Photograph of Oncaye (left) and Dayuma (right) in Tewæno. Caption from V. Raymond Edman reads: "Oncaye from downriver Aucas being taught from Mark by Dayuma in Tewæno. Oncaye prays to return to her people, helped by Dywi and Tonia." While the photograph depicts Oncaye and Dayuma reviewing a print of the Gospel of Mark translated into Wao tededo, Dayuma had only limited literacy and communicated Bible stories or verses mostly from memory.

Dayuma, 1931-2014

Born around 1930 in a settlement of the Waorani Geketaidi kinship group in the eastern Ecuadorian Amazon, Dayuma fled her village after her father was killed by a fellow Waorani spearman when she was about 13 years old. Taken in by neighboring Quichua, she lived in de-facto slavery at Hacienda Ila on the edge of the rainforest. In February 1955, Dayuma met Rachel Saint and began helping her with Wao language study. It later became clear that Dayuma spoke a corrupted form of the language, having repressed or forgotten much of her native tongue. Nonetheless, Rachel Saint became convinced that God had chosen Dayuma to take the Gospel to her people.

In 1957, two Waorani Geketaidi women, Mintaka and Mankamo, left their village seeking news of their estranged niece, Dayuma. Months later, Dayuma returned to her village with Mintaka and Mankamo, hoping to prepare the Waorani for Elisabeth Elliot and Rachel Saint to join her. She explained that the Waorani had nothing to fear from the two women (and later offered similar assurances regarding the Waorani to Saint and Elliot when they joined the community later that year). She also arrived with gifts—trade goods the Waorani wanted—and strange stories about a creator God named Waengongi, after a mythical Wao figure. Because of her Waorani heritage, as well as her understanding of the outside world, Dayuma became an essential cultural bridge between the missionaries and her people.

Leading her kin group to a new settlement on the Tiwaeno river, Dayuma brought a new way of life – along with new challenges – to the Waorani. Relaying the Bible stories taught to her by Rachel Saint, Dayuma was the first evangelist to the Waorani, and some members of her extended family group continue to be among the most committed Wao Christians. Dayuma’s later role in her native community proved to be complex. Shaped by her experiences among the Quichua and her close contacts with American missionaries, she played a crucial function in the cultural evolution of the Waorani people over the next several decades. By introducing Christianity, new trade goods, and literacy, among other rapid changes, Dayuma occupied an outsized position of influence even in traditionally egalitarian Waorani community life. In 1962, she married Come (Komi), the son of Geuquita, and had four children. In 1977, she left Tewæno to help her son Sam (Ignacio) Padilla establish a new Waorani settlement at Toñampade. She died on March 1, 2014, in Puyo, Ecuador and was buried in Toñampade.

Prayer letter sent by Rachel Saint, a translator with Wycliffe Bible Translators, to her supporters in the United States, describing her perception of the life of Dayuma up to the end of 1955, including her flight from her Waorani community and the development of her friendship with Saint. She also described what she (Saint) had learned about the culture of the Waorani (who she called Aucas). This letter was written without any knowledge of the plans that her brother and others were developing for direct contact with the Waorani.
October 1955 Prayer letter from Rachel Saint
A newspaper article, "Auca Indian Dayuma Baptized into Christian Faith at Wheaton Church," on Dayuma’s baptism at the Evangelical Free Church of Wheaton, IL in April 1958. The article also provides some background on Dayuma’s early life. 
Auca Indian Dayuma Baptized into Christian Faith at Wheaton Church
Photograph of Dayuma and her son Ignacio (Sam) wearing coats in a snowy landscape at the SIL retreat in Sulphur Springs, Arkansas. Photo has caption: "For Dr. and Mrs. Edman with our gratitude for sharing with us in offering the first fruits to Him who loved the Aucas and gave Himself for them. Rachel, Dayuma, and Ignacio."
Dayuma and Ignacio in the snow
Written record of a taped interview of Dayuma by Elisabeth Elliot on the day of Dayuma's return to Arajuno, describing her visit back to the people of her village, c. September 1958. This exceptionally brave trip laid the essential groundwork for Elisabeth Elliot and Rachel Saint to go and live among the Waorani less than a month later. The interview on the tape, both questions and answers, was in Quichua.
Transcript of an Interview with Dayuma
Letter from Marjorie Jones Whitaker (Wheaton College, Class of 1944) to her mother, Mrs. Blanche S. Jones providing updates on the mission to the Waorani, October 1958. She describes how, more than two-and-a-half years after the deaths of the five missionaries, Dayuma returned to the Waorani settlement where her family lived. She further explains the invitation Dayuma received from her kinship group for Rachel Saint and Elisabeth Elliot to come to live among her people.
Letter from Marjorie Jones Whitaker to mother (PDF)
Recording of Dayuma speaking Wao Tededo
Photograph of Oncaye (left) and Dayuma (right) in Tewæno. Caption from V. Raymond Edman reads: "Oncaye from downriver Aucas being taught from Mark by Dayuma in Tewæno. Oncaye prays to return to her people, helped by Dywi and Tonia." While the photograph depicts Oncaye and Dayuma reviewing a print of the Gospel of Mark translated into Wao tededo, Dayuma had only limited literacy and communicated Bible stories or verses mostly from memory.
Oncaye and Dayuma