John Overholt

After immigrating from Norway, I started grade one with a very limited grasp of the English language, but with the help of a wonderful and caring teacher, I learned quickly. During this first year of school, I developed a stuttering problem that I still live with today. I dreaded any kind of class reading situation. I was frustrated many times during my school days when the teacher asked a question in class. I was a good student but never dared to raise my hand. Even worse were times when I was singled out and would play dumb, even though I knew the answer. I got to a place where I resigned myself to a life of silence rather than continually face the embarrassment of stumbling over the words I spoke.

I will never forget the day when my grade eleven teacher announced his next English assignment. Everyone in the class was required to do an oral report. As my stomach knotted up over the news, my inside displeasure, I am sure, became evident by the absolute look of dread on my face. The teacher was not even aware of my speech impediment, until I started into one of the most agonizing few minutes of my life. I had a three-minute talk that took me ten minutes and felt like an hour. I felt humiliated and dumb.

I find it fascinating that I now stand before a class (a church congregation) every Sunday morning to give a speech. Even more incredible is the fact that I am writing a book. Stunted in my communication skills, I disliked English and was not into writing at all in school. I remember laboring, for what seemed like hours, to compose a simple one-paragraph school assignment. The Lord truly likes to show Himself strong in our weaknesses.