Creekbank Stories Curt Iles, Storyteller

My wife DeDe is a wonderful writer. She’s also cleaning my clock on Swahili. What she wrote about a rat problem we had is worth sharing.  Enjoy! Actually Curt and I have never been better.  However we live in what is affectionately called the “Honeymoon Cottage” at the retreat center where we stay.  While we were in Uganda the rainy …

Sometimes having a bomb dropped on you is good. Especially if it teaches you Humility. And if it reminds you to keep (and use) your sense of Humor. Learning a new language has been tough. But it’s also been wonderful.  I’ve always felt undereducated by being monolingual. I’m a long way from being fluent (that will not happen) but I’ve …

This week's African proverb: "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. "

Pamoja:  it’s our Swahili word for the week.  It means “Working together.” Pamoja.  It’s a good word to share with you.  As a friend, reader, and prayer supporter, you are working together as we follow God’s leadership in serving in east Africa. Keep praying! Praying for us this week: We’re in Entebbe, Uganda this week.  Training with Bob and Nancy …

Jenga.  It’s one of my favorite games.  It involves removing wooden individual blocks without crashing the stacked blocks. My grandsons love to play it. Jenga comes from Swahili and means  “building together.”                                                                                                                                           …

On TheJourney . . . walking the red dirt roads of East Africa updated on Sunday, 17 Feb2013 February 2013 Have you read our latest newsletter? You can also subscribe to the newsletter. As always, we love to hear from you.  Email us at creekbank.stories@gmail.com   Click on image for larger view Praying for us this week: Our KiSwahili language …

Today is Monday*  11Feb 2013 * “Juma Tatu”    Day 3 of the week  (Swahili week begins with Sunday)   Juma:  Week/  Tatu: 3 I Heard it through the Grapevine I was in a store last week and heard it over the stereo system.  That unmistakable bass line of the beginning of “I heard it through the grapevine.”  It was the Marvin …

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 …

27Jan2013 Looking at a beautful full moon over Africa.  It’ll be over Louisiana in about eight hours. It’s amazing about the distance across this vast earth.     26 January  2013 That’s how they write dates overseas. Takes a while to get used to. Today’s disclaimer/read fast: I write about the good sides of Africa, and there’s plenty of that. …

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 …