Nathaniel Saint - An Ecuadorian Missionary

  • Lawrence and Katherine Saint's Seventh Child

    Nathaniel Saint was born to Lawrence and Katherine Saint in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.
  • First Flight with Brother Sam

    Nate went up in a plane with one of his older brothers, Sam. He remembered this flight for the rest of his life until he died at the age of 32.
  • Nate Believes

    Nate accepts Christ into his heart at the age of 12.
  • Stuck in Bed

    Nate had a cut from sledding that got infected, and it turned into a bone infection, also known as osteomyelitis, in his right leg. He was in bed all springtime, and even most of summer.
  • Nate Ships off to the Army Air Corps

    Nate's first base was Camp Luna in Las Vegas, New Mexico. The doctors were worried about him since he had osteomyelitis when he was younger, so they stamped "Accepted For Limited Service" on his paper.
  • It's Back

    Nate's old osteomyelitis scar swelled up, and it had indeed come back. He then got "Disqualified for Combat Crew Duty" stamped across his records.
  • A New Slide

    Nate was in Detroit, Michigan, and he heard a sermon by Dr. John Zoller. He completely changed his view. He no longer wanted to be in the Army and fly; he wanted to become a missionary.
  • A "Mountaintop Encounter"

    Nate's plans were to a short hike up a mountain in the Yosemite National Park. His buddies didn't want to, so he went by himself. After much longer than it should have been, and taking a detour, Nate arrived at a cabin at the top and met a photographer named Douglas Whiteside.
  • Formally Discharged

    Nate got formally discharged from the Army, and his buddies gave him a picture of all of them standing together in front of a hanger to remember them by.
  • Nate Marries His Sweetheart

    Nate married Marjorie Farris, a friend of a friend, who was also a Christian. Together they moved to Shell Mera, Ecuador a few months later. They affectionately named their house Shell Merita.
  • Crash in Quito

    Nate and two passengers crashed in cultivated fields outside of Quito. The passengers were not badly injured, but same could not be said for Nate and the plane. Nate had a big, bulky, plaster cast from neck to hips and a cast on his left foot. His back took about 5 months to heal.
  • Nate's First Child

    Kathy Joan Saint was born in Quito. Nate, at the time was still in the hospital recovering from the crash.
  • Nate's First Son

    Stephen Saint was also born in Quito.
  • Nate and Marj Take a Break

    Nate took his wife and two kids and went to the States to visit Marj's parents and to take a break. Marj stocked up on clothes for Kathy and Steve, and caught up on local news.
  • Philip Born

    Philip, the third child, and the second kid was most likely born on the 26th, but we can't say for sure.
  • "I Was Lost, But Now I Am Found..."

    Nate flew out with Ed McCully, a fellow missionary friend, and found an Auca settlement. The Aucas were known for savageness.
  • Operation Auca on a Roll

    Ed McCully, Pete Fleming, Roger Youderian, Jim Elliot, and Nate all worked together to start trying to reaching to the Aucas.
  • The First Gift

    They made the 1st gift drop to the Aucas. Marj and Nate had decided on a small, aluminum kettle, and Marj decorated it with 15 lengths of different colors of ribbon
  • Final Plans Finalized

    The five missionaries concluded their plans for Operation Auca, and found a small sandy area by the Curaray River that they dubbed "Palm Beach," not too far away from the settlement.
  • Preparation on Palm Beach

    Nate and Ed flew to Palm Beach to bring supplies. Jim made a treehouse 35 feet above the ground in an ironwood tree for himself, Roger, and Ed for during the night. Nate and Pete would fly out each night and come back each morning, since Nate thought it was safer.
  • Faith and Patience Rewarded at Last

    2 Auca women and a young warrior wade through the river and relax. They are fascinated with the simple things like yo-yos, magazines, harmonicas, and the male even went up in the plane. All was well.
  • Man Down

    The young warrior had gone back and lied about them. A group of warriors came and killed them mercilessly. Nate went down first, a sharp, 9-foot spear hurled into his body. He fell to the ground, his watch breaking and the hands stopping at 3:10. Ed ran over to help and felt the painful impact in his back. Jim, and then Roger were killed next. Ed ran to the radio in the plane to call for help, knowing that Marj would be waiting for the daily call. He also was killed before he could call in.