I was challenged into New Tribes Mission 42 years ago as I read the book, “God planted five seeds.” The story of the first five missionaries that was sent out from New Tribes in 1943 and Jean Dye Johnson tells it so well. The story comes alive in the deep dark “Green Hell of Bolivia” and tells how the five men were speared by the hands of the mighty Ayore. Jean Johnson had changed my life forever. Going through the special missionary training was a breeze for Janie and I and we were growing in our faith with each session taught. We were learning to step out of the home box and look to the regions beyond. Then came the day we moved to the Ozarks of Missouri to begin learning how to break down an unwritten language and other important things that would help us as we reached out to unreached people around the world.
It was not long until I realized that language learning was not my cup of tea. Jean Johnson herself tutored me until she realized the struggle that this young man before her was having and brought it to my attention that I may never learn a language. Needless to say my dreams of going to the mission field to preach the gospel hit rock bottom. It was then I remembered something I had read in Jean’s book that gave me new hope of fulfilling my dream to go to the regions beyond. Joe Moreno all at once became my hero. Over the many years I have served on the mission field he has been the one most to give me encouragement to be all I can be, just doing what I can. Joe as the story goes like me was not a language analyst although he had attended all the classes with the rest of the group headed for Bolivia. Joe had felt that because of his lack of education he could hardly be a missionary yet he had wanted to at least “carry the suitcases” of those that could, just a missionary helper. Then and right there I realized like Joe Moreno I to could be a missionary helper and that ministry has allowed 40 good years for Janie and I serving with New Tribes Mission as Member Care. After the death of the five men, Cecil Dye, Bob Dye, Dave Bacon, Eldon Hunter and George Hosbach the spot light fell on them and I had missed how important Joe’s life had been in reaching the fearful unreached Ayores with a peaceful contact which took several years of following them here and there through the jungle. Joe was faithful to his pastor Mr. Cecil Dye and lead many Bolivian men to the Lord he loved. God can take an uneducated man and make a hero out of him and use him to encourage many. Thank you Joe Moreno, you paved the way for me, a path to follow and for that you will always be my hero.