Sent to the River God Forgot

by Jim Walton, Janice Walton

Through disease, cultural barriers and hardships, Jim and Janice Walton continued the long process of translating the New Testament into the Muinane language.

Genres: Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published May 31, 1995

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so encouraged by the Walton's humility, honesty, and faith. They told their story in a very relatable way, admitting their doubts, fears, and disappointments, yet showing God's faithfulness through all the difficulties in a way that deeply impacted me.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a response to and refutation of Richard Collier's 1968 book, The River that God Forgot. God never forgets, and after language training, He sent the Walton family deep in the Amazon jungle to the village of La Sabana in Columbia, to reach the Muinane people with the Gospel and to translate the New Testament into their native language.

The book recounts the challenges of living in a elevated hut in the jungle, on a river miles from civilization, with no electricity, no running water, no air conditioning. They had to befriend the people, overcome their distrust, and earn their trust. Over the course of 18 years, despite all the obstacles, major and minor health issues, and satanic attacks, they did what God had sent them to do. They translated the New Testament into the Muinane language!

This book is worth reading. It's only 180 pages.

[Troy Solava · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our church has supported the Waltons (now just Jim as Jan passed several years ago). It is incredible to read about their mission work knowing that your own local church has prayed and supported them! There are men and women in the remote jungles in Columbia who know Jesus because of the Walton’s.

The book is written well; the stories are captivating; and it’s realistic. The Walton’s share their disappointments in such honest ways.

Missionary biographies are always sanctifying.

[Sean Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Walton Ways #1
Missionary tale has some really interesting moments, as the stories often do, as many tales do when they are summarised in a tale, the years of hardship not always seen, but that aside this was a challenging and inspiring book.

[Nolan Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of interesting moments.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was about a missionary (along with his wife and two children) whose 18-year work is to translate the New Testament into the Muinane language. It was interesting because we learn of the culture of these South American people who live in the deep jungles of Colombia. We learn about the atrocities of the rubber lords and the drug lords that come to terrorize these people. It's an easy read (although some of the atrocities are difficult to handle).