Friends at the table

Sunday at the Paulsons

Sunday at the Paulsons

We met as friend(s) of another friend the first time I came to Kenya. The second time I came alone and a lot had happened. Instead of saying goodbye, Scott and Eunie said: ' We are your friends, you need us, our home is yours and you can come every weekend.' I was baffled and duly blessed. The first weekend they called for a table meeting and discussed the house rules with me, 'And since you are going to be here often, the children need to listen to you as well and stick to the family rules, do not be afraid to be strict with them.' Well, that was scary to me. But, when Scott and Eunie went away to Lamu for a couple of days and I stayed with the childeren (Christopher and Ashley then), the wisdom of those words came true. And we made it and had a good time. I still have the wooden plate they brought me.

Even going with them (and a few others) to Mombassa for a vacation (I came a few days later, as I was to inhibited to take up the whole offer and join them longer). Finding sea shells, that would walk off the porch in the evening, when the crabs living inside them went running for the ocean. Scott finding small lessons in things of nature. Like the ants carrying a huge piece of mandazi together, 'That is what team work can do.'

Looking at the photos now, I see we were áll so young, but the two of them then seemed so much wiser. The welcoming home, to which I could even take my friends to have dinner or tea. They taught me how to cook and make my own clothes, find things in the stores in Kenia, and survive the hard conditions I was living and working in.

The memories are still there. We have not been able to meet much over the years (we did in the Netherlands), but the prayers have continued all these years and will continue. I so wish we had had time to meet again all together here on earth, and I am glad one day that will be true in heaven.

Dear Eunie and the rest of your beautiful family, heartfelt condoleances to you all, for your loss of Scott on this earth. You will see him again, one day, with Jesus, yet here it will be a major loss to you all. Still so hard to comprehend. May the comfort and love of Jesus, the Man of sorrows, Who conquered death, be yours in these days and time to come. 

Eunie my heart is overflowing with sadness for you and your family over your loss of Scott. What a blessing he was to so many and his legacy will remembered bu so many. May God wrap his loving arms around each of you and may you find comfort and smile with your cherished memories till you meet again. May God continue to surround you with Grace through this difficult time. 

Scott was one of the first coworkers at JAARS who became a good friend.  My wife is French and Scott was conversant in French.  On one of his last visits to JAARS with Brandon, I asked him what he remembered of French.  He said it's a word!  My wife and I still laugh at that comment!  We will miss him, but look forward to seeing him again, perhaps soon!   Grieve, but not as those who have no hope!

Our hearts and prayers are with you all. May the Lord’s embrace comfort you and give you peace. 

Love, 

Tom and Olga Kosar

Scott &Bill after an hour of fun flying the Sportsman in the vicinity of a “top-secret “ airstrip.

We are so very sorry for your loss, but praise the Lord for Scott’s wonderful life and service to our Lord.  What a special welcome he must be having right now in our Savior’s arms.  

Much love,

Ray and Nina

My love and sympathy to the family, a life well lived. Dell Tjader

Our prayers and hearts are with you all as you miss Scott and thank the Lord for his faith-filled, wonderful life.  Such a delightful light-filled person!  Watching this process from afar has been a precious gift - thank you all for sharing the jewels of insight with us that the Lord gave you to give you His light on your journey.  He is still.  Eunie, the Lord's everlasting arms are always there, even if you don't notice.  You were the sparkle in Scott's eyes, and such a great channel of God's blessing, now to your family and others God will bring along the way.  Praying God's daily grace and healing for you all.  So very sorry for your huge loss, even though in Heaven Scott is really smiling bigger than he ever did and free from pain.  Russ and Lois were always my courageous and gracious missionary heroes, and you all have also become that for me as I've watched you walk this road from a distance.  God is still carrying you on this road; rest and rejoice in His love for you, through Scott to you, and to Scott every day. Isaiah 63:9.  Karen Klebe Goldfain Mahon

Scott represented and recruited for AIM AIR for many years. While I was at AIM AIR, he continually found us great people and helped get them ready for the field. We could not have accomplished what we did without Scott's efforts to keep us properly staffed – this is an understatement. During my time at Samaritan's Purse, Scott helped us make significant strides towards nationalizing our Africa based aviation programs. There was likely no greater subject matter expert available than Scott at helping mission aviation organizations transition from the old model of mission aviation to hiring, training, and equipping national staff to do the job. Scott was groundbreaking and invaluable in this role. I am grateful and thankful to God to have known and worked with him.             

Grandma and Grandpa Paulson fishing in Uganda with Scott as a 6 yr. old.

Our hearts go out to all of you! I loved Scott like a brother! He always had a smile on his face and made others smile too! Love, Glenda

Sending you our deepest sympathy and healing prayers for your loss.
Our heart goes out to you at this difficult time.

I first met Scott & Eunie when I went to Kenya for the first time in 1987 whilst on a 2 year on-the-job missionary training team. I was up country in fairly basic living conditions, and it was such a treat and blessing to be able to come and stay with them and/or visit them when I was down in Nairobi. Their house was always calm, beautiful (Eunie has wonderful gifts of making a place beautiful and comfortable) and welcoming. They shared their children with me as a single, we enjoyed Eunie's amazing cooking, did fun things together, shared our joys and struggles (including when they let me use their phone, before the days of mobiles and FaceTime - at considerable expense, I think - to ring my dear friend in Canada who was terminally ill with cancer, and my parents). Scott just always made anyone who came so so welcome, with a huge smile and such joy - no commenting how often we might have been - just opening their home to all and sundry, with such warmth and love. It was such a blessing to find an oasis of calm and beauty in busy Nairobi and sit listening to Kenny G or Lorie Line - I am sure it played a big part in increasing my joy and enabling me to surmount the challenges of living in Africa! That friendship continued through my time in DRC when they were in Kenya and then Uganda, and then when I was working at Kijabe I enjoyed being able to have Chris, Ashley and Allie for a meal or tea when they were at RVA, and all of them when they visited. We last saw each other when I came to the US in 2011 and, as well as enjoying time spent with them in Waxhaw, they amazingly lent me their car so that I could visit some other friends in Pembroke. That is grace, love and generosity that is not ordinary. Scott and Eunie's relationship and family, and their commitment to the Lord and passion for the work of mission, especially mission aviation, is an ongoing inspiration and blessing. He will be so missed, and my heart aches for Eunie, Chris, Ashley, Allie, Brandon and all the family, not least Russ and Lois. However, I am so glad that for Scott he see his Saviour face to face, with no suffering, and that ..one day...we will meet again and sit down again to eat together and enjoy fellowship again in the presence of Jesus with great joy 

In the November 2014 Prayer Bulletin for Christ Chapel [Cape Cod] this prayer request was stated: " Scott & Eunie Paulson, AIM - Scott has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer, but it has been caught early.  Please pray that God would be glorified through their family as they testify to His presence and goodness in the midst of this illness." During these ensuing eight years, God has allowed Scott to visit Christ Chapel's Mission Conference. It was at a Conference that I first met Scott.  I was impressed with the intensity of his personality, his passion for Christ, his powerful prayer, asking God to give him "WU K" i.e. 'Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge!'  [I have stolen this phrase from time to time.] I am so glad God gave Scott more years with his family, church family, and his 'work family'. He had much to give; he gave wholeheartedly!  As you say a final, "Goodbye", remember, on Heaven's shore they're saying, "Here he comes!"