James: It is Finished

  Wondering about the title of my blog? Let me explain...
  Over the past few weeks (from the 28th of February until today's date of March 20) I have been memorizing the book of James. And today I finished it! I am really excited about this, because now I can rememorize it (to reaffirm it in my mind so that I don't forget the truth I have read) and move onto memorizing another book of the Bible. Any suggestions?
  In 2010-2011 I memorized 1 Timothy, 2 John, and 3 John, but the main reason I wanted to memorize them was to be able to say, "Look at me, I just memorized three books of the Bible." That is not at all the right attitude to have. Now I have a different reason to memorize it... because I want to have God's Word in my heart to take it with me where I go in life.
  And a plus side of memorizing things is that it opens up your memory. It has been helping make learning my Russian easier, that I am sure of. But the main reason that my Russian is going good is because God is helping me do it and cause I have a reason and a goal I am working towards.

Life with God is an adventure.

  До свидания

 Love, Ruby.

Some Exciting News!

здравствуй

Wow, I have some exciting news. Orphans Aid International (a lady named R, who Sue had asked to ring me so we could discuss fundraising ideas, etc) rang me this afternoon. We chatted about some interesting things, and then R brought up the exciting news. "Sue wanted me to tell you that next year there is a trip to Russia for one of the centers camps." I was a bit shocked. "Am I aloud to go over with them?" I asked, not sure whether that was what she was meaning or not. "I am pretty sure that's what Sue meant when she said it," she replied.

Спасибо, Бог.

Mum suggested today that I should be journalling all these exciting things that God is doing in my life. I think she is right. I am writing it down in different books, etc, but I think I need a set book: "Journey to Russia" or something along those lines.

My learning of Russian is going well. I am able to pick up words the guy the Russian channel (we get Russia Today on our TV) is saying. Like "Thank you," and "Good-bye."

Please keep praying for me so that you can join in on the exciting things God is doing.

Love,
Ruby.

Here is my life mission statement

  Last night God showed me the passage of Scripture that is going to become my mission statement.
  Taken from 1 Timothy 4:12-16, and modified slightly for me:
  "I will not let anyone look down on me because I am young, but I will set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I go to Russia, I will devote myself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. I will not neglect my gift, which was given me through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on me. I will be diligent in these manners; giving myself wholly to them, so that everyone may see my progress. I will watch my life and doctrine closely. I will persevere in them, because if I do, I will save both myself and my hearers."
  And that is how it goes. I think it is good for everyone... so the thing is, how are we going to live out this statement. Give this blog a comment to let me know how you are living your life to these standards. :)

The Romanian Boy

  I am writing a song called "The Romanian Boy". It is about the boy in the photo that I will put on here, who is from Transylvania, Romania. (It's on the Russian page of the OAI site, but he is actually from Romania).
  This little boy is also featured in Sue van Schreven's book "Rescue," well a photo of him is.
  The story told about this little boy is that he would yell out to people passing by from the hospital window where he had been abandoned by his parents and would ask them to please take him to his home. He represents for me the orphans over in countries like Romania and Russia who have no one. Most don't even have a birth certificate. As far as the government and other people in the world are concerned they don't exist. But I know they exist, and you know they exist. And we both know that they are in horrible conditions without love, so what are we going to do about it?

Ruby.

Last Blog of the Year

  This will probably be the last blog of the year, so I wanted to make it meaningful.
  Last night I set a fundraising page for Orphans Aid International. My goal is to be sponsored $3,000.00 by the time I turn seventeen (which is a little over a year away). Will you help me reach my goal?
  Go on to: http://www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/RubyHunt/ to see my page and read about why I am doing what I am doing for Orphans Aid International. And please donate money to the good work they are doing overseas.
 
  Ruby.

