Life in the Jungle

December 5, 2009

By JOAN KERN, Correspondent
Lancaster Newspapers

Almost 40 years have passed since the Rev. J. William Shaw and his wife, Barbara, served five years as missionaries in Brazil .

But even after all those years, the Akron couple's still-vivid memories of both sadness and joy while working with Indians in the Amazon jungle begged to be recorded.

"It was a watershed event of our lives," said Mrs. Shaw, author of "Journey to the Amazon," a 376-page self-published book released in August.

The book is available for $12 in Ephrata at Clay Bookstore and Life House Books and for $10 in two gift shops at Landis Homes, 1001 E. Oregon Road, Lititz.

Mrs. Shaw has been a full-time resident associate at Landis Homes for nine years.

Her husband retired in 2003 after 10 years as pastor of Washington Avenue Bible Church in Ephrata and now works part time for Friendship Community.

The couple has five children and 18 grandchildren. Four of the children, then ages 2 to 8, went with them to Brazil in 1970. The fifth child was born after they returned to the States.

"I also wrote the book for the children and grandchildren," Mrs. Shaw said.

The Shaws met and married when they were students at Columbia (S.C.) Bible College.

While working in the 1960s for Rural Home Missions in Liberty, Mo., they heard a missionary speak about Brazil.

"He challenged us to go, to reach Indians who had never heard of Jesus Christ," the author said.

Before departing, they learned Portuguese and how to write a never-before-written tribal language, which would eventually enable the Indians to read the Bible.

They also took medical and dental training. Together they dispensed medicine and treated injured and ill Indians. The Rev. Shaw also pulled teeth and sutured wounds.

"We kept them alive with a healthier, happier lifestyle," Mrs. Shaw said of the Indians.

The book recounts their "faith journey" with both blessings and dangers.

It began in 1970 with a flight scheduled for six hours that became numerous flights over six days. Mrs. Shaw, who was afraid of heights, had never flown before.

"After a very rough landing (for the third time), I broke down crying. We were just worn out," she wrote in the book.

That was just the beginning of their odyssey with New Tribes Missions to reach the Catuquina Indians, one of many tribes in the vast Amazon jungle far from civilization.

Many more dangers followed, including a sinking boat on the Gregorio River on the last leg of their journey, when much of their food supply and most of of their possessions where lost.

"It was all part of the trip," she said. "It was very typical."

The Rev. Shaw was seriously burned in an explosion. They all suffered frequently from malaria and other serious illnesses and infections.

Yet the children "enjoyed being missionary kids enough to become missionaries themselves," Mrs. Shaw said.

Home-schooled, they had monkeys and parrots as pets and swam year-round in the river.

"The children have lots of good memories ... . It was a real educational experience. They never resented it. They loved being there."

In the jungle, they lived in a rough-hewn house on stilts, without electricity or running water. The rivers were home to piranhas and crocodiles.

"Poisonous snakes were all over the place," she said. "And I can't even stand to see a worm!"

Upon finding a snake in a storeroom, she "grabbed a machete, screaming and hacking" until it was reduced to one tiny wiggling piece.

At the end of a five-year assignment, which they had hoped to extend indefinitely, the family returned to the United States for a one-year leave.

While home, they realized that recurring attacks of malaria and a serious ear infection had put the Rev. Shaw's life at risk. The couple reluctantly decided not to return to Brazil.

"We thought someone else could do better," Mrs. Shaw said.

Despite the hardships, the Shaws have fond memories of Brazil.

"Because it was such a special time in our lives, we've always felt so sad about leaving and always wanted to go back," she said.

"We've encouraged other people to go as missionaries, and we've stayed in touch with them."

© 2009 Lancaster Newspapers

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