Hello and happy summer from NYC,
Our ministry schedule has been full with the needs here in the city and abroad. Normally our summers in New York are completely booked, but this year I had a 2-week gap in the schedule. I took the opportunity to return to Kenya from June 2nd – 16th. This was my third visit in 2022 and very productive. (first visit, second visit) Total travel time, including the lost luggage and flight delays, was about 70 hours, but I was grateful to be back.
Here is a summary of my visit to Amagoro and the surrounding villages:
- The tailoring program, which Naomi had spent time with on previous trips, has ten new students to replace ten recent graduates. (Naomi did not go with me this time and tailoring missed her.)
- I was able to spend a few days helping and instructing the carpentry program, which has several new students as well. Students that have been in the program longer are now helping teach and mentor new students.
- I was also able to visit the school where the sixty new desks the carpentry students made are. While there, I was asked to speak to the children.
- I visited the water project and am thrilled that the village has taken ownership and it is continuing to provide water.
- On Sunday, I was asked to speak at the Kodemen Church. I also checked on the church building progress and visited Pastor Issac’s house building project.
- We purchased food and care packages for 19 families in need.
On Monday, June 13th, I traveled twelve hours plus overland from the Uganda border to the Tanzania border to meet Bishop Simon. The next day was fourteen hours long, starting with an early breakfast and a discussion of the needs and possible solutions for that area of Kenya. We then traveled deep into the bush, where we delivered food to pastors, helped feed school children, and listened a lot. It was an unforgettable day made even more interesting by the off-road driving and hiking to a pastor’s house when the SUV could go no farther. Wednesday, we visited a well borehole, before traveling back to Nairobi for my Thursday flight back to NYC. I arrived back at JFK Friday afternoon and Naomi had me taking a team out on Saturday.
Naomi has been busy with her role in our partnership with NYSUM. She works 5, sometimes 6 days a week. This includes scheduling teams, receptionists, welcoming teams, interviewing applicants, and more. She also joins me on the streets occasionally and is missed when she isn’t with me. She is an amazing woman. I’m blessed and grateful that we are experiencing this journey together.
Last week we hosted a team from Tulsa, Oklahoma. They were here in July 2021, and the students shared their life-changing experiences. It was very encouraging to hear how they are currently impacting their world.
Our plans for the next few months are to continue with the opportunities here in NYC. In August we plan to travel to North Carolina to share in Naomi’s home church. Lord willing, on August 30th Naomi and I will go to Kenya, returning on September 17.
Thank you for your prayers and for believing in us!
God Bless,
Paul and Naomi
BLIP 