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Coire
Indians of Michoacan
Mexico
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One
the most beautiful areas of Mexico is the wild and primitive Pacific
Coast in the state of Michoacan. The truly exotic ocean-front jungle and
mountainous area between Tecoman and Cardenas stretches 220 miles. Along
this route you'll find a few fishing villages located about 30 to
40 miles apart. Most are no more than sandy beaches with palm frond
palapas the locals use to get out of the sun.
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The
young mother and daughter above built this altar to honor Nuestra Señora
de Guadalupe (Virgin of Guadalupe). By tradition, Nuestra Señora
de Guadalupe made appearances to Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin on the hill of Tepeyac near Mexico City from December 9, 1531 through December 12, 1531.
The Coire Indians are shy, and can be quite elusive. Out of respect for their
desire for privacy, I never take their picture without permission. .
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You can see in the
photo above that the Coire appreciate simplistic natural beauty. I
greatly
admire their lifestyle of peace and semi-solitude.
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With
the beaches and surf of the beautiful Pacific Ocean as a backdrop,
the
Coire Indians live a semi primitive lifestyle as seen in the adobe stove
above.
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The
oceanfront long-houses seen above are used when large gatherings
of family and friends take place during holidays and other festivities.
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Where
the freshwater streams flow down from the mountains on their way
to the ocean, the Coire Indians grow native fruit such
as coconuts, bananas,
limes, papaya, and mangos. Saltwater fishing is a staple for the people also.
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Backpacking along the Michoacan coast offers access to people and places not afforded by car. In the jungles, I sleep in my Clark Jungle Hammock
which keeps me out of reach of most ground crawling critters, of the likes as
scorpions, spiders, and snakes. When staying oceanfront I hang the hammock and other gear high up on the poles of the
palapas to stay above late night incoming tides.
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The
view from my campsite. Except for the Indians living along this
mile-wide
bay area, I only saw six non-local people during a week-long stay.
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I
backpack with minimal gear to leave room for bibles and tracts.
To save weight and avoid fuel availability issues I
invented a backpacker's stove that I call the Little Colima after Volcano
Colima. The Little Colima is six inches tall, weighs
three ounces, and will cook food or boil 16 oz of water in five minutes using only
two tablespoons of regular rubbing alcohol. Due to the insulated design and
unique sectioned fuel/air flow, it operates cool enough that I can hold the stove in my hand while it
boils a pot of water sitting on top.
A physicist friend of mine says I should patent the Little Colima.
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When
among the Coire Indians I initially stay to myself and remain self
sufficient while using my backpacking gear. I sometimes purchase
vegetables, fruit, and seafood from them. This allows me to stay among
them for days or weeks, long enough to win their trust. I can then spend
time with them sharing the gospel of Christ.
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Check
points for drugs and weapons are very common in the state of Michoacan.
The Pacific coastal roads are the shortest route for cocaine traffic
coming out of Colombia and marijuana out of Oaxaca Mexico... all headed
to the millions of cash paying customers in the U.S.A.
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I inquired and found
there were twenty-five soldiers working
this location, so I
left thirty-five New Testament Bibles with them, plus,
for their families, 100 of the children’s booklets about Jesus. The fellow
sitting in the military Humvee spends
his entire day manning the 50-caliber machine gun, now he has something to read.
Praise God, that’s our Spanish New Testament Bible he’s reading!
Look in the
car's mirror, you can see the other soldiers getting their bibles I left for them at the gate. I’ll be going back through there again, this time I’ll be armed... with
Old and New Testament Bibles.
God
is gracious to allow me to take part in His Great Commission.
Barry
L Brumfield
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Also
see:
Tarascan Indians of Mexico
Huichol
Indians of Mexico
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