Your Story Hour

Uncle Jon: Hey everyone, come on. Your story hour is on.

Aunt Nikki: Welcome to Your Story Hour. I'm Aunt Nikki.

Uncle Jon: And I'm Uncle Jon, and we're here to bring you today's inspiring story. Uncle Jon, I must say you look pretty excited about today's story.

Uncle Jon: That I am, Aunt Nikki. That I am.

Aunt Nikki: How come?

Uncle Jon: Because our story is filled with danger, excitement, and even a little mystery to keep things interesting.

Aunt Nikki: Oh, really? Do you like missionary stories, Aunt Nikki?

Aunt Nikki: Of course I like missionary stories. Since I've been a missionary before, those stories are extra special to me.

Uncle Jon: Of course they would be. Well, our story today is about a father and son missionary team.

Aunt Nikki: Are they in a faraway land where the story of Jesus has never been told?

Uncle Jon: Yes, but the trouble is, in their adopted country, there aren't many roads on which to travel and no trains to ride in if you want to go deep into the interior. There are only dark jungles, towering mountains, wild animals, dangerous snakes, and hidden rivers.

Aunt Nikki: Wow!

Uncle Jon: In spite of all this, they found a way in. But as you'll soon discover on one particular journey, finding their way back out really became a challenge.

Aunt Nikki: I'm already sitting on the edge of my seat.

Uncle Jon: Then let's listen as Aunt Carole tells us the story called "Out of the Jungle."

Aunt Carole: It's early morning. The sun is just beginning to peak over the tall mountains to the east as Christian missionary Richard Ellis and his 13-year-old son Hayden walk toward an old but sturdy single-engine high-wing Cessna aircraft.

The air is heavy with humidity, and the sounds of the nearby coastal city echo across the narrow paved runway and bounce off the walls of the metal hangars resting under the trees. Both know that the early morning is the best time to make flights into the interior of the country.

The air is usually calm, and the afternoon storms have yet to ravage the skies over the endless expanse of jungles and mountain ranges.

Richard Ellis: Another beautiful day in paradise. Just smell the sweetness of those flowers.

Hayden: All I smell are diesel fumes from the trucks on the road.

Richard Ellis: Does someone want to go back to his bed and then get up on the other side this morning?

Hayden: I'm sorry, Dad. I'm just a little tired. Didn't sleep well. Must have been something I ate. You go ahead and get the wing ropes, and I'll untie the tail.

Richard Ellis: Okay. Are you saying that you don't like my cooking? I thought my stew tasted pretty good last night. I especially liked the carrots. Gave it sort of a zing.

Hayden: That must have been it because my stomach was feeling zingy all night.

Richard Ellis: I know. I know. It's not your mom's cooking, that's for sure. She knew how to make zing-free meals. I sure miss her.

Hayden: Me too. How long's it been now? Six months? Seven?

Richard Ellis: Just over five. Five months, three days, and 14 hours. She loved mornings like this.

Hayden: Yeah, I remember.

Richard Ellis: Anyway, climb aboard. So, where are we off to today? I noticed that the tanks were full.

Richard Ellis: Yeah, we're heading to Third River and that small village at the base of the mountain. They're building a new landing strip, and I want to check out their progress. When it's completed, I'll be able to fly our mission doctor right to their front door.

We're also carrying a supply of anti-venom to the Highland Strip. Seems they've been having a rash of snake bites up there.

Hayden: Not good.

Richard Ellis: It usually happens during planting season when folks are out in the fields. They reach down to pull out a weed and get nibbled by an overly friendly coral snake.

Hayden: Friendly but deadly.

Richard Ellis: Yep. Okay, checklist complete. You ready to fly?

Hayden: All belted in and ready, Captain.

Richard Ellis: You can call me Dad.

Hayden: All belted in and ready, Captain Dad.

Richard Ellis: That's more like it. Clear prop!

Sure is nice up here. 8,500 feet. The air is so cool, and it's quiet. Not even any radio chatter. Of course, we're out of range of any communications network anyway. So it's quiet and peaceful. Just the way I like it.

