An American missionary who was shot dead with arrows by a tribe he wanted to convert on a remote Indian island wrote a letter to his parents asking them not to be 'mad at them or at God' if he was killed.

John Allen Chau, 26, was shot dead with arrows last week by tribesman when he arrived at North Sentinel Island - one of the world's most isolated regions in India's Andaman islands that is off-limits to visitors.

He had paid local fishermen to take him there before venturing alone in a kayak to the shore on November 15. Chau was shot by the Sentinelese tribe after arriving on the island, according to a fisherman who helped him get there.

Chau was able to safely return to the boat but made his way back to the island the following day, which is when the fishermen said they later saw the tribe dragging his body away.

Indian officials said they are now working with anthropologists to recover his body.

DailyMail.com has since obtained the letter Chau wrote to his parents, as well as several journal entries, he penned prior to his death that detail how he was committed to teaching the tribe about Jesus.

'You guys might think I'm crazy in all this but I think it's worth it to declare Jesus to these people,' he wrote in the letter to his parents.

'Please do not be angry at them or at God if I get killed.

John Allen Chau, 26, was shot dead with arrows last week by tribesman when he arrived at North Sentinel Island - one of the world's most isolated regions in India's Andaman islands

DailyMail.com has since obtained a letter Chau wrote to his parents he penned prior to his death that detailed how he was committed to teaching the tribe about Jesus

'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. 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 Revelations 7:9-10 states.

'I love you all and I pray none of you love anything in this world more than Jesus Christ.'

Chau signed off the letter with his name and 'Soli Deo gloria', which is Latin for Glory to God alone. The letter is dated November 16, which is one day after the fishermen said they first took him to the island.

Dependera Pathak, director-general of police on India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands, said Chau organized his visit to the island through a friend who hired seven fishermen for $325 to take him there on a boat, which also towed his kayak.

Two armed Sentinelese came rushing out yelling. They had two arrows each, unstrung, until they got closer. I hollered 'My name is John, I love you and Jesus loves you'. John Chau's journal entry after making contact with the tribe

He went ashore in his kayak on November 15 and sent the boat with the fishermen out to sea to avoid detection. Chau interacted with some of the tribespeople, offering gifts such as a football and fish but they became angry and shot an arrow at him, hitting a book he was carrying.

After his kayak was damaged, Chau swam back to the fishermen's boat, which was waiting at a prearranged location. He spent the night writing about his experiences on journal pages that he then gave the fishermen.

He set out again to meet the tribespeople on November 16 and never returned. Pathak said the following day the fishermen watched from a distance as the tribesmen dragged Chau's body away.

Chau's journal entries - dated between November 14 to 16 - have shed some light on what occurred when he first arrived at the island, including how he initially panicked when he saw the tribe's bows.

He detailed how he tried to offer fish to the tribesmen before 'two armed Sentinelese came rushing out yelling'. He said he came face to face with the islanders and at one point was 'just inches' away.

'They had two arrows each, unstrung, until they got closer. I hollered "My name is John, I love you and Jesus loves you",' he wrote.

Chau's journal entries - dated between November 14 to 16 - have shed some light on what occurred when he first arrived at the island, including how he initially panicked when he saw the tribe's bows

Chau took a boat ride with the fishermen before venturing alone in a canoe to North Sentinel Island (pictured, a file photo shows tribesmen on the island)

The Sentinelese attracted international attention in the wake of the 2004 Asian tsunami, when a member of the tribe was photographed on a beach, firing arrows at a helicopter (pictured)

'I regret I began to panic slightly as I saw them string arrows in their bows. I picked up the fish and threw it toward them. They kept coming.

'I 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. '

He later wrote: 'Well, I've been shot by the Sentinelese… By a kid probably about 10 or so years old, maybe a teenager, short compared to those who looked like adults.

'Please do not be angry at them': John Chau's letter to his parents 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 you lives in obedience to whatever he has called you to and I'll see you again when you pass through the veil. 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 Revelations 7:9-10 states. I love you all and I pray none of you love anything in this world more than Jesus Christ.' Soli Deo gloria. Advertisement

Describing the attack, Chau said: a 'little kid shot me with an arrow - directly into my Bible which I was holding.

'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…

'I don't want to die! Would it be wiser to leave and let someone else continue? No. I don't think so. I still could make it back to the US somehow as it almost seems like certain death to stay here.

