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Every child looks forward to Christmas morning. Even those living in extreme poverty. Like your children and grandchildren, the orphans and abandoned children at Victorious Faith Refuge Home, find it hard to go to sleep on Christmas Eve. The kind of Christmas morning they have depends on us…on a “Christmas Blessing” from Esther’s Hope.  That’s why, each year we take up a special “Christmas Blessing” offering.

Unless you’ve been there, it’s difficult to comprehend the unending struggle of life in the west African nation of Liberia. Unemployment and illiteracy top 80%. The lingering effects of past corrupt dictators and devastating civil war make Liberia a very somber place. And, yet, the children are hopeful.

The thirty children of Esther’s Hope are looking forward to Christmas. Our Christmas Blessing (above and beyond our normal, monthly support) enables Bishop Gombay to stock up on food staples, provide a special Christmas meal with extraordinary delicacies – like a little fruit and some candy. It might even mean new shoes or some needed item of clothing for the children and, if funds allow, Bishop Gombay likes to give a small gift to the caregivers, as well.

As you prepare for your own family’s Christmas celebration, please consider how you might be a blessing to the less fortunate in Liberia. The children have so little, they don’t expect much. The little we send brings them great joy. Just look at the photo from their Christmas celebration last year.  No expensive gifts, but plenty of smiles.

Even a few dollars makes a huge difference in the lives of these precious children. Your donation is tax-deductible and every penny we receive for the children’s Christmas Blessing goes to them. We never deduct “administrative costs” for any Esther’s Hope donations.

Donations can easily be made online by clicking the “Donate” button. You could also send a check by mail to Esther’s Hope, 219 State Street, Algoma, WI, 54201.

If you’d like to be a part of the Esther’s Hope Christmas Blessing, act quickly because funds will be transferred to Liberia around December 20th.

Please, help us spread the word and share this website with your friends.

If you’d like to be a blessing year round, an Esther’s Hope Child Sponsorship is only $30 a month. Check out our Sponsor A Child page. All contributions to Esther’s Hope are tax-deductible. Giving is very easy – simply click on our Donate button.

The children of Esther’s Hope and our friends and partners in Liberia could use your prayers.

I spoke with Bishop Andrew Gombay a week ago and he mentioned the atmosphere in Liberia was tense.  The Liberian voters will head to the polls tomorrow (Tuesday, November 8, 2011) to cast their ballots in the presidential runoff election.

Bishop Gombay told me there were several reported, election related incidents in the last few weeks. Today a bloody riot broke out in Monrovia at the headquarters of current President’s political rival.

Here’s a report I found on YouTube.

I’ve heard from Bishop Andrew Gombay, the founder and director of Victorious Faith Refuge Home – the home of Esther’s Hope.  I’m grateful for the contact because my recent efforts to reach Bishop Andrew by phone have been fruitless. I’m hoping the communication issues get cleared up soon. Email is what’s working at the moment, even though it can be difficult and costly for him to get time on the internet.

He has assured me that the children are doing well.  However, there are concerns that we ask you to pray about.

Here’s his latest message…

Dear Rev. Pevlor,

How is the work out there in Algoma? I strongly believe that the Lord is in control.

Well we are moving on here one step at a time by the grace of God. Only that we need your prayers as regards the forth coming election, which is few weeks away. There is so much tension looming in some corners. In fact, one of the presidential candidates, who was a former war-lord, warned that everyone should store up enough food in their houses till after the election. Please pray, as the scripture states that the Lord knows his own.

Another prayer point is for my health for I’m strong by the grace of God, for even if you call me on phone now you will hear the crack in my voice at the moment.

The Kids have started school, though without uniform and other necessaries. Plus there is a huge balance to clear up their school fees. All the same, praise the Lord that they are in school now.

Please extend my regards to your wife, Kids, the entire Victorious Faith Family and Esther’s Hope supporters in the USA.

Bishop Andrew

It would be tragic if the elections brought about renewed  fighting.  Liberia has barely begun to recover from the last civil war.

Please join us in prayer for peace and order for the nation and safety and good health for the children and caregivers of Esther’s Hope.  Please also pray for Bishop Andrews health and strength and for his family.

And finally, please pray about becoming an Esther’s Hope sponsor – either monthly or with occasional gifts as the Lord enables.

The cost of a monthly sponsorship is only $30. It’s so affordable, some families sponsor two children. See our Sponsor A Child page for details on child sponsorship.  This is one of the most rewarding experiences you and your family can participate in. It can be a valuable teaching opportunity for your own children.

Along with monthly sponsors, we also need education donors.  We still have tuition costs of $175 per year that still must be paid for some of the children.  (Thank you to those who have already helped in this area.)

If you find it in your heart and budget to help in a financial way, you can easily and safe to contribute to Esther’s Hope using your credit or debit card by clicking our Donate button.

