September 22, 2023 • 36 mins
Have you ever wondered how to conquer your fears and hesitations when called to serve others?
In this episode we sit down with the remarkable Julie Cerruti, whose life story is a testament to resilience, compassion and faith. In this heartfelt episode we sit down with the remarkable Julie Cerruti, whose life story is a testament to resilience, compassion and faith. Born amidst Vietnam's political turmoil, Julie and her family fled to the United States, where she navigated her way from a Buddhist upbringing to a deep Christian faith. She shares her journey, from overcoming self-doubt to finding purpose and confidence in her new home, and exercising her gift of compassion on a mission to Mexico.
Believing that God had instilled compassion within her for this purpose, Julie reveals how she bravely stepped up to serve in Mexico and how she used her talents and skills in different ways to contribute to the mission. Her journey demonstrates how embracing faith and heeding God's calling can lead to profound personal growth.
Ever asked yourself how to make a meaningful impact in someone else's life? Julie exemplifies how sharing personal testimony can do just that. She underscores the importance of sharing our experiences with God's work in our lives, whether it's through prayer, compassion, or storytelling. Julie's narrative is a powerful reminder that our personal metamorphosis can influence others and lead them to Christ. Tune in to this episode, be inspired by Julie's journey, and discover how to ignite the transformative power of your own story.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
What if you had a guide who could tell you how to
bridge a gap between who you aretoday and who you are destined
to be?
What if, each week, you couldhear a story of someone who has
tried and succeeded, or perhapstried and failed but learned
something in the process?
Limitless Spirit is a weeklypodcast where host Helen Todd
interviews guests about topicsand personal stories on defining
(00:23):
life's purpose, pursuingpersonal growth and developing a
deeper faith in Christ.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Welcome back to another episode of the Limitless
Spirit.
I'm your host, helen Todd, hereto bring you another story that
is bound to tug at yourheartstrings.
We all have experienced momentsof self-doubt at one point or
another, whether it is movinginto a new community or starting
(00:49):
a new season in life.
There are those moments when wecan't rely on what we know or
have experienced so far andthere are left feeling like
we're not enough.
I frequently talk to people whohave a deep desire to serve God
and people, but feel likethey're not spiritual enough or
(01:09):
lack specific skills orknowledge.
Today is super special, guys.
We have with us a phenomenallady, julie Saruti, who turned
the trials of her life into atestimony that shines bright in
the dark corners of the world.
From escaping the war inVietnam with nothing but clothes
she wore to succeeding in acountry where she didn't know
(01:33):
the language and thendiscovering Christian faith, she
scarved a path that is nothingshort of inspirational.
Get ready to be moved by herjourney of self-discovery and
growth.
Our incredible guest overcameself-doubt and channeled this
newfound strength into touchinglives through missionary work.
(01:53):
Her story is a great reminderthat we can find light,
confidence and purpose even whenthe journey seems steep.
You know folk.
Hello Julie, welcome to theLimitless Spirit Podcast.
Hi, alan, nice to talk to you.
I so love technology that wecan be in different states and
(02:18):
here we are talking to eachother like we're sitting in the
same room.
So I really have been wantingto do this interview with you
for a while, because you have apretty incredible story, and so
we're going to jump right intoit.
You were born in Vietnam, isthat correct?
Speaker 3 (02:39):
Yes, yes, I was born in Vietnam, in Saigon.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
In Saigon.
So tell me a little bit whatyou remember from your life
there.
What was life like for you?
Speaker 3 (02:51):
I go back when, as far as I can remember, I was
born in a family who works here,ancestors, and they are
Buddhism, but the funny thing is, even so, they put me to
(03:12):
Catholic school, I think ingreat school.
That's where I start Catholicschool and, be honest with you,
they look at that in a way thatfor me to be structured, to be
(03:32):
organized, to be disciplined, tobe focused.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
You had a good education, right.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
A good education.
That basically it, even thoughI know deep in my heart.
I know there's a God, there's aGod, but I never get an
opportunity to really developfurther because it was a school
we didn't have Bible study classor anything like that.
So then, through great school,went to high school, a different
(03:59):
high school.
It's called the Genshin ofChrist that's the name of the
high school I went there and weswitched from French to study to
English, because that was backin the early 70s.
So we switched to English, so Ican learn English and they
(04:23):
think it would be helpful for myfutures.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
So, coming from a Buddhist family and being in a
Catholic school, did you feellike this is a completely
foreign thing to you and whatyou were taught about God and
faith was something you hadnever heard before.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
You know we didn't have Bible school.
I wish the school did.
That would help me more greatlybecause I know in my heart I'm
very receptive to the supremebeing, that even beyond Buddha.
But at that time I would justthink, oh well, Buddha is saying
(05:06):
that life is full of sufferingsand you can be doing it.
Focus on performance, A lotabout performance and being a
good person.
So I just, you know, I didn'tknow any more than that, but
being in a Catholic school andthere was no Bible study class,
(05:28):
so I did not know the differenceand I'm receptive to what I was
taught.
You know, I thought I was goodas well, but that was a Catholic
school and I don't know thedifference between Catholic and
Christians and everything elseat that time, until I came over
here, you know, came to the US.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
So the political events that happened in Vietnam
during that time sort of madeyour world fall apart in a sense
.
So tell me a little bit aboutthat time.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
So in 75, all of a sudden, one day I, just like you
know, my family said okay, thebus is going to pick up and take
us to the airport.
Well, I have no clue, I wouldjust follow you know I have when
they say you can have a littlesmall suitcase, but you know, so
I have a little backpack.
So we go to the airport and wewere waiting at that time.
(06:23):
So we only hear that like theNorth Vietnam had already coming
down to start attacking andthey start taking over the
central and go further, furthersouth.
So they had gone to Saigon.
And I start hearing the battlesgoing like bullets flying, you
know, everywhere, and we, we, Ithink we got picked up like late
(06:46):
in the day.
So by the time we get to theairport we only have a few hours
of daylight, and then most ofthe time it was at night and the
bullets just flying all over uslike, like fireworks, you know
why did your family have to flee?
Well, part of it's.
My father was a high rankofficial in the government, so,
(07:07):
even though he passed away, butthat's not good, you know.
And then also he had sent allof my older brother and sister
to boarding school in the US andto France.
So that's not a good.
That's not good either becauseof our background.
So they know who my father was.
And then I have a sister-in-law.
She worked for USA and then soreally, and she really saved all
(07:32):
of us, she brought all of us in.
And we get to the bus and youknow it was, you know, then go,
went straight to the airport.
So that was the.
That's why we have to leave,because if not, you, they're
gonna take you to aconcentration camp and then like
(07:54):
, scatter everybody everywhere.
And you know, that's just andbe honest with you, I never
expect, I never think aboutgoing to the US.
It never crossed my mind.
I just look back and they saythis is all.
God, will he work?
In a mysterious way, itdefinitely.