'God, I don't want to die. WHO WILL TAKE MY PLACE IF I DO? OH GOD I miss my parents...

'Why did a little kid have to shoot me today?.. Father, forgive him and any of the people on this island who try to kill me...'

He appeared to detail the moment he was initially shot at, saying: 'I heard the whoops and shouts from the hunt. I made sure to stay out of arrow range, but unfortunately that meant I was also out of good hearing range.

'So I got a little closer as they (about 6 from what I could see) yelled at me, I tried to parrot their words back to them. 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 which they made in drumming sound, if I can recall. Perhaps their men were away which would explain why the only ones yelling at me looked fairly juvenile.'

He wrote: 'I spotted one man wearing a white crown or something (flowers maybe?) on his head and he also took a seemingly leadership stance... yelled at me. Leadership stance meaning he climbed atop the tallest coral rock to yell.'

Indian police said a murder case had been registered against 'unknown tribesmen', while seven people - the fishermen who took him to the island - have been arrested in connection with Chau's death.

The Sentinelese who killed Chau can't be prosecuted as contact with them and several tribes on the islands is illegal in a bid to protect their indigenous way of life and shield them from diseases.

The Chau family posted this statement regarding his death on his Instagram account on Wednesday

Chau was a preacher who had visited the Andaman and Nicobar islands in the past, a police source said

Chau hired a fishing dinghy and, aided by the fishermen, reached the vicinity of the island on November 16, before transferring to a canoe (pictured, a canoe he used in October)

Chau's last Instagram post featured a picture of a waterfall (above) thought to be in the Andaman islands

'Adventure awaits. So do leeches,' Chau wrote in the caption for his final Instagram album on November 2

One of Chau's friends revealed to DailyMail.com that he was 'committed' to travelling to the remote island, deep in the Indian Ocean, to preach Christianity to the tribesmen and had been planning the trip for at least three years.

Neil MacLeod, of Stornaway, Scotland, said he met Chau on a flight from London to Phoenix, Arizona, in October 2015.

'I saw him reading some Christian literature and I'm a Christian and we started talking,' he said.

MacLeod, 47, said Chau told him he had recently returned from India and was trying to figure out how to travel to the remote North Sentinel Island in the Bay of Bengal.

'He mentioned that he wanted to go to these islands, the islands where he has now died,' MacLeod said. 'I had heard of these islands and I know how dangerous they are, so I was surprised by that.

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… John Chau in his journal entry

'He recognized the dangers of travelling there, but I think he had a sense of call. This was something he was working on for three years. He was committed to going there. In his view, he was trying to help these people.

'There are islands that are nearby and he was making relationships and connections to help him get to the islands.'

Since the flight, MacLeod said he had emailed back and forth with Chau, who he described as 'magnetic' and 'charming.'

'He was a lovely character and wanted to help people. The thing that came across was what a delight it was to be in his company.

'He was such a warm and engaging and friendly kind of fellow. You might have an idea of what a missionary might be like, he was a million miles from that. I think he's a real loss. I'm just very sorry about what has happened.'

MacLeod said Chau was based in Portland, Washington, and working as an EMT at the time. He said he had helped during major incidents, including in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

'He was a free wheel so he would go to incidents, like major incidents around the world and look to help,' he said. He had worked with FEMA when he went down to Katrina. He was working there. He's worked in some pretty rough places.'

Police have learned he had a strong desire to meet the Sentinelese and preach on the island

The North Sentinel island is out of bounds even to the Indian navy in a bid to protect its reclusive inhabitants who number only about 150

The Sentinelese tribe are an indigenous tribe who live on North Sentinal Island, lies around 450 miles from the coast of Thailand and more than 745 miles from mainland India

He also paid tribute to Chau on Twitter, writing: 'He readily spoke of his calling to serve the Sentinelese. His calling came from a higher authority. He died a servant of the Lord. Saddened by his loss. He was a lovely guy.'

Others flocked to Chau's Instagram to pay tribute, with one friend writing: 'You were a real explorer out to understand the boundaries of terrestrial human travels.

'Those boundaries are seemingly electric at first touch... and you were the first to touch.'

Another added: 'So proud of you John. You are a true hero and it was such an honor to know you. Thank you for your obedience and passion, it's inspiring.'

