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LOD215 - Louis Dorvilier

Louis Dorvilier Welcome To People and Places in West and Central Africa!

For many years, as many of you know, I've been studying the ideology, philosophy, and effects of economic globalization on vulnerable communities. During my travel through out western and central Africa, I've also confirmed that cultural diversity is still an important topic related to the globalization's ideology of development. Cultural diversity, taken in that context, may be the last ramparts against the negative effect of globalization on the most vulnerable. Alimenting the debate on cultural diversity and sharing elements of cultural competences with the world are wonderful and challenging issues that I am still pasionate about. For those who have been waiting for my findings on the effects of globalization on this region, these blogs are not the answer. Nonetheless, I assure you that I am still working on it.

This travel blogs, however, is an effort to share with my family, colleagues, friends, and brothers and sisters in the faith my extraordinary journey in West Africa and the wonders of a region which continues to stupefy and amaze many travelers. Over the past three years, I've fallen in love with many places, encountered many peoples, and was asthonished by many cultures, customs, and traditions. Learning about the West and Central African's people, their life and culture have been one of the most valuable contributions to my education on globalization and an important part of my life for the last three years. I invite you to discover through images and, may be, sounds (in the future) the amazing grace of this region.

Come join me for a ride into many places and cultures in West and Central Africa!

Louis Dorvilier is a well known economist and development practitioner. He has been involved in the social movement and issues related to economic, cultural, and worker's and women rights in Haiti and Latin America for more than a decade. He has extensive experience in management of development programs and policy and has served the Lutheran World Federation in various capacities for over 12 years. He has been the Executive Director of New City Parish, a coalition of ELCA urban congregations in Los Angeles, for almost 5 years. He is currently, the West Africa Regional representative of ELCA Global Mission in West Africa. Louis Dorvilier has studied in Haiti, USA, Belgium, Switzerland, Venezuela and Isreal. He can be reached at: lod215@yahoo.com or on skype at: Skype name: louis565.
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Joined on: March 20th 2008
Last Login: July 8th 2008

Blog Entries: 12
Photos: 477
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Blogs & Travel Journals

by LOD215, order by Date newest first.

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Millennium Church, ELCC
Millennium Church, ELCC
Ngaoundere, Cameroon
This is the puzzling question that I often get from friends and partners in ministry. My closest friends who know me as a rational individual, a passionate development practitioner, and an advocate for global justice would put it bluntly this way: “we know that you are an ELCA missionary in West Africa; so what exactly you do?” We understood what you did in the past but we are at lost with “this fostering relationship”. I don't do... I walk with people. We live in an era of changing role for missionaries where lay people like me is being called and sent [View Full Entry]

LOD215 - Louis Dorvilier | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe | 0 Comment(s) | 71 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s) | 1438 words | [diary=284470] | 2008-06-07 05:07:41

Nyiwe, Goyek and Golike
Mural at Zion, ELCC
Zion Lutheran, ELCC

Our family celebrated a great week filled of blessings, grace and hope. Stephane, our eldest son, concluded one mile stone on June 3rd this year when he received his high school diploma from the board chair of Dakar Academy. Dakar Academy is a mission school sponsored by the Assemblies of God, the International Mission Board, the United World Mission and the World Venture. The school is open to other denominations and the Senegalese. Stephane will return to the US and will join Carthage College during the fall. He plans to graduate in psychology. Keep him in your prayers as he undertakes [View Full Entry]

LOD215 - Louis Dorvilier | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe | 0 Comment(s) | 26 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s) | 104 words | [diary=284332] | 2008-06-07 05:05:37

With Steph
Rose for Mom
Dorvilier family

Louis posing
Louis posing
Ngaoundere, Cameroon
The Republic of Cameroon, located in the heart of Africa at the cross points of West and Central Africa, is full of mystery, tales, and stories. Cameroon is one of the oldest countries in Africa. The creation of what is now Cameroon remounts to 8000 BC and was considered as a meeting point of cultures, ethnic groups and peoples. The country is blessed with miles of cost line, beautiful beaches and gorgeous mountains and picks, rain forest and waterfalls, and wildlife and savannas. Modern day Cameroon started in 1472 with the arrival of the slave traders and colonial masters known as [View Full Entry]

LOD215 - Louis Dorvilier | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe | 0 Comment(s) | 60 Photo(s) | 1 Video(s) | 1053 words | [diary=279124] | 2008-06-07 20:14:17

Central station Yaounde
Le Car
... by car

a short stop
a short stop
Louis & Mytch
Sobobade is among these places which leave a mark indelibile on you. Each visit provoques its new encounter and each time brings it own discovery. [View Full Entry]

LOD215 - Louis Dorvilier | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe | 0 Comment(s) | 13 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s) | 25 words | [diary=273281] | 2008-05-20 16:03:53

