Excerpts from John Chau's Journal

John Allen Chau was a young American who was determined to reach the Sentinelese people with the Gospel. He worked hard to prepare himself for an initial encounter with this tribal group. Unfortunately, in the providence of God, his attempt to communicate the love of God with this fierce and isolated tribe ended when he was killed by them last month. Like other missionary martyrs who have preceded him, John Chau placed his passion for making Christ known above his own safety. Instead of commenting on what he did, we are letting John speak for himself by sharing excerpts from his journal. These are in chronological order.

“I’ve been in a safe house in Port Blair since returning from Hut Bay, Little Andaman for the past eleven days!”
 
“Being stuck in the safe house meant that I hadn’t seen any full sunlight till today…the benefit is that I was essentially in quarantine.”
 
“[British Colonialists] failed to be a blessing to the nations and rejected the commands of Jesus.”
 
“The meeting [with fishermen] went well – I trust, although I am the only English speaker so there is quite a language gap; I am relying on the holy spirit to direct us.”
 
“Remember, the first one to heaven wins.”
 
“God, I thank you for choosing me, before I was even yet formed in my mother’s womb, to be Your messenger of Your Good news to the people of North Sentinel Island.”
 
“Even my heritage points to you – me, an American citizen, part Irish, part Native American (Choctaw), part African, and part Chinese and southeast Asian – thank You Father for using me, for shaping me and molding me to be Your ambassador.”
 
“Please continue to keep all of us indeed hidden from the physical and spiritual forces who desire to keep the people here in darkness. Holy Spirit please open the hearts of the tribe to receive me and by receiving me, to receive You. May Your kingdom, Your rule and reign come now to North Sentinel Island. My life is in your hands, O Father, so into Your hands I commit my Spirit.”
 
“His plan will succeed and I pray that not my will nor my plan be done but only His good, pleasing and perfect will. Forever You Jesus, are to be praised.”
 
“Left last night around 2000 and arrived around 2230 or so but as we went north along the eastern shore, we saw boat lights in distance along the north shore and turned around. Headed south along the eastern shore and evaded them, went along the southern shore and up along the western shore. All along the way, our boat was highlighted by bioluminescent planktons – and as fish jumped nearby, we could see their line darting mermaids shimmering along. The Milky Way was above and God himself was shielding us from the coast guard and navy patrols.”
 
“One blocked while other waded along the coast, then little third with bow and arrow came down the middle and I figured that this was it.”
 
“They had two arrows each, unstrung, until they got closer.”
 
“…well built with a round face one fly on right face cheek and yellowish pigment in circles on his cheeks and about 5ft 5”.”
 
“[I] disembarked my kayak to show them that I too have two legs.”
 
“My name is John, I love you and Jesus loves you. Jesus Christ gave me authority to come to you. Here is some fish!”
 
“I regret I began to panic slightly as I saw them string arrows in their bows. He threw the fish toward them, but the men kept running and were almost within arrow range.”
 
“I stumbled back and recall yelling at the kid for shooting me – now as I look back at it, my Bible cover looks like bark – like tree bark, so maybe he was just curious but yikes, it sure gave me a fright.”
 
“I turned and paddled like I never have in my life back to the boat. I felt some fear but mainly was disappointed they didn’t accept me right away. I can now say I’ve been nearly shot by the Sentinelese.”
 
“They burst out laughing most of the time, so they probably were saying bad words or insulting me. They were also yelling into the forest behind the hut.”
 
“I couldn’t tell if they were truly unarmed or not. So still I got a safe distance away and dropped off the fish and gifts and at first they poled their dugout past the gifts and were coming at me, then they turned and grabbed the gifts.”
 
“Then the little kid with bow and arrow came down the middle and I figured that was it.”
 
“The little man shot me with an arrow – directly into my Bible which I was holding off my chest. I grabbed the arrow shaft in front it broke in my Bible (on pg 433 Isaiah 63:5-65:2) and felt the arrowhead. It was metal, thin but very sharp.”
 
“I saw the boat with figures with their arms up waving and I thought briefly that another group of Sentinelese had attacked the boat while they were watching me but thank God that wasn’t the case. Although I now have no kayak, or my small pelican and its contents, I’m grateful that I still have the written word of God.”
 
“I’m scared… There, I said it…also frustrated and uncertain – is it worth me going on feet to meet them?”
 
“Lord… if you want me to get actually shot or even killed with an arrow, then so be it. I think I could be more useful alive though, but to you, God, I give all the glory of whatever happens. I DON’T WANT to DIE! Would it be wiser to leave and let someone else continue? No. I don’t think so – I’m stuck here anyway without a passport and have been off the grid. I still could make it back to the US somehow as it almost seems like certain death to stay here. Yet there is evidenced change in just two encounters in a single day. Will try again tomorrow.”
 
“Watching the sunset and its beautiful – crying a bit… wondering if it’ll be the last sunset I see before being in the place where the sun never sets…”
 
“God, I don’t want to die. Who will take my place if I do? Oh God, I miss my parents, my mom and my dad… I’ve never felt this much grief or sorrow before. WHY! Why did a little kid have to shoot me today? His high pitched voice still lingers in my head. Father, forgive him and any of the people on this island who try to kill me, and especially forgive them if they succeed.”
 
“What made them become this defensive and hostile? Legends passed down through the millennia of their escape from a slave ship? Why does this beautiful place have to have so much death here?”
 
“Last night, I had what I’d call a vision as I’ve never had one before – my eyes were shut but I wasn’t asleep and I saw a purple hue over an island-like city as a meteorite or star fell to it and it was a frightening city with jagged spires and I felt distressed. Then a different light, a whitish light filled it and all the frightening bits melted away.”
 
“Lord is this island Satan’s last stronghold where none have heard or even had a chance to hear your name?”
 
“Lord strengthen me as I need your strength and protection and guidance and all that you give and are. Whoever comes after me to take my place, whether it’s after tomorrow or another time, please give them a double anointing and bless them mightily.”
 
“If it goes badly on foot the fisherman won’t have to bear witness to my death.”
 
“Perfect LOVE casts out fear. LORD Jesus, fill me with your perfect love for these people!”
 
“Woke up after a fairly restful sleep, heading to island now. I hope this isn’t my last notes but if it is, to God be the glory.”
 
“You guys might think I’m crazy in all this but I think it’s worth it to declare Jesus to these people. 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’ll see you again when you pass through the veil. Don’t retrieve my body. This is not a pointless thing – the eternal lives of this tribe is at hand and I can’t wait to see them around the throne of God worshiping in their own language as Revelation 7:9-10 states.”
 
“I pray that you will never love anything in this world more than you love Christ.”
 
“Soli Deo Gloria, John Chau”

Shortly after the last line, John Chau was martyred.