We are both currently in NYC, where God continues to provide, protect and show up in miraculous ways.
This summer found both of us very busy. Most days, Naomi works in the NYSUM office for six to eight hours. But she found time to take part in outreaches at the women’s shelter and two back-to-school backpack outreaches. Naomi also joins me on the streets where she is “Mrs. Paul” and loved by all, especially when she shows up with freshly baked cookies or muffins.
My time is divided up with helping NYSUM as an outreach team leader and helping with building maintenance projects. My schedule allows me to spend most of my time out on the streets continuing to reach out to the homeless community.
I have been encouraged recently by team leaders and pastors that have gone back to their communities and begun their own outreach. This summer, there were fewer short-term missions teams than usual due to COVID. Most teams were from the northeast, but we did have teams from St. Louis, Tulsa, and Tampa.
“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” – Albert Einstein
I mentioned that we have experienced God in miraculous ways, and the story I’m about to share about my friend Bobby is certainly miraculous. On July 4th, our team from Tulsa, Oklahoma, joined Naomi and me for a holiday party on the street with our homeless friends. This was not a planned event. Part of the team had been out with me on this street a few days earlier and the teens were so impacted that they and the rest of their team wanted to go back. This team of nineteen was supposed to be in South Africa, but due to COVID lockdown they were in NYC.
We set up tables and had pizza, chips, sweet treats, water, and Gatorade available. Nothing was extravagant or complicated, but our friends are still talking about it. For part of the evening, the teens of the group sang songs. When they sang “Amazing Grace,” I was huddled with some of our homeless friends that I have invested in for some time. As I was watching them sing about God’s grace, I was overwhelmed with emotion. At some point in the evening, I looked across the street and saw my friend Bill (name has been changed). He is homeless, has struggled with addiction, and has very poor eyesight. He is on my daily prayer list, but I hadn’t seen him for weeks or maybe months. I ran across the street to meet him, but he did not recognize me until I was very close due to his poor vision. I invited him to come over and join our party. After he got some food, I stood a couple of feet away from him telling him how I pray for him every day. He expressed thanks and then said, “Take off your glasses.” I took them off and handed them to him. He put them on and said, “I can see perfectly!”
My vision is still good and I can see well without my glasses. They have a very low prescription that is mostly for reading. Bill can hardly see. The fact that my reading glasses have restored his eyesight is astonishing. I am not Einstein, but I will put that in the miracle box. Bill handed my glasses back to me, but I told him if he could see perfectly, he could keep them. Bill said, “Let me get out of here before I ask you for money,” and then he was on his way. It was an amazing experience!
Another experience I put in the miracle box happened on a night when I was alone reaching out to some of the homeless. I was being watched, and I did not know it. At the corner of the next block, a man stopped me. He introduced himself and learned he was visiting from India. He went on to say my actions towards my homeless friend really impacted him. To shorten a long story, I will end by saying that at the end of our time together, he gave me a $100.00 bill. A total stranger from India was impacted and contributed. God provides!
Lord willing, we will be leaving for Kenya at the end of September. We plan to stop and visit Andrew in Germany for a few days, arriving in Kenya on October 4th. We plan to be in Kenya for four weeks. Our goal is to encourage the people there and to help to move along the tailoring and carpentry programs.
Please pray for safety as we travel the many miles and that we will remain healthy.
Thank you so much for all your support!
God Bless, Paul and Naomi
Read more newsletters about our work caring for the homeless in NYC here.
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