"I'll start my descent now so yall can see the jungle better", I said, turning back to Ellyn, a passenger. She likely could barely hear me over the roar of the big Continental engine spinning the three boat-paddle-sized blades at 2200 RPM. Her squinting gesture, "could you speak up"stare said as much.

It's 8:30 in the morning and we were on our way to Damointaro. On board the MAF plane with me are the Hoffman family, Florence Judd (an HCJB nurse) and Trish (my wife).

The reason for our trip was by invitation to come be a part of the dedication of a new Bible Institute deep in the Ecuadorian rainforest.   The first ever Waorani Bible Institute.   Our shallow descent passed through delicate, see-through layers of morning-cloud until I level off 1500 feet above the ground. Damointaro, 60 miles northeast of Shell, is nestled in a corrugated landscape of tropical hills and valleys that harbor the tiny village until you are directly overhead."There!" I point and gently bank the plane so everyone can see.

Below, fixed in the cleavage between two ridges is a patch of cleared jungle floor about 90 feet wide by 1200 feet long. They call these airstrips here. It's grass covered and damp with morning dew. All this translates into "short and slippery when wet, so careful bud".

Fortunately I've gained a lot of judgement flying in and out of  Damointaro over the past two years under every circumstance imaginable (well, except snow), bringing in supplies to build the Institute. So the landing is uneventful and we arrive to a welcoming committee of  twenty or so Waorani women in headdresses and native costumes, singing.

The Institute is extremely innocent and uncomplicated, consisting of two, two-story clapboard, wooden buildings set at a 90-degree angle to each other. A whitewashed path of river rocks leads us through an entrance with an overhead sign that says simply,"Instituto Biblico Waorani". One building is primarily classrooms and the other classrooms and dormitory. The ceremony is already underway in the main chapel/classroom as we arrive. We want to enter unnoticed, but that's impossible; some blond, some tall, but all very white by comparison.

Inside, at least another one hundred Waorani set on rough sawn wood benches. Mothers nursing their young, huddles of school-age children in freshly washed blue plaid school uniforms, and of course the proud Waorani men scattered in and around season the mix with their bright-feathered headdresses. The one common denominator are the dozens of Waorani New Testaments open, fingers following along the passages as speakers share messages and encourage the people from His word in their own language.

Renaldo Bernal, (the director or sorts, Dean, Bible Professor, carpenter, soccer coach, you name it) and his family set up front along with Lloyd Rogers, a Brethren missionary (35 years here), and of  course the first class of students; seven in all.

The purpose of the Institute is to equip the Waorani with the spiritual and academic tools of teaching and evangelism in their own language. Many foreigners have come, and continue to do so, bringing in "things" they presume the Waorani need to advance. The inconsistency in this is that those things cost money to maintain/repair, which the Waorani don't have a lot of. Eventually the "things" break and become part of their oral history shared around campfires late into the tropical nights.

On the contrary, the Gospel is a maintenance free gift. It needs only the care and concern to be in obedience to His will. Renaldo, his family, and the seven young men are committed and know this and God is using them to a better purpose. Someday soon, they will be the evangelist, pastors, and missionaries going out to work with their own people.

The actual dedication ceremony lasted only and hour or so. It was then suggested we go outside, and with such a large gathering on hand, try and join hands around the two buildings and pray together. The result was a perimeter of people, Waorani and missionaries alike, joined in a common goal: to ask God's blessing on the first Waorani Bible Institue.

Continue to pray with us as the Waorani Bible Institute begins classes in January, 2001.Keep praying! (James 5:16) 

© Copyright Sandy Toomer, 2000

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