Indians Hiring near Jungle Camp.
and here observe the training pro gram in its more intensive phase. Native villages are visited, a trip taken to the home of the Baer family, translators to the Lacandon Indians, a tribe which has not yet responded to the Gospel—and as a contrast, a visit to the Tzeltal Indian tribe where there are thousands of believers and many indigenous churches. Pastors and Christian leaders who have made this trip have spoken en thusiastically of the blessing and challenge which they received. “The experience was tremendous,” says one, and another reported, “I came home . . . spiritually refreshed and chal lenged . . . I am indebted to the tour for a greater missionary vision and will be glad to help in any way I can in the work.” At least one pastor is known to have gone to the mission field himself, under his denomina tional board, as a result of making the Mexico tour. He said that this trip had presented him with a challenge which he could not escape. Tours are usually conducted dur ing the months of February and March, when the weather is normally dry and the Jungle Training Camp is in session. The trips are so arranged that if he travels by air, a pastor need miss only one Sunday from his own pulpit. The challenge of darkened and impoverished lives who know nothing of a Saviour is realized as never before by those making this trip. Apprecia tion for such an opportunity, con tained in a letter from a New Jersey pastor at the conclusion of his Mexico visit, expressed the feeling of many others who have taken the Pastors’ Tour: “Every step of the way was a blessing. I shall never forget the varied experiences and testimonies t h a t it was my privilege to witness . . . I
could write a book about all the good things. My church is now increasing ly sharing that enthusiasm.” All arrangements for these tours are made through the Chicago office of Wycliffe Bible Translators. Name and address of pastor, as well as name and address of church, should be stated when making application to join the tour. For further information, write to Mr. R. W. Wyatt, 809 North Austin Boulevard, Chicago 51, 111. Tzeltal Indian teaching Sunday school at Lacandon Village. (Note that his trans lated New Testament is carefully wrapped in newspaper for protection.)
'ellowship, Ixtapa, Chiapas, Mexico.
ranged annually for several years, initiated and organized by Mr. R. W. Wyatt, Central States Representative of Wycliffe Bible Translators. Groups have been visiting the Mexico field, which has the largest concentration of workers of any country in which Wycliffe is working, and has the added advantage of proximity. Opportunity is afforded for visits to national points of interest, such as the ancient pyramids of Mexico, as well as for a limited amount of sight-see ing in Mexico City itself before leav ing to observe facets of the Wycliffe training program and tribal transla tion work. Visitors will see Bible translation in progress, both on paper and in the hearts and lives of con verted Indians. They will participate in services in the Spanish and Indian languages. Two or possibly three days will be spent at the Wycliffe Jungle Training Camp at Chiapas, in southern Mexico. Here accepted candidates for mission ary service with Wycliffe Bible Trans lators,—either as translators or sup port personnel — nurses, teachers, pilots, mechanics, radiomen, etc. — leam how to live in the primitive conditions which will face them when they arrive at their field assignment— how to put a roof over their heads, constructed of available materials, how to get in and out of and sleep in a jungle hammock, how to boil water! (since all water must be boiled), etc. Canoe trips and mule rides, as well as opportunities for swimming and hiking, are features of the tour. Then the party moves on to the Jungle Camp Advance Base,
JANUARY, 1961
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