Posts Tagged ‘United States’

Pastor Andrew Gombay is now in the United States. This is his first trip outside of Africa.  What an experience for him and what a marvelous blessing for us.

In our conversation early this afternoon he told me he arrived late last night. He spoke of the long flight times and layovers – from Monrovia to Brussels to Washington D.C. to Detroit. He is in South Field, MI (in the Detroit area) to participate in a conference.

He told me that he was “received honorably” by Dr. Prince A. Miles, founder of the church hosting the conference, along with several others. Dr. Miles has invited Pastor Andrew to stay with him at his home while he’s in the States.

Pastor Andrew will be busy in South Field until July 19th. Then he will be free to spend a few days with us before returning to Liberia. This is the first solid information we’ve been able to get about his schedule, so we are just beginning to work on plans.

It was great to be able to talk to him on a clear phone line.  While he’s in South Field, he and I will be spending plenty of time on the phone, catching up.

He also told me he is very excited about getting to meet his “family” in the states.  His time here will be limited, but we’ll do our best to introduce him to as many friends as possible.  We’re open to suggestions, so drop us a line if you have any ideas.  Watch this website for more information about upcoming plans.

The trip from Detroit to Algoma won’t cost as much as Monrovia to Detroit, but there is still a cost.  If you would like to help us with Pastor Andrew’s travel expenses, please click on the Donate button or drop an email to info@esthershope.com and we’ll work out the details.  All donations are tax-deductible.

(Pastor Andrew Gombay is the founder of Victorious Faith Ministries and Victorious Faith Refuge Home (The orphanage of Esther’s Hope)  in Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa.)

Wonderful news!  As I write this post, Pastor Andrew Gombay is en-route to America!  He was invited to participate as a representative from Liberia in the African American World Deliverance Conference taking place July 3rd to the 12th in South field, MI (in the Detroit area).  The organization that invited him is also paying his trip expenses.

I’ve known about his plan to come to America for a couple of weeks but I’ve not posted about it, because I wanted to make sure he was going to be able to work through the bureaucratic red-tape to get his visa and travel arrangements made on such short notice.  By the grace of God, all things came together.  He should be arriving in the next day or two.

Our ability to learn the details about his trip has been hindered by the normal deficiencies of our U.S.-to-Liberia communication connections, so I’m not sure of what his schedule will be.  I do believe he will be in the U.S. for a month and we will do our best to bring him to Wisconsin.  South Field, MI is close to eight hours driving time from here.

Keep checking back.  I will post more information as soon as it is available.

Please pray for this to be a safe and fruitful trip for Pastor Andrew.  Also pray for his family, the children of Esther’s Hope and the caregivers in Liberia while he’s in the States.

Dear Friends,

Happy Inauguration Day to you!

I spoke with Pastor Andrew yesterday. It was a short conversation…slightly longer than what it took to convey the information for our monthly support transaction. (We transferred $300)

All is well there. He told me all the children are doing fine. They are preparing for the second semester of their school year…enrollment of community children is growing.

He sent the following photo of the children holding some of the gifts your support enabled him to buy the children for Christmas.

Now that we have a new president, I thought you would find the following interesting…

A couple of months ago, Liberia issued new postage stamps in honor of Barack Obama and Joe Biden. The ironic part is, Liberia’s postal system is practically non-existent. You can’t reliably mail anything there and expect it to actually get to your intended recipient. However, if someone wanted to try, you could purchase one of these fine stamps at a cost of $45. (That’s in Liberian dollars – or about $0.90 US.)

I also saw an article of gratitude for the parting president; George W. Bush. It was written by a Liberian living in the US.

Kai G. Wleh wrote…

…most Liberians will remember President George W. Bush as a leader who has restored hope to Liberia and accelerated the resignation, departure and subsequent prosecution of one of their dangerous dictators and warlords. Liberians will also see in Mr. Bush a friend who paved the way for the hastening of international good-will and solidarity.

Specifically, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will have in Bush a friend who answered her call when she said in a speech to the joint session of the U.S. Congress that “we cannot afford to fail.” In indeed, Liberians will see a partner who personally waived and urged other nationals to forgive Liberia’s international debts and other financial obligations. Moreover, Liberians of all persuasions will see in President Bush an advocate for Liberia’s recovery.

More importantly, thousands of Liberian refugees caught up in the civil war in Ivory Coast (Cote D’ivoire), who were migrated to the United States from 2003-2006 upon the orders of George W. will see him as a compassionate and caring leader. President Bush’s appreciation and support to the Liberian causes will be the lasting impressions he leaves on the Liberian people.

Whatever his critics may say, President Bush, unlike many U.S. Presidents, entered the Liberian waters and held the snake by the head – successfully ending the Liberian conflict and taking justice to the most feared Charles MacArthur Taylor. It is based on these and other contributions to the Liberian cause that I bid President Bush farewell for championing the Liberian cause so admirably.

I’m sure they will also fondly remember former President Bush for his enthusiastic dancing when he visited Liberia recently.

Back on the home front, I wan to thank you for your continued prayer and support for the children of Esther’s Hope. Together we are making a tremendous difference in their lives and condition. Please, remember to tell others about Esther’s Hope. Share the video with them that can be found on the Home Page of this website. (Email them the link, post it on your Facebook account, be creative…)