Shuttle Mission to Include Missionary History on EthicsDaily.com
August 28, 2009
Posted: Thursday, August 27, 2009 5:53 am
Section: Religion News Service
WASHINGTON (RNS) When the space shuttle Discovery next takes flight, perhaps later this week, it will carry a piece of missionary history with it into outer space.
On board Discovery will be a piece of the plane used by members of Missionary Aviation Fellowship, who were killed more than half a century ago in Ecuador by Waodani tribesman, the ministry announced.
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I wonder if Jim Eliot, Nate Saint, and their friends could have every conceived of their plane entering space when they flew into the jungle for the last time decades ago.
Certainly, they had no idea how high they would soar that very day.
It is a nice gesture of remembrance from fellow believer, Patrick Forrester.
It is a long tradition that allows astronauts to choose items to carry with them on space flights. It is good to see this story simply to be reminded of the devotion of these men.
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"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." -- Jim Elliott from Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliott Twila Paris singing "He is No Fool" at a concert in 1988."
"This is a clip End of the Spear. This is the death scene. Its very powerful. Chad Allen plays in this clip as the main character. The Waodani tribesman end up spearing five young missionaries that risk their lives to help them. "
Then there is the rest of the story: Family members returned to the village. Nate's aunt lived there for the rest of her days. Nate's son is speaking with "Grandfather Mincaye, one of the tribesmen who killed the missionaries. This is one of the great love stories of history.
And now it is off to space ...