7 minutes 31 seconds in an ambulance

I went to visit a family who wanted to learn about storytelling. Tom and Esther have three children aged seven, five and two. I therefore decided to choose a story that the children were more likely to be able to learn and could participate with as much as possible. I knew seven year old’s could participate but wasn’t sure that it would be engaging enough for a five year old boy.

I choose ‘Blind Bartimaeus’ and told it three times. The first time was just a direct telling. The second time I did a ‘lead through’ (which means leaving blanks for them to fill in or asking questions line by line, ‘what happened? who said what?’). The final time the seven year old volunteered to tell the story and with a little help did a good job.

I then pulled out six discussion cards and we played the discussion ‘game’. The five year old participated in questions 1 to 4 and then wandered off. My purpose really was to train the parents.

Four days later, Esther wrote:

“That same evening just before bed, I asked my five year old to tell the story to his two year old sister. He did a good job and she said, ‘More, more!’

The next day, my seven year old told the story again for his me and his younger brother. His story was clear and accurate.

Meanwhile Tom (a doctor) needed to escort a patient to another hospital in an ambulance. He told the patient the Bartimaeus story he’d learned. What surprised him (for he’d grown used to such stories) was the amazement of the listener that Jesus could heal so immediately. Tom was able to pray for the patient. They were inside the ambulance for 7 minutes and 31 seconds!”

Please pray for this family to be ‘light’ in their network and for yourself to do the same where you are.