In honor of Pastor Andrew Gombay’s upcoming visit to Algoma next week, I thought I would re-post this “music” video.  It features the worship team from Pastor Andrew’s church.  They were singing a song to honor us (Pastor Bill Pevlor and Brian Matthys) at the conclusion of a conference for pastors in Monrovia, Liberia.  You will see pastor Andrew and his wife, Swehna join the team.  Even I get pulled into the frivolity at the end. (You’ll recognize me as the goofy looking white guy.)

The arrangements have been set for Pastor Andrew Gombay’s travel to northeast Wisconsin.  Pastor Andrew will arrive in Green Bay on Monday afternoon, July 19th.  He will return to Detroit early Sunday evening, July 25th.  His return flight to Liberia departs from Detroit on the 27th.

We are bubbling over with excitement to have nearly a week with our dear friend from Monrovia, Liberia.  More than a friend, Pastor Andrew is our ministry partner.  He is the founder and leader of Victorious Faith Ministries church and Victorious Faith Refuge Home (the Esther’s Hope residence) in Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa.  We have been friends and partners for nearly a decade.

We are still working on his itinerary.  As I write this, there are only two items set in stone on the schedule.  Pastor Andrew will be ministering at Victorious Faith Ministries in Algoma on Wednesday evening and Sunday morning (July 21st and 25th).  There will be more events, we just haven’t worked out the details.  Esther’s Hope supporters can count on an opportunity to visit with Pastor Andrew in an informal gathering.

Over the years, Pastor Andrew has proven himself to be an extremely capable man of faith, courage and integrity.  He is a highly respected spiritual leader in West Africa – which is why he was invited to participate in the conference in Detroit.  I’m confident he will bring the highest level of ministry excellence to Algoma.

I’ve traveled to Liberia on two occasions to lead successful leadership conferences for pastors and church leaders.  Pastor Andrew and his staff handled all the arrangements in Liberia for those conferences.  He was an excellent administrator, preacher/teacher and host. I’m looking forward to ministering (and hanging out) with him again; this time in my homeland.

(Note to Esther’s Hope supporters:  The cost of Pastor Andrew’s round-trip airfare was $569.40.  If you’d like to help us meet the expenses for Pastor Andrew’s travel and activities in Wisconsin, please click on the Donate button and select the one-time gift option.)

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.

Not every Esther’s Hope child is an orphan.  Some are merely victims of the extremely difficult, family-ravaging conditions of post-war Liberia.

Today I transferred our monthly support to Pastor Andrew and learned of Mohamed Kaide, a new child who has been added to the safe and loving fold of Esther’s Hope at the Victorious Faith Refuge Home in Monrovia, Liberia.

Mohamed’s story is tragic, heartbreaking and not as rare as we might wish.  The particular details of his plight might be somewhat unique, but every Esther’s Hope child has a heartbreaking story of their own.

Pastor Andrew sent me an update by email and included the story of Mohamed along with a photo…

Dear Rev. Bill Pevlor

Praise the Lord for His faithfulness.

Please Sir, we are always grateful to God for you, your family, and the church; our desire is for you to please extend our thanks and gratitude to all those who are making this monthly sacrifice in their own way to bless the hearts of these Kids. Though it is not a fixed amount, the truth is that it is always solving problems to the glory of God.

This afternoon I ran in town after you called me up because the rains caused some problems, so I bought two bundles of zinc with what was sent including nails for the carpenters to start work on the boys dorm especially over the bed of the Kids; I know that the same God the have started to provide for this renovation will provide all that needed to finish this renovation work.

Mohamed Kaide - "His flesh was cut out from his thigh to the ankle so he may not walk upright again."

I also want to inform you of one 6 year old boy that was rushed in the home last month, his name is Mohamed Kaide. This boy’s mother was crossing the road along with two of them – the only children she ever had – at the Dualla Market area in January this year, when a taxi cab hit them killing one of her children instantly, breaking Mohamed’s foot, smashing two of his toes and breaking the back of the mother instantly.

They were rushed at the JFK hospital. The mother is still hospitalized because of a fractured spine. Mohamed’s only brother died from the accident.  While Mohamed and his mother were in the hospital, the father of the children took sick and also died. As Mohamed was fast recovering, the friends decided to look for a child care center to take Mohamed to because the mother was traumatized any time she notices her two children – one dead and the other badly wounded with her in the hospital.

That is how they brought Mohamed to our center. His wounds are fast healed up and he is recovering especially because the other children keep him alive and happy. Please keep us in your prayers and how the Lord can provide us funds to continue his treatment. His photo is attached to this mail, and he has added to our Kids in the home.

Remain blessed,

Rev. Andrew Gombay.

I’m struck by Pastor Andrew’s comment, “…he is recovering especially because the other children keep him alive and happy.”  We’ve heard comments, from other outside observers, of the care and concern the children have for one another.  It’s more evidence of the wonderful work of Pastor Andrew and the caregivers of Esther’s Hope.  They are able to take children in the most desperate of situations and help them move beyond their own tragic circumstances and become a blessing to others.  Remarkable.

For all that the caregivers of Esther’s Hope can do, they still need our help.  It’s obvious, Mohamed is going to need considerable medical and therapeutic care.  There are still many Esther’s Hope children who need monthly sponsors.  For just $30 a month, you can help provide for the physical needs of Mohamed or one of the other children.  To learn more about monthly sponsorship, visit our Sponsor A Child and Sponsorship FAQ pages.

One-time gifts are also needed to help complete the renovations necessary to comply with the government’s ever-increasing orphanage standards.  We still have a few thousand dollars to raise toward that effort.  To give a one-time gift, simply click on the Donate button.

All donations are tax deductible and a printed receipt will be sent by mail at the end of the year.

Every penny we receive ($100%) is sent to Pastor Andrew and used for the care of the children of the Victorious Faith Refuge Home in Liberia.  Esther’s Hope is an organization of unpaid volunteers.  We don’t keep or use any of the funds given to Esther’s Hope.  Any administrative costs are covered by the church.

If you have any questions concerning Esther’s Hope, child sponsorship or donations, please don’t hesitate to Contact Us.

Please remember to pray for Mohamed and the other children, as well as the selfless, loving caregivers at Esther’s Hope.