Trampled Grass Photo Gallery

Trampled Grass is an ebook short story collection of our time in Africa. Learn more at www.creekbank.net
You can order your copy of Trampled Grass here. 

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We’re excited about our newest book,  Trampled Grass.

Rather than tell you about it, we’re sharing the best photos from the book and its forty short stories.

Scroll down to read a reader favorite, “The Southern Gospel.”

 

Beautiful Tree near Adjumani, Uganda. This photo served as cover of our recent e-book, Trampled Grass.
Beautiful Tree near Adjumani, Uganda. This photo served as cover of our recent e-book, Trampled Grass.
The Smiles of Africa never leave you.
The Smiles of Africa never leave you.
Central Africa is the land of Red Dirt.
Central Africa is the land of Red Dirt.

 

My African teachers had reminded me that the things that matter aren't things.
My African teachers had reminded me that the things that matter aren’t things.

 

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It's all about relationships, but isn't that always true? It’s all about relationships, but isn’t that always true?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jombu Baptist Church is a rural South Sudanese church.
Jombu Baptist Church is a rural South Sudanese church.

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Eliza Iles, a Southern woman from Dry Creek, Louisiana, in Belgian Congo circa 1922. Aunt Eliza is the second white hat from left. You can read her amazing 1920 journey from New York City to the Belgian Congo at www.creekbank.net/150

 

Nothing connects with a person quite like truth in their heart language.

It was a church service I’ll always remember. Just like something out of the book of Acts. The worship is in full swing as we are ushered into the thatched roof open sided church. If you’ve never been in an African church, you cannot fully understand full swing.

There’s was a radiant joy in their singing and clapping. In spite of the fact that a sizable number of the worshippers are refugees, the congregants sing joyfully at Faith Baptist Church in Nimule, South Sudan.

The singing ends, and a young pastor begins his sermon. I’m unsure of the language he’s preaching in other than it’s not English or Swahili. After two sentences, he stops.

A sermon in three languages

A lady to his right translates. I have no idea what language she’s using.

As she finishes, a man on the far right speaks. I don’t have a clue.

As another English speaker from the past said, “It’s all Greek to me.”

A fourth person, a young church leader, translates into something I understand—English.

As this quadraphonic sermon continues, we are told that the original speaker is preaching in Madi, the local language.

The woman on his right is translating into Sudanese Arabic. Arabic is widely used as the Lingua Franca or trade language of this region.

The next man is speaking Murle, the language of most of the refugees present.

I’m not sure if the English is only for our benefit or others in the crowd. South Sudan’s official language is English.

Madi. Arabic. Murle. And English.

It’s like the Book of Acts. Chapter 2.

Listeners are hearing the Gospel in their heart languages.

Nothing connects with a person quite like truth in their heart language.

My monolingual frustration at only being able to converse in one heart language (English) irritates me.

The sermon in four languages goes on (and on). I always remind my American preacher friends, “Remember that using a translator doubles the length of your sermon.”

In this case, it’s times 4. 4x.

Madi, then Arabic, Murle, and finally English.

Spoken by four South Sudanese.

The Gospel in four languages.

A real Southern Gospel Quartet.

The best kind of all.

I wonder what these folks would think of our American Southern Gospel Quartet music. I wonder what Southern Gospel Music lovers would think of the Full Swing African music I hear and experience each Sunday.

 

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TrickleofWaterSudanese proverb: “You can live without love, but you cannot live without water.”

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                                                      Jerry can line at Refugee Camp borehole.

Refugee scoops water from ditch while borehole is being drilled. Nyumazi Camp, Uganda.
Refugee scoops water from ditch while borehole is being drilled. Nyumazi Camp, Uganda.The needs in Adjumani's refugee camps include the physical, spiritual, and emotional.

 

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Storm over Jebel Kujur Juba, South Sudan
Storm over Jebel Kujur near Juba, South Sudan

 

Innocent children have seen and experienced things no one should see.
What war does: Innocent children have seen and experienced things no one should see.

