Life Stories

This is part 5 of 5 of the series titled: The Boarding School Dilemma – Balancing Mission and Family – The Conclusion: Moving Forward From Here. This series started withContinue readingEpisode 38 – The Boarding School Dilemma – Balancing Mission and Family – The Conclusion: Moving Forward From Here – Part 5 of 5 – 5/31/25

This is part 4 of a 5 part series, titled: The Boarding School Dilemma – Balancing Mission and Family – The Kids' Viewpoint. So far in this series, you learnedContinue readingEpisode 37 – The Boarding School Dilemma – Balancing Mission and Family – The Kids' Viewpoint – Part 4 of 5 – 5/10/25

This is part 3 of a 5 part series titled: The Boarding School Dilemma – Balancing Mission and Family – The Parents' Viewpoint.  Part 1 laid out the dilemma ofContinue readingEpisode 36 – The Boarding School Dilemma – Balancing Mission and Family – The Parents' Viewpoint – Part 3 of 5 – 4/26/25

This is part 2 of a 5 part series, titled : The Boarding School Dilemma – Balancing Mission and Family – The Ubangi Academy.  Part 1 shared about the dilemmaContinue readingEpisode 35 – The Boarding School Dilemma – Balancing Mission and Family – The Ubangi Academy – Part 2 of 5 – 4/12/25

        Many people feel God's call to serve in missions. With that is the responsibility of raising their children and ensuring they are educated. This can proveContinue readingEpisode 34 – The Boarding School Dilemma – Balancing Mission and Family – Introduction – Part 1 of 5 – 3-29-25

                            The Rwanda Genocide that occurred in 1994 was one of the most recent large-scale genocides inContinue readingEpisode 33 – The Rwanda Genocide – A Refugee Camp Volunteer's Perspective – 4-6-24

This episode contains four (4) Short Stories. The first one is telling the difference between “who you know” and “who knows you”. Which is better in life and in business?Continue readingEpisode 32 – Short Stories (4) – Volume II – 1-20-24

This episode is about teaching in a Congolese High School. The physical conditions of the classrooms, and lack of supplies and textbooks made the job extremely difficult for both theContinue readingEpisode 31 – Teaching in a Congolese High School – 11-7-23

/> This episode is about a gopher. Not the little critters that tear up golf courses and your back yard, but a specific role that I played for 1 yearContinue readingEpisode 30 – The Gemena Gopher – 8-21-23

Death, funerals, grieving and the associated rituals vary from culture to culture. This episode explores the differences and similarities as to how Americans handle end of life and grieving vs.Continue readingEpisode 29 – Death and Funeral Rituals – USA vs. D.R. Congo – 6-30-2023

This episode is the story of a special Lake in the NW corner of the D.R. Congo, Africa. It was called Lake Kwada. Kwada, in the Ngbandi tribal language meansContinue readingEpisode 28 – Lake Kwada: The History, Story, and Legend

This episode is literally just a bunch of various hunting stories from Congo, Africa. Stories from the 1950's until the late 1970's are shared here in this episode. Hunting forContinue readingEpisode 27 – Amazing Hunting Stories from Congo, Africa – 11-28-22

Hunting was a part of everyday life for a kid growing up in Central Africa. It was a source of food, a sport, and a deterrent to the African's gardenContinue readingEpisode 26 – Hunting in the Congo – 10-14-22

  Soccer was prevalent overseas in the 1960's and 1970's before it gained a foothold in the USA. Growing up in D.R. Congo exposed me to the sport at aContinue readingEpisode 25 – Soccer in Congo…and Beyond – 8-12-22

This podcast episode is actually the culmination of a Radio Broadcasting class I took at Saddleback College in the Spring of 2022. My hope in taking the class was toContinue readingEpisode 24 – Live Solo Radio Show – Soukous Music and Zifa – FM 88.5 KSBR- 6-30-22

  Congo's history is one of difficulty, exploitation, political unrest, corruption and challenges for the common man. This is Part 6 of a 6 part series of the country's history,Continue readingEpisode 23 – The History of Congo – Part 6 of 6 – Epilogue and Tribute to the Congolese People – 4-1-22

The story of Congo's history is not very well known. This country has been exploited for its ivory, slaves, rubber, copper, uranium, coltan and other minerals. It's had political unrestContinue readingEpisode 22 – The History of Congo – Part 5 of 6 – 1997 Kabila Take Over to the Present – 2-24-22

  This is part 4 of a 6 part series on the History of Congo from the 1991 evacuation when President Mobutu's government was faltering and the expatriots evacuated, throughContinue readingEpisode 21 – The History of Congo – Part 4 of 6 – 1991 Evacuation to Kabila Takeover – 1-29-22

