Creekbank Stories Curt Iles, Storyteller

    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 …

              A Word from Curt: Passion! It’s a good word. It’s the best word that describe David Platt, our new president and leader of the International Mission Board. Passion. What’s even neater is that Platt has another trait that doesn’t always travel in lock step with passion. Humility. Those that know him use those …

  A word from Curt:  Desperation Desperation. Normally a word used in a negative connotation. But not always. In tonight’s Guard/Neighbor Bible Study, we’re studying the story of Blind Man Bart. A man with a God-sized problem who was desperate to get to Jesus. I call BMB (Blind Man Bart) a “Whatever It Takes” kind of guy. WIT    Whatever …

A word from Curt In a word:  Relationships                     He ain’t heavy.  He’s my brother.    

    A word from Curt: Your prayer is oxygen for what God is doing here. Pray hard. Pray passionately. Pray often.   Since Twitter allows only 142 character updates, we’re limiting ourselves to 142 words on this prayer update. If you would share these praises and requests with your church, your family, and even your co-workers, we would be …