Shortly after Don settled with this tribe, an enemy tribe up the river befriended a warrior from the tribe where Don lived.

Don and (his wife) Carol Richardson worked hard to learn the language and customs of the tribe they lived with. They were frustrated that they couldn't get them to understand the story of Jesus coming to earth to die for their sins.

The tribe loved the story of the crucifixion of Jesus, especially the part about Jesus betrayal and crucifixion. At this point they hung on Don's every word, waiting with eager anticipation for the part where Judas gave Jesus the kiss of betrayal. They shouted with glee and clapped for Judas. Treachery was their highest virtue.

Don and Carol prayed that God would show them a way to convey the true message of Christmas in a form these people would understand. Then one day the opportunity came in a manner they didn't expect.

The tribe up the river attacked the tribe Don was living with. For weeks they fought and killed each other. Finally Don said to the leaders of the tribe, "If you don't stop fighting we will leave your tribe."

That was a serious threat to them. They liked Carol's medical care and Don's steel implements. Plus, the presence of the white family gave them status. The chief of Don's tribe realized that he had to pay the price of peace.

One day Don watched the warriors of the warring tribes form a line opposite each other. The chief of his tribe took his newborn son from the arms of his wife. She sank to the ground wailing in uncontrollable grief.

Then the Chief walked down the line of his warriors and each of them put their hands on his little first born child. With determination and resolve the chief walked across the open space between the two warring tribes. He stood face to face with the enemy chief and placed his son in his enemies arms.

With the baby in his arms, the enemy chief walked down the line of his warriors. In full view of the father and the father's tribe, each enemy warrior placed his hands on the baby boy,  Next the warriors turned and disappeared in the bush with the infant. The baby was gone, never to be returned to it's grieving parents.

The Richardson's wondered what the ceremony meant. One day the chief said to them, "I offered my son as the peace-child for our tribes. As long as my son lives there will be peace between our tribes. If he dies, war will resume. Anyone who kills a peace-child will himself be killed."

Don pondered the significance of the ceremony. In a flash of insight he realized the Chief was giving him the cultural key that would open this stone-age people to the truth about Jesus Christ.

One day Don gathered the elders together and told them the story of God's peace-child. Don spoke of the war that rages between the kingdoms of this world and the Kingdom of God.

Next Don shared how God our Heavenly Father sent Jesus to this earth as His Peace Child to make peace between God and man. "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  (Isaiah 9:6 NIV)