I Prayed; God Answered

 Like the title says, I prayed and God answered... in the form of a Christmas present.
  Yesterday I got given a book by my mother. It is called Rescue, written by Sue van Schreven, who is the founder of Orphans Aid International, along with her husband. The book is really inspirational, and apart from that it has answered my question of how I am going to get to Russia. I can go under the umbrella of Orphans Aid International, or that is what I am thinking now. They have an orphanage set up in Kostroma, Russia, and I could start off there. But whatever God does to get me to Russia, I do not mind. But this has given me hope and renewed inspiration to fulfill my dream. And fulfill the purpose God has for my life.
  Check out the site and find out ways you can help the orphans in different countries. Don't be lulled into thinking that things are fine, because in the world we lived in orphans are being forgotten and neglected. Please do your part.  http://www.orphansaidinternational.org
 Ruby.

Protests in Moscow

I just read in the Latest Headlines that there have been and will be protests across Russia, but mainly around Moscow, to do with the Parliamentary elections, or something along those lines.

"Moscow is braced for what the opposition claims will be the biggest demonstration in Russia for 20 years.

Tens of thousands are expected to gather in a square south of the Kremlin, in the latest show of anger over disputed parliamentary polls.
Smaller rallies are taking place in cities across the country." - BBC News

I was watching this documentary called "Russia" on BBC Knowledge tonight. It was very interesting. The main thing I took away from watching it was that there is a city in Russia where you can look across a lake, which was frozen in the footage, to China. I thought that was pretty cool. And Russians don't need a visa to cross in a boat thing to China. That would be handy.
I have been thinking about what I need to do to prepare for living in Russia before I leave for the country. So here are some basic things I have thought I will need to do before I go:

• Learn to speak and understand the language
• Learn to read and write the language
• Learn how to cook and bake common Russian meals and goods
• Contact a mission agency to see what age they will let me go over to Russia going under their name
• Keep involved with things to do with children (Bibles in Schools, Sunday school, school holiday programs, etc), which I am already involved in

Those are the main things I can think of for now. So I would appreciate it if my Christian brothers and sisters who read this could be praying for me to seek God and spend more and more time with Him. Because as our relationship deepens and God is placed where He should be in my life: Number 1, then I know these things that I need to get done before I can go to Russia will be accomplished and fall into place.
  You know, not so long ago I had my heart set on traveling America and going around the world and having myself a grand time of seeing the world around me. All that changed and fell away when God told me Russia. It was like I had been making all these plans by myself, but then God spoke, and I knew what I really want. I want God's will for me, not some plan I could come up with myself. Because I could travel the world a hundred times over, but if God was not with me... would I enjoy it? I do not think so. God is becoming a part in my life that without Him I have no joy. He is my joy.
  Oh, and work this morning went pretty well. It was quite busy considering it was the morning, but as we get closer to Christmas things get busier and busier. It was my frenemies last Saturday at work today, I heard him announce at break-time. I was pretending to be engrossed in my Fall Of the Russian Monarchy book, but it was hard to focus on the words with a lot of loud people in the room. The reason I call him my frenemy is because I am not sure where I stand with him. We believe totally different things, but I was liked him for the past couple of years since I met him at work. A couple of months ago he e-mailed me and said he liked me and then he didn't come to church with me which was going to be his way of proving he was not an annoying people (he used another word), but by not showing up he proved the opposite. But once he had told me and then stood me up, things just became awkward between us and we don't really talk anymore. But I don't really mind. He is too emotionally draining. He has too many questions that I don't have the answer to. It is hard. I am only fifteen.
  I am drumming at church tomorrow, so I hope I will do well considering I haven't really practiced... :)
Since I fully gave my life over to God on November 6, 2011, He gave me this chapter which I have loved reading. Psalm 27. Here are a couple of verses from the end which I particularly like:
Psalm 27:13-14
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

New Zealand & Me

I have just been thinking about it, and I realize that I have been cutting you all out from an important part of my life: where I live. While I have been focused on telling about Russia, I have forgotten the beautiful country I have in my own back yard. Most people my age call the town we live in a hole because it is not so large, but I do like it here. It is beautiful. B-town gives you a little country and a little city. It is the best of both worlds, as far as I am concerned. And the world comes to us. I work at the supermarket and about half or more of the people I talk to at the checkout when they are buying their groceries are foreigners. Czech Republic, Switzerland, Korea, to name a few, and those are just the people I can remember asking tonight.
So I'll give you a sneak people of the beauty of my country from my own eyes.
All the following photos are taken in Marlborough, New Zealand. All photos were taken by me, and all are copyrighted under my name.

