I was born on March 5, 1996, in the town of Machakos, which is about two hours east of Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi. I was abandoned at birth. To this day, I have no idea who my birth parents are.
I was taken to the New Life Home orphanage in Nairobi, which is where I met my new parents, missionaries Rick and Sue Simonsen. I was around 11 months old at the time so I don’t remember much about that first meeting at all. But I guess they liked me enough to keep me. They took me into their home and gave me the middle name Paul. I guess I was always destined to be a missionary like the great apostle of years gone by.
God’s hand is so evident in my adoption story. From the very day I was born, He was working to protect me, keep me alive, and get me to the right place so that I would meet the parents He wanted me to have.
I didn’t plan it. Those who took me from Machakos to Nairobi had no idea.
But God knew. God had a plan for my life, and I am grateful to Him for my adoption.
I would not have it any other way!
The Kenyan Konnection 