And check out those amazing condors riding the updrafts along the ridges over there. Beautiful and graceful creatures and big. Man, those birds are big. Anyway, it's cool up here. Did I mention how cool it is, Hayden? Hayden!

Hayden: Huh? What? Did you say something, Dad?

Richard Ellis: I was just saying that the mechanic's daughter was asking about you the other day, but I guess you're not interested.

Hayden: Sure, that's fine.

Richard Ellis: Whoa, son! Are you okay?

Hayden: Can I ask you a question?

Richard Ellis: Sure.

Hayden: Why are we here?

Richard Ellis: Why are we here? We're going to check out the new landing strip up by Third River, and then we're—

Hayden: No, no, no. That's not what I mean. Why did we have to come here? To this country? Why did we come here? And then Mom died of some disease they didn't even know what it was. And then we stay here and fly this stupid airplane around like it makes a bit of difference to anyone. If we hadn't moved here, Mom wouldn't have gotten sick, and we wouldn't be flying all over these stupid jungles like some kind of stupid insect.

Richard Ellis: Those are fair questions, Hayden, and they deserve a fair answer.

Hayden: So why are we here? Tell me, Dad. Why?

Richard Ellis: We're here to save people.

Hayden: Save them from what? Snakes? You yourself said most don't want to hear what we're trying to tell them about God and Jesus and stuff like that. Besides, they've got their own gods. They're perfectly contented in their little jungle huts with their pigs and chickens and banana trees. They don't need us. We should just go back to the United States. Back to where we came from.

Richard Ellis: What you say may be true, but we also want to save them from fear, from sickness, from uncertainty about the future.

Hayden: Yeah, like we don't have any of those things. We get afraid. We get sick. And do we know what's going to happen? No. If we could see into the future, we wouldn't have to come to this awful place, and Mom wouldn't have gotten sick.

Richard Ellis: Young man, your mother wanted to come here. She spent an entire year raising funds for this airplane and for the mission.

Hayden: And look where it got her.

Richard Ellis: That's not fair, Hayden. No one knows the end from the beginning. We just have to—

Hayden: Dad! Dad, what happened? What's going on? There's blood and feathers all over the cockpit, and the windscreen is gone.

Richard Ellis: We must have hit a bird. Maybe two. Sounds like the engine ingested one too. We're losing power. The damage is really bad. We've got to get down on the ground fast.

Hayden: Down on the ground? Where? There's nothing but jungle down there.

Richard Ellis: I know. I know. Wait, wait. Over there. I see a bit of river. Maybe if I just carefully turn the airplane in that direction, we could at least land by the bank.

Hayden: Can you do that?

Richard Ellis: I don't know. The controls are so sloppy. It's hard to keep everything—

Hayden: Dad, we're not going to make it!

Richard Ellis: Hayden, put your knees together, lean forward, lock your arms under your legs, then press your face between your knees.

Hayden: But Dad!

Richard Ellis: Just do it! We're about to hit the trees. Brace yourself! Brace yourself!

Hayden: Dad!

Where? Where am I? What happened? Dad? Dad?

It's so dark. I can't see. Wait. There's a fire. A fire? The airplane is on fire. Oh no. No, wait. It's not the airplane. It's a small fire with a cooking pot above it. I'm lying on wooden boards. Yes, I can see better now. I'm inside something. A hut. I'm in a hut. I see palm branches above me and straw walls. But where's the airplane? Where's Dad? Dad! Dad!

Wait. I hear someone coming into the hut. Who's there? Who? Who are you? I can't see you in the shadows. Where's my dad? What have you done with my dad?

Tomas: Take it easy. You're going to be okay.

Hayden: Who? Who are you?

Tomas: My name is Tomas. You've been in an accident.

Hayden: Wait. I can see you now. You're a native. You're dressed like a native, but you speak English? What's going on?

Tomas: Don't worry about that. Just lie still.

Hayden: Where's my dad? What have you done with him?