Ian makes another appearance

Vineyard in Marlborough

Ben Morven Track

My grandparents farm

  So New Zealand is beautiful... but I am still going to Russia. I know that Russia is beautiful also. Actually, every place that God has created is beautiful. The countryside captivates my heart the most, I must admit. Its taking it back to the basics. The basics being: God created it, it is good, we don't need an iPhone to make us happy, kind of basics. It is just life. But life is moving on and everyone needs technology. But it is nice to take some time out and just admire God's handiwork.
  The photo up the top is of me and Jet and Phil's baby, Milly. Her name is Milly Anne, otherwise known as Million. (put milly and anne together and it sounds like millian, or million.) That dog is crazy!

Second Beanie

I am onto my second beanie that I have done by myself. I have almost finished the ribbing. The other beanie that I did yesterday turned out all right, but it does look a little odd. I don't think I ribbed for long enough, because it does not seem deep enough. And the ribbing did not really work on that wool I used. But oh well.
Today I have work from four till seven. You probably have not noticed because I don't mention work very often on here, but when I refer to work I could be referring to any number of jobs I do. But my main "work" is being a checkout operator at a local supermarket. My second job is doing data entry for a vineyard. The third is volunteer work at the local Christian bookshop. Another two sources of income are babysitting (which I did this morning) and mowing my grandparents lawns, but I don't refer to them as work.
God has really blessed me with a lot of ways to get income, I can see. And I have to be careful that I use the money wisely, because to whom much is given, much will be required.
I am feeling a bit better today than I was last night. I was feeling a bit down to it for a while after I got home. But I sang a song to God (made up a new one), and then read my Bible a little and wrote in my Bible reading journal. Last night I wrote down some questions in my Bible reading journal and said to God that I wanted them answered by the end of the year. Two of them were Do you want me to get into playing the drums devotedly, or to focus my time in other areas to do with Russia? and Do you want me to keep in touch [with a person] when they go to university? So between now and the end of the year I will ask God those questions and write down His answer.
Your friend,
Ruby

Knit one, Purl one

I am knitting a beanie. It is my second beanie I have ever made, and the first one that I am doing pretty much on my own. I am ribbing the bottom at the moment. In case you don't knit, ribbing is the part that is different from the rest of the beanie, and when you rib the bottom of the beanie it makes it so that that part is tighter and will help the beanie stay on your head.
My Bibles in Schools class went to a couple of rest homes today and performed their Joshua and the walls of Jericho play to the old folk there. Both performances went very well, and I was pleased with how good the kids were. The class and its teacher Mrs. A, invited me back next year to teach and said that they really wanted me back. I enjoyed being in their class heaps, and I think I might just take them up on their offer.
When I was about to leave the classroom after we had gotten back to school from the resthomes, a little boy called Lee, who moved to the school part way through the year from Switzerland, came and asked me how to spell my name. I told him and he wrote it on the front of a card so it said "To Ruby" then he gave me the card. Inside was a beautifully made shiny paper scene of trees and snow.
His Mum was helping out with the play and when she saw the card in my hand she was surprised and said, "That is who he made the card for." So I guess it is a bit of a special thing. I think the card is really cool, and I am going to put it in my time capsule box when I make each year.
The thing I am doing called Computer Science is pretty boring, I won't lie to you. It would be better if I actually had the right programs they are teaching me about on my computer, but I do not, so I am learning things and forgetting them almost as soon as I learn them because my computer is an older version of the subject I chose, and so the one they have has newer programs. I feel like either way I don't need to know this because I plan to spend most, if not all, of the remainder of my life once I get over there in Russia, probably in a village where they don't have computers, helping out at an orphanage and showing God's love to the people of Russia in a practical way: loving those who have been forgotten by the rest of humanity.
See you,
Руби

