Bruchko Y El Milagro Motilone (Spanish Edition) Paperback – June 22, 2007

This is the amazing true story of a man, who at age 19, was so focused and in tune with himself and God that he left all comfort and potential as a wealthy academician in Minnesota to follow the impelling calling he had to go to South America to bring Christ to indigenous peoples there. With only the reluctant permission of his parents, a one-way ticket and $70 in pocket in 1961, this fearless young man arrived without any mission support, no knowledge of Spanish and no connections in Venezuela. He quickly found work teaching English to university students and soon learned about the Motilone people who inhabited jungle lands between Venezuela and Columbia. This book is about the 45 years he spent with these previously unreachable people, his dangerous entry into their lives and how he assimilated into their culture and lived with them for four years before ever attempting to introduce Christ to them. Bruce Olson's approach is unlike any other missionary story I have ever read and a great departure from the norm. Through his acceptance of them just as they are, believing that God had made them that way, and using their own cultural understanding, at the opportune time, Bruce introduced the Motilones to the God they themselves knew they had lost. He was able to point their trusting hearts to the Hope of their lives and it transformed their perspectives from the inside. Bruce humbly presented what Christ had done through his death and let the Holy Spirit do the inner work in them. He translated the New Testament into their Bari language and taught them how to read and write, not only their own language, but also Spanish, so that they had a means of communicating with the world around them. He brought medicine to them to mitigate against the common killers of malaria and tuberculosis. He brought agriculture to mitigate against the hunger they experienced when hunting was sparse. But he never discouraged their natural culture. Many young Motilones have become lawyers, doctors, journalists and other professionals, but they are always encouraged to come back home and to value their roots. Bruce introduced a cash crop to help the Motilones have a way to provide scholarships for their young to go to school and to be independent of handouts. He helped bring them into the modern world while maintaining their own dignity and worth as a people. They have become an example of phenomenal success as an indigenous people in Columbia and in South America.This book also tells the story of Bruce Olson's capture and torture by a guerrilla rebel group in 1988, his effect on those men and his release nine months later due to the peaceful yet powerful intervention by his beloved Motilones. I could hardly put this book down! It is well written with the help and expertise of well-known author James Lund. The story of Bruchko and the Motilone Miracle is one every Christian should read. I have ordered copies for my own two sons and other friends. Certainly, every missionary should read it for inspiration, instruction and profit. God has mightily used a man who would have been a great linguistics professor, but chose to humble himself to the task God had placed in his heart, trusting His guidance and His manner of sowing and reaping, only to be God's instrument of Love. While still alive (book published in 2006), having survived what would have done in most people, Bruce Olson, the bibliophile, truly laid down his life for his friends, following the example of his beloved Christ. A must read!

This is a GREAT book. Everyone should read it. I love good books that are true stories. I have passed this book around to everyone I can think of so they can read it too.

Very good

I read this book in English and got it for a Spanish speaking friend who loves to read. It's a fascinating look into atypical evangelism among unreached peoples. Full of food for thought on cross-cultural communication issues.

bought for a friend for her friend who lives in a Spanish-speaking country. I am reading the English version. It is an interesting book.