This collection of stories, passed down from Cyrus B. Dawsey, Jr., recaptures the adventure of foreign places and the excitement of strange customs that is so much a part of life on the mission field. In this book, the love of Christ comes alive through the stories of his people.
Excerpt from Living Waters
Piracicaba, 1978
Arão was a member of the church. He was a very talented artist who could draw and paint beautifully. He was also a master decorator who was called every year by the Country Club in Piracicaba to prepare elaborate decorations at Christmas and New Years.
But Arão had a problem. He was an alcoholic. He was marvelous when sober but awful when not. Psychiatrists, doctors, loved ones, friends and I, as well, did our best to help him. Even Alcoholics Anonymous tried its best, but the result was the same–failure. Sometimes he would spend his time painting and making the most beautiful artifacts.
One day I went to visit Arão. He wasn’t in. I asked his wife, Dionysia, whether he was drinking again. She said that he was. The youngest son, Eduardo, was there, but I missed the oldest son, Milton, who was thirteen. She told me that he was with his father. Worried, I asked, “Milton hasn’t started drinking, has he?” She answered, “Oh no, that’s one thing I’m sure he’ll never do. My two boys have come to detest liquor. For the last two weeks Milton has not left his father’s side. Wherever Arão goes, night or day, Milton goes with him. He made up his mind that he is going to do everything he can to stop his father from drinking. He even goes to the bar with his father and tries to persuade him not to take a drink. When his father won’t listen to him, he then does everything he can to get the bartender to not serve Arão a drink of pinga (cheap whiskey).”
I was moved deeply by what Dionysia had told me. I had a prayer with her and Eduardo. As I was driving down the river front street, three blocks from Arão’s house, I passed by the corner bar. I was touched by what I saw. Arão was sitting at a table drinking. Milton was sitting by his side, trying to persuade him not to.
Now as I write, I have before me a Christmas card from Arão. He writes, “I have not drunk for a whole year and hope never to drink again.”
About Cyrus B. Dawsey, Jr.
Cyrus B. Dawsey, Jr. was brought up in Brazil where his parents were Methodist missionaries. He married Marshlea Cottingham from Madison, Florida, in 1941. After serving in the Merchant Marines in World War II and graduating from Duke University with a divinity degree, he returned to the mission field in 1952. He pastored and founded 23 churches in his long career.
Living Waters: True Experiences from Life on the Mission Field is a collection of vignettes, providing a sense of what the life of Christian missionaries is really like.
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Photo Gallery
Cyrus Dawsey in the Merchant Marines
As a communications officer, ca. 1943. Cyrus Dawsey served five years aboard munitions and other ships. As a percentage of those on duty, the Merchant Marines suffered greater losses than any branch of the service during World War II.
Church of St. Francis of Assisi Ouro Preto
In front of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Ouro Prêto, Brazil, 1970s. In the eighteenth century, about 70 percent of the world’s gold was produced from this area of Brazil. The church was designed by Aleijadinho, who also carved many of the icons inside.
Fishing on the Pantanal. Front row: Dawseys John, James Ciro, Cyrus, Wesley.
Fishing in the Pantanal region on the border of Brazil and Paraguay, ca. 1990. The Parana River is almost 2,500 miles long. The Itaipu Dam and hydroelectric power plant further south is the largest in the world and provides enough electricity for all of Argentina and Paraguay, and one third of Brazil.
Bible-Centered Lectures
After their father passed away, two brothers discovered in March 2006 a secret compartment in his house. Behind a sliding panel was hidden one of Norman Rockwell’s most famous paintings, “Breaking Home Ties.”
Breaking Home Ties by Normal Rockwell
Later that year Sotheby’s sold the painting on behalf of the brothers for $15.4 million. The gospel always reaches God’s children as something surprising. And J. M. Dawsey’s acclaimed Bible-centered lectures and writings confront Christians and non-Christians alike with that good news.
Acknowledgements
Living Waters was written by the Reverend Cyrus B. Dawsey, Jr (1921-2005). I simply edited the wonderful stories and wrote an introduction to the work. To know Dad was to become a better person. And to read his stories is, in the words of Cicero, “to learn (or profit) with delight.”