Anastasia

  Yesterday I went to the video shop... and I got out Anastasia on DVD so I could watch it. Word.
  Well, I had to go to two video stores before I got the right one that had the movie version I was looking for. And it was raining, and I didn't have enough money, but my grandmother loaned me a dollar! And then, it turned out that it was $1 Tuesday, so isn't that cool?
  Anyway, the movie was as good as I remember it. A little fact, a little myth, a little romance...
  I am past the Introduction in the book "The Fall of the Russian Monarchy" and onto the actual stuff. I am enjoying it, but it is one very big book. I am up to page 37 now.
Tonight I went to see the Esther Melody Band preform. I really enjoyed them. Accept at the end when we were like all hyped up and she began to scream (screamo music). That put me right off. You may or may not know that I used to love screamo music until I went to Parachute 2010, saw Underoath perform, and heard God asking me to choose whether I would follow the music, or whether I would follow Him. I chose God, and my life is fuller and better for it. Back when I liked that kind of music I went through a stage of being depressed, and despite still reading my Bible and going to church and writing a lot of letters to God... I was far away from God. I was sad. But I chose God, and although it has been a bit of a long road back to Him, now I am in a place where I have given everything to God, and I am better for it.
Tomorrow night the Esther Melody Band is doing a workshop with our church music team. So I am going to go if for only one reason then it would be because the drummer kicked butt. And he pulled some pretty crazy faces, which fits the description of ninja drummer.
  Mum is on my case to go to bed because my class for Bibles in Schools is doing their play at a rest home tomorrow and we're going all the way down to P town small to help out. So I need an early night.  So if you were enjoying this blog, blame Mamma.
  Россия, мы хоме.
Darn Google translate, says something completely different to what I just wrote there. Russia, my home.
God bless,
Руби
 

About Me

I have just been reading through random blogs on blogger, and from all of them I have come away thinking: Who is this person, and what was the purpose of their blog? Which left me thinking, what do people think when they leave my blog?
  So I want to tell you about myself now so that you can have the answer to the questions I was asking about other peoples blogs, in case you are experiencing the same feeling.
Name: Ruby (girl)
Country: New Zealand
Reason for blog: Well, it all started off with me loving to write and wanting to make yet another blog. But now it has turned into something more. Now this blog is about when I found out part of what God wants me to do with my life, which is go to Russia and tell people about God. This blog is about when that happened, and what happened after that leading up to me going to Russia. Just so you know, once I go to Russia, I think that I will probably be quite poor if I am running or helping out with an orphanage, so I doubt I will write again.
So there are the answers to my questions.
Seeya.

The Fall of the Russian Monarchy

  Today so far I have done an assessment for my computer science, and began the next section. I have also read a couple of pages of the books I am reading for Russian history, "The Fall of the Russian Monarchy" by Bernard Pares. It is a very thick book of 505 pages long. I am still in the Introduction at page 21.

I have not learned too much so far, because the author at this point seems to be saying what books and authors of Russian history he trusts and the ones he sees as rubbish. I have heard briefly about the Empress Alexandra and her husband, Nicholas, and also a little about Rasputin. I remember watching the movie Anastasia, about the lost princess, when I was little. That was one twisted movie for a little kid. Actually, I feel like watching it now. Jet got given it for her birthday when she was a child, and we have it on video in the movie shelf... but our video player does not work. Bummer.
Moving on...
I am enjoying learning about Russian history, but I would like to get past the introduction in this book and onto the real information, instead of just learning about whose account of Russian history was correct, and what was incorrect.
Your friend,
Ruby

