I would like to take this time to thank the Lord for His grace that operated through the life of our friend Bob Harrison. Bob, a commercial airline pilot and president of Development Companions International, volunteered to fly with Victor Gomes from Seattle to New York on October 8th. Due to Victor’s extreme weakness we did not feel it possible for him to fly by himself. Bob made the flight arrangements and they flew stand by. Their route took them to Phoenix, AZ. Bob had checked the flight schedule and they should have only had an hour or so in Phoenix before their flight to New York. However, the airline combined two flights and they were “bumped” and their short layover turned into a 10 hour stay. Bob decided Victor needed to rest, so he took him to a hotel to rest. After making some arrangements Bob came back to their room to discover Victor almost comatose. He called the aid car and they took a trip to the ER. There they gave Victor 3 liters of fluids and he rallied! (We were home here in Oak Harbor gathering more and more prayer support as the Bob gave the updates).

On this side we were realizing that Victor would need help during his ten hour layover in Lisbon, Portugal. Bob and Victor arrived in Newark (due to the change in flight schedule from Phoenix). Bob offered to travel on, but we felt he had done enough, so the search was on for help in Lisbon. We started by emailing Every Home for Christ in South Africa. They did not have anyone in Portugal, but would put the word out. Eventually we received word that a doctor and his wife (through focus on the family, I believe) were willing to connect with Victor. Through the agents of Air Portugal, we assume this meeting was facilitated. Bob was able to put Victor on the plane and say their good byes. Darryl happened to call Bob on his cell phone just as this was happening and got a chance to say good bye as well.

Victor made it to Senegal with his wife Cinthia waiting around 3:00 a.m. October 11. His journey home was complete. Bob declared to us that October 8th was the longest day of his life. We pray God’s blessing on Bob and his gift to Victor.

Victor’s Victory

It is with great sadness and yet with joy that I share with you the continuing saga of Victor Gomes*. Victor went home to be with the Lord October 25, 2001. We received a phone call from Senegal around 12:15 p.m. from a brother in the Lord, Dennis Brown. He was calling on behalf of Victor’s wife, Cinthia. The funeral was held October 27, in Dakar, Senegal. We haven’t spoken directly with Cinthia since then—because she currently is on a trip to Guinea Bissau. Guinea Bissau is the country Victor was from, and she went there to visit Victor’s family as well as to try and contact the believers that Victor had worked with through the Bible Training Center. We aren’t sure what the next steps will be concerning that work, however, we do know God is faithful and that which He has begun, He will move toward completion. We rejoice in the fact that Every Home for Christ, the organization that Victor was also working with for the past few years has determined to help Cinthia and Alloyce (their young daughter) to return home to Ghana. Cinthia’s parents live in Ghana, and will be a strength to her. Cinthia is an amazing woman of God, we love her, admire her and are praying for her.

To those of you who do not know the story, Victor Gomes came to the U.S. this past June. He came to Washington the 21 of June—and ended up in the University of Washington Medical Center until September 13, where he was moved to a rehabilitation center in preparation to return home. His flight left Seattle, October 8, 2001. Even while he was so ill and in the hospital he touched lives. He was an amazing person. One whom Darryl and I feel privileged to have known. They met at the Accra Bible Training Center, Accra Ghana where Victor was one of the lecturers. He later moved to Guinea Bissau to start another training center. Through his efforts six churches were planted with stable pastors in Guinea Bissau, with the graduates of that training center.

We do know that two of these churches has their buildings burned by Moslems back in June. We know that God has used this for good in strengthening the people and in changing the attitudes of the people in these local villages against Islam. So we trust in our Father to bring about His will and His glory in all of these situations. Please pray for this small country, God loves them.

Editor: Martha Rodman