Zambia Hunt

As a teenager, the book “Jungle Pilot” by Russell T. Hitt gripped my imagination and shaped my trajectory in life. I can vividly recall getting on my knees as a 16-year-old in October 1982, telling God that I would become a missionary and go wherever He directed me. At that point, I assumed God would have me follow in the footsteps of Nate Saint, becoming a missionary pilot.

“Jungle Pilot” chronicles the life and godly legacy of Nate Saint, an American missionary pilot who played a crucial role in the missionary efforts in Ecuador during the 1950s. Hitt’s vivid storytelling transports readers into the heart of “Operation Auca,” highlighting Saint’s pioneering use of aviation to reach remote indigenous tribes deep in the Ecuadorian jungle.

The book captures Saint’s unwavering faith, his wholehearted commitment to spreading the gospel, and the ultimate sacrifice he made, dying as a martyr alongside Jim Elliot and three other missionaries at the hands of the Waodani people they were trying to reach.

As a wide-eyed teenager who had surrendered to do anything God asked, Saint’s story of courage and mission focus resonated deeply within me. I found myself in awe of his innovative strategies and his willingness to lay down his life if needed to share the good news with those who had never heard. His example sparked a longing in my soul – a desire to pour out my life for the spread of the gospel, no matter the cost.

While God didn’t call me specifically to overseas aviation like Nate Saint, the seeds planted by his biography bloomed into a passion for the unreached that has directed my steps over the past three decades.