Russian course

  Next year I will be learning the Russian language as part of my schoolwork, because God has called me to go to Russia as a missionary, working mainly in orphanages, I think. So as soon as He told me I began getting to work. As you know, I started to knit like a crazy person. And also I got Mum to order a Russian language course for me to do. I would start it properly this year, but she said I have to focus on my other schoolwork until next year otherwise she won't be able to get me to do much else apart from Russian stuff, which is about right.
  I am not sure when I am going to Russia, but I have figured out that there are lots of things for me to do to prepare. There is not a moment where I can say I am bored these days. When I find myself in a quiet moment in my busy schoolwork-or-other-work days, I am either knitting or doing something else to do with Russia. I used to say I was bored and had nothing to do, but things have changed. God gave me a vision of what to do... and now I am doing it.
  So if you are feeling bored, I encourage you to look outside yourself and ask God what you could be doing to help. There is a lot of bad stuff going on in the world as a result of mans sin, so you don't have to look very far to see something good you could be doing in your spare time. And if you can't think of anything else to do... there's always knitting!
  Yesterday (Sunday) my mother and I and a bunch of people we know plus some that had come down from the North Island, went down to Kai Koura and set up these flip-chart things which is a visual way to tell people about God. I gave it a go for the first time, and it was really interesting. As the church we need to be telling people about God. Some are called to be evangelists and tell people about God as their job, but everyone who calls themselves a Christian is called to go out and tell people about God (see Matthew chapter 28). If your not sure how to go about it, check out Ray Comforts site (livingwaters.com) and see how you can get into it. They good priced things on there called Gospel Tracts which help you share your faith without even having to talk to the person. You can leave them in public places, or give them to people, or use them as a tool to help you share your faith.
  Not long ago I felt down because I was leading a boring life that had not adventure in it. But when I focused on God and having a relationship with Him, I have been finding that life is one big adventure, an adventure with God. 
  Get active and get working, Christian soldiers!
Your friend,
Ruby.

Knitting on the brain

Since I began knitting on that Monday a couple of weeks ago I have been doing it every day. My family came over for Jet and Phil's wedding, and I knitted every day... accept for the wedding day of course. Was a little bit busy then, getting my hair done, and my make-up. And doing the whole walking down the front of the church and standing there looking at the bride-my sister- and the groom looking at each other. And then the photos... and the reception. After that came the dancing. After I got warmed up I was into it. So was Emmie, my 12 year old cousin. She sure is a hyperactive crazy child. She brings out the immaturity in me.
Played the drums on Sunday at church, then at night it was the International Night, so there was no drumming for that, it was just a church family hang out time. Which was cool.
My cousins and Aunty (my uncle went back last Monday because he had to work) went home to Aussie this morning. I don't actually miss them. It just feels like they were over here... and now they are gone and things have gone back to normal. It was cool having them here though, apart from when we got on each others nerves. Which happened a little bit.
I have been knitting scarves for the past week. A scarf a day keeps the doctor away. That is my current motto. But now I am knitting squares of double knit wool, and then I shall sew all the squares into a blanket. It is going to be pretty cool. The center-piece is the Russian flag. White, blue, and red.
Enough talking for now. I am selling books on TradeMe, and if you are in New Zealand or around the area check them out. They are all in great condition and I am getting rid of them by putting into action selling everything I have. I'm starting with the things that I really don't need. Then I'll move onto the bigger things.
"How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time."

Ruby.

Long time, no blog

Sorry I have not written in a very long time. I really have no excuse.
Since I last wrote a lot has happened. I am still fifteen, but its almost my sweet sixteen.
But the main things that have happened in my life is that God has called me to go to Russia as a missionary. That only happened a little over a week ago, and since then I have noticed a dramatic change in my life. I do not think that I will be on here very often as I prepare for life as a missionary, but I might give you an update every once in a while. I am not sure when God wants me to go, but I am getting prepared now. A Russian course is on the way for my schoolwork, and I have been knitting for Russia. Mum taught me how to knit last Monday (nine days ago). Here is a picture of my latest knitting project:

 Here is my first project, started last Monday and finished the night after:

 Here is my third knitting project, started last Wednesday and finished on the Friday following

 Started on Wednesday and still going

Don't think I am too amazing to have done all that, my mother did help me quite a bit.
How I got the idea to send them over to Russia/ Romania or somewhere over in Europe area where it gets cold was from my grandmother. This lady that lives in the same town as me collects them and they send a big pile of knitted or crochet things to the orphanages there. I thought it sounded like a worthy cause, but it was not until God told me that was where I was going to go that the vision to knit for the people over there started to burn in my heart.
  So, I encourage those who are reading this blog. No, I am not encouraging you to knit... but I am encouraging you to lay down your life and follow God. Ask Him what He wants you to be doing. When it is the right time for you to know and prepare, He will tell you. But until He tells you I suggest that you get busy doing productive things. Find a way to bless those around you. Knit for Russia or Romania or somewhere, if you have a like for knitting. But whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord.
 Over and out,
Ruby.