Hello to all, As I write this, I am reminded that the year 2023 is almost half over. As the days fly by, here is some of what we have been doing since our last update.
My last visit to Kenya was April 22-May 13th. The main focus was to build a library for an orphanage in Kisumu. Six Kiwimbi carpentry students met me there to take on this project. Our time was a great learning experience. The students traveled about three hours from their village and saw things they had never seen before. We ended our time there with a fish dinner on Lake Victoria.
Once we returned to the village, we worked on other carpentry projects. This included lockers for the Kiwimbi staff and a prototype of a folding step ladder that they plan to duplicate and sell to customers. Folding step ladders are rare in this part of the country.
Two of the carpentry students had medical needs that we were able to help with. I also visited the borehole, helped with school fees, visited a church building project, and provided food relief for about 30 families. My time was very productive and it was an encouraging visit.
I returned to JFK Saturday night exhausted but very happy to see Naomi. She is impressive, with no fear of driving here, and it is so helpful when she picks me up at the airport instead of me taking public transportation. I had to hit the road running as I had an Evangelism class to teach on Monday morning. And a full outreach schedule was waiting on me.
Naomi has continued to experience relief from her intense headaches. She visited the neurologist this past week for a follow-up and got a great report. She continues to schedule short-term mission teams. May thru August will keep her very busy as the number of groups will increase for the summer. She also visits our homeless friends when her schedule allows. When she is not with me, they always ask, “How is your wife? We are praying for her.” While I was in Kenya, she visited her parents in North Carolina.
We were offered a different living space here at NYSUM. It is only 30 sq ft larger which does not sound like much; when you are living in 180 sq feet, it is significant. The move was only 34 steps down the hall, but with some renovations and packing up, it was much more involved than anticipated. We were very content with our previous space, but now that we have moved, we are even more so.
I had a doctor’s appointment after returning from Kenya. The doctor said my intense travel schedule had impacted my body. So I will attempt to “REST” in the city that never sleeps. I would appreciate prayers for my body to get rest before traveling again.
Naomi and I have a full schedule now thru mid-August with short-term missions teams. We appreciate your prayers for health and strength.
Paul and Naomi
Read more newsletters about the library in Kisumu here.
Read more newsletters about the Amagoro Carpentry Program here.
BLIP 