It's just like, how did thatall come?
I mean, I wasn't planninganything.
(08:16):
I was thinking about going toschool in the US or Canada or
France, because that was mybrother and sister did.
But when I was born, my fatherdied when I was a young teenager
, so there's no hope that thatwe could go.
So anyways, I just think it'sjust the whole thing happened,
(08:38):
it just got real.
He kept us survived during thatnight.
You know, like every time thehelicopter trying to land to
pick us up and other family aswell, and they get shoot at, so
they flying back up, so we haveto run and hide from one hanger
to another and then, tillfinally able to land and pull us
(09:01):
up, they say everybody, we onlybring people, Do not bring any
of your luggage with you.
You drop everything.
You only have your ID with youand I guess it's short in your
bags.
You know, and that was it.
So I came and I left everythingat the airport.
So we just have a short in ourbags and the ID.
(09:23):
And I remember, before we left,I think my family say, oh, each
of us should get a dog tag, likea, like a name tag, like a dog
tag.
They're called dog tag, yeah,with your name, your name on it
and your birthday.
And that was basically it.
So, and praise God that we geton the helicopter and and just
(09:44):
not knowing where we're goingnot knowing about our future.
Definitely some of my brother,older and sister, some of them
has left before us, like waybefore us, but this is like like
for my mother and I, and thenthe brother and his, his wife,
their family going with us.
That was the last one that wasable to be so.
(10:06):
So my older brothers, they havesome friends in the US, so they
have some friends and you know,but, like for my mother and I
and my younger brother, we don'tknow anybody.
We did not know anyone, period,nothing.
So we did not know where ourfuture is going to be.
We're not, we just totally likelike a blank in our future, not
(10:31):
know what we're going to bedoing and but so all of a sudden
, from a fairly comfortablelifestyle you became a refugee
in America and you were able toget education and got married.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
So at what moment did Jesus found find his way into
your heart?
Speaker 3 (10:55):
You know, when I came here, all I was thinking about
is get an education, go tocollege, learn English is the
first thing you know, like, stayhere for, like, we came here
with refugee status, like aparolee, you know, some kind of
status like that and thenthey'll grant us green card.
(11:17):
After 10 years we can get greencard.
During that time I studiedEnglish, I was very shy, and I'm
still shy in some way too.
I just want to lay low.
I don't want to, you know, likebe in front of a lot of people
and all that.
So that's why.
So I just focus on learningEnglish and I say what's the
(11:37):
best way to learn English?
I sign up in like for freeEnglish class that they teach us
, they teach refugees at thattime and then I start.
When I knew some English, Istarted signing up for college
and I thought, well, the bestway to learn English is to like
to be mixed and equal with theAmerican kids, you know, because
(11:58):
that's how you learn to speakand learn all the you know.
And of course, you know theycollege, so they use slang and
all that stuff.
So I just learning how tosecure my life, you know.
Getting educations, I didn'tthink so much about God.
I didn't know any friends incollege that encouraged me, that
(12:18):
disciple me, to learn anythingabout God.
Until much, much later.
And then, when I got collegedegree, I worked very hard to,
you know, to earn a living andto be able to start supporting
and help others that lessfortunate.
And that's when I startsponsoring kids, start helping,
(12:41):
you know, in the capacity that Icould do for them.
And until much, much later inlife I got married, and I got
married late in life as well.
My husband's one day told me youknow, julie, we need to go to
church.
And I knew that was in my heart.
There was a few time Iattempted to go to church, but
(13:04):
somehow I don't know what it was.
It's like I feel, like I was.
I was gonna start with theBible study and I got someone,
gave me a Bible.
It was an old King Jamesversion.
I did not understand.
I just read it, but I don'tunderstand his language.
So I got feel discouraged, so Iwill start going to.
(13:25):
I remember the future was likeis what's a big Methodist church
?
But I didn't say it.
So I went to that Methodistchurch.
I thought, okay, it's a bigplace.
So somehow I felt that Istarted, but I have no friends
who really like two Christiansto help me.
(13:46):
Then I felt discouraged becauseI didn't feel like I fit in.
There's some reason, something,I don't know what it was.
But then when I got, when I gotmarried, my husband said oh, we
need to go to church, julie.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
So your husband was a .
Speaker 3 (14:01):
Christian, 100% right way.
I had no quarrel with him, youknow like, and I said yeah,
let's explore, let's look forchurch, and then and then, and
it starts from there, so yourhusband was a Christian, yes,
and he didn't go to church andhis family, you know, his
parents, believe in Jesus, inGod and Jesus and all that stuff
(14:21):
.
And when we visited them we wentto church with them.
So it's like, you know, and Iwent to church and then when I
heard the sermons and I don'tknow why, but I cry a lot, you
know, I sit in there and I feelguilty.
There's something, the HolySpirit convicted of my sin and I
, you know, and I cry a lot andI'm afraid.
(14:44):
And he said, oh, this isembarrassing.
I mean, I'm sitting in churchand I cry, and you know.
So every time I go, I cry.
Every time I, you know, visithim, I go to church with him on
Sunday, I cry.
So then when we came back, youknow, you know, we were just
busy, I was just really busywith my life and my career and I
(15:06):
put it in the background, youknow.
So it just, it's just the HolySpirit, it's just like keep
coming back at me, you know, saylike, you know it's overdue,
you need to, you know, confessyour sins, go to church and then
accept Jesus is the Lord andthe Savior, because that's the
only one.
And you know, when my husbandsuggested I'm fine with it and I
(15:30):
had no qualm.
I never say, well, you knowwhat about Buddhism?
And I had no qualm.
I mean, I'm just straight goyou were ready?
Speaker 2 (15:40):
yeah, I'm ready, and I never look back praise God you
know, this is a beautiful story, because God Just the truth,
just the truth, we're fine goesafter the hearts of the people
who are ready, and it seems likethere wasn't a person that
necessarily brought you to him.
You just came to him by beingdrawn by the Holy Spirit.
There were seeds planted alongthe way, maybe something you
(16:03):
heard in your Catholic schoolsomething you heard from your
co-workers and eventually you'rethere, and so you know this is
how God works.
Ultimately, I always tell peopleGod doesn't need our help to
fulfill the Great Commission.
He's able to bring people tothe knowledge of him without our
help.
But it is a privilege to corelabor with him, in that it's the
(16:28):
most creative work we can do inthis life, and so it's
interesting.
You felt the tug towardsmissions work.
I was thinking when you saidwhen you were still in college
or in your early career and youwere trying to bless less
fortunate and do good things.
And perhaps you were doing thisbecause Buddhism teaches that
(16:51):
you have to earn your afterlifewith good deeds, but when you
receive Jesus in your heart, youhave the desire to do this
because you love the Lord, andif you love the Lord, then you
love people, and so I thinkthat's where your desire came
for missions?
