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A review by midwifereading
Peace Child: An unforgettable Story of Primitive Jungle Teaching in the 20th Century by Don Richardson
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
3.0
I appreciated this story of a missionary family bringing the Gospel to a culture who would see Judas Iscariot as a hero, and value friendship as a tool for betrayal leading to eating their fellow man.
I was encouraged and inspired by the story of God's work to redeem a tribe of people out of a life devoted to violence, treachery, deception, and cannibalism, into a life of love, healing, hope, and true friendship.
One thing I noted was the lack of detail surrounding the work of his wife, Carol. She is nearly absent in this story. I can't help but wonder how God used her presence and work to reach the hearts of the Sawi people. She too learned the language, lived among the people, and had the training required to bring life-saving medical care to the Sawi.
How many breakthroughs did Richardson make that were a direct result of this capable and intelligent woman working alongside him?
I do think his focus was primarily on the Peace Child redemptive analogy, and the way he was able to finally bring an understanding to the Sawi patriarchs of what salvation and peace with God means through their own culture's stories. So maybe that's why? There is no evidence he didn't need or value his wife. Still, as a woman, I would love to know her heart, struggles, and role in this incredible work of God.
Anyway -- it's really about the work of God to bring some long lost sheep back into the fold. The Sawi were the one sheep, separated from the 99, and the Peace Child is one more way we learn that no one is exempt from the grace of God. No one is too far away.
And the story is violent and beautiful.
I was encouraged and inspired by the story of God's work to redeem a tribe of people out of a life devoted to violence, treachery, deception, and cannibalism, into a life of love, healing, hope, and true friendship.
One thing I noted was the lack of detail surrounding the work of his wife, Carol. She is nearly absent in this story. I can't help but wonder how God used her presence and work to reach the hearts of the Sawi people. She too learned the language, lived among the people, and had the training required to bring life-saving medical care to the Sawi.
How many breakthroughs did Richardson make that were a direct result of this capable and intelligent woman working alongside him?
I do think his focus was primarily on the Peace Child redemptive analogy, and the way he was able to finally bring an understanding to the Sawi patriarchs of what salvation and peace with God means through their own culture's stories. So maybe that's why? There is no evidence he didn't need or value his wife. Still, as a woman, I would love to know her heart, struggles, and role in this incredible work of God.
Anyway -- it's really about the work of God to bring some long lost sheep back into the fold. The Sawi were the one sheep, separated from the 99, and the Peace Child is one more way we learn that no one is exempt from the grace of God. No one is too far away.
And the story is violent and beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Cannibalism, and Murder