The Good Seed

THE GOOD SEED. That's what the Tzeltal Indians of Southern Mexico call the Bible. In the 1940's they were a despised people, isolated, abused, exploited--explainably hostile toward the rest of the world. They were know for their drunkenness. Disease was rampant due to a lack of hygiene and nutrition. Ignorance, superstition, cruelty, destructive tribal customs, and indolence branded them as objects of discrimination by others and gave them a sense of inferiority. Music was seldom heard; joy and laughter were absent. Today the Tzeltals enjoy singing, 322 churches dominate their territory. Schools, clean (though still simple) homes, crops, the products of learning and hard work, are their new landmarks. A sense of community pride, civic organization and joy mark the nearly 50,000 Tzeltal believers. Personal hygiene, and medical services are provided through an indigenous system of more than 80 clinics. What made the difference? Their reply is, "The Good Seed," their name for the Bible. Who made the difference? The answer--"Jesus." When you ask them, "How?" they'll tell you about Marianna Slocum, revered as their "Spiritual Great Grandmother," who reduced their languages to writing, translated the Word of God into two of them and taught them to read. And they'll talk about Florence Gerdel, RN, who brought the healing touch of medicine. The Tzelta's history in local legend is couched in the terms "Before Marianna" or "After Marianna." In THE GOOD SEED, Marianna tells her story, which spans nearly five decades, in a gripping and inspiring way which will bring you to love Marianna and her Indian Friends.