Tomas: He was hurt badly. We took him to the doctor.

Hayden: Doctor? Looks like we're in the middle of the jungle. There's a doctor here?

Tomas: Well, sort of. He's the only healer we have.

Hayden: Wait a minute. You took my dad to a shaman? To a witch doctor?

Tomas: It was either that or to let him die. You see—

Hayden: Is he going to be okay? How badly is he hurt?

Tomas: I won't lie to you. He's not doing so well. The crash was bad. You guys landed upside down in the river. Luckily some farmers from this village saw it happen and got you out before you drowned. But your dad was injured. His left arm and leg were broken, and a piece of the wreckage gouged his stomach.

Hayden: Oh no.

Tomas: We've set the arm and leg, but that stomach wound is still bleeding. We're doing all we can, Hayden.

Hayden: How do you know my name?

Tomas: Whenever your dad regained consciousness, he'd ask about you. I told him that you were pretty banged up but that you'd be okay. Listen, I've got to get back to the healing hut. You just rest.

Hayden: No, I want to go with you. Ah!

Tomas: Take it easy, Hayden. Your dad is just across the way, see? Over there where the fires are burning.

Hayden: Yes, I can see the hut.

Tomas: You can watch everything from the doorway here. You just stay put, and I'll let you know if anything changes.

Hayden: You'll let me know what happens, right? Whatever happens.

Tomas: He's in good hands. The best the jungle has to offer. Now just relax. Rest.

Hayden: We've crashed our airplane, and now my dad's life is in the hands of a jungle witch doctor, and I'm supposed to relax? Oh Lord, help us. Please help us. I'm so tired. I'll just prop myself up in the doorway. At least I can see the hut from here and maybe get a little rest. Dad, be okay. Please be okay.

Aunt Carole: There's nothing worse than not knowing, especially when someone you love is in danger. As Hayden lay propped up in the doorway of the hut, he wondered if the familiar pain of loss and grieving he'd been feeling for five months after his mother's death was about to be intensified by the loss of his father.

He felt alone and afraid, and as the night wore on, the fires at the healing hut grew dimmer and dimmer. What would tomorrow bring? And who was this mysterious jungle man who spoke perfect English? Hayden closed his eyes as pain racked his bruised and battered body. Time would tell. All he could do now was wait.

Uncle Jon: And now we'll have to wait a little bit to find out what happens to Hayden and his dad.

Aunt Nikki: I know you probably don't like waiting very much. I sure don't, no matter how many times I hear the words "patience is a virtue."

Uncle Jon: And you know what else is a virtue, Aunt Nikki?

Aunt Nikki: What?

Uncle Jon: Gratitude.

Aunt Nikki: You're very right, Uncle Jon. I just heard a quote the other day that said, "Gratitude can transform common days into Thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings."

Uncle Jon: That's a good one and so true. That's why Aunt Nikki and I would like to invite you to participate in a little bit of gratitude today. If you're hearing this story on the radio, it's because a radio station has donated the airtime to play Your Story Hour.

Uncle Jon: So why don't you say thank you? Radio stations love to hear from listeners, and your word of thanks can go a long way toward keeping our stories on the radio.

Aunt Nikki: Call up your radio station or send them a letter or an email and let them know how much you love hearing our stories.

Uncle Jon: But that's not the only thing you can do to say thank you.

Aunt Nikki: It's not? What else can they do?

Uncle Jon: Let me give you a clue, Aunt Nikki. What's the most valuable thing that grows on trees?

Aunt Nikki: What is the most valuable thing that grows on a tree? Mangoes. They're pure gold.

Uncle Jon: No, not mangoes, but you were on the right track about gold.

Aunt Nikki: Something that has to do with gold that grows on trees. Oh, I know. Money! Since money is made out of paper, and paper comes from trees.

Uncle Jon: You're right. The answer is money, although the paper that money is made out of technically comes from cotton, which is a bush, not a tree.

Aunt Nikki: All right, so tell us, Uncle Jon. How can people say thank you with money?

