I did it! After praying aloud at the start of the session, I started recapitulating where the last storytelling session was left off and continued with Joshua 3 to 6. There was an audience of about 10, mostly elderly. They were an encouraging audience and helped me with the Cantonese pronunciation whenever I fumbled. On the whole, I got the fall of Jericho through to them but the storytelling could be smoother and I was supposed to reinforce the messages after the session.
After the storytelling session, it was prayer time. I prayed with the same people and learnt more of their problems and I was impressed with the independence of these elderly. They have their views, understand the need to continually grow close to God, enjoy the comfort of the Lord and have a fierce desire to be independent in their daily living.
However, I have the intuition that I have to mature to take on some challenges…
I started to panic! I did not even know what are the chinese names for people (Joshua, Moses and Rahab) and places (Jordan, Jericho), how am I going to tell the book of Joshua in the storytelling session?
I steadied myself and gradually wrote my ‘script’ for the few chapters I had to tell (Joshua 3-6, which were the chapters on crossing the Jordan and the fall of Jericho). This was written in English, followed by a Chinese translation so that I may relate the bible in Cantonese with greater ease.
The best part was that my mom agreed to be my practice audience! Even better, I taught her how to pray as part of the practice session! She enjoyed listening and said she could understand what was being said although she had no knowledge of the bible.
So, would I be ready?
I learnt about this book when I was reading Donald Trump’s How to Get Rich and he recommended Norman Vincent Peale’s The Power of Positive Thinking. This is a good book that encourages people through the bible. Incidentally, one of Donald Trump’s first quote in his book is from his mom “Trust in God and be true to yourself”. Being a young christian, I love to learn how God is encouraging us through His Word.
Below are some of my favourite encouraging quotes and there are many more with testimonies that Peale gave in this book:
Continue reading ‘Norman Vincent Peale – The Power of Positive Thinking’
I sat in on my first storytelling session and I was asked to lead a small group in prayer at the end of the session! (The prayer session was right after the storytelling.)
That was my first time praying in Cantonese, and what more, praying for other people! I was glad and thank God, I not only made it through but also befriended the elderly.
Then the shock - I was to be the storyteller for the following week!