MomBabyonBack_NS_9421KeyPoppaPipeThe Nile at Karuma Falls

The Dinka Cattle Culture is a key part of South Sudan.
The Dinka Cattle Culture is a key part of South Sudan.
Eric and Margaret pick us up for our home visit. (May 2013 Zambia)
Eric and Margaret pick us up for our home visit. (May 2013 Zambia)
At the Market
At the Market

 

Bo in the Hole. Bo Smith standing in "Pothole" on African "Highway."
Bo in the Hole. Bo Smith standing in “Pothole” on South Sudanese African “Highway.” This is during dry season.

 

 

Uganda is highlighted on this African map. South Sudan is directly north.
Uganda is highlighted on this African map. South Sudan is directly north.

 

Kakuma Refugee Camp
Kakuma Refugee Camp

 

African sunset
African sunset

 

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Village Huts
Village Huts
A word from Curt: Our refugee camp work in Africa reminded me of the tough days after Katrina and Rita.
A word from Curt: Our refugee camp work in Africa reminded me of the tough days after Katrina and Rita.
The road UpCountry is often a trail.
The road UpCountry is often a trail.

 

"Pamoja" means together. What a good word. Curt with Sudanese friend, Michael.
“Pamoja” means together. What a good word. Curt with Sudanese friend, Michael.

YawningLIon

Merry Christmas from the Red Dirt of Africa

Sunset on Lake Victoria near the source of the Nile River.
Sunset on Lake Victoria near the source of the Nile River.
Africa is ancient and modern. Sunset over tukuls (huts) with cell phone tower.
Africa is ancient and modern. Sunset over tukuls (huts) with cell phone tower.
Of all the things I learned in Africa, this simple sign is near the top.
Of all the things I learned in Africa, this simple sign is near the top.
In addition to learning the new language of Swahili, I'd drank many cups of chai, the sweetened tea so popular in Kenya. We live in the Highlands where tea growing is a major part of the economy.
In addition to learning the new language of Swahili, I drank many cups of chai, the sweetened tea so popular in Kenya. We live in the Highlands where tea growing is a major part of the economy.

Jennifer hearing about Jesus

 

Stanley meets Livingstone. Mural from the Nile Resort in Jinja, Uganda
Stanley meets Livingstone. Mural from the Nile Resort in Jinja, Uganda

 

Our priority is getting God's Word into hands and hearts in both written and oral methods.
Our priority is getting God’s Word into hands and hearts in both written and oral methods.

 

Karomoja sunset

DeDe and Abby J. at our tukul (hut). Two of my favorite women.
DeDe and Abby J. at our tukul (hut). Two of my favorite women.

 

The Chadian Veggie Man. The people of Chad are so different from those in South Sudan and Uganda.
The Chadian Veggie Man. The people of Chad are so different from those in South Sudan and Uganda.
Vervet monkeys look cute but they are always trouble!
Vervet monkeys look cute, but are always trouble!

 

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JD with fellow worker, Selvin "Georgia Bulldog" Jeremiadoss, and our new friend Sunday. I met Sunday through his shirt!
JD with fellow worker, Selvin “Georgia Bulldog” Jeremiadoss, and our new friend Sunday. I met Sunday through his shirt!
A new borehole for the Dinka Bor at Adjumani, Uganda.
A new borehole for the Dinka Bor at Adjumani, Uganda.

The Word

African sunset
African sunset

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bear fruit in old ageKeycutterMrJohnsonKeycutterJohnson

Pastor Joseph Anyovi, his wife Jessica, and Desire Grace.
Pastor Joseph Anyovi, his wife Jessica, and Desire Grace.
Pastor Matthew Dohl and his wife Sara.
Pastor Matthew Dohl and his wife Sara.

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A sermon in three languages

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A sermon in three languages
A sermon in three languages

We're excited about reader reaction to our new ebook.

Order your copy of Trampled Grass here 

 

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