God in the Outback

By Jo Bourne

When Jo Bourne lost her beloved husband, Bill, she worried that she had also lost her way in life and her will to live. With her children raised and living on their own, she knew that she was at a crossroads in her life. Then one day, she got a message from God telling her to become a missionary in Australia, and she set out on a new path. God in the Outback tells the inspiring story of a woman who longed to bring the word of God to those in need and who found her way to Australia with Gods help and encouragement.

She knew that she wanted to make a positive difference in the lives of people by bringing Gods word to them. At first, the trip and the financial obligations involved in getting her there seemed daunting, but with God there is always hope and her prayers were answered time and time again. As she adjusted to the culture and learned of the racial discrimination that existed there, she worked toward her purpose of reaching out and ministering to the Aboriginal children in the white community.

Now, in this memoir, Bourne recounts her experiences in Australia during her mission, chronicling the good, the challenges, and the wondrous feeling of making a difference in the lives of many people.

She knew that she wanted to make a positive difference in the lives of people by bringing Gods word to them. At first, the trip and the financial obligations involved in getting her there seemed daunting, but with God there is always hope and her prayers were answered time and time again. As she adjusted to the culture and learned of the racial discrimination that existed there, she worked toward her purpose of reaching out and ministering to the Aboriginal children in the white community. Now, in this memoir, Bourne recounts her experiences in Australia during her mission, chronicling the good, the challenges, and the wondrous feeling of making a difference in the lives of many people.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Inspiring Voices
• Release date: Oct 19, 2012
• ISBN: 9781462403738

Jo Bourne

Jo Bourne emerged from the Mississippi farm lands of the Deep South emerged as a scraggly young girl who struggled through her lifetime with the concept of racial discrimination. At seventy-five, she still struggles. She lives in Prattville, Alabama.

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God in the Outback

Jo Bourne

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Copyright © 2012 Martha Bourne

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

ISBN: 978-1-4624-0373-8 (e)

ISBN: 978-1-4624-0374-5 (sc)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012919123

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Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version © 1998 by the Zondervan Corporation.

Some names have been changed.

Inspiring Voices rev. date: 11/2/2012

Contents

1   Never Too Old to Learn

2   Floor Time with the Lord

3   Floods and Swords

4   Hold on to the Rollercoaster!

5   An Eye Opener!

6   What’s in the Safe?

7   Where Was Everyone?

8   Blending Cultures!

9   Going Bush!

10   Kangaroo Tails and Donkeys

11   Dot Painting and Didgeridoo

12   Dangerous Acorns

13   She Wouldn’t Mind at All

14   First Impressions

15   New Beginnings

16   Where Are the Oranges?

17   Kangaroo Ticks

18   Down Under Christmas

19   Lights—Camera!

20   Rekindle Old Friendships!

21   Finding a Place to Light

22   Winding Down

To my children and grandchildren:

Tommie, Charlie and Chip and Chris

Peggy, Aaran and Amanda, Michael and William Paul

Acknowledgments

Writing a book has been a challenge for me. It started many years ago and I would become discouraged and set my writing aside. It is hard to believe that I am on the verge of having my book published.

Down through the years I was blessed with friends who would stand along side me and give me encouragement. Marilyn and Norietta who were there for me in the very beginning but we moved away in different directions.

For the Writers Guide I have been part of for the past year. I have gleaned much from them: Beth, Darlene, Pam and Victoria.

To my dear friend, Teresa who helped me in many ways. From being an encourager and praying for me and with me.

To my niece, Roberta who pointed me in the direction of Inspiring Voices Publishers.

For all the ones at Inspiring Voices. To all of you—editors, secretaries, receptionists, and decisions makers—you have brought this book forth to the glory of God.

Thank you! You were patient with me and explained things to me when I made mistakes.

For all of you who read this book may the word be an inspiration to you. May it draw you to a closer walk with the Lord Jesus?

When your words came,

I ate them;

they were my joy and my

hearts delight,

for I bear your name,

O Lord God Almighty.

Jeremiah 15:16

For the word of God

is living and active.

Sharper than any

double-edged sword,

it penetrates even to dividing

soul and spirit, joints and marrow;

it judges the thoughts and

the attitudes of the heart.

