Creekbank Blog

Today is Tuesday 4 February 2013 Hakuna Matata  “No worries”  from The Lion King.  Swahili speakers make fun of how we Americans know this term.  Another Lion King word:  Jambo.  “When a Mzungu (white man) says ‘Jambo’ we raise the price* on everything.  It’s evident they don’t know anything.”  (Correct term is “Hu Jambo?” which means “no problems.”  Reply should …

Huge Eucalyptus Tree near our home. Friday, Feb. 1 “Juzi Juzi” We’ve been learning about time in Swahil.  My current favorite term is,  “Juzi Juzi” which means just “The Other Day.”  I’ve heard Louisiana country men use the phrase all of my life.  Whether they’re standing line at Foreman’s Meat Market, in the front of the post office, or on …

One of the things I’m determined about in Africa is not to be part of creating a dependency among the folks we’ll minister to/with. I’m excited about being part of hands up, not hand outs. March 2005  Sumatra, Indoneisa Goats, Boats, and Saws From Hearts across the Water by Curt Iles A hand up…. Not a handout   One of …

Friday morning,  Jan. 18 It’s Friday morning here in Nairobi.  Eight hours ahead of the US. My American friends and family are abed, but close in my heart. Today we move (again) to our home for the next three months:  Brackenhurst Retreat Center.  It’s located in the Kenyan “foothills” at 7800 feet. This will be our home as we begin …

Tuesday, Jan. 15 3:11 AM CST/ 9:11 AM LONDON We are in London gearing up for another flight.  Everything’s been great. Keep praying!   Monday,  Jan. 14, 2013 Houston Airport Waiting on a plane.   London.  Then Nairobi. DeDe with our chauffeur (and son) Clint at the Houston Airport The Taposa are a South Sudanese tribe needing churches to adopt them. …

Join us on TheJourney! SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN UNENGAGED PEOPLES – Did you know that there are 56 unengaged unreached people groups (UUPGs) with a population of more than 100,000 people in Sub-Saharan Africa and that 26 of these are in East Africa? The majority of these are in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo; most all of them …

“Pack no air” or “Don’t pack air.” They say the same thing.  Which one sounds best to you? That’s Big!   The Sheer Size of Africa. Still The Dark Continent? This nightime satellite image illustrates the lighted population of Africa with its neighbor to the north, Europe. Heading to Africa    We leave this Monday (Jan. 14) from Houston. COUNTDOWN WIDGET

  Wed. Jan. 2, 2013 I’m calling it The Journey.     12 days left in the piney woods and I’m happy and sad. It’s what I’m on. In fact, it’s what we’re all on. TheJourney.  The path and direction of our life. 2013 is a new section of the journey.  The road is clear and seems level as far …

    January 1 Lagniappe: A New Year  Scroll down to read Epilogue and Postscript   Our wonderful Cajun culture has a unique word. Lagniappe. It means something extra, and goes back to the rural tradition of shop owners giving faithful customers a little something extra as appreciation for their business. Lagniappe. It’s a good word. It’s a New Year. …

December 31 New Year’s Eve Finishing Strong “If it’s worth doing, it is worth doing right—especially if it is for God!” Ted Williams is generally considered the greatest hitter in the history of major league baseball. Two events from his career speak about the concept of “finishing strong.” In 1941, Williams entered the last day of the season with a …

  Moving Out Among my many callings is “Turtle Rescuer.” I snatch them off the highway,  mark them  with the date (on their shell) and turn them loose. December 30  Ready to Move Out  A few summers ago, DeDe, our youngest son Terry, and I took part in a youth camp in the Black Hills of South Dakota. This area …

December 29  Sharp Hooks Reas Weeks was a Dry Creek legend who lived and died before my time. He was a bachelor who lived in a remote area along Bundick Creek. He never owned a vehicle or held a regular job. He supported himself by fishing, hunting, and farming. He was known as the best creek fisherman in our area. …

Here is today’s story from Christmas Jelly: December 28 The 100-Foot Line  There’s a fine stand of young slash pines at Dead Man’s curve on the Longville Road. I’ve watched the growth of this forest since it was clear cut, then replanted in straight rows. The following year, the pines began to poke their heads above the grass. They’ve emerged …