Life Stories: Recent Episodes
Congo Kid
Jeff, aka Congo Kid, is a casual writer and podcaster. He enjoys studying and discussing sociology, culture, and human behavior. His formative years were spent in Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa, where he learned multiple languages (French and Lingala) and experienced different social constructs, food, and cultures. His life experiences helped shape his worldview, which he feels is distinct and worthy of contemplation. A commercial real estate executive by day, he spends his free time reading, writing, road cycling, mountain biking, and podcasting. Husband to one, father to two, grandfather to one, and Vessel to The One, Jeff is enjoying life and family more and more as he grows older.
The Rwanda Genocide that occurred in 1994 was one of the most recent large-scale genocides in the past 50 years. The Hutu vs. Tutsi tribal conflict that many of us recall was horrific on so many fronts. The sheer numbers of dead (between 800,000 to 1,000,000), the nature of the butchery and the destruction of the country’s infrastructure had a lasting impact on that small central African country. The killings started on April 6, 1994, triggered by the Hutu President’s plane being shot down and lasted for 100 days. Unfortunately, the world stage watched from afar during the killings. The Tutsi’s fought back and resulted in 1 Million Hutu refugees crashing across the Zaire (now D.R. Congo) border. There were four (4) refugee camps, of approximately 250,000 each. Three were outside of Goma, on the North side of Lake Kivu, and one large camp near Bukavu on the South side of Lake Kivu. I went in September, 1994 to help a team of volunteers with the NGO called World Relief, Inc., working with 175 unaccompanied or orphan Rwandan children with medical help and providing food and water. It was a challenging and difficult time due to the incredible enormity of the need, the mass of humanity, the sorrow, hopelessness, sickness, diseases and death we saw every day during our time there. Stories to put the enormity of the experience into perspective are shared, including from a veteran Doctor and experienced Nurse that had seen lots of rough stuff in their decades of service in the medical field in Central Africa. Dr. Tom Cairns and Ms. Thelma Landrud share of their experiences doing tough duty in difficult circumstances, offering their unique perspectives. Yet, there were times of joy and happiness even in the midst of it all. Everyone that went to the Refugee camps left emotionally exhausted and forever changed. I know I was. This is my story and my perspective of my time there, and the impact it had on me and those I shared my experiences with. A special thanks to Dr. Cairns and Ms. Landrud for their interviews to compliment this episode. And a big Thank You to Rick Selin, retired radio host, for reading the poem I wrote, trying to capture the entire Rwanda Genocide and Refugee Camp experience. I trust this episode and the message in the poem I wrote puts things in perspective about the horror of genocide, our humanity and how easily we can slip from civility into savagery.
Beka’s Story of Escape from Rwanda
Newspaper Article – OC Register
**Rated in 2023 to the TOP 25 Best “Life Stories” Themed Podcasts Worldwide – https://blog.feedspot.com/life_stories_podcasts/
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? Well, Short Story # 1 will answer that question for you. The second Short Story is about how to check for the freshness of chicken eggs. How to confirm they were or weren’t fertilized or rotten or not. It was quite a process. The third Short Story is about going down a 65 foot well, to assess what was damaging the buckets that pulled up the water. I describe the harrowing trip down and all the amazing stuff I found down there. Yes, there was a surprise. And then the long trip being winched to the top, back to safety. The fourth and final Short Story is about how I got my original Congolese name in October, 1970, and then in the late 1970’s the name got a bit longer. The back story will be told of all three names that make up my current Congolese name. And I answer to it even now when called by my Congolese friends. I hope you enjoy these four (4) Short Stories about various aspects of Congo life. A big thank you to the various voice-over folks to add a fun dimension to the stories.
**Rated in 2023 to the TOP 25 Best “Life Stories” Themed Podcasts https://blog.feedspot.com/life_stories_podcasts/
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 the teachers and students alike. I was a high school professor at Institute Kimia in Gemena, D.R. Congo in the 1982-1983 school year. Having finished my sophomore year of college, I returned to Zaire / Congo and one of my roles was teaching 9th grade Chemistry and English. Trying to convey concepts in French, and having minimal textbooks or other school supplies was challenging indeed, as most learning had to be by rote, as studying and retaining knowledge was difficult without textbooks. Trying to optimize the student’s learning in these conditions was a challenge for me as well as veteran school teachers. Brad Hill taught for many years in the High School and shares his journey of teaching and successes with some of his students. He explains the differences in teaching methodologies between the US school system and the Congolese system, which is mainly driven by the lack of resources for the students. He also recounts several unique stories of his experiences, one of which includes arson. Roger Eales, who taught 20 years there, also contributes with his experiences and those are woven into the episode. For any school teachers that listen to this episode, if you think you have it tough in the US, I trust you’ll be more appreciative of the incredible resources you have to help your students learn after listening to this episode. The Congolese need education to help them and the country prosper, and unfortunately the K-12 school system doesn’t get the funding and support it deserves. For me, looking back, that year of teaching was a significant growing experience for me and many things I learned by teaching that year in D.R. Congo, I carry with me to this day.
Copyright © 2023 by Jeffrey W. Eales. All rights reserved. No portions may be reproduced or transmitted in any format without the prior written permission of the author.
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 year asContinue 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 means “Big Water”. The Mbanza tribe also has ties to this lake, as Kwada in their language means “Death Here”. More on that in the episode. Lake Kwada became a place of rest, relaxation, vacation, rejuvenation and restoration for numerous missionaries serving in that area from the early 1940’s till the mid-1990’s when the missionaries evacuated due to the civil war.
This episode will take you from the finding of the lake, to the long process of securing the property, to building the the first mud rest house, building the first 2 permanent houses, and then finishing off the last 2 houses in the late 1950’s.
A few recreational amenities were added including a raft, a diving tower, and a swing rope for the kids (and a few adults).
Several career missionaries will share their memories of Kwada as a place to re-charge, take a break, spend family time and restore their souls to the difficult work and environment they lived in.
Several kids who grew up there will share how Lake Kwada provided fun, swimming, family time, recreation and numerous memories during their growing up years.
Research in the EFCA archives provided considerable information for this storyline of the Lake and its journey. Comprehensive and thorough archived meeting minutes from the Mission Executive Committee provided a fairly clear path for me to follow of making Lake Kwada a place for rest and vacationing. Furthermore, numerous older career missionaries and MK’s gave dates and information to help create the chronology of the timeline.
Dr. Titus Johnson, founder of our Mission work in 1922 wrote in his journal in August 1947: “A most wonderful day. The water was wonderful. Surely this is a future heaven in Congo”.
Thanks to all who sent me info and memories and dates to create the timeline and add to the story of Lake Kwada.
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 – 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