I left Africa in 1985, nearly 23 years ago and I haven't been back. But like some things in life, once you become involved, you can never quite put it out of your mind. Africa, or more specifically, Sierra Leone in West Africa has been like that for me.

In retrospect, I never actually chose to go to Africa in the first place. In 1975, I was a college grad looking for a teaching job. Among the scores of applications I filled out, was one to teach in Nigeria. I didn't go to Nigeria, though, instead I landed a good job in the western suburbs of Chicago. And then ..., I got a phone call, "Still interested in teaching in Nigeria?" I was asked. Not exactly great timing, I was in my first year of teaching, but, hey what an opportunity! So, why not, it's worth checking out. Ten months later my wife and I stepped off the plane onto African soil.

My first impressions of Africa have faded, but they were generally good. My teaching assignment was in a school for missionary children, not exactly a tough situation. Jos, Nigeria was a great place to live, with lots of great colleagues, lots of cool places to visit, and ultimately where my eldest child was born. I was hooked!

By 1979, I was prepared to stay in Jos for a long time, but a different opportunity landed in my lap. My denomination, the Christian Reformed Church, had embarked on an ambitious program to make a difference in a very poor nation. Sierra Leone was chosen and the concept intrigued me. The plan was to plant North Americans in rural African villages where they would learn the language and begin programs in health, agriculture, literacy and community development, all the while sharing our Christian faith. I was so enthused that I applied for several of the positions and eventually was hired to be the community developer and team leader -- not bad for someone who just wanted to be a chemistry teacher.

From 1980 - 1985, I lived, or basically camped, in a village named Foria. This village of about 500 people had no electricity and no running water and was accessible only by 4-wheel drive on a bone-jarring road. It was so exciting, and so heart breaking. But, our plan was a good one, and we began to really make a difference. In 1984, I was able to facilitate the construction of a water system that eventually brought clean, fresh water to Foria year around. By 1985, our programs were established, Sierra Leoneans had been hired and trained to do our jobs and it was time to go home.

So after 10 years in Africa and a multitude of experiences - both good and bad, our family, that now numbered 6, settled in Denver and I began to teach at Denver Christian.

It's been nearly 23 years since I came to DC, and I'm still teaching there. For a long time, I truly gave Africa little thought. I had a growing family, bills to pay and a good job. And later, other things; like a divorce, a master's program at DU, growing kids, and teaching and coaching occupied my mind for a long time. I even found time for some romance and am now happily remarried. But - even though Africa seemed to be in my past, events conspired to make it part of my future again.

As if things weren't bad enough in Sierra Leone to begin with, an 11-year civil war began in 1991. Greedy men who wanted to control the diamond fields played on simmering tribal differences. Using drugs, alcohol and smuggled guns they unleashed an army of teenaged boys, whose only goal was to create chaos and misery. It had to be one of the most senseless wars ever fought.

Sadly, the rag-tag government army was no match for these boys and soon the rebels controlled most of the country, including Foria, my former home. Most of the world had no clue what was going on, and only in the late 1990s did the war catch the attention of the rest of the world. Eventually, the combined efforts of the US, Britain and Nigeria ended the war and then stories of what had really happened began to circulate. The recent movie Blood Diamond and the book, A Long Way Gone by Ishmeal Beah, are just two examples.

My attention was recaptured by stories of former colleagues who had escaped under a rain of gun fire, of my language helper who was held captive by the rebels before escaping, and of the carpenter who added an addition to my house in Foria (for the growing family!) who was murdered by the rebels. Yet, not all the news was bad, for I also learned that my son's childhood friends had not only survived, but had become traveling preachers who ministered to people hiding in the hills and even eventually to the rebels themselves.

Once again, I had Africa on my mind. So over the last few years, I've tried to bring Africa to the minds of students at DC as well. A freshman history class focused on the problems of AIDS in Africa, and created a "museum" to highlight their findings. As a school, we've created a connection with a high school in Nigeria and have had several projects to assist this school. Last year, we were the first high school in the US to host Ryan Reed's photo exhibit on Darfur, "The Cost of Silence." I've written a number of articles for "YourHub.com" to give more exposure to these efforts and ultimately, of course, to Africa.

So now it seems, Africa is calling me again. Just last week a team of students, teachers and a parent began to plan for a trip to Sierra Leone this coming December. And guess who is the leader? Stay tuned.