Speaker 3 (17:09):
Yes, I believe so, because I believe that God could
have me do other things.
But I just feel like I alwayslove people and I do this
because it's his calling in mylife and I do this for his glory
.
I wasn't thinking about oh,julie, you did this, you did
(17:30):
that, you know.
Oh God, I'm gonna love you more.
No, in Buddhism that's how theycompare.
Oh, I've done so many things.
I've done some bad things, butall the good things I've done,
it outweighs the bad things.
So I still go to heaven andthat's what my cousins and
relatives, some of my friends,believe that way.
And I'm trying to, I'mrebuilding them and I'm trying
(17:52):
to tell them.
But I have to be kind of gently, work on them, you know, and
explain to them because I dothis work because of God calling
you and that's why he put thisin my heart.
I mean it could have beensomething else, but, like other
people, they're calling onsomething else and they have
different skill, talents and heput compassion in my heart and I
(18:15):
do this because of his callingand his, of his glory.
It's nothing I mean.
I do this, I pray all the time.
I say if this is what I doplease encourage me, and I knew
that it's very strong in myheart to help the lowly.
That's why I like the Mexico,too, when we pray for all these
people that work in such a like,have such desperate life.
(18:39):
You know, and I feel like, yes,you know there's God above that
.
He loves you.
I mean this is, you know, thisis only temporary, just like all
the things that negative thinghappened in my life.
It's just temporary.
I told him about all these badthings, the negative thing, the
wrongdoing that I have done.
(18:59):
You know all of that it's, youknow, be true repentance and
through knowing that, god willwork in your life.
And he worked in a way.
You don't realize it, but heconstantly worked in your life.
It's a process, you know.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Before you went on that mission, your first mission
trip with World MissionsAlliance to Mexico, you had some
doubts and hesitations.
Particularly you felt like yourEnglish was not good enough, or
maybe you're not the bestcommunicator.
Were there any otherhesitations that you had?
Speaker 3 (19:34):
It's just you know because I am not like.
It seems like when I'm around,like at church and with a group,
bible study group and people,I've seen some of them like a
prayer warrior and I say, oh no,julie, you can't go to trip,
mission trip, and then Glenncan't pray and don't pray too
(19:57):
well, or using the wrong word itmight create a misunderstanding
, because I have that at work.
I would say one thing and youknow, and then people at work
misunderstood me, I got myselfin troubles and that sort of
thing.
So I don't want this, somethinglike this, when I'm praying for
(20:20):
other people, because this isabout God.
You know, but you know, but Ilearned.
So I learned how to pray and Ithought to myself like every day
I'm gonna try to get myself ina schedule that I always pray to
improve myself and that Ireally, when I sit down and and
(20:40):
in quite time between me and God, I really, you know, I think
about the Holy Spirit and I pray, I pray really well.
I mean, like you know, I likelike a conversations, but when
I'm praying with a lot of people, you know some of the things I
thought about pray, they onlypray, and they pray a lot better
because it's a flow, you knowit's not, it's not being like,
(21:03):
you know, like chopped up.
Like you know, I pray.
I got interrupted and I feltinterrupted in my head and I,
you know, I got, you know it'sjust not good.
But I thought like, oh, I meanlike this is, this is I cannot
do, like I mean medical missiontrip and I am not a nurse and I
need to go pray for them.
Then I'm not praying too well,what can I do to them?
(21:26):
And then, so that's why I came,it came to my mind okay, well,
then I can contribute my effortin different way.
Oh, I help them set up thetable, the temps, put food out,
you know, clean up, sweeping thefloor and that's sort of thing.
So you know.
And then, so you know, and Ireally enjoy it because, like
(21:50):
you know, I want to do something, and it's for God, because God
is there and he guide me.
Maybe that day, you know, youknow, I wake up and he said okay
, julie, I, my assignment foryou today is to sweep the floor,
clean it up, pick it up, dothis, do that, and maybe not
have much an opportunity to pray.
Or, you know, I constantly whatis I feel I constantly feel
(22:15):
like, like my thoughts, justlike disconnect.
At some point I'm trying topray and then all of a sudden,
something else came in my mind.
So sometimes the enemy isalways there 24 seven to to
interrupt me and to, and then soso I just like I say, okay,
well, you know around, if that'sthe case, I'm going to pray the
(22:40):
Lord, that I'm going to rebuildthe enemy, and you know, and I
think it just somehow, you knowand it works, you know it works.
It helped me to be betterfocused each time.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
So, what can help you to go with the fact that we
were ministering to the peoplein the garbage city.
I think that was kind of adeciding factor for you.
Also, I didn't know that youhad hesitations or doubts about
yourself being able to share,and I asked you to share your
(23:13):
testimony in front of the peoplethat we were serving, and you
did it fantastic job actually.
So tell me a little bit aboutthat experience.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
Actually, I was kind of surprised that I was able to
talk about myself because youknow I'm more of a private
person, you know.
I just thought, like how can Isay things that I can convey the
message, you know, and I thinkthe Holy Spirit just tell me
what to say.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
And so what did you feel as we were ministering to
the garbage collectors in thatarea?
Speaker 3 (23:55):
You know, I feel they are the ones that really need
to be encouraged and, you know,I just like my heart was just
wide open I say this is be thekind of people that I need to
minister, I need to, like, helpthem.
And even when I go back to theUS, I think about them.
(24:19):
I remember vaguely about someof their situations in general.
I just pray for them in generaland I just pray for more
opportunity that I be able topray for these people.
And then when we pray forothers in the like, in the main
square and all that, I remembersome of them and I still do now,
even though it's about a yearnow, early, over a year now, and
(24:42):
then I still remember thesituation.
I don't know how they're liketo now, but you know, it's
really.
There's a lot of, there's a lotof people there, even though
they tell me that they, they theCatholic, and they believe in
God and Jesus.
But they have all thesesituations and I just tell them
(25:04):
God will make everythingbeautiful in each time.
Don't be anxious, don't be,don't worry, just have peace and
comfort, knowing that God iswith you, and I just pray with
them.
That sort of you know alongthat line and I go home and I
keep praying for them.
So that's one thing I like to dois I want to spend my life as a
(25:25):
prayer is a prayer to survive,you know.
So I encourage myself.
I encourage myself, you know,like to be more in the world, in
his word, to be more structured, like like I find resource and
things that help me, you know,that help me more in praying for
(25:46):
other people.
And when I pray, I pray inquiet time, I pray with my heart
open.
You know, I find it's difficultfor me to stand in the light,
like in front of a whole bunchof a whole bunch of group of
people and pray, becausesometimes what I want to pray,
other people would really haveto say it.
So I say, well, I don't want,like a copycat, you know,
(26:09):
praying the same thing they pray.
So I try to go to area that wehaven't touched.
I haven't touched.
But if I pray first, then Ifeel like, well, maybe it's not
ready.
