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JIM ELLIOT

HINTERLANDS

Elliot was born in Portland, Oregon, to Fred and Clara Elliot. Robert,

their first child, was born in 1921 while they were living in Seattle, and

he was followed by Herbert, Jim, and Jane, all three of whom were born

after the family moved to Portland. Elliot professed faith in Jesus at the

age of six and grew up in a home where obedience and honesty were en-

forced.

In 1941, Elliot entered Benson Polytechnic High School, studying archi-

tectural drawing. There he participated in numerous activities, including

the school newspaper, the wrestling team, school plays, and the public-

speaking club. Elliot practiced the skills necessary for writing down a

language for the first time by working with a former missionary to the

Quechua people. The missionary told him of the Huaorani – also called

the "Auca", the Quichua word for "savage" – a group of Ecuadorian in-

digenous people considered violent and dangerous to outsiders.

Elliot and Fleming arrived in Ecuador on February 21, 1952, with the

purpose of evangelizing Ecuador's Quechua Indians. They first stayed in

Quito, and then moved to the jungle. They took up residence at the

Shandia mission station. On October 8, 1953, he married fellow Wheaton

alumna and missionary Elisabeth Howard. The wedding was a simple