70th anniversary of MAF Pilot Nate Saint’s death

5th January 2026

MAF pilot Nate Saint with a member of the Waodani on Palm Beach, Ecuador (credit: MAF US)

MAF pilot Nate Saint with a Waodani member on Palm Beach, Ecuador (credit: MAF US)

When MAF pilot Nate Saint and his four passengers were tragically speared to death by the Waodani people on 8 January 1956 in the Ecuadorian rainforest, the world recoiled in horror. 70 years later, the legacy of their martyrdom continues to fuel MAF’s mission today…

MAF pilot Nate Saint and his missionary partners – Jim Elliot, Ed McCully, Peter Fleming and Roger Youderian – first made contact with the widely feared Auca people deep in the Ecuadorian rainforest in 1955.

Lowering down gifts every week for 13 weeks in a bucket from the plane, Nate and his passengers hoped to show peace and love to a tribe renowned for violence.

These people had never been contacted by the outside world. It was an exciting opportunity for the Gospel.

The Auca people – now known as Waodani or Waorani – not only received their gifts, but gradually became more and more accustomed to the arrival of the plane. By the sixth week, tribesmen even attached a beautifully feathered crown as a return gesture. From then on, gifts were exchanged back and forth until Nate made plans to land.

Nate Saint receives a gift from for the Waodani via a ‘bucket drop’ (credit: MAF US)

‘When the Lord Jesus asks us to pay the price for world evangelisation, we often answer without a word.

‘We cannot go. It costs too much.’

The late Nate Saint – MAF pilot

First encounters

MAF plane carrying Nate, Jim, Ed, Peter and Roger lands on Palm Beach, Ecuador (credit: MAF US)

MAF plane lands on Palm Beach, Ecuador (credit: MAF US)

Soon after Christmas, when the team had written festive greetings to their far-flung relatives, they took off to finally meet the Waodani people. They landed on Palm Beach on 3 January 1956, setting up camp on the fringes of Waodani territory, waiting for an encounter.

After three days, a group of naked Waodani suddenly appeared on the riverbank opposite Palm Beach. Jim Elliot waded towards them; his open hand offering a warm invitation for the visitors to join them for food. After a few minutes, all were relaxed, and the little group settled at the Americans’ camp, drinking lemonade and communicating in their local dialect.

When their visitors finally disappeared back into the forest, the five friends could barely contain their excitement. This meeting was the one thing they had longed and prayed for.

L to R: Nate Saint, Peter Flemming, Roger Youderain and Jim Elliot (credit: MAF US)

Ed McCully in front of MAF’s yellow Piper PA-14 Family Cruiser aircraft (credit: MAF US)

Final landing

Two days later, Nate made a final call to his wife Marjorie saying, ‘Pray for us. This is the day!’

At 12 minutes past three on Sunday 8 January 1956, Nate’s wristwatch was suddenly smashed against a stone. The hands stopped moving.

This is believed to be the moment when Nate, Jim, Ed, Peter and Roger were speared to death by the Waodani.

Their tragic martyrdom was only the beginning of a powerful message of salvation that has since spread from Ecuador’s remote Waodani community to around the globe.

Transformation

Their sudden deaths shocked the world. Many MAF supporters today, still remember hearing the news on the radio.

But knowing God had a plan for them, Jim’s wife Elisabeth and their 10-month-old daughter Valerie, decided to stay in Ecuador to continue the work that Jim and his colleagues had started.

Iniwa Dayuma (reading Bible) was the 1st member of the Waodani to become a Christian (credit: MAF US)

Iniwa Dayuma (reading)-1st member of Waodani to become a Christian (credit: MAF US)

A turning point came when two Waodani women met with Elisabeth, which opened the door for both Elisabeth and Nate’s sister Rachel to make further contact with the Waodani.

They lived with the tribe for two years, bringing them God’s Word, teaching them to forgive fearlessly and love tremendously – transforming their way of life forever.

Nate’s children were also invited into the tribe, where his son Steve committed his life to serving the Waodani. Steve was baptised by Mincaye – the very man who killed his father.

The tribe renamed itself ‘Waorani’, which means ‘humans’ turning away from ‘Auca’, which means ‘savage’ – thus symbolising a powerful message of transformation.

MAF continues to play a vital part in that message, taking Nate’s vision to use small aircraft to spread the Gospel and demonstrate God’s love to thousands of isolated people in more than 25 countries.

Nate with wife Marj and children Steve & Kathy (credit: MAF US)

Nate with wife Marjorie and children Steve & Kathy (credit: MAF US)

Restoration

In 2010 – in partnership with ‘Fuel the Mission’ – MAF restored Nate’s home in Shell, central Ecuador. Originally built in 1948 for the Nate family, their home had become infested with termites and was in desperate need of repair.

This restoration project garnered new support for MAF and kept Nate’s memory alive.

The Saints’ family home in Shell, Ecuador, was restored in 2010 (credit: MAF US)

The ceremony – which re-dedicated the Saints’ home – was translated into three languages, giving everyone an opportunity to hear the Gospel, which still underpins MAF’s mission today.

Thanks to MAF, the Waodani people are just one of many tribes who have turned to Christ. Today, the isolated village of Panintza – deep within Ecuador’s Amazon Rainforest – has established its own church following three-and-a-half years of MAF’s ministry.

MAF flies to remote Panintza Village every month (credit: MAF US)

MAF Guinea’s Country Director Lisa Blomberg went to Wheaton College in Illinois – the same American college where Nate Saint, Jim Elliot and Ed McCully studied.

When MAF Trustee Max Gove read ‘Jungle Pilot’ – a book about Nate’s life – Max knew he also had to become a mission pilot himself.

In episode 11 of MAF’s podcast ‘Happy 80^th birthday MAF’, listen to how Lisa and Max were both inspired by Nate’s legacy.