I somehow, you know, I justhaven't got myself to like I
don't know what, I don't knowhow to explain it, but I said,
(26:31):
oh yeah, I can go first, but Ilike to have people who really
are prayer warriors to go first.
Not me, because I'm not.
I feel like I'm not there yet,you know.
But I guess God know your heart, you know, and I wouldn't be
like be too concerned about that.
I'm not a prayer warrior, itjust I told myself.
(26:54):
You just pray maybe a short, acouple of sentences, you know,
but God know what, what you'reasking him, you know so, and
that that lead me to thetendency to pay kind of in
general.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
You know, not, not to feel for you to be used by God,
in spite of your hesitations.
Did it build your confidence?
Speaker 3 (27:17):
Yes, the more I'm into the word of God, the more I
have more confidence.
It's like you build that upover time and the Holy Spirit
works on you slowly and surelyand it is a process, just like
asking for forgiveness.
(27:37):
You know, sometimes things Idon't want to do, I do it again
and I hate myself, you know, andI say like, why am I doing what
I don't want to do and what Ineed to do I want to do, I don't
do, and I see that from Paul.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
Yeah, he asked the same question.
He asked it.
Speaker 3 (27:55):
I just like, okay, well, I know I'm born sinful, so
I, just as long as I'm aware ofwhat the wrongdoing, the lack
of this, and that you know andpray God and He'll forgive you.
You know because he knows you.
You know if he's, if you're the, when you are the in life, you
(28:17):
know God and he gets the HolySpirit with you throughout the
time and he helped build you.
Whatever you, he built you into accomplish His will, his plan
and His eternal purpose.
You know probably not mypurpose really because you know
I the thing I do, because I feelthe Holy Spirit call me for you
(28:42):
know, and I I don't have allthe, the skill and the talents
and all that to offer, but Ithat's why I'm hesitated.
You know I said like I wanted tomake sure that I come, that I
can do something that give alasting impact for the people
that I, that I come to servethem.
You know what the Holy Spiritcall me.
(29:03):
You know I'm not there to, youknow to for anything about
myself.
It's just really not about me.
Something benefit for the, forthe organization, for the PMA,
that, yes, we are, we, werespond to God calling, we come
here to because the Holy Spiritleads the way, and and, and
(29:25):
that's why we we there, you know, I just want to make sure that
I have something that thatimpact them.
So I, you know, so I, I like togo on every trip, but some of
the trip I didn't make it, Iknow.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
Well, you know, listening to your story, I think
that what, as long as we haveChrist in our heart and we have
an active, living, personalrelationship with Him, this is
the best thing that we can offerto the world.
It's contagious listening toyou and how God transformed your
(29:59):
life, how he worked in yourheart and restored so many
things within your heart.
It makes me want to know moreabout this God that you serve,
and this is this is the mostsignificant thing.
You have to offer people whoare hurting, people who are
broken, people who are in need,because any help that we can
(30:19):
offer them material help willeventually be used up.
It's not going to solve and curetheir problems, it can make
their life easier for a time,but it's not going to solve the
problems.
But you know, and I know, thatGod can, that he is the one who
provides us with everything weneed and gives us the peace that
(30:43):
we need and the healing that weneed, and this is the greatest
thing that we have to offer andI think it's the enemy's way to
keep us away from doingsomething by telling us that
we're not enough.
That we are lacking in this orlacking in that, but we're more
(31:03):
than enough with God.
And I'm so excited to watch youjust blossom into what God
called you to be and you know.
Setting aside all thesehesitations, I look forward to
many more missions adventureswith you in the future.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
Thank you, helen.
Yeah, I look forward to joiningthe VMA for more trips and more
trips, you know, and I hopeevery trip I have my eyes on
will work out for me, becausesometimes I plan to do one thing
and then there are certainthings happen in the last
minutes and I, you know, I haveto switch my plans.
(31:41):
I would say, maybe the HolySpirit say, well, no, not this
one, julie, I want you to dosomething else.
So you know, I just you know,I'm just, you know, I'm relying
on, I depend on, the Holy Spiritto lead me wherever he want me
to to go.
Speaker 2 (32:03):
Well, thank you for the.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
VMA too.
I really thank you for the VMAthat gave me the opportunity
because, you know, I came acrossthe VMA just all by accident.
I was looking for a missiontrip.
I wanted it, but I couldn't doit with the church because there
was various reasons I don'twant to go in there.
(32:27):
But then I saw this group and Isaid, oh, this is wonderful, oh
, we can do this, because that'sall they focused.
I'm so glad you found that.
Speaker 2 (32:38):
In conclusion, what would you tell people who are
maybe in the same place thatwhere you are today, feeling
that they're not enough to dosomething for God.
They're not enough to dosomething for other people?
Speaker 3 (32:53):
I would say that Don't worry about that.
You're not enough.
We are not made perfect.
We have our strength andweakness.
Don't be focused about yourweakness.
Focus on the strength andpraying for the Holy Spirit to
guide you.
The Holy Spirit will put inyour heart what you desire, what
you wanted to do.
And I knew that because I haddesire to travel.
(33:15):
I love to travel, I love tomeet people and I'm curious
about this world and I say howbeautiful the world is and every
day I just seem like in thepast I take it for granted, but
now it's different.
Every day I praise God, I prayto the Lord.
I just so thankful that I don'tknow why am I able to be in His
(33:36):
Word to you.
So I would tell people don'tever focus to your weakness.
We are not perfect.
Only God is perfect.
And pray for the Holy Spiritevery day to lead you and the
enemy will attack you 24-7.
I mean, I knew that myself.
As soon as you think aboutsomething positive, something
(33:56):
negative come.
I mean, make you hesitate, makeyou worry about it all, and I
told them only God is perfect.
Just look at it that way.
And we needed Him Because weare His creations, and we are
here to serve Him and to solvefor His glory.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
This is a good word.
Thank you so much, julie, forthis interview, and I look
forward to more adventures withyou on the mission peel.
Speaker 3 (34:22):
Thank you, helens, great talking to you.
Have a blessed day.
Speaker 2 (34:27):
Bye.
You know, we've all been there,haven't we?
Wrestling with self-doubt, lackof confidence, feeling
sometimes that we're just notenough.
It is a tough place to be, buttoday's story reminds us that
we're not alone in this.
And wow, what a journey we'vebeen on today.
These stories like these thatfuel our spirit and show us the
(34:51):
beauty in resilience and thegrace that helps us become who
we're created to be.
Julie has certainly shown usthat, with faith, perseverance
and the touch of the Holy Spirit, we can overcome our inner
doubts and shine in our truelight.
Let's remember that you've gotthe strength to face life's
(35:12):
challenges and rise above thedoubts and pave the path towards
a greater purpose.
If Jesus changed your life,just like Julie, you are
equipped to make a difference insomeone else's life.
Whether it is a gift ofcompassion, prayer or a
testimony of something God hasdone in your life, it can
encourage others and lead themto Christ.