Hebrews 4: 12

Chapter 1

Never Too Old to Learn

In my late teen years, a man named Bill came to the family farm. As I rounded the corner of the house, barefooted, clothed in jeans and an old shirt, with a ten-foot ladder slung over my shoulder, I thought my eyes had never gazed upon such a specimen of a man. My sister, Dot was married to Hilton who was Bill’s brother. Bill was stationed at the Jacksonville, Florida Naval Base and had made the trip over to visit his family. He was a six-foot tall hunk of a man, with a ducktail haircut and a mustache. He stood out because he was clothed in his US Navy whites. His brown eyes sparkled in the sunlight as laughter flowed from within him. I tried to act nonchalant when I saw him, but my heart was telling me a different story. He seemed so out of place as he walked across the lawn at the country farm, yet he would prove to be the man who tamed me. At that time, Bill had already served four years in the navy, and he would serve another sixteen years.

A few months down the road Bill’s mother called me to set up a date with Bill since he was coming over for a visit. At first I did not know what to think but I was drawn to say yes. This was the beginning of our courtship. The farm life was beginning to look dreary compared to a life I could have with Bill. The young sailor had invaded my life with his way of showing tenderness toward everyone, even animals. Our courtship lasted a little over a year, consisting mostly of letters exchanged and a few cherished weekends together. We soon said our I dos, and I was off to travel to adventurous, unknown places with my new husband. We moved every three or four years like clockwork to a new duty station. After a few years we were blessed with three children: Bill Jr. and two girls, Tommie and Peggy.

What I had always dreaded as a navy wife was bearing down on us like a heavy gavel. Sea duty orders always came with big changes, and this time they also came with an unexpected move. We would be moving a long way from our hometown of Long Beach, Mississippi and going to Washington State.

Once settled there, we rapidly made friends. We were into the party life, which filled up most of our weekends. The gatherings were mostly in our home, since we had three small children to bed down.

The time came for Bill to be shipped out to Vietnamese waters for a six- to nine-month tour of duty. Loneliness set in. Loneliness cannot be stifled long by alcohol, but it was the only thing I knew to turn to. The situation with me became unbearable. I struggled with the children and my abuse of alcohol, which had me shaking all over. Knowing that I needed help, I reached out to a doctor on the base.

He asked me from across the desk, What can I do for you?

My answer came quickly. I need something to calm my nerves.

He just sat there and stared at me, which made me wonder, did he hear me?

Finally he answered, You don’t need any pills, but you do need spiritual help.

I thought, what in the world is this guy talking about?

He continued, I am calling the chaplain and telling him to look for you on Sunday morning. Then he picked up the phone and called. At this point, I knew he was talking about something to do with church. Another warning came from his mouth. I will be checking with the chaplain to see if you attend. He gave me the impression that the children might be taken from me. I was up bright and early on Sunday morning and prepared myself and the children for church. We were running a bit late, so I had to park in the back of the parking lot.

We walked up the side of the lot, and my eyes saw the steps up to the entrance. I instantly thought, I don’t want to do this, and I quickly spun around to leave. I found myself face to face with a woman. She seemed like an ordinary person, but she had a serene countenance.

She asked, May I help you?

I came back with, I was going…

She did not let me finish the sentence but said, Follow me. I will show you the way. She led us up the stairs and helped us find a place to sit. I never saw her again, and I believe God sent an angel to help me that day.

After a couple of Sunday services, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. This brought a drastic change in my life, and I had a brand-new outlook on my surroundings and myself. I saw everything with new eyes of understanding. My demeanor was different, and my heart had a newness of life I had never known. Instead of being drowned with alcohol, I was now washed in the blood of my Lord.

When Bill came home, he said, Jo, I can see a change in you. It was not long before he, too, accepted Jesus into his life. We enjoyed living our life together with Jesus as our Lord and Savior and our new friends were a blessing to us. We had seven years in Oak Harbor to grow in our faith.

We had to make one more move in the service, to Alameda, California. Then, after twenty years in the navy, Bill retired, and for the first time, he sought employment as a civilian. After three subsequent moves, one being our migration to Australia (which I will touch on later) we finally settled in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and by that time, the children were all out on their own.

Bill was hired by the employment office in Hot Springs. He worked with veterans looking for jobs and also helped them file claims with the Veterans Administration. He loved his work with veterans.

I found employment with Wal-Mart and worked in the toy department. At first things were hard; for instance, I would ask where something went and be told, With the action figures. Then I would have to inquire, What is an action figure? My department supervisor would say, Follow me, and would show me an action figure. It wasn’t long before I knew all the toys, the name of every doll, and what each toy did. What do they say? You are never too old to learn new things!

Chapter 2

Floor Time with the Lord

One of the first things we did when we arrived in Hot Springs was to find ourselves a place of worship. We found one, but it was a much larger church than we were used to. We wondered if we could fit in at a larger church; however, we were welcomed with open arms. We became involved with the