14 03 11 the impact of a good story

The impact of a good story March 11, 2013 – Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea – Written by Janeen Michie with Tim Scott Learning a new language as an adult is not easy, even if it is your mother’s heart language.

At a young age, Julie was adopted by a distant family member who had no children. Unlike her birth mother, her adoptive mother spoke the Suau language, and Julie and her sisters grew up speaking it fluently.

When she was 28 years old, Julie rejoined her birth mother in the Maiwala language area. While she was struggling to learn the Maiwala language, Julie met and married a local Maiwala man, and became active in the village church as a children’s Sunday School teacher.

At the same time, a team representing the Bible Translation Association of Papua New Guinea (BTA) was translating the Gospel of Mark into the Mailwala language. Doreka, one of the BTA language workers, noticed Julie's passion for teaching the children and invited her to attend an Oral Bible Storytelling workshop.

Doreka was correct in her evaluation of Julie as a skilled storyteller. After taking all four modules of Oral Bible Storytelling in Alotau, Milne Bay Province, in 2009, Julie eagerly started sharing the stories she had learned. Seeing the impact of storytelling, Julie began to train others in the craft. Since then she has served as a trainer four times during Oral Bible Storytelling courses in Wewak, Sepik Province.

As Julie told stories, she discovered it impacted not only the lives of her listeners, but her own life as well. One particular anecdote that spoke to her was the account of Abraham offering his son Isaac on the altar. Julie was still struggling to master the Maiwala language. As she told the story to others, Julie realized that if she believed and trusted God, he would help her, just like he had helped Abraham.

She said, "The story of Abraham changed my life. I learned that if I rely on him, God can provide for me." Julie continued to practice Maiwala and, like Abraham, found God totally trustworthy. She now is very comfortable sharing stories with the children and adults in the Maiwala language. She testifies, "Nothing is impossible with God!" For more information on this release, contact ThePNGexperience, PO BOX 413, Ukarumpa, EHP 444, Papua New Guinea Phone: 011 + 675 + 537-3544 ext. 4431 or Email: thePNGexperience@gmail.com Pictures do not always depict actual event, activities or people.

“Yumi stori” is the PNG “Tok Pisin” term for announcement or “Let’s tell a story” or “Let’s talk”. The English spelling conforms to Commonwealth English spelling.