The Way Back to Him

The Way Back to Him

Rutdiana Marito Simbolon is a 23-year-old woman, and she made the decision to be baptized on May 21, 2017.

Rut, as she is called, is a final-year student in the Urban Planning Engineering faculty, or Regional and City Planning, at one of the public universities in Yogyakarta. Rut is the youngest of three children, and her two older sisters are already adults. Rut's father is a police officer in the East Kalimantan Regional Police, and her mother is an English teacher at a public high school in Balikpapan. This family background made Rut quite disciplined and gave her high expectations in life.

Before knowing God, Rut had many struggles. Her greatest struggle was her faith in God. Rut did not consider God important. Rut did what she thought was right, and she was a person who was self righteous.

At one point, Rut had to take leave from her studies because she had to care for her mother, who was suffering from liver. This burden made Rut feel bored and tired of her life. Rut decided to look for Christian friends and community. She tried many ways, including joining a Christian community in a BBM group (BlackBerry Massenger). In that group Rut met Sarah Kezia (the Bandung church leader), and they built a relationship. Sister Sarah contacted Rut, and she was introduced to the Yogyakarta church leader, Mike. Finally, after her leave from college ended, Rut returned to Yogya and met Mike for bible study.

Rut began her Bible study  around July 2015. However, in October she decided to stop for several reasons. God did not remain silent. In January 2017, a sister named Ana contacted her again. She finally decided to study again with Ana, and many areas of her life were helped. Rut experienced several struggles when she returned to studying the Bible, such as the challenge of finishing her thesis and family problems.

At first Rut gave up very easily. Rut did not want to appear weak, so she was reluctant to involve the church in helping her. This showed that pride was also strong within Rut.

The turning point in Rut's life came when she realized that there was no other way to find peace, forgiveness, purpose in life, and salvation except by repenting and living as a disciple of Jesus. She had to trust the word 100% and prioritize God in her life. When Rut relied on her own thinking, she did not feel peace. She realized this when she studied the lesson on sin.

At present Rut is close to and open with the sisters in the church. She tells them about her struggles and receives the input they give. Rut's friends also see her change. Rut has become more open and more enthusiastic in her life, especially in working on her final project, which will soon be completed.

Rut felt deep joy after giving herself to be baptized. With this peace in her heart, Rut trusts God even more. She feels real love in the body of Christ, as shown by the mentor and sisters who always take care of her, and especially of her spirituality.

Out of this gratitude, Rut now gives herself to serve as an usher in worship services, and she desires to help Kerajaan Kanak-Kanak (KKK) this August.