(35:34):
I encourage you to check ourwebsite, rfwmaorg, for
opportunities to take the Gospelto the nation.
Each month, there is a missionto a country where you can make
a difference.
What is holding you back Untilnext time?
I'm Helen Todd.
Speaker 1 (35:56):
Limitless Spirit Podcast is produced by World
Missions Alliance.
We believe that changed liveschange lives.
If you want to see your lifetransformed by Christ's love, or
if you want to help those whoare hurting and hopeless and
discover your greater purpose inserving Christ through
short-term missionary work,check out our website, rfwmaorg,
(36:16):
and find out how to getinvolved.
What if you had a guide who could tell you how to
bridge a gap between who you aretoday and who you are destined
to be?
What if, each week, you couldhear a story of someone who has
tried and succeeded, or perhapstried and failed but learned
something in the process?
Limitless Spirit is a weeklypodcast where host Helen Todd
interviews guests about topicsand personal stories on defining
(00:23):
life's purpose, pursuingpersonal growth and developing a
deeper faith in Christ.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Welcome back to another episode of the Limitless
Spirit.
I'm your host, helen Todd, hereto bring you another story that
is bound to tug at yourheartstrings.
We all have experienced momentsof self-doubt at one point or
another, whether it is movinginto a new community or starting
(00:49):
a new season in life.
There are those moments when wecan't rely on what we know or
have experienced so far andthere are left feeling like
we're not enough.
I frequently talk to people whohave a deep desire to serve God
and people, but feel likethey're not spiritual enough or
(01:09):
lack specific skills orknowledge.
Today is super special, guys.
We have with us a phenomenallady, julie Saruti, who turned
the trials of her life into atestimony that shines bright in
the dark corners of the world.
From escaping the war inVietnam with nothing but clothes
she wore to succeeding in acountry where she didn't know
(01:33):
the language and thendiscovering Christian faith, she
scarved a path that is nothingshort of inspirational.
Get ready to be moved by herjourney of self-discovery and
growth.
Our incredible guest overcameself-doubt and channeled this
newfound strength into touchinglives through missionary work.
(01:53):
Her story is a great reminderthat we can find light,
confidence and purpose even whenthe journey seems steep.
You know folk.
Hello Julie, welcome to theLimitless Spirit Podcast.
Hi, alan, nice to talk to you.
I so love technology that wecan be in different states and
(02:18):
here we are talking to eachother like we're sitting in the
same room.
So I really have been wantingto do this interview with you
for a while, because you have apretty incredible story, and so
we're going to jump right intoit.
You were born in Vietnam, isthat correct?
Speaker 3 (02:39):
Yes, yes, I was born in Vietnam, in Saigon.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
In Saigon.
So tell me a little bit whatyou remember from your life
there.
What was life like for you?
Speaker 3 (02:51):
I go back when, as far as I can remember, I was
born in a family who works here,ancestors, and they are
Buddhism, but the funny thing is, even so, they put me to
(03:12):
Catholic school, I think ingreat school.
That's where I start Catholicschool and, be honest with you,
they look at that in a way thatfor me to be structured, to be
(03:32):
organized, to be disciplined, tobe focused.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
You had a good education, right.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
A good education.
That basically it, even thoughI know deep in my heart.
I know there's a God, there's aGod, but I never get an
opportunity to really developfurther because it was a school
we didn't have Bible study classor anything like that.
So then, through great school,went to high school, a different
(03:59):
high school.
It's called the Genshin ofChrist that's the name of the
high school I went there and weswitched from French to study to
English, because that was backin the early 70s.
So we switched to English, so Ican learn English and they
(04:23):
think it would be helpful for myfutures.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
So, coming from a Buddhist family and being in a
Catholic school, did you feellike this is a completely
foreign thing to you and whatyou were taught about God and
faith was something you hadnever heard before.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
You know we didn't have Bible school.
I wish the school did.
That would help me more greatlybecause I know in my heart I'm
very receptive to the supremebeing, that even beyond Buddha.
But at that time I would justthink, oh well, Buddha is saying
(05:06):
that life is full of sufferingsand you can be doing it.
Focus on performance, A lotabout performance and being a
good person.
So I just, you know, I didn'tknow any more than that, but
being in a Catholic school andthere was no Bible study class,
(05:28):
so I did not know the differenceand I'm receptive to what I was
taught.
You know, I thought I was goodas well, but that was a Catholic
school and I don't know thedifference between Catholic and
Christians and everything elseat that time, until I came over
here, you know, came to the US.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
So the political events that happened in Vietnam
during that time sort of madeyour world fall apart in a sense
.
So tell me a little bit aboutthat time.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
So in 75, all of a sudden, one day I, just like you
know, my family said okay, thebus is going to pick up and take
us to the airport.
Well, I have no clue, I wouldjust follow you know I have when
they say you can have a littlesmall suitcase, but you know, so
I have a little backpack.
So we go to the airport and wewere waiting at that time.
(06:23):
So we only hear that like theNorth Vietnam had already coming
down to start attacking andthey start taking over the
central and go further, furthersouth.
So they had gone to Saigon.
And I start hearing the battlesgoing like bullets flying, you
know, everywhere, and we, we, Ithink we got picked up like late
(06:46):
in the day.
So by the time we get to theairport we only have a few hours
of daylight, and then most ofthe time it was at night and the
bullets just flying all over uslike, like fireworks, you know
why did your family have to flee?
Well, part of it's.
My father was a high rankofficial in the government, so,
(07:07):
even though he passed away, butthat's not good, you know.
And then also he had sent allof my older brother and sister
to boarding school in the US andto France.
So that's not a good.
That's not good either becauseof our background.
So they know who my father was.
And then I have a sister-in-law.
She worked for USA and then soreally, and she really saved all
(07:32):
of us, she brought all of us in.
And we get to the bus and youknow it was, you know, then go,
went straight to the airport.
So that was the.
That's why we have to leave,because if not, you, they're
gonna take you to aconcentration camp and then like
(07:54):
, scatter everybody everywhere.
And you know, that's just andbe honest with you, I never
expect, I never think aboutgoing to the US.
It never crossed my mind.
I just look back and they saythis is all.
God, will he work?
In a mysterious way, itdefinitely.
It's just like, how did thatall come?
I mean, I wasn't planninganything.
(08:16):
I was thinking about going toschool in the US or Canada or
France, because that was mybrother and sister did.
But when I was born, my fatherdied when I was a young teenager
, so there's no hope that thatwe could go.
So anyways, I just think it'sjust the whole thing happened,
(08:38):
it just got real.
He kept us survived during thatnight.
You know, like every time thehelicopter trying to land to
pick us up and other family aswell, and they get shoot at, so
they flying back up, so we haveto run and hide from one hanger
to another and then, tillfinally able to land and pull us
(09:01):
up, they say everybody, we onlybring people, Do not bring any
of your luggage with you.
