Creekbank Stories Curt Iles, Storyteller

                  A word from Curt Amazed. It’s become one of our favorite words over here. It goes along with another well-used interjection. Wow! In the coming weeks, we’re sharing chapters of our just released ebook, Trampled Grass.     Pay Attention. Be Astonished. Tell Others. –Mary Oliver In the mirror: may we …

  A Word from Curt Prayer. What a good word. “Where do you pray?” This is the lead question many Africans ask. It’s an honest inquiry about your faith. Where do you go to pray? In our culture (here) it’s not intrusive or rude. As you go to pray on this Sunday, would you please share these three requests with …

A Real Southern Gospel Quartet   Flash prayer need: A team from our Louisiana home church will be working among the Kakwa during the next two weeks. Pray for Aaron, Todd, and Garrett as well as our church leaders in Uganda and South Sudan. Scroll down for  other needs   Nothing connects with a person quite like the truth in …

A word from Curt It’s the truth: with God, the best is always yet to come. That doesn’t mean life gets easier. Aging normally means life becomes more difficult. That can be, and often is, true. But as our Jesus-Walk deepens, The way is sweeter. And beyond this life, we have a Hope. A Hope that is steadfast and sure. …

    A word from Curt On the Road.  It’s the way we spent much of our time. We’re often carrying money in three (sometimes four) currencies. I’m not complaining. It’s a privilege to travel, share the Gospel with new friends, and learn from Africa. Tomorrow (5 October 2014) we leave for an extended trip to Kenya.  As always, we …

To read the entire “suitcase” story, scroll down to the blue text. Sketches of Africa The Weight It seems everyone is African is carrying something heavy. All day. All of the time. We saw it all– most of the items carried on the bearer’s head. My favorite was the lady carrying an old Singer sewing machine on her head, arms …

Epilogue: Wet Paint This painting by my beloved uncle, Bill Iles, hangs in DeRidder’s Beauregard Museum. It features one of DeRidder’s earlier meeting places, The Royal Cafe. Uncle Bill is my greatest writing encourager as well as a mentor and friend for life.           The following essay is from my second book, The Old House (2002). …

Storm over Juba Jebel Kujur   (“Spirit’s Mountain”)     This mountain, that overlooks Juba Town from the west/north, is considered the ancestral home of the witch doctors/spiritualists/seers of the Juba area.   We took this photo from the doorway of Nuru Baptist Church as a strong storm moved in.   Takeaways:   Juba, the capital of South Sudan, is indicative of the …

                    A Word from Curt I’m been chewing on this word:  stalwart Stalwart.  It means healthy, steady, dependable. It’s a good word.   Key Prayer Need: Please pray for DeDe as she finishes her time with her Dad and family in Louisiana.  Pray for her sister-in-law Kay in the loss of …

After the Train Wreck   “Every man—sooner or later—has a train wreck.”  TWEET THIS   Often times it’s in their thirties or forties.  Sometimes earlier, sometimes later.   Train wrecks come in all varieties and sizes but the result is the same.   A man finds himself broken. Dreams shattered. What he views as reality is distorted. The true reality …

A word from Curt The word is Astonished. It’s become one of my favorite words. It’s great to be nearing age 60 and still be astonished. Africa is a place of amazement and astonishment. It surprises you. Sadly it often surprises with sudden death. That is what today’s blog is about.  It’s simply my written attempt to come to grips …

      As you read this, DeDe and I are Up Country in northern Kenya. We are researching Unreached People Groups at Kakuma Refugee Camp. The following story is from our upcoming ebook,  Trampled Grass. You can follow both of us on Twitter with hashtag   #UpCountry.   CHAPTER 4   UP COUNTRY       “I’m going up …

    A word from Curt Our upcoming ebook,  Trampled Grass, will be released in late September.  It contains forty stories about the amazing people of South Sudan and northern Uganda. The purpose of Trampled Grass is two fold: 1. To share stories that put a face on what is happening in a country we’ve come to love,  South Sudan. 2. To encourage Americans to …

 A word from Curt Amazed.  It’s a word that we often use in Africa. Our upcoming ebook,  Trampled Grass, will be released in late September.  It contains forty stories about the amazing people of South Sudan and northern Uganda. Its subtitle says it all,  “Stories of Courage and Hope.” We’ve met so many heroes among the South Sudanese refugees as …