  This is part 3 of a 6 part series on the History of Congo: from 1965 when Colonel Mobutu seizes control of the country and takes over to 1991Continue readingEpisode 20 – The History of Congo – Part 3 of 6 – 1965 to 1991 Evacuation – 12-14-21

The History of Congo is not well known, as this country has been exploited, causing political instability and corruption. This is the 2nd of a 6 part series. Part 2Continue readingEpisode 19 – The History of Congo – Part 2 of 6 – 1960 Independence to 1965 – 10-22-21

The history of Congo is not known to many people. The story is one of exploitation, corruption and political instability. This is the first of a six part series. PartContinue readingEpisode 18 – The History of Congo – Part 1 of 6: King Leopold II to Congo's Independence – 9-18-21

Leprosy is a disease that is misunderstood by most people. People associate the disease with poverty, third world status and being relegated to leper colonies. Those with the disease areContinue readingEpisode 17 – Leprosy: Myths and Facts – 7-22-21

This episode contains Four (4) short stories:  1) My best cup of coffee ever  2) How to hypnotize a chicken   3) How to cool off on a warm dayContinue readingEpisode 16 – Short Stories – (Four) – Volume 1 – 6-23-21

  The Congolese village woman is relegated to a hard, subservient life in a patriarchal culture. Their lives are filled with physical and emotional challenges.  But there is change andContinue readingEpisode 15 – The Congolese Village Woman – 5/19/21

Third Culture Kids (TCK's) have a dilemma every time they are asked the question “Where are you from?” as they are from their home country but also from a foreignContinue readingEpisode 14 – Where Are You From? The Response Dilemma – 3/20/21

Wycliffe Bible Translators / SIL's (Summer Institute of Linguistics) world wide mission is Bible Translation and other materials into under-served language groups. How to choose the language group, selecting theContinue readingEpisode 13 – Capturing The “Language Of The Heart” for Indigenous People – 2/24/21

Unique and exotic pets we raised and released back into the wild in the D.R. Congo. From hornbills to tree hyrax's to monkeys to elephant shrews to pangolins to hawksContinue readingEpisode 12 – Exotic Pets in the Congo – 1/28/21

Adventures with driving in central africa: mud, sand, dirt, getting stuck, scary bridges, ferry crossings and mechanical breakdowns. With guests Pete Ekstrand and Gene Bradford. Check out this video clipContinue readingEpisode 11 – Road Trip Adventures in Congo (9 chickens, 2 ducks and a goat!) – 12/24/20

Part 2 of 2 – A look beyond the technological genius of Bob Thornbloom. A servant, a giver, and a compassionate man that was a member of the Ngbaka tribe.Continue readingEpisode 10 – Bob Thornbloom – A unique life serving his fellow Congolese – 10/4/20 – Part 2

Part 1 of 2 – A look beyond the technological genius of Bob Thornbloom. A servant, a giver, a compassionate man that was a member of the Ngbaka tribe. HeContinue readingEpisode 9 – Bob Thornbloom – A unique life serving his fellow Congolese – 10/4/20 – Part 1

A typical village church service in the D.R. Congo. The building description, drums, choirs, dog fights during the service and the whole church experience: With James Edstrom and John Aiken,Continue readingEpisode 8 – Congolese Village Church Experience – 7/28/20

From film strips on a Coleman lantern projector to 16 mm reel-to-reel movies to VHS tapes – Film and movie showings in the villages and jungles of D.R. Congo.  RogerContinue readingEpisode 7 – Showing Movies in African Villages – 7/10/20

Congolese foods; villager's daily staples, delicacies, and mystery foods with Dan Noren Here is a video clip of a girl pounding manioc leaves by hand. Click on “Girl Pounding ManiocContinue readingEpisode 6 – Congolese Cuisine – 5/24/20

The Ubangi Academy dormitory at Karawa, D.R.Congo; a typical day explained with my roommate from 50 years ago, Roger Wickstrom

The story of a Cessna 185 airplane. Its impact and service to thousands of people. With Dan Carlson – African Bush Pilot; a career flying around Congo

Experiencing the first major Zaire Ebola outbreak in 1976 in Northwest Congo. With special guest Dr. Tom Cairns, the first non-African Ebola virus survivor.

The story of a 5 day truck trip across Africa in February, 1983. Driving a Chevy K-20 diesel pick up truck with no spare tire (someone stole it). Immigration problemsContinue readingEpisode 2 – Cameroon to Zaire 5 day truck trip – 2/24/20

Why am I doing this? I'm doing this for my grandchildren and great-grandchildren (in the future) to have a place to hear about my growing up years. And it'll beContinue readingEpisode 1 – The Beginning of the Podcast Journey – 2/15/20