You drop everything.
You only have your ID with youand I guess it's short in your
bags.
You know, and that was it.
So I came and I left everythingat the airport.
So we just have a short in ourbags and the ID.
(09:23):
And I remember, before we left,I think my family say, oh, each
of us should get a dog tag, likea, like a name tag, like a dog
tag.
They're called dog tag, yeah,with your name, your name on it
and your birthday.
And that was basically it.
So, and praise God that we geton the helicopter and and just
(09:44):
not knowing where we're goingnot knowing about our future.
Definitely some of my brother,older and sister, some of them
has left before us, like waybefore us, but this is like like
for my mother and I, and thenthe brother and his, his wife,
their family going with us.
That was the last one that wasable to be so.
(10:06):
So my older brothers, they havesome friends in the US, so they
have some friends and you know,but, like for my mother and I
and my younger brother, we don'tknow anybody.
We did not know anyone, period,nothing.
So we did not know where ourfuture is going to be.
We're not, we just totally likelike a blank in our future, not
(10:31):
know what we're going to bedoing and but so all of a sudden
, from a fairly comfortablelifestyle you became a refugee
in America and you were able toget education and got married.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
So at what moment did Jesus found find his way into
your heart?
Speaker 3 (10:55):
You know, when I came here, all I was thinking about
is get an education, go tocollege, learn English is the
first thing you know, like, stayhere for, like, we came here
with refugee status, like aparolee, you know, some kind of
status like that and thenthey'll grant us green card.
(11:17):
After 10 years we can get greencard.
During that time I studiedEnglish, I was very shy, and I'm
still shy in some way too.
I just want to lay low.
I don't want to, you know, likebe in front of a lot of people
and all that.
So that's why.
So I just focus on learningEnglish and I say what's the
(11:37):
best way to learn English?
I sign up in like for freeEnglish class that they teach us
, they teach refugees at thattime and then I start.
When I knew some English, Istarted signing up for college
and I thought, well, the bestway to learn English is to like
to be mixed and equal with theAmerican kids, you know, because
(11:58):
that's how you learn to speakand learn all the you know.
And of course, you know theycollege, so they use slang and
all that stuff.
So I just learning how tosecure my life, you know.
Getting educations, I didn'tthink so much about God.
I didn't know any friends incollege that encouraged me, that
(12:18):
disciple me, to learn anythingabout God.
Until much, much later.
And then, when I got collegedegree, I worked very hard to,
you know, to earn a living andto be able to start supporting
and help others that lessfortunate.
And that's when I startsponsoring kids, start helping,
(12:41):
you know, in the capacity that Icould do for them.
And until much, much later inlife I got married, and I got
married late in life as well.
My husband's one day told me youknow, julie, we need to go to
church.
And I knew that was in my heart.
There was a few time Iattempted to go to church, but
(13:04):
somehow I don't know what it was.
It's like I feel, like I was.
I was gonna start with theBible study and I got someone,
gave me a Bible.
It was an old King Jamesversion.
I did not understand.
I just read it, but I don'tunderstand his language.
So I got feel discouraged, so Iwill start going to.
(13:25):
I remember the future was likeis what's a big Methodist church
?
But I didn't say it.
So I went to that Methodistchurch.
I thought, okay, it's a bigplace.
So somehow I felt that Istarted, but I have no friends
who really like two Christiansto help me.
(13:46):
Then I felt discouraged becauseI didn't feel like I fit in.
There's some reason, something,I don't know what it was.
But then when I got, when I gotmarried, my husband said oh, we
need to go to church, julie.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
So your husband was a .
Speaker 3 (14:01):
Christian, 100% right way.
I had no quarrel with him, youknow like, and I said yeah,
let's explore, let's look forchurch, and then and then, and
it starts from there, so yourhusband was a Christian, yes,
and he didn't go to church andhis family, you know, his
parents, believe in Jesus, inGod and Jesus and all that stuff
(14:21):
.
And when we visited them we wentto church with them.
So it's like, you know, and Iwent to church and then when I
heard the sermons and I don'tknow why, but I cry a lot, you
know, I sit in there and I feelguilty.
There's something, the HolySpirit convicted of my sin and I
, you know, and I cry a lot andI'm afraid.
(14:44):
And he said, oh, this isembarrassing.
I mean, I'm sitting in churchand I cry, and you know.
So every time I go, I cry.
Every time I, you know, visithim, I go to church with him on
Sunday, I cry.
So then when we came back, youknow, you know, we were just
busy, I was just really busywith my life and my career and I
(15:06):
put it in the background, youknow.
So it just, it's just the HolySpirit, it's just like keep
coming back at me, you know, saylike, you know it's overdue,
you need to, you know, confessyour sins, go to church and then
accept Jesus is the Lord andthe Savior, because that's the
only one.
And you know, when my husbandsuggested I'm fine with it and I
(15:30):
had no qualm.
I never say, well, you knowwhat about Buddhism?
And I had no qualm.
I mean, I'm just straight goyou were ready?
Speaker 2 (15:40):
yeah, I'm ready, and I never look back praise God you
know, this is a beautiful story, because God Just the truth,
just the truth, we're fine goesafter the hearts of the people
who are ready, and it seems likethere wasn't a person that
necessarily brought you to him.
You just came to him by beingdrawn by the Holy Spirit.
There were seeds planted alongthe way, maybe something you
(16:03):
heard in your Catholic schoolsomething you heard from your
co-workers and eventually you'rethere, and so you know this is
how God works.
Ultimately, I always tell peopleGod doesn't need our help to
fulfill the Great Commission.
He's able to bring people tothe knowledge of him without our
help.
But it is a privilege to corelabor with him, in that it's the
(16:28):
most creative work we can do inthis life, and so it's
interesting.
You felt the tug towardsmissions work.
I was thinking when you saidwhen you were still in college
or in your early career and youwere trying to bless less
fortunate and do good things.
And perhaps you were doing thisbecause Buddhism teaches that
(16:51):
you have to earn your afterlifewith good deeds, but when you
receive Jesus in your heart, youhave the desire to do this
because you love the Lord, andif you love the Lord, then you
love people, and so I thinkthat's where your desire came
for missions?
Speaker 3 (17:09):
Yes, I believe so, because I believe that God could
have me do other things.
But I just feel like I alwayslove people and I do this
because it's his calling in mylife and I do this for his glory
.
I wasn't thinking about oh,julie, you did this, you did
(17:30):
that, you know.
Oh God, I'm gonna love you more.
No, in Buddhism that's how theycompare.
Oh, I've done so many things.
I've done some bad things, butall the good things I've done,
it outweighs the bad things.
So I still go to heaven andthat's what my cousins and
relatives, some of my friends,believe that way.
And I'm trying to, I'mrebuilding them and I'm trying
(17:52):
to tell them.
