TheJourney in Africa

“Living in fear is just another way Of dying before your time.” -“Shut Up and Get On the Plane.” Drive By Truckers song   I first read the following short story as a teen. It’s still a favorite and very pertinent for the unrest going on in Africa. I’ve added a few comments afterwards. The Appointment in Samarra Years ago …

Saturday Blog 21 Sept 2013 Thanks to all of you who are praying for my health.  I’m much better today and I attribute it to your prayers. I have a good African doctor (she looks about twenty but knows her stuff) and good medicine. But prayer is the best medicine of all. Also, as I write this, a couple we …

I’m often asked, “What’s your favorite thing about Africa?” I smile. “It’s the people. The warm smiles when they realize you’re not an unfriendly “mzungu” (white man) but a person who has come to build a relationship and learn from them.” Are there things I don’t like about Africa?  Sure. I could make a pretty long list of those also. …

Scroll down through this history to read “Another Iles Comes Home to Sugartown.”   It was once called “The Queen of the Frontier.” There’s not much there now. But it once was the only civilisation between Alexandria and Orange, Texas. It’s called Sugartown.  At one time it was known for much more than just sweet watermelons.   History of Sugartown, …

Daddy   The first time she used the word while praying, it startled me.  I’d never heard the word Daddy used like that.   “Daddy, I want to come to you today in love and gratitude.”   She was a college student working with us at Dry Creek Camp.  For now, I’ll call her “Ty.”   Ty was a great …

Tony’s Hand   Tony gripped my hand as we started across the busy highway.  Vehicles, boda-bodas (motorcycles) and bicycles sped past in both directions as well as on each shoulder.   He carefully guided me across the Kampala-Entebbe Road.   I thought of Solomon’s words in scripture:  “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of …

Posted below is an series of stories about an American group’s work among the Dinka tribe of South Sudan. Called the Nehemiah Team, this student group worked in and out of the Cattle Camps of the world’s newest country. If you’re interested in how you and your church can be involved in South Sudan, feel free to contact us at  …

It’s a good word.  Seek. It’s a double-first cousin of another good word. Search. Seek. Search. Sought. Strive. Hunt for.   It’s a word with a sense of passion . . . maybe even a sense of desperation.   It’s different from looking. Looking can be a relaxed word. Seeking has an intensity to it. Similar words from a thesaurus …

  At that time gifts will be brought to the Lord Almighty from a people tall and smooth-skinned, from a people feared far and wide, an aggressive nation of strange speech, whose land is divided by rivers . . .   Isaiah 18:7 We’ll cross and re-cross the Nile four times in the coming two weeks. This is the Karuma Falls …

It’s time for our Tuesday blog.   We blog three times weekly at TheCreek.  In addition to Tuesday, we have fresh stories on Thursdays, and Saturday. Speaking of fresh, here’s a fresh blog about a fresh subject.    Death by Kuku I’ve been in Africa for seven months. It seems like yesterday we got on a plane in Houston. In …

Ramblings and Musings from Uganda   Going in circles . . .   There are lots of challenges to driving in Uganda.  Driving on the left side of the road.  Steering wheel on left side of car.  Weaving in and out of thousands of motorcycles.  And then there are the roundabouts.  Where we Americans would place a four-way intersections, Africa …

How do I even begin to describe Africa? I’ve updated my reading list.  I post it to spur myself on as a L.L.L. (Life Long Learner).  Enjoy!  What’s on your reading list? We’d be honored to have you subscribe to this blog.  I normally update it three (3) times weekly: Weekend/Tuesday/Thursday. Every day is different.  This is a photo trip …

Urgent Prayer Need  Posted on Tuesday, 18June, 2013 This morning our co-worker, boss, and friend, Bob Calvert, was involved in what we call “a missionary’s worst nightmare”:  A child darted in front of his vehicle and was hit.  Miraculousy, the child is going to recover.  We praise God. Read the following from Bob’s wife Nancy.  Pray for Bob, Nancy, Stephen …

Watch Out for That Bike!     “Watch out for that Tricycle.”* –       Baseball dugout call to distract fielders on a popup. Scroll down to read “Watch Out for That Tricycle. They don’t play much baseball in Uganda (they did have a team in last year’s Little League World Series.) but they do have plenty of bikes.  Bicycles galore. And …