Sydney, Slum Streets and Omaha Nebraska

Even though I don’t think I’ve actually ever truly said it out loud, I feel like I should say “G’day!” because I’m an Australian, living and working in the USA. This past weekend was my five-months-since-living-in-Americanniversary; and what a five months it’s been.

I graduated college on a Friday and left for a 26 hour plane journey that very Sunday – four flights, three countries, five states. All to end up in Omaha Nebraska. And in one fifty pound bag, I packed up the past 22 years of my life.

When I landed in L.A and passersby’s caught a hint of my then-fresh accent, they all asked me the same two questions. “Where are you going in the USA?” and then, “why on earth are you going to Omaha?”

The answer to that question comes in the form of my now-fiancé; an Alaskan born Americman, who I met – at the tender age of 18 - on the shores on Townsville Australia, as we did our Youth With A Mission discipleship training school.

All that to say, I’m strange here. There’s not too many Australians in this epicenter of the USA. I’ve traded the beach for cornfields, and learnt to drive on the right hand side. I literally, moved across the world for love.

And as romantic as that may seen, there was a huge part of me, before departing, that really, truly, didn’t want to come.

You see, I had a plan. A great plan. A Grand Plan, you could even say.

After working with both YWAM and Serving In Mission (SIM) International, and studying development anthropology for three straight years; I was ready. Ready for missions. Ready to take on the world. 

My heart is with the poor, running barefoot down slum streets, and opening my home for feeding programs, medical clinics, orphan adoption, and the building of sustainable water pumps. I was ready to be ‘called’ by God to the most unfortunate and worst smelling communities of the earth, I was ready – it was all in my plan.

And then love came along. And then Omaha.

And I truly questioned, why. 

I’d always said to God, “I’m willing to go anywhere and do anything for you Lord!” but I knew in my heart that I held reservation. It was an ‘anywhere’; so long as it was a developing nation. And it was an ‘anything’; so long as it was focused, long-term, development-based missions.

Come on God, I said, Omaha? Don’t you know where I’d be best?

Since ‘being in love’ wasn’t a paid occupation, I was set to work at a restaurant. And it didn’t take me too long to realize that with my fifty-pound bag I had also bought with me a great deal of bitterness, toward God, toward everything; the loss of my great saving-the-world-on-my-own plan.

But then it happened. 

Two weeks after arriving I found myself sitting in the Christ For the City International Office; staring at the conference room wall. It holds a giant world map, with all the countries and locations we have ministries. 17 countries, 23 bases, 31 cities and over 70 ministries; and they all find their center in Omaha Nebraska. And without me even looking for it, a missions opportunity in the mid-west USA, found me.

It goes without saying that I’m humbled and overwhelmed. That once again I have re-learnt the lesson of how little I am, and how great God is. One of these days I will stop underestimating Him, and start trusting Him; for He has me, always, exactly where He wants me.

I’m learning so much about the body of Christ, and here; I’m part of the roots. The roots which stabilize and allow the tree to grow; into all nations, to spread the good news, look after the poor and bring Kingdom, Kingdom, Kingdom in Jesus name. Over, and over, and over, and over, and over again. And here, I get to see it all.

In this season of my life, I’m not running barefoot down slum streets, but I am helping to cash donations which allows other faithful workers to do so. I’m not opening my backyard for feeding programs or medical clinics, but I’m a behind the scenes advocate, prayer warrior, fundraiser and facilitator. I water roots. I was ready to be ‘called’ by God to the most unfortunate and worst smelling communities of the earth, and He put me just where I least expected, Omaha; but in the center of His will.

I know it wasn’t my plan because I’m here! And I’m learning so, so much.

He is truly teaching me not only about missions, but His mission; for all people. Omaha is my mission field. It’s not where I’m comfortable, but that’s why I need Him. And I’m blown away each day, by how He works, and how I’m here.

I moved across the world for love, and I’d do it again in a heart beat. Because now, I truly believe my ‘anything’ and ‘anywhere’ prayer is completely genuine; because I’m moved by His love, for all people. Not my love, for my plan.

This just fuels and ignites my heart at the moment; Romans 12: 9-18

“ Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good;  love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited. Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all.”

It’s a beautiful, beautiful thing to witness the roots of God working all around His world! Starting in my own heart and life with me, the love-struck Australian in Omaha Nebraska.

 Rebecca Dawborn

bec@cfci.org