During 2016 I spent a total of 11 months working on the international mission field serving with an organization called The World Race. During this time I was a preacher, a construction worker, a teacher, an evangelist, a farmer, a disciple maker, a baker and chef, a painter, a friend, a big sister, and a mentor in 11 different countries. My teams and I have truly been able to reach “the least of these,” and we have lived out being the hands and feet of Jesus all over the world!
During the seventh month of my World Race experience I began to feel the call to return to the mission field as an Alumni Squad Leader. It was very important for me to experience the transistion of returning back to the United States after completion of the race so I continued to pray for the Lord’s timing of when to return back to the field.
I still knew Squad Leading was something the Lord had for me I just wasn’t sure when.
As I sought the Lord for His perfect timing and will, I was working to pay off my student loans and serving in whatever way I could in my hometown.
One day in June, I mentioned to one of the mentors at the World Race that I would love to be under her leadership and she was thrilled. I continued to pray about the Lord’s timing and had thought it was for me to go in October.
Well, as only the Lord can do, he scrambled all of my plans and called me to leave even earlier, in August. Our leadership team for X-squad was almost entirely changed and we didn’t even get our last Alumni Squad Leader until a week before we left!
I have such a passion for this ministry and the serving that takes place all around the world through the World Race. I have seen people completely transformed and truly laying down their lives to answer His call and to share His love with all they encounter. Since I have expereinced this I have known that the Lord wanted me to continue on with this ministry.
My biggest hesitancy to return to the mission field was that I did not want to support raise again.
For a long time my outlook on raising funds and asking for donors was not one that glorified the Lord. I felt as though I was “begging” people for money. However, that is a lie and a mindset that the enemy wants me to believe to keep me from obedience.
You see, God has created us all for a specific role in this life and right now He has me on the international mission field serving and impacting people’s lives to build and further the kingdom. I am absolutely honored and thrilled to be doing this but the idea of fundraising has been a difficult one to accept.
During my time on the field, I am not making any type of income so the funds I raise are how my trip is paid for and how I am able to pay for bills back home.
During my first 11 months on the field I did not make regular payments on my student loans and they have continued to incur interest. As that number continued to increase so did my anxieties about finances and returning to the mission field. I wanted to work and pay off my loans as quickly as possible.
However, the Lord began to convict me about allowing the “fear of lack of finances” be a reason to not obey Him and to not go where He was calling. He impressed upon me, “Do you truly trust me Julie? Have you honestly surrendered your finances to me? Do you trust that I will provide your every need?
If I was being honest with myself and the Lord, I knew that by staying home and working I was going to be in disobedience and not stepping out in faith and trust.
There are goers and there are senders. The Lord has each and every one of us in a different field of ministry. It just so happens that during this season, I am a goer and I need people to send me.
So I humbly come before you today asking that you would prayerfully consider supporting me financially.
If you feel led to support directly towards this trip, hit the “donate” button at the top of this page.
If you feel led to help me take care of my accruing finances back home, check out this page,
https://www.youcaring.com/juliereusser-873600
Thank you for taking the time to read this and I pray that if the Lord moves you to give that you would do so joyously knowing that your contribution truly is impacting more than you can imagine.
For more about my trip and what God has called me into, check out some of my other blogs or just ask me 🙂
All My Love,
Julie
