JungleCamp BY CORAL MEARS, '63
As the M.A.F. pilot maneuvered the little plane over and between the high peaks of Chiapas, Mexico, I really felt that I was in the hands of God . When we reached Jungle Camp, I was met by the staff and ushered to what was to be my home for the next six weeks- a little mud hut with grass roof. I fell on my knees on the mud floor to thank the Lord for the dedicated Missionary Aviation Fellowship pilots who risk their lives daily to fly missionaries into remote areas. I thanked the Lord too that I was to have three months training to 'prepare me to live in a primitive Indian tribe as a literacy teacher. My roommate at "Main Base" was Vida Chenoweth, author and C(oncert marimbist. Vida has been guest soloist with Symphony Orchestras all over the world but now she has dedicated her life, too, to getting the Holy Scriptures translated into the language of primitive tribes. Our classes at Jungle Camp consisted of swimming , canoeing, mechanics, carpentry, Tzeltal (the Indian language of the surrounding area), and clinic. In clinic class, our instructor, Dr. Bob Crawford taught us in simple language how to sew up lacerations, do skin grafts, give injections , give intervenous and subcutaneous feedings, pull teeth, and treat various diseases. He insisted that we will have to do these things in our tribes or let the people suffer or die as they have in the past. We practiced giving vitamin shots to each other, and then, after watching Dr. Bob treat a number of the Indians that came in for help ,
"Don't tip while you zip (my jungle hammock).
we began giving injections and treating them too. Our canoeing class was climaxed by an overnight canoe trip. We paddled downstream for three and one-half hours in the big dugout canoes. The trip downriver was more thrilling than a roller-coaster ride as we went through twenty-seven rapids. The canoe I was in capsized twice and I had to put into practice what I had learned in swimming class-letting the swift current carry me feet first (while I sculled with my hands to keep my head above water) down to calmer waters where I could swim to safety. When we reached our destination, we had
About The Author
a hearty meal of macaroni cooked in river water, and then we crawled into our jungle hammocks for a night's rest. Jungle hammocks are quite comfortable as they protect one from mosquitoes and gentle rains. However, the rain this night was far from gentle and soon I found myself sleeping in a pool of water! Our return trip took us five hours as we had to pull the 500-pound canoes up over each of the rapids. We arrived home black and blue from being dashed against rocks, but we were thrilled over the experience. Another high spot of our stay at Main Base was our trip to Naja to visit the Lacandon Indians who spear fish, live in stick houses, and worship man-made gods by burning incense in god-pots inside their god houses. The men wear their hair long and unkempt, giving them a "caveman" appear-
To prepare for her mission as a literacy teacher in one of the remote Indian tribes in Guatemala, Coral Mears underwent a three-month survival training pro-
gram in Wycliffe's jungle camp in Southern Mexico. Here she lzarned to cut her own paths through forests, l,nd food and water, prepare her own shelter. The rigorous program included a 26-hour solitary hike through the jungle. She left on a moment's notice-with only a machete.
She became
an expert
swimmer
and canoeist
and learned to build a jungle hut of leaves, vines and mud. In Guatemala she will teach the natives to read and write
in their own
language.
She will
have to learn
to
speak both Spanish and the Indian tongue fluently, not only for discourse with the natives but for the preparation of a primer and other teaching aids. She and one other white woman will live with the tribe, observing and absorbing the natives' customs, folklore and culture, in order to win their confidence. She will receive no salary, not even living expenses.
She will rely on "one of the promises of the Lord-that he will take care of me." And if, as it is said, the Lord helps those who help themselves, Coral Mears should qualify. She had to support herself and, in part, her teen-age son who was graduated from high school the year she received her degree at Westhampton. Now,
with
lulWing
Chopping down a huge balsa tree to build a raft.
a
no
further
burning
domestic
desire,
missionary.
a
responsibilities,
she is
compulsion
be
to
a
Giving
[ 4]
an injection to a Tzeltal girl. Our clinic at AB. is in background.
