Ten years ago, an indigenous Colombian tribe fled their villages deep in the Amazon when drug traffickers and guerilla groups took over their territory, threatening them with death if they did not leave. In the chaos of the moment, their leader was killed, and the rest of the people attempted to create a new home nearer to a large city.

But when—several months ago—three local missionaries from nearby Brazil trekked through the jungle to meet the tribe and assess their living situation, their continued destitution was evident. “They live in canvas tents and have no food,” one of the missionaries said. “It was very sad to see the situation in which they find themselves because it is of total abandonment. Everyone was very hungry.”

Not only have the people struggled to survive for the last decade, but many of the young people and children were under the influence of drugs, with some of the girls engaged in prostitution. Upon witnessing the hardships, the missionaries got to work. “We were used as God’s instrument to tell them about Jesus Christ who can change the history of a people,” the ministry leader said.

Though their visit was meant to be a study of the tribe’s current situation, the missionaries knew they were sent with a bigger purpose. That day, they shared the gospel with the people—people who had lived in exile and misery for too long. “In the villages of the tribe, they all surrendered to the feet of Jesus Christ,” the ministry leader said.

As the missionaries departed, they knew they would return. “At the end of the reconnaissance visit to the land, we returned with great challenges to continue going to them to teach them the Bible,” the ministry leader said.

Christian Aid Mission is a faithful partner of The Bolick Foundation.