Our medical missions work begins!
January 22, 2008
We finally made it to our destination! Early Tuesday morning we boarded two small Cessna airplanes for the last leg of our journey from Nairobi to the mission hospital we will be working at for the next month. The flight took us over the beautiful Rift Valley of Kenya. I (Paul) didn’t see much of the scenery because I had my eyes closed the whole way! I do not like small planes! Our pilots (Matt and Jay) are men who have dedicated their lives to help fly missionaries in and out of remote locations, deliver food and aid, evacuate injured patients, etc… What an important (and often overlooked) role in advancing God’s Kingdom. We are thankful to the African Inland Mission air ministry. We enjoy a smooth landing (laugh)on a dirt strip (after we chased the animals away)!
Dr. Russ (a long term missionary surgeon and friend) met us at the air strip and drove us 35 minutes to the missionary compound–a 300 bed hospital with 5 busy operating rooms serving a large portion of western Kenya. Once we were settled and had lunch…Dr Russ asked me to come assist him with an emergency surgery. As many of you know, the situation in Kenya is somewhat tense with a lot of ethnic, political and tribal tension. The patient was shot with a bow and arrow and had a penetrating arrow injury to his left flank. What a privilege it was to listen as Dr. Russ prayed over the patient, prayed over the operation and then we repaired his injuries. Needless to say, less than 6 hours after being at the mission hospital I had my first ever arrow! (See the pics!).
Jenn has done a marvelous job “setting up shop”–she is unbelievable! The kids are doing well. They finish their school work and then have lots of other missionary kids to play with. I have been very busy in the OR.
It’s 8 p.m. Wednesday evening…you guys are in Wednesday night service and I’m heading back to the OR for another emergency. Keep us in your prayers. We will try to stay in touch often. Thanks for all the comments and encouraging words.
Blessings to all!
Paul
Hello Dr. Paul & Jennifer,
Just wanted to say that you all are in my prayers. It’s amazing…you and your family’s courage and determination to go and do as Jesus called us to do, fulfilling the Great Commission. Thank you for being open to God’s method of using you and I will continue to pray for the safe return of you and your family. Remain blessed and encouraged!
Hi!!! I just wanted to say that ya’ll and your whole family are always in my prayers. I am excited to see all that God is doing through ya’ll and through Lakewood and in mine and my daughter Brianna’s life. We are going through alot and homeless and the people there have been so kind to us and thankyou!!
It is wonderful that ya’ll get the chance to go there and have always had a heart for Mission work and curious question…how do ya’ll do it with having children? I am a single mom and wasn’t sure how it’d work but only God knows.:)
God Bless ya’ll and all that you’re doing for His Glory!
Paul, Jennifer & Family,
I am praying for ya’ll every day! Thank you so much for being such great leaders and livers of the Word of God! We love you and believe you will touch the hearts of people all across the world with this trip.
Love and prayers.
You are all in my daily prayers. I pray for your success in a ministry that is sometime missed by others. As always, We can depend on Lakewood to forge new roads of hope. Thank you for your correspondence which allows to share in this ministry. May God bless you and your family for all that you do..
Paul,
Your note brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart. You remind me so much of your dad! It is awesome to see God’s great plan for you and your family coming to fruition. We will continue to pray!
Pam
Dr. Paul,
I share the same sentiments with Ms. Pam Golden in that tears began to well up in my eyes while reading your post. It is very apparent that you share the same heart for world missions as your father did, and it is awesome to see that very same desire manifesting in your life. It’s even more interesting to note that your gifts, (although different from your dad’s) are making room for you and placing you before great men as Proverbs 18:16 states. Wow, what an experience this will be for your children also…………….I am excited for them!!
My wife and I are committed to praying God’s protection, grace, and favor over you and the family, and we look forward to your safe return home!! Please greet Jennifer for us.
Love,
Ray and Candria
Hey man, glad to see you guys safe and sound. We are anxious to see how
God continues to use your family. Talk to you soon.
John
Hey brother, so excited for you all. As I looked at the pictures of you in the OR I just thought how great that must feel for you to be “back in the saddle”. And I wonder if it would have ever happened this way if you had never left your practice to move to Houston. I love watching God at work. Isn’t it great to look back and see His hand?
We finished up session 16 of “The Quest for Authentic Manhood” last night and it’s awesome listening to the men in the discussion groups after the video. God is at work in our community!
Praying for you all and love you much!
-sray
Paul,
We still miss you in Little Rock. I guess we always will. I’ve always known God has had special plans for you – what you’re doing touches our hearts immensely. Thanks for the pictures and the stories about what is going on. We will pray everyday for your safety and for changed lives.
Everett did Norman’s surgery for pancreatic cancer on Jan. 2. Lots to tell you. Seeing your picture in the operating room brought back memories of you here. We are doing well. Will talk details when you’re back in the states. We thank God for every memory we have of you and Jennifer and Matt and Georgia, Olivia, Sophie and Jackson. In our Savior, Karen
to the Osteen family
May God bless you for the support and missionary work you are doing for his people. my family and I are praying for you as you visit our beloved country. please continue praying for peace and i wish you a safe stay and God’s blessings in all your activities. please tell Joel & Victoria Osteen we love them and look forward to the day they will visit us in Kenya to preach the word of God.
