M ISSIONS
Jívaros Go to School
by Mrs. George Moffat
sung; Bible verses are recited from memory and these tiny boys are always eager to stand and recite their verse. Three teen-age boys are in the fifth grade and should graduate soon. This year we have a Quechua Indian teacher. He is a product of our own mission school in the northern jungle. He is our first In dian teacher. It was quite unusual to have a Quechua teaching Jivaros. The Jivaros have always been mortal enemies of the Quechuas. However, the group here seems to be very happy with him and school goes along quite well. The teacher is also a baptized believer. This year we ventured to take in some girls. Six came and are doing real well. They do not enter classes with the boys; that would not be the Jivaro custom. The mis sionary’s wife teaches them simple arithmetic, reading, writing, Bible, hygiene and simple sewing. A new life has dawned for these girls and they are eager to learn. It is also a new idea for our boys to see that girls can really learn too! This is a man’s country. A woman is not supposed to have brains. Their lot is a hard one, serving the man and doing the hard work. Will you not pray that each boy and girl will accept the Lord Jesus as personal Saviour? Mention was made of graduates from our boys’ school. These have accepted the Lord and are walking in communion with Him. One is assistant teacher, a baptized believ er and a faithful witness to his people. END.
heard quite a hit about school and was eager for the day to come when he would be old enough to enter. His snapping bright eyes show only too well his eagerness to learn. The father is an old witch doctor who also has been implicated in many killings. Very few of the Indians from that district ever came to the mission station. Now, with their boys in school they come every now and then to a Sunday service, at the same time visiting with their boys, noting how contented and happy they are. The boys are al ways proud to show them the way they have learned to sing and the Bible verses they have memorized. Each Sunday evening hymns are Opportunity /for Christian service in the Orient A doctor, two nurses and experienced cook are desperately needed for supervision of an orphanage operated by Harry Holt in Korea. A doctor and nurse couple is preferred if possible. This is not for persons interested in a free trip to Korea. The work is very hard, work ing conditions quite primitive and living in Korea is difficult. Older persons are preferred, and it is es sential that each really loves children and is able to discipline them. It is an unexcelled opportunity to serve the Lord in the care of these little ones while they are being adopted by American families. Anyone seriously interested may contact Harry Holt, Creswell, Ore.
S ince January 1942 the Christian & Missionary Alliance has had a primary hoarding school for Jivaro Indian boys at Chupientsa in the southern jungle of Ecuador, South America. The first group of 11 boys who presented themselves were cer tainly raw material. Most of them had not even a loin cloth. Their hair was long with bangs which fell down over their eyes. The school has come a long way since then. Some boys have now graduated from the sixth grade. Every year new ones come in. This year we had some 30 boys. I would like to introduce some of them to you. Louis is probably not yet six. But he had heard of our school through others from his district who had attended. His father was killed some three years ago. He had been a witch doctor and also a killer, as many of these Jivaro Indians are. When an Indian father dies the children are considered orphans. The oldest brother of the deceased takes the widow but has no interest whatsoever in the children. Louis arrived in his birthday suit. Although hardly six he had the face of an old man and life appeared very serious to him. How ever, a few weeks in school has made an amazing difference. We have remarked many times at the change. He now really smiles when one addresses him. In the weekly singing classes he sings away try ing his best to catch the words of the gospel choruses and hymns. Another little fellow, Chamico, has four brothers here. He had
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The King's Business/ January 1958
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