My sister-in-law, Karen Shaw, was a great example of not just talking the talk about love but walking the walk every day. She was out-going with a quick sense of humor and showed love to everyone she met by being genuinely interested in them. If you needed help, she helped. If you needed an encouraging word, she had one- or more likely, several! And while she loved everyone, she especially loved Jesus Christ.
In 1969, Karen and her husband, Dan, felt God calling them to be Bible translators to an unreached people group. They and their infant son soon moved into a village with the Samo people in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Their love for these people was evident in the way they spoke about them when they wrote home, served them and helped them. Karen, a teacher by profession, learned "jungle skills" from the women and children as she worked hard to learn their language. The next step was giving and teaching the Samo a written language so they could read the Bible she and Dan were translating. Karen taught the women basic nutrition and health topics. She read children's books to the children, translating as she read. Their family grew as two more sons were born there.
They stayed in PNG with the Samo for 12 years coming back to the US only every three or four years. Relationships with the Samo people deepened as they lived their lives side-by-side. In late 1981, they moved back to the US and Karen began teaching sixth grade at Pasadena Christian School. Her students loved her. Often when I was visiting, we would see one of her former students when we were out. They always stopped to tell her what they were doing and how she had made a difference in their life.
Though the Samo were half a world away in an age without Internet, they were not forgotten. Letters (you know, the kind in an envelope with a stamp) went back and forth and were read to their Samo friends by other missionaries. Karen and Dan prayed fervently for the Samo- and they for Karen and Dan. Through Dan's work (he's a professor at Fuller Seminary), he went back to PNG somewhat often; Karen accompanied him a few times. Relationships that were birthed years before were strengthened.
Life went on. And then, suddenly, in 2005, Karen died following a complication from surgery. As Christians, we know we will see her again in Heaven one day and take great comfort in that. The amazing thing was that even after her death, her love for people continued to shine.
The children and teachers at Pasadena Christian School wanted to honor Karen in a way that demonstrated her love for people and the value she placed on education. Over the course of several years, they collected books- LOTS of books- to send to the Samo village to start the Karen Shaw Memorial Library at Honinabi Community School. They also raised funds to provide two laptop computers for the library as well as solar panels and the electrical equipment for lighting and charging the computer batteries.
Of course, the materials were just one aspect of this project. Logistics was another. Christian Radio & Mission Fellowship technicians lent their expertise in figuring out the techie aspect of providing electrical power and then sent a young PNG electrician to put everything together. Mission Aviation Fellowship also lent a hand providing planes, pilots and ground staff necessary to run a "jungle airline" as they transported people, equipment and provisions in and out of the jungle.
And finally, almost six years after Karen's death, the long-awaited project came to fruition. Dan had remarried and he and his wife, Georgia (who was herself an instrumental person in this endeavor- but that's another blog post!), took four large crates of books to the jungle of Papua New Guinea and work began on the library.
Bookshelves were built...
... and everyone helped!
The village leaders and teachers learned (with Georgia as their teacher) how to use a computer, send and receive email and use the Internet.
At last, the big day arrived. The village gathered to receive the books and dedicate the Karen Shaw Memorial Library.
Some wore ceremonial garb to this important event.
The books and computers were presented to the Samo.
And the Karen Shaw Memorial Library was dedicated.
Because Karen loved people... from a village of people in a remote part of the world she at first had nothing in common with except the love of Jesus... to school children she taught... to others involved in mission organizations... a school library in the jungle became a reality enabling many Samo children to expand their understanding of the world and recognize the value of God's Word. What a legacy of love!
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Jesus in John 13:34-35
I've been thinking of Aunt Karen a lot lately... not really sure why, she's just popped into my head several times in the last couple of weeks. I miss her :(
ReplyDeleteBut you're right - she loved people and she LOVED Jesus!
Kristi, this is wonderful, thank you so much, I will send the link to Dan to read in Idaho...he will really appreciate your work.
ReplyDeleteGeorgia