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 [View Full Entry]

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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 minis [View Full Entry]

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ELCSL: A Beacon Light In The Community From September 19 to 28, 2007; I visited Sierra Leone and met with the leadership of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sierra Leone, to review the mission and priorities of the church, and learn the best way to accompany the ELCSL in mission. During this visit, I stopped at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church (CELC) which is one of the 16 congregations of ELCSL. The Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church and school is located at Up Mountain Peak Cock Farm, Wellington, Sierra Leone. Overlooking the city of Freetown from the Up Peak Mountain, the Calvary [View Full Entry]

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I frequently visit the Central African Republic (CAR) to foster the companion relationship between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the CAR (ELC-CAR). Despite the political turmoil, civil conflict and political instability, I cannot find a good excuse for not visiting my companions, friends, brothers, and sisters in the faith. CAR is rich in natural resources and a beautiful country but ravaged by repeated military coups and successive violent civil conflicts. During my travel and encounters with the Central African peoples, I discove [View Full Entry]

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