Hearts across the Water

Chapter 5 : Henry     I met Henry among the ruins of Lampuuk on our first visit there. It had been over eleven weeks since the tsunami. Henry lived in a tent not far from the only remaining building in Lampuuk: the local Mosque. A handsome twenty-year-old with an infectious smile and wonderful personality, Henry quickly became the favorite …

We’re continuing with excerpts from Hearts across the Water.  This collection is a memoir from the year 2005 and three events that shook the world:  the Indian Ocean Tsunami and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. I was part of a Louisiana medical team that landed in Indonesia about eighty days after the earthquake/tsunami. Chapter 4 : The Silent City   Our …

  A word from Curt  Over the next month, we’re sharing stories from our 2005 book, Hearts across the Water. This is my fourth short story collection and is set during the two twin hurricanes that struck Louisiana that year. Although the majority of the book deals with the hurricanes, the first part recounts my life-changing trip to post-tsunami Indonesia …

A word from Curt    Over the next month, we’re sharing stories from our 2005 book, Hearts across the Water. This is my fourth short story collection and is set during the two twin hurricanes that struck Louisiana that year. Although the majority of the book deals with the hurricanes, the first part recounts my life-changing trip to post-tsunami Indonesia …

Matt Farmer smiled. “It shows what people can get done when they work together.” One of my lifelong heroes and friends, Matt Farmer, will be buried tomorrow in Dry Creek, Louisiana. I have many stories about him. This is my favorite.   Matt Farmer’s Barn   Fall 2005 Hurricane Rita + two weeks   In the middle of our worship …

Thoughts on Generosity… Matt Farmer’s Barn   It is the first Sunday we’ve had church since Rita.  Much of our community is still scattered over four states but many are returning home to clean up.  Most homes are still without electricity and water pressure is only now beginning to build up for use. Our attendance is small today but there …

New Orleans… City I love, City I hate Now as He (Jesus) drew near, He saw the city and wept over it. Luke 19:41-42 NKJV   This story from Hearts across the Water, was written in 2005.  It’s still one of my favorites because it attempts to explain the unique relationship between New Orleans and the “rest of us” in …

Ivory “guarding” the office.   “Sugar and Ivory” From the Curt Iles book,Hearts across the Water It’s odd but I will always think of two dogs when I think of the long night that Hurricane Rita struck Dry Creek Camp.   We had 350 people on our grounds. They had been moved and bedded down in our most solid dorms …

“Branding Dogs” A case study on a misunderstanding Eddie Anyone who knows me is aware of how much I love dogs. One of my older friends always said, “Don’t trust anyone who doesn’t like dogs.” One of my writing priorities is to include a good dog in every book I write. I don’t just like dogs. I love dogs, especially …

A New Word to Learn: “Belum” From the book, Hearts across the Water, by Curt Iles In Indonesia there are so many unique and unusual things. Chief among them are the nuances of their language. The following illustration is probably my favorite: When an Indonesian is asked a specific question, they qualify their answer in many ways and terms. For …

From: Hearts across the Water  by Curt Iles   The Tsunami December 26, 2004 It was a typical sunny tropical morning along the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia’s northernmost and third largest island. Being a Muslim nation, the days around Christmas were nothing to be noticed or celebrated, especially here in the Islamic area known as “The Porch of Mecca.” Even …

  Friends- Here are frequently asked questions concerning my latest book, Hearts across the Water. I hope you enjoy them. What was your favorite story from “Hearts?” A conversation with Curt Iles Questions with the author of Hearts across the Water Copyright 2006 Creekbank Stories LLC ISBN 0-9705236-3-7 Tell us about your book in less than fifty words: Hearts Across …