary Slessor and others back in what seemed to me to be the dawn of time, Nate Saint & his fellow missionaries were born & lived in a more jaded age. Even how they figured the logistics of food drops & jungle flying is just incredible to me. I will give one Spoiler-- The death of Nate Saint made headlines in papers & magazines around the world, including LIFE magazine.
Profile Image for Frank Peters.
1,029 reviews59 followers
May 4, 2025
This is an excellent 60-year-old missionary story that I have now read for the first time. I found the initial part of the book to be depressing, as it describes a middle-class family in the 1940s doing those things that are now only available for the very rich. Once I recovered from that and was immersed in the sacrificial life of the main character, the book became humbling in the exact opposite way. The book is about Nate Saint, who flew in Missionary Aviation Fellowship, a group formed to help missionaries in remote areas. He and four other missionaries gave their lives while reaching out to a completely unreached, stone-age tribe in the jungles of Ecuador.
Profile Image for Ann.
329 reviews1 follower
July 23, 2021
Well written biography of Nate Saint, the pilot in the group of five missionaries who lost their lives in Ecuador in 1956. It focuses on his earlier life rather than on the events of the Auca beach, for which I was glad. That story has been told extensively in other places. Nate Saint was an admirable Christian man and missionary, and I was blessed and inspired to read of his dedication.
Profile Image for Anni.
180 reviews3 followers
September 18, 2023
This book took me forever to finish. It’s very hard to read and understand because it was basically written between 1920s-50s since the majority of the book is a collection of Nate’s journal entries. Also in that way, it doesn’t quite read like a book.
If anything, I appreciate the author’s efforts to put together a collection of Nate’s writings and a solid timeline of events.
Profile Image for Kaitlin.
59 reviews10 followers
March 18, 2018
This definitely goes down as one of my favorite books of all time. A perfect read for this season of my life! I would highly recommend it to anyone joining the mission field that Nate Saint and others like him pioneered. His conviction and full trust in God, even to death, is truly inspiring.
4 reviews5 followers
January 25, 2019
This is a pretty amazing real-life story. I had a chance to meet some of the characters involved first, then read the book... the book doesn't have all the latest happenings, but it is a good place to start before you dig more into the more recent epilogue details.
Profile Image for Julie McDougal.
299 reviews1 follower
August 11, 2022
What a wonderful, inspirational reminder that THE most important thing in life is obeying God…thinking what He wants me to think, saying what He wants me to say, doing what He wants me to do, being who He wants me to be.
Profile Image for Paul.
189 reviews20 followers
January 5, 2023
Easy reading biography of Nate Saint a missionary to the native people of Ecuador. The story of his life is told in large portions from his own letters. I found it far more engaging than I had initially anticipated.
37 reviews
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July 22, 2019
Excellent. Helped me to get a better appreciation of what our missionaries do and the obstacles they must overcome.
Profile Image for Tanya Bartholomew.
1 review3 followers
February 16, 2022
This is a powerful book. The narrative is taken largely from the journals of Nate Saint. I was moved by this perspective, as I had only read Jim Elliot's writings previously.
316 reviews1 follower
April 2, 2022
So inspiring! Loved seeing the little steps of faith that brought a normal, sinful man into the place of being able to pave the way for the gospel to be shared to many tribes.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews

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