A police source told Reuters that Chau was a preacher who had visited the nearby Andaman and Nicobar islands in the past. Police have learned he had a strong desire to meet the Sentinelese and preach on the island

Chau was a Christian missionary who wanted to interact with members of the Sentinelese tribe, according to International Christian Concern.

William Stark, ICC's regional manager, paid tribute to Chau and condemned his killing.

'We here at International Christian Concern are extremely concerned by the reports of an American missionary being murdered in India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

'Our thoughts and prayers go out to both John's family and friends. A full investigation must be launched in this this murder and those responsible must be brought to justice. India must take steps to counter the growing wave of intolerance and violence.'

Chau tried to reach the island on November 14 but couldn't make it, police sources said

He returned two days later better prepared. He left a dinghy midway and took a canoe to the island alone

Police launched an investigation after they were contacted by the US consulate in the southern city of Chennai, which had been in touch with Chau's mother.

The world's most isolated tribe: Who are the Sentinelese and why are they hostile to outsiders? The Sentinelese tribe has attacked almost everyone who has entered their territory. Because of their rejection of the outside world, little is known about them - including what they call themselves. What is known has been gleaned from viewing them from boats moored far enough away from the tribesmen, who carry spears, bows and arrows, or from the few times the tribe allowed authorities to come close enough to hand over coconuts. The Sentinelese attracted international attention in the wake of the 2004 Asian tsunami, when a member of the tribe was photographed on a beach, firing arrows at a helicopter that was checking on their welfare. Today, the island is out of bounds even to the Indian navy in a bid to protect its reclusive inhabitants who number only about 150. Campaigns by non-profit and local organizations have led the Indian government to abandon plans to contact the Sentinelese. Survival International works to ensure that no further attempts are made to contact the tribe. It is now illegal to have any contact with the tribe and last year, the Indian government said even taking photographs or making videos of aboriginal Andaman tribes would be punishable with imprisonment of up to three years. They say the Sentinelese have thrived on the small forested island, which is approximately the size of Manhattan, for up to 55,000 years. The women wear fibre strings tied around their waists, necks and heads. The men also wear necklaces and headbands, but with a thicker waist belt. From a distance, they appear healthy and thriving and observers have noted many children and pregnant women at times. According to Survival, the Sentinelese hunt and gather in the forest, and fish in the coastal waters by make narrow outrigger canoes, which can only be used in shallow waters as they are steered and propelled with a pole like a punt. Advertisement

A spokeswoman for the US consulate in Chennai said: 'We are aware of reports concerning a US citizen in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

'When a US citizen is missing, we work closely with local authorities as they carry out their search efforts,' she added, but declined to provide further details over privacy concerns.

Chau's Instagram shows he spent much of his time travelling and he documented his exploits on a blog called The Rugged Trail.

His last post on Instagram was shared on November 2. Alongside a series of pictures taken in the jungle, he wrote: 'Adventure awaits. So do leeches.'

Chau also spoke about his passion for travel in an interview with The Outbound Collective in 2014.

When asked where was on his 'must-do adventure list,' he said: 'Going back to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India is on the top - there's so much to see and do there!'

He also revealed his personal motto was: 'Make the most of every good opportunity today because you don't know what's going to happen tomorrow!'

Speaking about his inspirations, he said: 'Adventurers like John Muir, Bruce Olson, and David Livingston inspire me to go travel and explore, and I definitely get my inspiration for life from Jesus.'

Meanwhile, Survival International, a London-based organization that has been campaigning to protect the indigenous tribes living in the Andamans, called Chau's death a 'tragedy' that should 'never have been allowed to happen.'

The group's international director, Stephen Corry, said: 'This tragedy should never have been allowed to happen. The Indian authorities should have been enforcing the protection of the Sentinelese and their island for the safety of both the tribe, and outsiders.

'Instead, a few months ago the authorities lifted one of the restrictions that had been protecting the Sentinelese tribe's island from foreign tourists, which sent exactly the wrong message, and may have contributed to this terrible event.'

He added: 'It's not impossible that the Sentinelese have just been infected by deadly pathogens to which they have no immunity, with the potential to wipe out the entire tribe.

'The Sentinelese have shown again and again that they want to be left alone, and their wishes should be respected.'