Uncle Jon: Well, they might not know that Your Story Hour isn't owned, operated, or supported by any church or organization. We're completely supported by the donations of our listeners.

Aunt Nikki: That's right. So every donation we receive, no matter how small, can make a big difference towards keeping our stories on the radio.

Uncle Jon: That's why we'd like to ask all of you moms and dads to consider supporting Your Story Hour today.

Aunt Nikki: You can donate online by visiting our website at yourstoryhour.org. That's yourstoryhour.org. Then click "Support Us" in the menu and surprise us with a wonderful gift.

Uncle Jon: You can also donate over the phone by calling 1-800-987-7879. That's 1-800-987-7879.

Aunt Nikki: To all of you who do support our ministry, we say a big thank you.

Uncle Jon: And now it's time to get back to our story called "Out of the Jungle."

Aunt Carole: The next morning, as Hayden watched the jungle lighten with the dawn, two men in a faraway room at the edge of the coastal city greeted each other. There was tension in their voices.

Guest (Male): What you got?

Guest (Male): Not much. Airport logs show that the Cessna took off just after daybreak 24 hours ago. The missionary filed a flight plan with our office and activated it with the tower. Trouble is, he never closed it.

Guest (Male): I see.

Guest (Male): His plan included a stop at Third River, then a strip in the highlands, then back to base with an ETA of around noon. When he didn't close his flight plan, we started an initial search. So far, nothing.

Guest (Male): Well, that's rugged country up there. No radio communications or even navigation aids. This does not look good.

Guest (Male): For sure. The only way that we could even come close to knowing where he went down—if he went down—is to know the time of the crash. If he crashed. Then we could calculate his location based on how far he could fly from the takeoff to that point in time using the cruise speed of the Cessna. That way, we'd at least have a hint of where he might have gotten into trouble, if he stayed on his flight path.

Guest (Male): That's a lot of ifs. I know the missionary. He's a careful pilot. He files his plans because he knows the dangers of being out of communication range with air traffic control. And he had his son with him. He's not about to take chances. I'll tell you what. I'll call ATC at the capital to see if anyone reported hearing an emergency locator transmitter in that area yesterday. They go off automatically when an airplane crashes. Airline pilots monitor that frequency whenever they're in the air. If we're lucky, maybe someone heard that transmission and, better yet, recorded the time when it popped up on their system.

Guest (Male): That's our only hope of tracking this guy down. Of course, even if they survived the crash, they may not survive the jungle.

Aunt Carole: Meanwhile, back in the jungle, Hayden's father has improved a bit, and Hayden is able to briefly visit with him.

Hayden: How you feeling, Dad?

Richard Ellis: I've been better.

Hayden: It's been a couple days since the accident. I think the swelling on your stomach is going down a little.

Richard Ellis: At least I think I'll live. Thanks to these wonderful people. Like Tomas here.

Tomas: Don't move around too much, Mr. Ellis. You lie still, and we'll see about getting you something to eat. How do fresh coconut and wild strawberries sound?

Richard Ellis: And a banana?

Tomas: An appetite? That's a good sign. I'll check with the headwaiter, see what he can do. Be right back.

Richard Ellis: Thanks, Tomas.

Hayden: I'm glad you're going to eat something. They've got really good food here. Hey, Dad?

Richard Ellis: Yeah?

Hayden: Who is that guy?

Richard Ellis: Who? Tomas? You've never heard of him?

Hayden: No.

Richard Ellis: Your mother and I heard about him soon after we arrived. He's kind of famous in these parts. He's the man who returned to the jungle.

Hayden: What do you mean?

Richard Ellis: Well, according to what I've heard, Tomas was born here. He grew up in the jungle and knew nothing but jungle life. When his parents were killed in a hunting accident, he was devastated.

Hayden: Yeah, well, I can relate to that.

Richard Ellis: Then one day he announced to everyone he was going to leave. Leave the village. Leave the jungle. And he did. He walked to the city.

Hayden: He walked to the city?