Sobobade ... space
jet d
view of the beach

the hot spot
the hot spot
take it for granteed?
I returned from my trip to Liberia where I visited Bong and Lofa Counties and attended the 13th biannual convention of the Lutheran Church in Liberia. Each time I visit Liberia, I am amazed by the vitality and ingenuity of the Liberian people. The country is recovering slowly but a lot remains untoched. It was quite an experience celebrating the 13th bi-annual convention of the Lutheran Church in LIberia where Bishop Sumoward Harris was reelected by a large vote of confidence. For the occasion, the LCL received delagations from Sweden headed by the Archbishop of the Church of Sweden, from Danemark, [View Full Entry]

LOD215 - Louis Dorvilier | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe | 1 Comment(s) | 27 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s) | 407 words | [diary=270786] | 2008-05-06 00:53:15

Esther, Bishop Harris, and Mike
Franklin bridge
view of the horizon

Loumpoul: the spirit of the desert In route to St. Louis (north of Senegal) on Easter vacation with my family, we stopped at the desert of Loumpoul, which is located in the Thies Region of Senegal about 15 kilometers West of Kebemer city. The visit to Loumpoul desert may well be a one time experience for our family but the memories will last for a long time. The life, spirit, simplicity, and spirituality of the people who live in the Loumpoul desert left me wondering about my own humanity, sophistication, and needs. During this trip, we learned other aspects of Senegalese [View Full Entry]

LOD215 - Louis Dorvilier | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe | 1 Comment(s) | 29 Photo(s) | 1 Video(s) | 327 words | [diary=263736] | 2008-04-07 02:30:15

the eye of the droma
night view of the tent
view of the campground

birds...
birds...
iles des oiseaux senegal
Visit of Zebrabar on Easter Vacations with Family Members! We visited Zebrabar, a charming place, which invites to excursion and discoveries. Located about 20 kilometers off Saint Louis, Zebrabar is an oasis of peace and kids friendly vacation spot in Senegal. Its proximity to the Langue de Barbarie National Park and "Isles aux Oiseaux" makes it an attractive campground for parents with children and a place of encounter with nature. The place combines birds’ park, white sand beaches, salt water for surfing, fishing, and fresh water for kayaking and windsurfing, and a people friendly and welcoming community. Zebrabar, own by [View Full Entry]

LOD215 - Louis Dorvilier | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe | 0 Comment(s) | 44 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s) | 265 words | [diary=263602] | 2008-04-06 16:51:26

typical pirogue
bungalow for  a family
Lieve, Mytch and Virle

Encounter
Encounter
Carolyn with Pastor Antoinette
From February 15-26, 2008; I embarked in the challenging enterprise of facilitating a leadership travel for three companion synods. Six faithful but season travelers from Texas Louisiana Golf Cost, Western North Dakota and Eastern-North Dakota synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America responded to the “CAR 2,000 Challenge”. The challenge consisted in crossing 2,000 kms (1,000 each way) on dirt road from Douala (Cameroon) to Bouar (West of CAR); defying all odds, security risk and possible harassment at border crossing point to arrive on time at the dedication of both the women center and the newly renovated church in Bouar. [View Full Entry]

LOD215 - Louis Dorvilier | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe | 0 Comment(s) | 47 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s) | 854 words | [diary=262785] | 2008-04-04 03:18:34

supplying fresh water
village school
four men: first encounter

Dakar is a place of wonders. With relative stability, peace and security, the city has become one of the safest places in West Africa for the last decade. Gifted with coastal line and beautiful white sand beaches, great French restaurants, a booming social life, opportunities for surfing, and a tolerant Islam have made of Dakar one of the most hospitable destinations in the region. Dakar is culturally diverse, politically stable and very "Teranga" (welcoming). The cosmopolitan aspect of the city invites to curiosity and discovery. Nevertheless, the old and the new Dakar live in contrast and cohabitate with great difficulty. The [View Full Entry]

LOD215 - Louis Dorvilier | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe | 1 Comment(s) | 47 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s) | 266 words | [diary=258664] | 2008-03-23 01:13:18

sobobade
to Goree island
Mytch & Tina

From January 15-27, 2008; I visited Liberia with my friends and colleagues The Rev. Twila Schock and The Rev. Rodger Prois of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. I am grateful for their leadership and commitment to God’s mission in the world. I am equally thankful for the opportunity that I had to meet, share and walk with the Lutheran Church in Liberia. Through the LCL ministries of health, education, HIV/AIDS, trauma healing, urban ministries, peace and reconciliation, and word and sacrament ministries, I had a glimpse of the joy and challenges of the church leadership in ministry. Liberia, West African [View Full Entry]

LOD215 - Louis Dorvilier | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe | 0 Comment(s) | 36 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s) | 529 words | [diary=258573] | 2008-03-22 14:05:33

Downtown, Monrovia
Market Place, Monrovia
Open Market, Monrovia



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