[citation needed] Youderian entered Northwestern College near Minneapolis, Minnesota, by this time having been called to the mission field.

[3] Youderian, his wife, and their infant daughter Beth left for Ecuador in 1953, staying first in Quito to study Spanish and eventually moving to Macuma, a mission station in the country's southern jungle.

[4] After working with them for about a year, Youderian and his family began ministering to a tribe related to the Jivarro, the Achuar people.

He worked with missionary pilot Nate Saint to provide important medical supplies, but after a period of attempting to build relationships with them, he failed to see any positive effect and, growing depressed, considered returning to the United States.

[5] On January 3, 1956, Youderian set up camp at "Palm Beach" along the Curaray River with Jim Elliot and Ed McCully.