Stories About Testimony

Image was taken at South Orange Center Park in South Orange, New Jersey

      This is actually a story of me and my testimony. I have heard in sermons and in life that you can not have a testimony without a test, and the people were right. I will explain from the beginning. I am an author and a writer, but I did not get here just by being creative alone. I had to do a multitude of things like learn how to write everyday which is what I do now. Then I had to learn how to research information for my stories, which is also what I love doing. I love doing secondary research, but I have found that asking people information, primary research is fun too. But in each you have to take your time. Now I also had to learn how to trust my instincts and believe in myself, and that turned into a ten year journey. Also, I had to learn how to take rejection. Because I learned, that not all people accept my stories. But the person who had to accept my stories was me, and praying to God actually helped as well. Okay, I am lying, it helped extremely, but it is something that I deeply believe in, so that is most likely why it helped.

      Anyway, throughout my years of writing, I had to go through many tests. I was offered at the age of eighteen an offer to publish with a publisher, but the first and longest test I had to go through was confidence. I may have failed the test because I rejected the offer, but I now am able to pass the next one because I am confident in my writing skills. Now this is where rejection comes in, I have sent my work to many online publishers, and I sent my work to other traditional publishers, but I only received rejection letters and emails. But this is the next test, the test of perseverance, so I could not give up. Plus, I keep passing this test because even now I have not given up. If I did give up, I would have never wrote ten books on one of my treasured stories called The Johnson Files. I self-published those ten books on Amazon.com, and unfortunately I hit a dead end. Actually, I hit a wall because I felt no one was interested in reading my stories, so I stopped writing for a little while, but I did not give up. I may stop, but I did not give up. I kept going, and I found new stories to write and place my passion into. Now the point I am trying to make is: We all go through life's ups and downs, but that is the test to develop us into who we are today and who we are meant to be. I would have never realized my passion is creating stories and being creative when writing if I did not go through those down times to be pushed back up. Lastly, I have learned a lot from these tests because now I have a testimony to show for it. So my advice to myself and everyone is: Don't be afraid of the tests. Just follow your instinct and do what is right. Now I will show a little excerpt of The Johnson Files Case 9: Trial of the Brides.

Chapter 1:

      The drums were beating loudly that day during sunrise in Thimphu, Bhutan, and the people looked up in sadness as they knew what was happening in that moment. A few hours later when the sun shone high in the sky, a man in a black hooded robe drove an ox cart through the semi-crowded streets of Thimphu. On the cart was a long crated wooden box. The people turned their faces away as they saw the cart go through the streets. But the tourists did not understand. They were scratching their heads. Then the cart stopped at an adobe residence. The hooded man got off of the cart, and he pulled the box off as well.

      He placed the box in front of the door and knocked on it three times. Then he got back into the cart and drove off.

      As he drove away, he could hear as usual, “AH! AH! AH! AH!!! MY DAUGHTER!!!” And the people nearby shed tears as they moved on.

      In America in a suburb/town and half city, I Ann Beth Johnson was in a traffic jam in my red car. Using my tall figure and lime green eyes, I kept trying to look over all the other cars to see what was holding everyone up. I leaned my average body back against my seat. I already placed my car in park, so there was nothing to do but wait.

      I was so frustrated because I have to meet Ednus today since he said he had a surprise for me. But there is no surprise since we celebrated his birthday two weeks ago, and now it is my birthday, good old April 2nd. I am now four years closer to thirty. Is it a good thing or a bad thing? I will keep it good, so that I don’t think about the age.

      As my chocolate skin was hit by the shinning sun, the cars started moving. Finally. I placed my car in drive as I slowly drove at the pace of the other cars. I drove past a roped off area. But it was roped off in a grand way. There were banners and streamers around and a grand mahogany path. I felt like we had a visitor in this town and a special one.

      I drove to the police station where I worked. I parked my car, and I went inside to get Ednus. But it was strange inside. Everyone was lined up straight like dominos. I looked to my right, and I saw five men talking heatedly. Three of the men I knew.

      The first was my Uncle Bobby- who is Lieutenant Bobby Miller. He is tall, slightly muscular, has a grey and black bald head with pieces of hair, tan skin, and he has brown eyes. He is married to my Aunt Isabel. They make a great couple. The next guy is Chief Collins, who is a friend of my Uncle Bobby. He is a tall, average man, who is the captain of the police. He may not be married, but the apple short straight hair, green eyes, and peach skin would make him stand out to any woman.

      The last guy, who is the guy I have to meet today, is Detective Ednus Blombard- my police partner. Ednus is very attractive to women, and I can’t believe that I am thinking that. He is tall, muscular, has beautiful blue-green eyes, and pale skin. His blond hair is the same length as my shoulder length coal hair, but it is not in a ponytail like mine. Another thing is: Ednus has a small blond beard, and he only strokes it when he is thinking just like now.

      I think I’ll interrupt those thoughts, “HEY EDNUS! Are you ready to go?” I waved to him as I started approaching him.

      He shook his head ‘no’ for some reason, and he was waving at me to stay away, so I stopped walking towards them.

      The two other men that were with them looked shocked and relieved when they looked at me. I wonder why? Then the two men started to approach me. Uncle Bobby, Chief Collins, and Ednus started walking faster than them, and they reached me before the two men did.

      Ednus grabbed my right hand gently as I, “What’s going on? Who are these two men, and why does everyone look so stiff?”

      I hope everyone enjoyed my except on Stories About Testimony. I hope to see you again next week. Till then enjoy the reads.