Creekbank Stories Curt Iles, Storyteller

Alvin Sompon and Abrahim A. Sarnor Words from the future of Africa. Alvin’s words on Service. Alvin is a rising senior at Ricks Institute. He is the son of the Ag teacher here. He’s been sharing with me about service. Here are a few of his thoughts: “Service is guiding the younger people to serve the older people of our …

Marcus Perkins Marcus and his Garden President Obama’s weekend visit to West Africa was big news inLiberia. We only heard sound bites from the BBC radio as we rode in a vehicle. Our Liberian friends told about the president’s words including phrases like: “We must start from the simple premise thatAfrica’s future is up to Africans.” To the youth, who …

Good eating at Ricks. This is our wonderful cook each day for lunch, Mrs. Musu. She’s cooked plenty of what I call “soul food.” We’ve had collard greens, potato greens, fish gravy (like catfish couvillian), and cabbage with chicken. This is how Ricks Institute. This is staff housing. Notice the palm trees. The palm nuts are a major source of …

Kid Magnets in Liberia We’re proud to be members of the Liberian Kid Magnet Club at the Ricks Institute. The four of us, DeDe, Colleen, Gordy and me, are bonafide “kid magnets” at Ricks School. Colleen is shown with two students, Patience and Steven. Their father Maurice is a long time French teacher at Ricks. Maurice, a native of nearby …

Looking at NYC from Newark International Airport 5:30 PM EDT We’ve arrived in fine form from our Houston flight. At 6 PM, we’ll catch an overnight flight to Brussels, Belgium. Two highlights of the day: We left early this morning to see two special friends, Don and Ginny Hunt. Bro. Don, our former pastor is in Houston’s M.D. Anderson receiving …

Special thanks to my friend Joe Chaney for inspiring this scene. A Good Place, the upcoming novel from Creekbank Stories Curt’s followup novel to The Wayfaring Stranger should be ready later in 2009. We’ll keep you posted as we know more. Set in 1863, it tells the story of Joe and Eliza Moore through the eyes of their son Mayo. …

Clay Iles in Mali, Africa Our oldest son Clay just returned from a memorable trip among the Bozo tribe in Mali, Africa. To read about it and see photos, click on http://www.suemanakomina.blogspot.com/

Below is our schedule for this week’s trip to Liberia, Africa. While there we’ll be working with the Ricks Institute, a school near the capital of Monrovia. We’re sharing this schedule so you’ll know what we’re doing and how to pray for us. (Liberian time is 5 hours ahead of US-CDT.) We are carrying plenty of school supplies as well …

Should her name be Gisele or _____________? At the bottom of this blog are dozens of suggested names. Select your favorite three (3) and send them to me via Facebook or the comment section of this blog. I’ll pass the results on later. Author’s note: For nearly a year I’ve been in love with this young Creole girl I’ve named …

This scene from my upcoming seventh book, A Good Place, is set in Piney Woods in western Louisiana in 1863. The characters in the story, 13-year-old Mayo and his PaPaw (Willard Clark) are discussing Mayo’s father’s (Joe Moore) decision to join the Southern army in the Civil War encroaches on their part of the state. -Curt Iles http://www.creekbank.net It is …

It is a privilege… When we count our blessings, we’ll realize how many we have. With that on my mind, I’ve been stuck on this wonderful phrase, “It is a privilege.” I find myself applying those words to every opportunity, challenge, problem, and joy I encounter on this rocky yet wonderful road of life. It’s a privilege to ___________. “IAP” …

It’s all about relationships. When it comes down to it, our lives are about the relationships we share with others. I call it the ripple effect. (I’ll put my story “The Ripple Effect” on this blog later today.) Here are three of my favorite quotes on friendship, which is the heart of relationship-building. Every person I meet becomes a part …

Sitting in the Big Chair Our grandson, Jack Iles, is shown with his new friend, Addie Soileau today at Dry Creek Baptist Camp. Today was catfish lunch at the Camp and we had a good time eating and visiting. I’d like to share the story about this large rocker that sits on the Tabernacle porch. When I was manager at …

Stand by Me Sometimes a song gets stuck in your head, or maybe your heart. Because of my love of music and how it affects me in my soul and in my writing, this often happens. For the last two days, I’ve heard “Stand by Me” the old negro spiritual. It’s always been one of my favorites. It’s a song …