Two Women from the Forest

“I will lead the blind by a way they do not know. I will turn the darkness into light before them.” — from Isaiah 42

Almost two years later, in November 1957, Betty was at a mission station called Arajuno. Two Quichua men came with surprising news. Two Waorani women had walked out of the forest and were staying at their house! Betty went at once.

The women were named Mankamu and Mintaka. Mintaka was the older woman who had visited the five missionaries on the beach, just days before they died.

Betty took both women home to Shandia. For ten months they lived in her house with her and little Valerie. Betty gave them food, a place to sleep and anything they needed. And day after day she listened to them talk, and wrote down their words. The Waorani language is not like any other language in the world. There was no book to help her. It was the hardest language she ever learned.

There was another Waorani woman named Dayuma. Years before, she had run away from her people and gone to live among the Quichua. Nate Saint’s sister, Rachel Saint, had been learning the Waorani language from her. In 1958, Rachel and Dayuma came back to Ecuador. Dayuma met Mintaka and Mankamu, and the three women decided to go home to their people together.

On 3 September 1958, the three women walked into the forest. No one knew if they would come back. But about three weeks later, they did, with a group of Waorani men and women! They brought an invitation. Betty and Rachel were asked to come and live among the Waorani.

Nobody could have planned this. The way to the Waorani was opened by three women walking out of the forest and back again. God can open doors that we cannot open ourselves.

Dear God, thank you that you can open doors that no one else can open. Help me to be kind to strangers, like Betty was. Amen.