If you have any questions about any aspect of Esther’s Hope, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

The school year is about to begin for the children of Esther’s Hope.  Many of the children will be attending a different school this year, since Bishop Gombay is scaling back Victorious Faith Academy to only teach up to second grade.  (See the previous post for details.)

As Bishop Gombay made us aware of the need for the upcoming tuition expenses, I shared it with the church and Esther’s Hope friends and supporters.  Last week we were delighted to send more than $1300.  That included our normal monthly support and a considerable amount to help with the needed tuition.

It’s a wonderful start, but still short of the total needed so please join us as we continue to pray for God’s provision. If you know if someone who has a heart for children and understands the critical need for education, please share the Esther’s Hope story with them.  Donations can easily be made using the “Donate” button in the right hand column of our website.

Communication with Liberia has been a real challenge lately.  I’ve not been able to speak with Bishop Gombay by phone for weeks.  We have communicated by email and he mentioned something about the phone companies going through some sort of transition and that’s making communications unreliable.

After receiving our last financial transfer, Bishop Andrew Gombay sent this short email…

God bless you Rev. Pevlor,

I received the money you sent today in its full sum but I had a hard time e-mailing you till now.

By the grace of God, I will start the process, come Monday, of registering the Kids first and foremost. And the remaining funds needed, I commit to the able hands of God who is the Great Provider.  The money might be insufficient but our God is All sufficient.

Please extend our gratitude to all who contributed to the ongoing education of these Kids, though you are the second person, after God, who deserves our gratitude at this moment.

Again, I say thank you and God bless your family and the church.

Bishop Andrew

Thank you for your prayer support and generous financial gifts.  Remember, every penny we receive for Esther’s Hope is sent directly to Liberia for their care and education. In most cases, your donations are tax deductible. (Consult with your tax professional for details.)

[If you haven't heard, Pastor Andrew Gombay was recently ordained as Bishop Andrew Gombay, so we'll refer to him as such.]

A few weeks ago, Bishop Andrew spoke with me about seeking the Lord’s will concerning the future of Victorious Faith Academy.  Bishop Gombay started the school to provide a formal education for the children of Esther’s Hope and also as an outreach to the children of the community.  Since it’s inception, it has proven to be a true faith challenge.  The government has continually increased requirements for schools – the facility and staff.  Finances have also been a challenge with the community students falling behind in their tuition.

I agreed to join him and enlist the folks or our church in prayer.

I received this email from Bishop Gombay…

God bless you Rev. Pevlor,

I am encouraged to continue the vision of the Refuge home till the will of God be done even though I have not received any green light from anyone in support of the children education.

The only action I took relative to cutting down my expenses has to do with reducing the grade level in the School. Instead of the School as usual, from day care to sixth grade, it has been reduced from day care to second grade.

This so because out the fifty six students that enrolled in the school last year from the community, forty five of them still owe School fees and did not pay till the school year ended, and I have their final grade sheets.

Until now the parents are not moved to come and pick up their child/children grade sheets. So that implies, since our thirty children from the home do not pay school fees, I had to pay teachers salary throughout the School year. That is why I cut down the staff and the classes for the next school year because I am not getting returns to run the school. But this action on one hand is good but it also means that we will have to enroll the refuge home kids in other schools for this school year whose grade level are above the Victorious Faith Academy.

This is why I am writing for you to plead with our donors to please assist us this school year with school fees for the kids because I surely do not have all that money to register all the kids in other schools, including my own family responsibility.

Looking at the information sheets from several schools, we will need $175.00 USD to send a child to school from the refuge home and this includes school fees for the whole school year (two semesters). I will try and manage out for the books and other items from my end.

All of the kids were successful in their exams and the next School year starts on the 29th of August this is as a result of the new educational calendar because of the presidential elections in October.

Rev. Pevlor this a major and crucial issue right now at the home.

To God be the glory

Rev. Andrew

The government does not provide a free education to the children of Liberia. Any formal education must be paid for by parents. When you consider Liberia’s unemployment rate of about 80%, it’s not hard to understand why their literacy rate is also near 80%. 

We all know, the way out of poverty is education.  To continue their education, the older children of Esther’s Hope will need to be enrolled in another school. Our current level of monthly support doesn’t even cover all of the basic needs of food and housing.  So, first, please join us in prayer for these precious children. Next, please consider becoming a monthly sponsor.

The cost of a monthly sponsorship is only $30. It’s so affordable, some families sponsor two children. See our Sponsor A Child page for details on child sponsorship.  This is one of the most rewarding experiences you and your family can participate in. It can be a valuable teaching opportunity for your own children.

Along with monthly sponsors, we also need education donors.  Could you help with the tuition cost of $175 per child for a year’s education?

Please pray with us about these upcoming needs.  If you find it in your heart and budget to help in a financial way, you can easily and safe to contribute to Esther’s Hope using your credit or debit card by clicking our Donate button.