Book Review ~ Bruchko

Bruchko by Bruce Olson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Usually when we think of becoming a missionary, or read stories of those who were missionaries, we hear of having to go through the mission board. There's nothing wrong with that, and that is how many missions are supported, but it was amazing to read the story of Bruce Olsen who was turned down by the mission board, only had enough money to get him to Venezuela, and had no idea what he was going to do once he arrived. The only thing he knew was that God had called him to serve the Indians in South America, and so he went.

Beginning with an unhappy childhood, Bruchko follows young Bruce through his conversion to Christianity, his call to become a missionary, and how he followed that call to serve the Motilone tribe in Columbia. It took time for the Indians to accept him, and then it took time for them to accept the gospel message, but once they did it spread like wildfire, reaching into the souls of many tribes. In many ways, it was the Indians' faith that strengthened Bruce's. Their belief would bring him back to the ground time and again with it's simple truth.

Another fascinating aspect to Bruce's work is that he never tried to make the Indian's become like North American people. He didn't try to force away their customs or try to get them to wear the clothes that he felt they should wear. He simply introduced the Gospel, medicine, and schools to teach them to read the Gospel.

It was beautiful to read of God's work in South America and to see a different method to overseas missions. Although this is probably not my favorite missionary story simply due to how brief I felt it was in the telling, it is a very interesting account of what the Lord has done in Columbia.



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