Richard Ellis: That's right. Walked out of the jungle.

Hayden: But that's miles.

Richard Ellis: Yep. Took him six months. They say he was a teenager at the time.

Hayden: My age?

Richard Ellis: It was close. Anyway, some kind people took him in and gave him an education. He learned to speak English because he said he wanted to move to the United States and have nothing to do with the jungle ever.

Hayden: So why did he come back?

Richard Ellis: No one really knows. Just one day, he announces that he's returning home. He packs a few belongings and heads out. Years later, reports begin circulating that there's a very unusual native who speaks perfect English living somewhere in the back country. I heard about him from the mechanic at the airport.

Tomas: We are all out of strawberries, but I do have some fresh mangoes here. Will they do?

Richard Ellis: Oh, yes.

Hayden: Hey, Tomas? Can I ask you something?

Tomas: You want some mangoes too?

Hayden: No. I mean, yes, they look awesome.

Tomas: Here you go. Catch!

Hayden: Thanks. But that's not what I wanted to ask you. I wanted to know why you came back to the jungle. You were safe and sound in the city. You went to school. You learned English. You could get a job and get married and move anywhere in the world. You don't have to live like this in the middle of nowhere.

Tomas: I know that may seem strange to you. It's strange to a lot of people. But come. I'll show you why.

Hayden, this is my village. The village of my birth. Look around. What do you see?

Hayden: Well, I see huts, people, trees, gardens. What am I supposed to see?

Tomas: When I came back from the city, there were pigs living under these huts. Always had been. Now the pigs are gone. You see, I learned at the university how disease was spread and about nutrition. So I taught my people how to grow vegetable gardens and create orchards filled with fruit trees. Healthy foods. And look here. What do you see?

Hayden: I see this woman getting water from the well.

Tomas: All the women used to have to walk two miles each way to the river to draw water. It was a dangerous journey. Snakes, caimans—they're cousins of alligators, you know—wild animals of all sorts. The women put their lives on the line each day just to bring water to their families. So we dug a well. I learned how to do that in school too.

Guest (Female): We very happy. Water very good, Tomas. Very good.

Tomas: I taught her to say that. Yes, I especially like the "Tomas very good" part. Anyway, now the water is clean and close by. No more snakes, caimans, and wild animals. Just clean, fresh water. And look over here. What do you see?

Hayden: A bunch of kids playing with some dogs.

Tomas: That's right, playing with dogs, not eating them.

Hayden: Yeah, when you put it that way, quite a change, I guess.

Tomas: Well, when I returned, many children were sick, dying from diseases brought on by a bad diet and unclean conditions in the village. They lived in filth. So we cleaned everything up. Now they're healthy. See those smiles?

Hayden: Yeah, everybody looks happy.

Tomas: There weren't many smiles before. I even brought back a few books on first aid and treating injuries and read them to our shaman. No more incantations and mumbo-jumbo. Just science. That's how he knew how to treat your dad.

Hayden: Tomas, are you a missionary?

Tomas: You mean, do I preach about God and stuff?

Hayden: Yeah.

Tomas: No, not really. But I know about God. There were many churches in the city, and I enjoyed visiting them. But usually, missionaries want to tell people about God. They say they want to save people. That's all fine and good. But I decided that I was going to return to my village and show people what God was like.

Hayden: So how do you do that exactly?

Tomas: I didn't want to preach. I just wanted to live what I'd learned so that my people could be healthier and happier and not be afraid of disease or afraid of their gods. They used to worship fearful gods. Now those gods and those fears are gone as well. Instead, we think about the God of nature, the God of love, and about his son, Jesus.

Hey, that's the search and rescue copter from our home base. They must have figured out where we are. Must have spotted the wreckage. Looks like they're heading for the clearing. Go get your dad ready to travel. You guys are about to be saved.

Hayden: You mean saved again. And Tomas?

Tomas: Yeah?

Hayden: I've got to ask you just one more question so I can understand.

Tomas: Okay, what?

Hayden: Why are you here?

