In 1937, Russell and Helen sailed to East Africa as missionaries, taking with them their three young children including Joyce at three months of age. Once in Tanganyika, they lived primitively for nearly ten years, unable to return to the States because of WWII. After the war and two years furlough, they returned to Africa, and Joyce and her sister were sent to a boarding school in Kenya, the Rift Valley Academy until Joyce graduated. Again life was primitive, starting in a mud and wattle shack for a while and moving into a new four-room unfinished house, without electricity or other utilities. Between home vacations and school, many adventures brought lasting memories. Out on her own during college years, Joyce married Vince Porte and they headed to British Columbia where they lived on Thetis Island before taking off again for Alaska. Vince had received his ordination as a Baptist pastor, and they lived on Kodiak Island at Karluk and in Kodiak City, then moved to Kenai on the Kenai Peninsula. After more schooling for two Master's degrees, they settled in Anchorage where Vince had a counseling service and pastored a small church, finally setting in Homer and then Soldotna on the Kenai Peninsula. During all these moves, they raised four children. Joyce has written five other books: Where Lions Still Roar, Rogue Lioness, Pale Lion Rising, Beyond the Shadows, and a short story book Stormbird of the Serengeti.
