Hello to all! Sorry for not updating for a while. This delay is not due to the lack of things happening in our lives but just the opposite. Much has been going on, and we are happy to report that it has all been good.
First, we want to thank God for taking care of us. He is continually providing and guiding us on this journey of faith. For all the big decisions and small details, we give Him thanks for His faithfulness.
At the time of our last update, Naomi was not doing well physically. She is now doing great, with only occasional mild headaches. She is back to driving, going to the gym, and her perky self. She is also back to scheduling outreaches and time on the streets with me. Our friends on the streets love Naomi, and they missed seeing her. This impacted many of the short-term missions teams with me on outreach. They would see people in great need (homeless, sleeping on the sidewalk) not focused on themselves but asking, “How is your wife?” or “I’m praying for your wife.” We are all grateful that she is doing much better.
I was back in Kenya from February 19th – March 4th to continue to invest there. It was very hot and dry, so bad that livestock were dying, and the subsistence farmers cannot grow food. Some of the living cows I saw looked like they had not seen food for a long time. We were able to provide food relief boxes for several families. We have done this in the past, but the need seemed more significant this time. Despite the drought, when I visited our first water project, I was thrilled to see water was still being pumped from the borehole. The village elders have taken ownership and successfully maintained it.
My time with the carpentry students was very encouraging. One of the students from the 2018 class is now the instructor. He has developed from a quiet, shy young man with challenges to a leader with carpentry skills and increasing confidence. It was also good to see that all but one student continued the classes. Another success was starting a tool program for students to take tools from class to their villages to work on projects. This will give them business experience, let the community know they have carpentry skills, and put a few shillings in their pockets. We purchased the tools, and this bed is one of their projects.
The tailoring program is also doing great. The participants missed Naomi but were thankful for the supplies they received. I also checked on the church building project and had the opportunity to speak in church Sunday morning before leaving Amagoro.
From Amagoro, I traveled to an orphanage in Kisumu, a city about three hours away on the shore of Lake Victoria. Humphrey joined me as we planned to build a library for the children. This was a big trip for a boy that grew up in a small village. Humphrey had never traveled that far from home, or been to a shopping center, and for someone to sweep the streets was a new experience. After we did our necessary measuring and planning the following day, I took him to Lake Victoria for a boat ride. As we watched the sunrise and a pod of hippos nearby, he was over the moon. He had only seen pictures of lakes and boats in books, never dreaming that someday he would experience it. Humphrey returned to the village from Kisumu, and I flew to Nairobi.
This time in Nairobi, I had time to visit our friend Pastor Issac. Naomi and I met him in NYC about seven years ago. He has invited us to see the church and school in one of Nairobi’s slums. The population of this slum is approximately 60,000 people. This day I was with about one-hundred school children welcoming me with smiles, songs, and high fives. The school is surrounded by incredible poverty, but these children receive a hot lunch and an education.
I returned to NYC on March 4th. Naomi was busy at NYSUM preparing for spring break short-term missions. I hit the ground running. March was a full schedule with college students from Florida, Texas, Virginia, Yale, and more. We had a great time and were reminded of the opportunity Naomi and I have to impact people through our partnership.
Since our last update, we also closed on selling our house, started teaching an evangelism class at NYSUM, and received a 5-year multi-entry visa to Kenya.
We also took some time to get away for some much-needed rest!
So what is next?… We are here in NYC, continuing to reach out to the homeless community and partner with NYSUM. I am traveling back to Kenya from April 23rd to May 14th. Naomi will stay in NYC, preparing for women’s makeover outreach, working on schedules for the teams that will come in the summer, and taking a trip to North Carolina to visit her parents.
We are so thankful for peace; with so much going on in our world, it is an amazing feeling to have such peace, knowing we are right where God wants us.
Thank you for your giving; may God bless each one of you!!
Paul and Naomi
Read more newsletters about the Amagoro Carpentry Program here.
Read more newsletters about the Amagoro Tool Program here.
BLIP 