BRAZIL — Kayapó warriors ambushed and killed three Crossworld workers deep in the Amazon jungles in 1935 when Earl Trapp was just six years old. The world soon knew about the “wild Kayapó,” but only God knew how to transform them with His gospel, and He would use Earl to do it.

Earl left for Brazil in 1955 and dedicated his life to the Kayapó people. He survived the worst of the jungle diseases like malaria and dengue, spent days in a dugout canoe, and told stories around an open fire at night, chewing on wild boar.

Today, the Kayapó no longer kill, and they regret their brutal deeds of long ago. Because Earl and other missionaries spent a lifetime translating and teaching the Scriptures, the Kayapó people have been transformed by the Word of God. They now live by “God’s paper.”

Twice a year the Kayapó fly from their remote villages to a central location to study the Bible together and in between the teaching sessions, they sing songs to their Creator.

“There are more than 200 Scripture songs composed by the Kayapó themselves, using Bible verses for the words,” said Earl, also known as Grandpa Sore Foot. “Everyone wants to learn the songs, and thus they are learning God’s Word.”

Even though Earl no longer lives in Brazil, he still disciples Bird Bone, Little Grass, Strange Bone and Monkey Arm (names translated from Kayapó) over WhatsApp from 4,000 miles away.

Today, more than half of the 27 villages in Kayapó country have communities of believers who are learning to follow Jesus. Thanks to God’s Word and the commitment of workers like Earl, the once-feared Kayapó now belong to God.