Creekbank Stories Curt Iles, Storyteller

  A Word from Curt I’d like to introduce our newest team member,  Jonathan “JD” Hull. JD has joined our Chadan Engagement Team and has already been a blessing to us. He is an excellent writer and speaker.  That’s why I believe you’ll enjoy the podcast and blog of his story. I’d appreciate it if some of you would choose …

  A word from Curt Today is a travel day.  DeDe, JD Hull and I heading Up Country.  We’ll be at a strategic meeting with dozens of South Sudanese pastors and their wives. Our speakers are three leaders from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in North Carolina. The meeting begins on Friday and we’ll keep you informed on how you can …

    Quote of the Day:   Lord, open my eyes to count my blessings one at a time.  Teach me to be grateful for the people in my life. Amen My Mom turned 80 yesterday. We had a long encouraging talk on the phone. She’s always an encourager in my life and we all need that. Especially from the …

  Prologue: Recently we told you about our upcoming month-long trip to the country of Dido.* This was a pseudonym for the country of Chad. This large country, twice the size of Texas, contains over seventy unreached people groups. We researched and visited two dozen of them. As this story below shares, it was a wonderfully difficult trip. We’re currently …

A word from Curt As you worship today, we’d appreciate prayer on these current items: 1.  Continued blessings on our newest team member,  JD Hull.  He has been a blessing to all of the Chadan family.  He has just left two months of isolated Bush Training and is now in Kampala.  Pray for his continued adjustment. 2. March 6-10: A …

“Man, those fried grasshoppers are crunchy.” A word from Curt Chad. It’s a country. It’s called “The Dead Heart of Africa.”   That’s due to its location.  But it’s also due to the condition of the country.  Chad is a difficult place.  Hot.  Dusty.  Strongly Islamic.  Seemingly always on the edge of trouble. But after a month in Chad, we …

Thoughts from a Foolish Chapter: Proverbs 26    “Never argue with a fool.  Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference “ –Mark Twain* Wisdom from Proverbs on Fools . . .     On the surface it appears contradictory.  One Proverb says to ignore fools and their foolish words.  The following advises a retort. Proverbs 26:4-5 NASB 4   …

  A Prophet has no Honor in Dry Creek   From The Old House by Curt Iles Copyright 2002            This story is nearly too good to be true, but it actually is.The funniest things in life are not fictitious, but real events that take place all around us.  My next-door neighbors in Dry Creek are Mark …

  Elmer’s Open Hand I’m here in the dead heart of Africa.  It’s a country we’re calling (for now) “Dido.” DeDe and I have been here nearly a month and I’ve thought about Elmer Conner daily. Elmer Conner was one of my Lake Charles (Louisiana) heroes. A spiritual mentor and encourager during my years at Dry Creek Camp.   He …

Epilogue: Why I Write:   “If you’re able to quit writing, you probably should.” -Cec Murphey   “A writer is someone who wrote today.” I write for the simple joy of expression. I have fifty-one journals that I’ve filled with stories, dreams, ideas, and the journey of my life since age seventeen. If I never published another single word, I’d …

Greetings from Lizard City I was taught by my Louisiana great grandmother, Dosia Iles, “Baby, don’t ever hurt a lizard.”   Africa, like our Dry Creek Old House, is a place where lizards abound.   A word from Curt Actually, three words: 1. Curiosity 2. Wow! 3. Share We’re in a different part of Africa.  So different from the countries …

Enjoy an audio podcast of this story. One of the Best Nights of My Life                                                                                                             I pull into Dry Creek Camp at 10:00 P.M.    Normally I would be going home at this time, but tonight my night is just beginning.   Sitting in his white GMC truck, John Bohacek waits for me.   John, or “Mr. Bo” as he is …

Bobby’s Best Catch:  Some would argue that it was his game-ending catch in the seventh game of the 1962 World Series. I beg to differ.   Thursday, 29 January As you read this, DeDe and I are traveling to a new African country. We’ll be there for most of the month. How to pray for us this month: Pray for …

It’d be a shame to have a boring life. Or a boring job. One of my themes for this year is: 1. Be Curious. 2. Be Wowed! 3. Tell about it. Here are a few photos and words about our week. All I can is “Wow!”  We are so privileged to be among the amazing folks we work with and …