Customer Reviews

I Can See the Shore

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Mike Dawson's work "Growing Up Yanomamo" won an award as Book of the year in 2010 for biography and this follow-on work (actually part II of the story) is not only an inspiring and heart-warming volume, but helps readers complete the important understanding of the activities presented in "Growing Up Yanomamo". I was privileged to spend an evening with Mike and Keila Dawson recently and can share that their story, as presented in these two volumes, is just the "tip of the iceberg", so to speak. I was inspired, encouraged, my heart ached, and I cried (yes, grown men do cry) at Mike's presentation and openness of their joys and traumas of life, and how God works through them. I highly recommend this book, especially to those who have read "Growing Up Yanomamo". You will truly have your emotions touched with laughter, sadness, joy, sorrow, and most of all inspiration to further illuminate your own life.

Lifelong missionary Michael Dawson gives you an intimate peek at Coshilowäteli, a tribal village in the rainforest of Venezuela. In his unique and refreshing style, Mike invites his readers to experience visits to Yanomamö villages, some welcoming him with open arms and some not so eager to meet "strangers." He shares personal joys and sorrows along with an up-close and personal look at the life of a Yanomamö shaman, exposing the dark side of the spiritual world. Michael even includes a unique view of Heaven...and Hell through the eyes of a shaboli (witch doctor). Travel with Michael and Keila and their family through the soul-wrenching illness and loss of precious Mikeila. Discover what it is like to travel for hours on an Amazonas river in a dugout canoe...in total fog. Hunt tapir with Michael and Julio. What is a shabono and does it keep you dry in the rainy season? How is God working in the lives of the Yanomamö despite the radical interference from the Venezuelan government? Let "old...mean and irritable Yobli" tell you!

Come and enjoy the wit and wisdom of Michael Dawson, a special missionary who is still trying to figure out if a sloth makes a good house pet!

This life story of a personal friend will share the realities of the costs to the missionary and his family when dedicated to an evagelistic ministry to a primitive tribe. One follows along through the heart breaking experiences of losing a wife to malaria, and later a child with a serious illness while in the jungle without plane support. In order to recieve the medical attention which might have saved her life. but throughout it all Micheal held to the promise of the eternity that awaits us and the reunion he will have with his family members across the shores. The book is written in such a way that you will feel kinship to the families involved and also become aware of your Christian Yanomami brothers in Christ.

I actually read the forward of this book before going back to read Growing up Yanamano. My family has known Paul Dye most of my teenage and adult life and I wanted to read what he said about this author. It had been Mrs. Dye's recommendation that brought me around to owning these books. She had congratulated Mike (on Facebook) for an award he received on this book.

As I was saying, I was reading the foreward to the second book and immediately learned that Mike wrote both books with the intent on it being one. It was others that convinced him to make it two - one being on his childhood - growing up with his parent's, who were Venezuelan missionaries to the Yanamano and how Mike was actually born among the tribe of the Yanamano - thus the name of his first book, and how he and his 9 siblings grew in faith and learned to love the people and country. The first book was fun and a constant adventure.

If you've ever read Dean Koontz (and generally, I'm sure Christian book readers may not read other genre) but if you did - I'd say the end of his first book is much like the end of Dean's book ODD THOMAS. It's a shocker and makes you jump out of your seat and say OH NO, THAT CAN'T HAPPEN! But instead of being a fiction writer like Dean Koontz, it was absolutely real.

Because I too live in the real world and have had OH NO THAT CAN'T HAPPEN moments in my life, I grabbed Michael's second book and read anxiously, wondering what a man of God does to deal with such moments. And there he was, dealing with another OH NO moment. I gained great insight, Bible verses, and calming strength as Michael Dawson dealt with his own horrible tragedies.

Yet, his second book wasn't filled with tragedy. I don't mean to make you think if you buy this, that's what you'll be reading. It's much like the first book, with accounts and memories of his childhood memories and current life of his sons and daughters. He looks back upon his life to give him strength and help him through. It's a wonderful and at times, delightful book. I read through it like I was drinking water after a long thirst.

When I was finished, I had to write my missionary friends to find out if he and his family were still in Venezuela, because he'd finished his book in 2006. They are. Their only pilot is facing a crisis. He needs a liver transplant so they haven't had a pilot since November 2010. If you'd like to learn more, Google Michael Dawson's name and learn about his friend and pilot - Dale. I did.

Mike Dawson's story is an amazing picture of trusting God in ALL things. When you are reading about his adventures the reader feels as though they are right there experiencing it with him. The same is true about precious Mikeila and your heart is breaking as he shares it with the you. They truly do consider it a privilege to serve in the jungles of Venezuela and their love for the Yanomamo is so evident here. Great follow-up to his first book,"Growing Up Yanomamo" and I am looking forward to more adventures from Mike.

A great read! Mike Dawson writes knowingly of the joy and heartbreak of living deep in the Amazon where professional medical help can be days, if not weeks, away. I have been to Cosheloweteli in the Venzuelan Amazon several times and have met many of the Dawsons, including Mike & Keila Dawson and little Mikeila. The book filled in many gaps for me, brought back memories of a young blonde girl so easily at home in the jungle among fierce Yanomamo indians, many smiles, and yes, a few tears.

The author weaves a compelling story of visiting remote Yanomamo villages, the dangers involved in trying to find a village in the rainforest when you don't know where it is, and trying to find his boat home at midnight in the jungle when his flashlight batteries are dying and his Yanomamo companion is lost. He is an expert in jungle survival and aptly describes the difficulty of feeding oneself in the rainforest. He shares food with his Yanomamo friends and often worries that they are playing a joke on him....or about to do so.

This is a very satisfying sequel to his Christian Small Publishers Association award-winning book, "Growing Up Yanomamo". Growing Up Yanomam'o: Missionary Adventures in the Amazon Rainforest

Having had the priviledge to get to know Mike Dawson and most of his family made this an emotional read for me. Everyone should read this book. With a wacky sense of humor and all the wild adventures the Amazon Rainforest has to offer you will love the way the author tells of just some of his exploits. I laughed out loud at Mike's every day life. And I cried at his and his families great pain in the loss of a beloved child. Reading about a really true life adventure dosen't get any better than this book. Learn what it is really like to live with and love one of the most feared and respected Tribes of Native Indians in the Amazon. You will understand the dedication, the courage,and the total trust in God it takes to be a Missionary.