But I have to be kind of gently, work on them, you know, and
explain to them because I dothis work because of God calling
you and that's why he put thisin my heart.
I mean it could have beensomething else, but, like other
people, they're calling onsomething else and they have
different skill, talents and heput compassion in my heart and I
(18:15):
do this because of his callingand his, of his glory.
It's nothing I mean.
I do this, I pray all the time.
I say if this is what I doplease encourage me, and I knew
that it's very strong in myheart to help the lowly.
That's why I like the Mexico,too, when we pray for all these
people that work in such a like,have such desperate life.
(18:39):
You know, and I feel like, yes,you know there's God above that
.
He loves you.
I mean this is, you know, thisis only temporary, just like all
the things that negative thinghappened in my life.
It's just temporary.
I told him about all these badthings, the negative thing, the
wrongdoing that I have done.
(18:59):
You know all of that it's, youknow, be true repentance and
through knowing that, god willwork in your life.
And he worked in a way.
You don't realize it, but heconstantly worked in your life.
It's a process, you know.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Before you went on that mission, your first mission
trip with World MissionsAlliance to Mexico, you had some
doubts and hesitations.
Particularly you felt like yourEnglish was not good enough, or
maybe you're not the bestcommunicator.
Were there any otherhesitations that you had?
Speaker 3 (19:34):
It's just you know because I am not like.
It seems like when I'm around,like at church and with a group,
bible study group and people,I've seen some of them like a
prayer warrior and I say, oh no,julie, you can't go to trip,
mission trip, and then Glenncan't pray and don't pray too
(19:57):
well, or using the wrong word itmight create a misunderstanding
, because I have that at work.
I would say one thing and youknow, and then people at work
misunderstood me, I got myselfin troubles and that sort of
thing.
So I don't want this, somethinglike this, when I'm praying for
(20:20):
other people, because this isabout God.
You know, but you know, but Ilearned.
So I learned how to pray and Ithought to myself like every day
I'm gonna try to get myself ina schedule that I always pray to
improve myself and that Ireally, when I sit down and and
(20:40):
in quite time between me and God, I really, you know, I think
about the Holy Spirit and I pray, I pray really well.
I mean, like you know, I likelike a conversations, but when
I'm praying with a lot of people, you know some of the things I
thought about pray, they onlypray, and they pray a lot better
because it's a flow, you knowit's not, it's not being like,
(21:03):
you know, like chopped up.
Like you know, I pray.
I got interrupted and I feltinterrupted in my head and I,
you know, I got, you know it'sjust not good.
But I thought like, oh, I meanlike this is, this is I cannot
do, like I mean medical missiontrip and I am not a nurse and I
need to go pray for them.
Then I'm not praying too well,what can I do to them?
(21:26):
And then, so that's why I came,it came to my mind okay, well,
then I can contribute my effortin different way.
Oh, I help them set up thetable, the temps, put food out,
you know, clean up, sweeping thefloor and that's sort of thing.
So you know.
And then, so you know, and Ireally enjoy it because, like
(21:50):
you know, I want to do something, and it's for God, because God
is there and he guide me.
Maybe that day, you know, youknow, I wake up and he said okay
, julie, I, my assignment foryou today is to sweep the floor,
clean it up, pick it up, dothis, do that, and maybe not
have much an opportunity to pray.
Or, you know, I constantly whatis I feel I constantly feel
(22:15):
like, like my thoughts, justlike disconnect.
At some point I'm trying topray and then all of a sudden,
something else came in my mind.
So sometimes the enemy isalways there 24 seven to to
interrupt me and to, and then soso I just like I say, okay,
well, you know around, if that'sthe case, I'm going to pray the
(22:40):
Lord, that I'm going to rebuildthe enemy, and you know, and I
think it just somehow, you knowand it works, you know it works.
It helped me to be betterfocused each time.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
So, what can help you to go with the fact that we
were ministering to the peoplein the garbage city.
I think that was kind of adeciding factor for you.
Also, I didn't know that youhad hesitations or doubts about
yourself being able to share,and I asked you to share your
(23:13):
testimony in front of the peoplethat we were serving, and you
did it fantastic job actually.
So tell me a little bit aboutthat experience.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
Actually, I was kind of surprised that I was able to
talk about myself because youknow I'm more of a private
person, you know.
I just thought, like how can Isay things that I can convey the
message, you know, and I thinkthe Holy Spirit just tell me
what to say.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
And so what did you feel as we were ministering to
the garbage collectors in thatarea?
Speaker 3 (23:55):
You know, I feel they are the ones that really need
to be encouraged and, you know,I just like my heart was just
wide open I say this is be thekind of people that I need to
minister, I need to, like, helpthem.
And even when I go back to theUS, I think about them.
(24:19):
I remember vaguely about someof their situations in general.
I just pray for them in generaland I just pray for more
opportunity that I be able topray for these people.
And then when we pray forothers in the like, in the main
square and all that, I remembersome of them and I still do now,
even though it's about a yearnow, early, over a year now, and
(24:42):
then I still remember thesituation.
I don't know how they're liketo now, but you know, it's
really.
There's a lot of, there's a lotof people there, even though
they tell me that they, they theCatholic, and they believe in
God and Jesus.
But they have all thesesituations and I just tell them
(25:04):
God will make everythingbeautiful in each time.
Don't be anxious, don't be,don't worry, just have peace and
comfort, knowing that God iswith you, and I just pray with
them.
That sort of you know alongthat line and I go home and I
keep praying for them.
So that's one thing I like to dois I want to spend my life as a
(25:25):
prayer is a prayer to survive,you know.
So I encourage myself.
I encourage myself, you know,like to be more in the world, in
his word, to be more structured, like like I find resource and
things that help me, you know,that help me more in praying for
(25:46):
other people.
And when I pray, I pray inquiet time, I pray with my heart
open.
You know, I find it's difficultfor me to stand in the light,
like in front of a whole bunchof a whole bunch of group of
people and pray, becausesometimes what I want to pray,
other people would really haveto say it.
So I say, well, I don't want,like a copycat, you know,
(26:09):
praying the same thing they pray.
So I try to go to area that wehaven't touched.
I haven't touched.
But if I pray first, then Ifeel like, well, maybe it's not
ready.
I somehow, you know, I justhaven't got myself to like I
don't know what, I don't knowhow to explain it, but I said,
(26:31):
oh yeah, I can go first, but Ilike to have people who really
are prayer warriors to go first.
Not me, because I'm not.
I feel like I'm not there yet,you know.
But I guess God know your heart, you know, and I wouldn't be
like be too concerned about that.
I'm not a prayer warrior, itjust I told myself.
(26:54):
You just pray maybe a short, acouple of sentences, you know,
but God know what, what you'reasking him, you know so, and
that that lead me to thetendency to pay kind of in
general.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
You know, not, not to feel for you to be used by God,
in spite of your hesitations.
Did it build your confidence?
