Happy New Year!
2021 is here, and January is almost over. It’s time for a quick update of the where, when, and why in our lives.
We were able to spend time back in PA with our sons between Christmas and New Years’. Andrew had not been in the US for two years due to his time in Germany. He flew into JFK, and we picked him up from there and drove back to PA. It was great to spend time together with both Dan and Andrew.
Naomi has wanted a “schoolie,” a school bus converted into a tiny home. Due to our mobile lifestyle and desire to be available wherever God wants to use us, we had been praying about getting a schoolie as one of our living spaces in the world. The thought of finding a bus and discerning the best model, engine size, and transmission was very overwhelming for me. In the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Naomi stayed back in PA, and I was in NYC. One day she called saying that she saw a bus for sale not too far from our home. She stopped and looked at the bus and found out she knew the couple who were selling the bus. Naomi was able to share with them what we are doing.
A couple of days before Christmas, we went together to look at the bus. The owner informed us that after praying about it, God told them to give us the bus. WOW! Our prayers were answered! Not only did they give us a fantastic gift, but all of the overwhelming details were taken care of. Naomi had researched the best engine, transmission, and model years, and the bus matched all details on her clipboard! Our God is Amazing! We’re not sure what all this means for our journey, but it was a gift from God and a boost to our faith, so we are ready for the adventure.
We have been back in NYC since January 8th and are continuing to help with the needs of the city. Penn Station is a place of great need in the city and somewhere where I invest a lot of my time. The station covers a large area, several city blocks, and it is said that around 600,000 people pass through each day. It is like a small city itself. One day in December, I met a girl there, who I will call Mary, with tears running down her face. She shared with me that she got her teeth kicked out while in a homeless shelter. This may help you understand why some prefer and feel safer sleeping on the sidewalk. I gave Mary some resources and a New Testament, but I wished Naomi had been there to comfort her.
A week later, Naomi and I were distributing Christmas gifts to our homeless friends that we have been investing in all year long. Another couple from a church upstate came to join us for some outreach training. We had included a gift for Mary, but without any way to contact her, and in a busy place like Penn Station, we knew that we would have to rely on God to connect us to her. We prayed specifically that we would find her. Upon arriving at the station, I noticed that Mary had just exited and was walking away with her back to us. I called her by name, and she came back. She was so happy to receive the gift we brought for her. Naomi hugged her and gave her the gift, the other lady with us hugged her as well. We acknowledge only God can orchestrate all of that, perfectly timing the situation so that we could bring comfort and joy to someone who really needed it for Christmas.
In Isaiah 58, God has promised to “guide us continually.” We have found this to be “continually” accurate. Whether He is connecting us to a person in need at Penn Station or ordering our steps for an international trip, He is faithful to guide us.
Lord willing, we will be returning to Kenya on February 23rd – March 15th.
Thank you for believing in us. We appreciate your prayers.
Blessings,
Paul and Naomi
Read more newsletters about our work caring for the homeless in NYC here.
BLIP 