Bruce Olson: Epilogue Part 2

Bruce Olson and the Motilones are not preaching a “social gospel.” By faith they are born into the family of God. But this spiritual “new birth” naturally engenders the dedication to live and share Jesus’ example. The Motilones make sure that this is fully understood. 

When one of the former presidents of Colombia saw the dynamic advancement of the Motilones as they employed scientific solutions to their problems, he said, “This is true development in response to the needs of the community.” He assumed it was these factors that had brought peace. 

But Kaymiyokba, who was talking with the president, became disturbed. He knew it wasn’t preventive medicine or tropical agriculture that had brought understanding and coexistence between tribes. “It is because our tribe now walks in the footsteps of a new leader,” Kaymiyokba explained. To walk in a tribal member’s footsteps is to recognize him as chieftain. 

Smiling, the president acknowledged that this was “Bruce, the missionary.” 

“No, no,” said Kaymiyokba. “It is Saymaydodji-ibateradacura.” 

“Who?” 

“Jesus Christ,” Kaymiyokba said. 

The much-heralded 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro also exemplifies what God has done among the Barí (Motilone). Two proud representatives of the jungle family—Fidel Waysersera and Roberto Dacsarara—attended. During their fifteen days in Rio they met representatives from other countries. Among them were Brazilian jungle tribal people, adorned with parrot feathers, natural red and blue vegetable paints, and simple loincloths. All were dancing. “Where are your feathers?” one newspaper photographer asked Dacsarara. “I come to discuss and champion indigenous land rights as contemplated by Western law,” he replied. The photographer expressed his surprise. “And I come to declare solidarity with the protection of the environment. I left my feathers and loincloth hanging in the rafters of our palm-thatched community house. When I return to Phatuitribara (Colombia) I’ll enjoy donning them and dancing with the wind blowing through my hair. But now when I come to the city, I dress as everyone else. We have come to look for solutions to problems that bring suffering to Planet Earth.” 

The Brazilian tribal peoples barely understood Portuguese, much less Spanish. But they knew what Dacsarara was saying. The next day they were dressed in Western slacks and shirts. After the summit, these Brazilians met with the Motilones to learn firsthand how Jesus Christ had made a difference in their lives and community. 

This is only a small part of the missionary effort being born from within the Motilone church that wants to reach beyond the borders of Colombia to other nations. At present, the Motilones have thirty missionary teams among non-evangelized tribes in Northeast Colombia. At least two pastors from the Motilone Christian community have studied theology in Bogotá. What they have learned practically in jungle life, surrounded by the Lord’s creation, they find articulated in a Latin alphabet on pages from the Bible—which to their Colombian student companions has been only theory until now. So a Christian witness has emerged there, also. 

On another front, the guerrilla members (none of whom is Indian) of the Armed Forces for National Liberation (UC-ELN) who had given their hearts to Jesus Christ during Bruce’s abduction have abandoned the violent movement. This renders the Armando Cacua Front—recognized as one of Colombia’s most violent guerrilla groups—sadly ineffective. Revolutionary discipline for abandoning the cause is punishment by execution. UC-ELN’s pledge is “Not One Step Backwards: Liberation or Death.” But the front released their Christian members from this oath. They called them the “peacemakers.” This was an unprecedented action. 

To the Motilones one of Bruce’s most important accomplishments was the creation of their land reservation. Through resolution #102 of the INCORA, the country of Colombia has set aside in perpetuity 108,909,000 square meters of land for the Motilone-Barí community in the Carmen, Convencion, Teorama, and Tibú areas. 

But to Bruce that is a small thing in comparison to the “territory” taken for God. And so Bruce remains in Motilonia. One day, if Jesus does not return in his lifetime, he has said that like his brother and sister Motilones he will swing in his hammock from the top of a big tree in the jungle. There the vultures will eat his body as they did Bobby’s and carry it to the sky. But his soul already will be with Jesus. In the meantime, Bruce and his Motilone family ask for your prayers and support. 

—Janice G. Franzen 1995 Update to “Bruchko” 

Janice G. Franzen holds a master’s degree from the Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. The former executive editor of “Christian Life” magazine, she serves on the board of Christian Life Missions, which regularly supports Bruce Olson’s work. She met Bruce in the early 1970s when Creation House published the first edition of “For This Cross I’ll Kill You,” fine-tuning the book with his recommendations in mind. She has corresponded with him through the years.