Tomas: Why am I here?

Hayden: Why are you here in this village?

Tomas: That's easy to answer, Hayden. I'm here because I love these people. I love them with all my heart. And when you love someone, even if it's a whole village of people, you have to be with them. You have to show them that you care. You just can't stay away.

Aunt Carole: It sure is good to be back in our little home here by the airport.

Richard Ellis: The doctors at the hospital tell me that whatever the shaman did for me in the jungle worked.

Hayden: Tomas taught him. Brought him medical books when he came back.

Richard Ellis: Well, he saved my leg, my arm, and my stomach. Not bad for jungle medicine. But our little Cessna is now a permanent part of the riverbed. I guess the next order of business is to take the insurance money and start looking for a replacement aircraft.

Hayden: No.

Richard Ellis: No? What do you mean, no?

Hayden: I want to go home. To the United States.

Richard Ellis: Oh. Well, I can't say as I blame you for wanting to leave here. It's been pretty rough on you, on us both. First Mom and then the crash. I guess any young man would want to go—

Hayden: You don't understand, Dad.

Richard Ellis: Understand what?

Hayden: I want to go home to America and visit all those churches and all those people that Mom visited before we came here. They need to know the truth.

Richard Ellis: What truth is that, Hayden?

Hayden: Dad, think about it. Think about that village. Think about Tomas. Think about what's up there in those mountains and in those jungles.

Richard Ellis: I do think about those things, Hayden. Every day.

Hayden: Well then you know that going home is the only way we'll be able to afford it.

Richard Ellis: Afford what? Dad, for a missionary, you sure are slow to catch on. If we're going to love the people up there in those jungles, if we're going to help them live happier, healthier lives, help them know about God, bring in more doctors and supplies, we've got work to do. Come on, Dad. Get with it. The answer is obvious. We're going to need a much bigger airplane.

Aunt Nikki: I like the way Hayden's thinking, Uncle Jon.

Uncle Jon: Me too, Aunt Nikki. He wants to better love the people living in the jungle, and what better way than getting a bigger airplane.

Aunt Nikki: What a wonderful story for us all. I know from experience that love needs to be the motivation for any kind of mission work. Whether you travel to a foreign land or want to help a neighbor next door, you begin by loving them, just like Tomas, just like Hayden and his dad.

Uncle Jon: That's exactly what Jesus said in John chapter 13, verse 34. He told his disciples, "A new command I give you: Love one another as I have loved you."

Aunt Nikki: Jesus truly is the best example of how to love other people.

Uncle Jon: Mm-hmm. I'm so glad that Jesus is my Lord, my God, and my best friend, Aunt Nikki.

Aunt Nikki: Me too. And you know what, boys and girls? Uncle Jon and I truly hope that Jesus is your best friend too. That's why we offer "Adventures in the Holy Bible." "Adventures in the Holy Bible" is a fun way to get to know Jesus better.

The adventures are a series of non-denominational Bible studies that go over Jesus' life and miracles, his teachings and parables.

Uncle Jon: Each lesson includes a short quiz with fun activities that use the Bible as the key to find the correct answers. And as you complete the lessons, you'll earn our audio stories on the life of Jesus for free.

Aunt Nikki: Yep, you heard that right. All of the cost of our beloved Bible lessons are covered through donations from people who want to help us tell the story of Jesus.

Uncle Jon: So if you moms and dads are passionate about spreading the gospel message, please consider supporting our ministry today.

Aunt Nikki: And if you boys and girls are interested in "Adventures in the Holy Bible," you can sign up by calling our office. The number is 1-800-987-7879. That's 1-800-987-7879.

Uncle Jon: Or you can do the adventures online. Just visit our website at yourstoryhour.org. That's yourstoryhour.org and click on Kids' Corner in the menu.

Aunt Nikki: However you do it, we hope the Bible lessons will bless your life.

Uncle Jon: Mm-hmm. And now it's time for us to say goodbye.

Aunt Nikki: But we're looking forward to joining you next time for another exciting adventure.