Paul Bolstad while a volunteer on Tanzania’s Kilombero Settlement Scheme (1966-68).
Followers of Stories of East Africa may remember the post: Volunteering in Tanzania: Lessons from the Kilombero Settlement Scheme, by Paul Bolstad. https://storiesofeastafrica.com/2025/04/04/volunteering-in-tanzania-lessons-from-the-kilombero-settlement-scheme/
I mention this because Paul has recently published a memoir, Drawn to Africa, about his family’s time in East Africa.
Across oceans and cultures, one family’s journey unfolds, a testament to their resilience, wonder, and deep sense of belonging that will resonate with readers. Why would a mild-mannered Minneapolis printer take his wife and young children on a mission to British East Africa in the years immediately after World War II? Could they revive a Lutheran printing press, a symbol of faith and communication, that had remained silent during and after the war?
Drawn to Africa tells the remarkable true story of the Bolstad family, whose sense of calling carried them from the quiet heart of the American Midwest to the vast, unpredictable landscapes of Tanganyika. Their journey began with an ocean crossing and a harrowing flight aboard a converted B-17 bomber – complete with an emergency landing between Cairo and Nairobi. Drawn to Africa is a family memoir written by Paul Bolstad with memories contributed by sisters Rosanne and Marilyn and brother Daniel.
Even after resettling in America, the pull of East Africa remained strong, drawing them back to the land that had captured their hearts. The sequel, Drawn to Africa Again, continues their journey, exploring their ongoing connection to Africa. Available on Amazon.com in 2026.
Adventurous, heartfelt, and grounded in faith, Drawn to Africa is a vivid portrait of resilience, discovery, and the enduring ties between people and place.
Email Paul Bolstad – pbolstad43@gmail.com – for more news about Drawn to Africa Again. We’d love to hear your stories and memories of Africa, so please share them with us.
Available at Amazon.com.