Love, Blessings and Prayer
Martha
Nairobi Kenya
Paul,
How wonderful to see pictures of you back in the OR, even if it is a world away from Little Rock. I am so grateful to know that those talented hands and loving dedicated heart continue to be used to do God’s work. Now in an even greater way.
No one who knows Jennifer is surprised that she is “setting up shop” because we know that she is at home anywhere so long as her family is with her.
Please know that we will pray for you everyday.
Grace and peace,
Claudette
Dr. Osteen this is just awesome! I love being able to hear how things are going and see your pictures of your beautiful family serving the Lord! While looking at the pics it made me think of the time I got to shadow you in the hospital! I day I’ll NEVER forget!
Know I’m praying! Miss you all more than you know! God bless,
Christy Hutchins
Praying for you, that God would use you and your family mightily to touch the lives of all those that you come in contact with, especially the people of Kenya. I’m believing that as you look deep into the eyes of the people there that you would see God himself looking back at you and be filled with His overwhelming approval and great love. I’m praying that He will use you and and your family so that everything He has invested in you will be completely poured out, like empty vessels. But that somehow when you come back to us that you would be so full of Him that it will be hard to explain or express. I’m so glad that you have not only found your place but that God is continuing to give you your hearts desire.
I too had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Kenya Nairobi several years ago, I enjoyed the beautiful landscape, the vast diversity of the culture, the well kept animal reserves, but what I was most impressed with is the kindness and most beautiful smiles of the people, this I will never forget.
Looking forward to hearing all the wonderful experiences that God is filling you with and what He is doing to you, in you, and through you.
Love Vivian O.
P.S. Enjoying the photos, keep them coming.
Dear Dr. Paul & Jennifer,
We just want to thank you for being faithful and obedient to the Lord Jesus and for showing us the “tried and true” ways of your father. By the work of your hands you are bringing unity and beauty to the body of Christ. Smite the ground once for each member of your family (with your arrow), for your victories will be great!!
God bless you!
Paul & Joy B
Dr. Paul,
Your pictures are great. Gary said to tell you he totally understands about the “airplanes”. The pictures are great. Doesn’t look like you have lost any of your skills. Just know we are praying continuously for you and your precious family. We so have enjoyed all of your reports.
Love to all of you,
Gary and Nancy
Dr. Paul
Great work you are doing. Glad to hear you are doing good. My family is praying for a safe stay for you and your family. Thank you for reminding me that as a Christian we are to do as Jesus did, which is serve.
Love the Blog.
God Bless you.
Octavio, Marie, Olivia & Joshua Valdez
Paul and Jenn,
Just wanted to let you know that everything is ok on the homefront. I got all my chores done around the house (turning off light, trash ,ect.). The pictures are incredible, looks like you’re in HOG HEAVEN ( pun intended). We have been thinking and praying for you guys everyday. Have a great time and change some lives. Thanks for the pictures and reminding us that we are part of this great ministry!!!
God Bless,
Robin and Donna
Dr. Paul,
We are praying for all of you. Thank you for sharing what is happening over in Kenya with us. It is exciting to see you doing surgery. God is faithful, and your lives are a living witness to us all.
We send you our love and know that we are surrounding you with prayer. Thank you for being YOU!
Blessings,
Shelly & Meagan
Paul and Jennifer,
We have been keeping tabs on your trip details daily. All we can say is how proud we are of you guys. “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those that bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, our God reigns!”. I envy your courage and determination to honor God’s calling in your lives and making it a part of your children’s lives also. I am confident God will and has honored your prayers, and all of ours as well, on your behalf. Ruth and I love and appreciate your family so much. Can’t wait to hear the “rest of the story”!
Paul, Jen and Family,
I have been praying for you. It’s wonderfull to see the photos and get a glimpse of what you are doing. We love and miss you very much.
I’m doing better than I should be and getting stronger each day. Will start chemo this Wed. I’m setting a goal for myself to be able to chase turkeys in April so if you have time to visit Arkansas I would love to spend some time with you.
Norman Hoggard
Hi Jen and family.
Just want to welcome you to our beautiful country. May God bless your work here abundantly. I believe that the current tension and violence will cease and you will continue with what God has in plan for you.
God bless you.
Dear Paul and Jennifer,
Steve shared your website with me so I could pray and rejoice in what God is doing in and through you. And I do. What an incredible opportunity for you and your family. I know the children will never be the same as God allows them to experience missions first hand. I have a dear friend from Kenya here in Fort Worth who has been very concerned for her country and family there. I have shared your site with her so she can be encouraged and know that God is still in control! Let me take this opportunity to thank you for your kindnesses to and friendship with Steve and Holly. They have been so blessed to know you. May God’s hand rest upon you to accomplish His purposes in the Kingdom. Blessings, Joyce Ray
Paul and family,
“Beautiful are the feet that carry the Gospel” Rom 10:15
Amazing, Apostle Paul wrote this and Dr. Paul and Jennifer along with their family are living it!
I am moved by the actions put behind your words.
I am lifting all of you up before the Lord Brethren and “Sistren”! Thanks for the blog and pictures
Darryl Andrews.