![]() Raised in Vancouver, Washington, Chau was first drawn to the outdoors after discovering a rcopy of “Robinson Crusoe” while in elementary school, he said in an article several years ago in The Outbound Collective, a website and app that helps people discover the outdoors. “Please do not be angry at them or at God if I get killed – rather please live your lives in obedience to whatever He has called you to and I will see you again when you pass through the veil.” “You guys might think I’m crazy in all this but I think it’s worthwhile to declare Jesus to these people,” it said. ![]() “God Himself was hiding us from the Coast Guard and many patrols,” he wrote.īefore he left the boat for the last time, Chau wrote one final note to his family and gave it to the fishermen. Please do not be angry at them or at God if I get killed His notes indicate that he knew the trip was illegal, describing how the small fishing vessel transported him to the isolated island under cover of darkness, evading patrols. “Lord, is this island Satan’s last stronghold where none have heard or even had the chance to hear your name?” he wrote. In pages left with the fishermen who facilitated his trip to the island, his musings are a clear indication of his desire to convert the tribe. 'You guys might think I'm crazy': Diary of US 'missionary' reveals last days in remote island Shortly after, a young member of the tribe shot at him, according to his account. “I hollered, ‘My name is John, I love you and Jesus loves you,’” he wrote. A tribesman shot at him with a bow and arrow, piercing a Bible he was carrying, he wrote in his diary, pages of which were shared by his mother with the Washington Post. In excerpts from his journal, Chau described his time on the island and the challenges he faced. ![]() Authorities believe he was killed.Īll seven locals who facilitated the trip have been arrested. The fishermen said they later saw the tribespeople dragging his body around but police haven’t been able to independently verify Chau’s death. On the third attempt of his mission, he didn’t come back. It’s unclear what happened but “the (tribespeople) broke his canoe” and he had no other option than to swim back to the boat. He returned to the island the following day. He hoped to eventually share the gospel and perhaps translate the Bible, said a friend, John Middleton Ramsey.Īmerican missionary believed killed by isolated tribe knew the risks, friends say Still, he wanted to get to know the islanders’ way of life. He had traveled to the remote island years ago and returned knowing that his mission was illegal and risky. Indian authorities say Chau was 27, but Mat Staver, founder of a Christian ministry that Chau was involved with as a college student, gave Chau’s age as 26. Traveling on a tourist visa, Chau arrived to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in October with one mission: preach to the Sentinelese. He returned to his boat twice before vanishing The island is only about 50 kilometers (31 miles) west of Port Blair, the territory’s capital known to tourists for its stunning emerald beaches, history and water sports.Īt least 15 Sentinelese could be living on the island, according to India’s census estimates from 2011. People are not allowed to go within five nautical miles of the island by Indian law and the Indian Navy patrols it day and night.Īnd while its residents have no contact with the outside world, they aren’t too far from other civilizations. India has protected the island for decades to prevent the Sentinelese from contracting modern illnesses and to keep outsiders alive. The island, which is part of India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands territory, is roughly as large as Manhattan. The Sentinelese have lived in complete isolation on the remote North Sentinel Island for tens of thousands of years. The Sentinelese: World’s most isolated tribe The bodies were recovered then,” he said. We are also studying the 2006 case where two local fishermen were killed. “There are legal requirements as well which we need to keep in mind while carrying out the operation. Pathak said there are a lot of things to consider before they enter the island, including the psychology of its residents. “We are discussing with anthropologists and psychologists about the nature of the Sentinelese.” “The mission was done from a distance to avoid any potential conflict with the tribespeople as it’s a sensitive zone,” he said. Pathak said the group spotted several tribe members carrying bows and arrows and walking around the area where the fishermen said they saw Chau’s body being dragged and buried. We have not spotted the body yet but we roughly know the area where he is believed to be buried,” said Dependra Pathak, a top police official in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. “We have mapped the area with the help of these fishermen.
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