Speaker 3 (27:17):
Yes, the more I'm into the word of God, the more I
have more confidence.
It's like you build that upover time and the Holy Spirit
works on you slowly and surelyand it is a process, just like
asking for forgiveness.
(27:37):
You know, sometimes things Idon't want to do, I do it again
and I hate myself, you know, andI say like, why am I doing what
I don't want to do and what Ineed to do I want to do, I don't
do, and I see that from Paul.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
Yeah, he asked the same question.
He asked it.
Speaker 3 (27:55):
I just like, okay, well, I know I'm born sinful, so
I, just as long as I'm aware ofwhat the wrongdoing, the lack
of this, and that you know andpray God and He'll forgive you.
You know because he knows you.
You know if he's, if you're the, when you are the in life, you
(28:17):
know God and he gets the HolySpirit with you throughout the
time and he helped build you.
Whatever you, he built you into accomplish His will, his plan
and His eternal purpose.
You know probably not mypurpose really because you know
I the thing I do, because I feelthe Holy Spirit call me for you
(28:42):
know, and I I don't have allthe, the skill and the talents
and all that to offer, but Ithat's why I'm hesitated.
You know I said like I wanted tomake sure that I come, that I
can do something that give alasting impact for the people
that I, that I come to servethem.
You know what the Holy Spiritcall me.
(29:03):
You know I'm not there to, youknow to for anything about
myself.
It's just really not about me.
Something benefit for the, forthe organization, for the PMA,
that, yes, we are, we, werespond to God calling, we come
here to because the Holy Spiritleads the way, and and, and
(29:25):
that's why we we there, you know, I just want to make sure that
I have something that thatimpact them.
So I, you know, so I, I like togo on every trip, but some of
the trip I didn't make it, Iknow.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
Well, you know, listening to your story, I think
that what, as long as we haveChrist in our heart and we have
an active, living, personalrelationship with Him, this is
the best thing that we can offerto the world.
It's contagious listening toyou and how God transformed your
(29:59):
life, how he worked in yourheart and restored so many
things within your heart.
It makes me want to know moreabout this God that you serve,
and this is this is the mostsignificant thing.
You have to offer people whoare hurting, people who are
broken, people who are in need,because any help that we can
(30:19):
offer them material help willeventually be used up.
It's not going to solve and curetheir problems, it can make
their life easier for a time,but it's not going to solve the
problems.
But you know, and I know, thatGod can, that he is the one who
provides us with everything weneed and gives us the peace that
(30:43):
we need and the healing that weneed, and this is the greatest
thing that we have to offer andI think it's the enemy's way to
keep us away from doingsomething by telling us that
we're not enough.
That we are lacking in this orlacking in that, but we're more
(31:03):
than enough with God.
And I'm so excited to watch youjust blossom into what God
called you to be and you know.
Setting aside all thesehesitations, I look forward to
many more missions adventureswith you in the future.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
Thank you, helen.
Yeah, I look forward to joiningthe VMA for more trips and more
trips, you know, and I hopeevery trip I have my eyes on
will work out for me, becausesometimes I plan to do one thing
and then there are certainthings happen in the last
minutes and I, you know, I haveto switch my plans.
(31:41):
I would say, maybe the HolySpirit say, well, no, not this
one, julie, I want you to dosomething else.
So you know, I just you know,I'm just, you know, I'm relying
on, I depend on, the Holy Spiritto lead me wherever he want me
to to go.
Speaker 2 (32:03):
Well, thank you for the.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
VMA too.
I really thank you for the VMAthat gave me the opportunity
because, you know, I came acrossthe VMA just all by accident.
I was looking for a missiontrip.
I wanted it, but I couldn't doit with the church because there
was various reasons I don'twant to go in there.
(32:27):
But then I saw this group and Isaid, oh, this is wonderful, oh
, we can do this, because that'sall they focused.
I'm so glad you found that.
Speaker 2 (32:38):
In conclusion, what would you tell people who are
maybe in the same place thatwhere you are today, feeling
that they're not enough to dosomething for God.
They're not enough to dosomething for other people?
Speaker 3 (32:53):
I would say that Don't worry about that.
You're not enough.
We are not made perfect.
We have our strength andweakness.
Don't be focused about yourweakness.
Focus on the strength andpraying for the Holy Spirit to
guide you.
The Holy Spirit will put inyour heart what you desire, what
you wanted to do.
And I knew that because I haddesire to travel.
(33:15):
I love to travel, I love tomeet people and I'm curious
about this world and I say howbeautiful the world is and every
day I just seem like in thepast I take it for granted, but
now it's different.
Every day I praise God, I prayto the Lord.
I just so thankful that I don'tknow why am I able to be in His
(33:36):
Word to you.
So I would tell people don'tever focus to your weakness.
We are not perfect.
Only God is perfect.
And pray for the Holy Spiritevery day to lead you and the
enemy will attack you 24-7.
I mean, I knew that myself.
As soon as you think aboutsomething positive, something
(33:56):
negative come.
I mean, make you hesitate, makeyou worry about it all, and I
told them only God is perfect.
Just look at it that way.
And we needed Him Because weare His creations, and we are
here to serve Him and to solvefor His glory.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
This is a good word.
Thank you so much, julie, forthis interview, and I look
forward to more adventures withyou on the mission peel.
Speaker 3 (34:22):
Thank you, helens, great talking to you.
Have a blessed day.
Speaker 2 (34:27):
Bye.
You know, we've all been there,haven't we?
Wrestling with self-doubt, lackof confidence, feeling
sometimes that we're just notenough.
It is a tough place to be, buttoday's story reminds us that
we're not alone in this.
And wow, what a journey we'vebeen on today.
These stories like these thatfuel our spirit and show us the
(34:51):
beauty in resilience and thegrace that helps us become who
we're created to be.
Julie has certainly shown usthat, with faith, perseverance
and the touch of the Holy Spirit, we can overcome our inner
doubts and shine in our truelight.
Let's remember that you've gotthe strength to face life's
(35:12):
challenges and rise above thedoubts and pave the path towards
a greater purpose.
If Jesus changed your life,just like Julie, you are
equipped to make a difference insomeone else's life.
Whether it is a gift ofcompassion, prayer or a
testimony of something God hasdone in your life, it can
encourage others and lead themto Christ.
(35:34):
I encourage you to check ourwebsite, rfwmaorg, for
opportunities to take the Gospelto the nation.
Each month, there is a missionto a country where you can make
a difference.
What is holding you back Untilnext time?
I'm Helen Todd.
Speaker 1 (35:56):
Limitless Spirit Podcast is produced by World
Missions Alliance.
We believe that changed liveschange lives.
If you want to see your lifetransformed by Christ's love, or
if you want to help those whoare hurting and hopeless and
discover your greater purpose inserving Christ through
short-term missionary work,check out our website, rfwmaorg,
(36:16):
and find out how to getinvolved.
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