Muriel a testimony to God’s greatness

By ESTHER KAUGA
MURIEL Ruing, 22, is already winning souls for Jesus Christ.
However her journey of faith, just like for many believers, started from the scratch. First, they were hooked on the material pleasures and temptations, dragging them away from the values and teachings inculcated in them at home.
“The thought of joining an organisation, let alone a Christian organisation like Youth With A Mission) never crossed my mind. I was a 21, self-centered, judgmental. I treated people the wrong way and made bad mistakes.”
Muriel is from Rolkoka village in Dei, Western Highlands but born and raised in Port Moresby. She is the youngest of seven children. Dad Puri Ruing is a former Dei MP. Mum Majorie is from Yamka Pepka village in Hagen, Western Highlands.
Growing up, Muriel always admired how her father would balance his political life and personal life so well.
“My father would be my role model, although he was flawed in every humanely possible way. But he loved people. And that was something I picked up from him.”

“ I wanted to do what God wanted me to do, and not what I wanted to do. I saw the importance of serving others, to touch and change their lives.”

Muriel began her education at the Maranatha Christian Academy, then Port Moresby Grammar and eventually Port Moresby International School.
She was introduced to the Youth With A Mission (YWAM) by her relatives. After learning of their life-changing experience with the YWAM medical team, Murial applied to join in February last year.

“I was moved and I wanted to join YWAM on the spot. I wanted to do what God wanted me to do and not what I wanted to do.
“I saw the importance of serving others, to touch and change their lives. God spoke to my heart about this mission and I said Yes!”
Her spiritual journey began when she joined YWAM’s medical team. She has since travelled to rural parts of PNG to spread the gospel of Christ.
“God took me as I was – a sinful wreck – and changed me completely through the experiences I had with the YWAM medical team. We went to remote places of PNG where people wore two pieces of clothing until they break off from their skin, where people felt so hopeless.”
Muriel’s transformation and life with Christ has not been easy but she remains faithful to her calling and aims to do more for the Lord.
“It is not an easy walk to follow Christ. I had criticisms, struggles and hardships but the assurance was knowing that I was doing what God wanted me to do.”
Her advice to young adults is cited in Matthew 7: 21: “Not everyone who says to Me: Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father in Heaven will enter.”

She counts herself very fortunate to be included in the army of God, working to save souls.
“It is a privilege and honor to do God’s will rather than our own. I humbly encourage individuals to pray and seek the Lord’s will in their lives.”
She believes one’s life can be changed, just like how God changed Saul, a man bent on killing His people, into the dedicated apostle Paul, a true man of God.
Muriel believes God alone has the power to change lives.
She is a perfect testimony to that.