Spring Valley

Priscilla with a family at Spring Valley. What a life changing
experience this was.

Kids at Spring Valley

Take a picture of ME

While at Spring Valley, CJ got lots of requests for pictures from the
kids.

CJ and Carol

Jack found the perfect outfit

Jack attacks

Jack sorts through all of the boys clothes to find just the right
outfit for him.

Joyce, Christine and Willy

Sandi and Thomas

Joseph and his new duds

Mary and her new outfit

Joe and Tony. What a pair

Joe and Tony really bonded during the week. Tony even learned how to
ride a bike.

Tony on "the Wall"

Here's a great shot of Tony on the rock climbing wall of the playset.

Monkey bars

Swingset is done

This is the finished swingset. Your support brought an indescribable
joy to those kids.

HOREC KIDS Swimming

These are the HORec kids about to go swimming for the first time.

Latest Update - Still no way to get pics or video on

So we have spent the last couple of days working at the orphanage and we finally completed the playground equipent for the kids. I have never heard laughter like I heard when they first started swinging, teeter tottering and acting like monkeys on the monkey bars. You all have had a tremendous impact on these children's lives. Today was an extra impactful day for us all. We started by going to a super market to buy food for 14 families that we were to give food to in Spring Valley, the slum area that we went to Sunday church service at. Then we were off to Spring Valley. We learned about how they started which was an amazing story and they showed us the kitchen where they feed 275 children breakfast and lunch everyday. They showed us the school classrooms and then we got to go with some students and teachers to the students homes to give them a food care package and pray with them. Probably the most impactful thing that I have ever experienced. It amazed me that those who have so little (actually nothing) will clap and applaude for those that have everything (us), just because we came to visit them. Somehow that just doesn't seem right to me. It was very humbling to listen to the prayer requests that these families have. For the most part, they know their situation and want to get out of it, they just son't have the opportunity to.

After Spring Valley, we went on to HOREC to see the kids. We were able to let each one of the kids pick out their very own outfit today, nstead of the clothes being picked for them, they got to pick their own. I have some great video and photos of this to share with you, but I can't get wireless so I can't get them from my phone to the blog. One of the coolest parts was when we let the staff workers come in and pick out clothes as well. Beatrice is the cook and picked out a new dress for herself. She was so excite that she was jumping up and down praising Jesus for this gift. When was the last time I ever got that excited about anything. Thanks mom & dad for all the sweaters, shirts, shoes, socks, pants, and underwear that you've given me over the years as I was growing up. I always took it for granted and thought, "Great, more clothes" (sarcastically).

I want you all to know that the kids and staff at HOREC all know that there is an army behind those of us who came. They are so appreciative and thank you from the bottom of their hearts. We will come back and share them and their stories with you all.

You are all missed, but our time here is running short. We will see you soon

Daily Update - No Pictures

So today was a heavy duty work day at the orphanage. That's why I wasn't able to take any photos. I will take some tomorrow of the finished projects to share with you all.We started the day early in hopes of completing some of the projects we had hoped to finished before we leave. There were multiple groups doing different things. One group was priming and painting the new kitchen/dining room that you all helped build by supporting our team. The second group was busy working on the playground equipment (note to self: the sun is hot when you're at the equator - bring extra sunscreen). The third group taught the kids, played with the kids, taught them some of our bible songs and mostly kept them occupied as the other 2 teams did their thing.

It is amazing how God has put a rag-tag group of people, who didin't know each other (except the Sheppard family) and blended their talents and skills to work to gether in a way that meets the exact needs of HOREC. He is an Awesome God!

I was on the playground team and we have not only the Kenyans who work at HOREC alongside us, but the 2 drivers (Phillip and Marcus) that have been toting us around the whole time have spent every minute that we have working on the projects with us. It truly is amazing. I have learned more efficient ways to dig holes, breakup rock, mix concrete (which is not pre-mixed in Kenya) and to create an 18 ft. level. Yep, that's right 18ft. actually we could have made it as long as we wanted. For those interested in this, send me an email and I will email back a sketch. (bsheppard@cbtulsa.com) It was really cool and it worked perfectly. The ingenuity of the te Kenyans is amazing. Joe Lynch, one of our team members, commented today about a tree in the play area. He said, "That's not a tree, it's a workbench." He went on to explain that the workers have carved niches and notches in the tree to hold tools, nuts, bolts, it has a natural vise grip, etc... Ingenious!

Tomorrow we are hoping to complete all of the playground equipment, finsh painting the kitchen, boys bedroom and an "office". It will be another long, hard day. Please pray that all of the team members stay healthy and safe.All of the families here are talked about and it is truly awesome for Shelley and I to be on this trip.

For those who just haven't taken that step to go on a missions trip, I only say "GO". You'll figure the rest out later and your life will be changed forever

What a Morning we had

So this mornig started with a shrill scream from one of our team members.  most of us thought it was a snake, but it ended up being her shower knob exploding in her hand and hot water shooting out of the shower.  The only thing she knew to do was leave and shut the door and scream for help.  This worked well until the bathroom filled with water and it started pouring into her room.  And yes, after her room, it started pouring into the hallway.  At this point the maintenance crew had come and looked totally confused.

One of our team members, Joe, threw on his swim shorts and went climbing the water tower outside the rooms to see if he could locate a shutoff valve.  With the way they build structures in Kenya, this was not smart.  He did make it down OK.  He then went back into the disaster area and into the shower.  With water gushing out onto him, he decided to stick his finger in the hole to plug it up. (I am envisioning a little boy by a dike in Amsterdam)  Well, the pressure was too much so he grabs the nearest shampoo bottle (travel size) and shoves it into the hole.  Hallelujah, it worked.  We couldn't believe it.  The maintenance came later and fixed it and the house keeping crew cleaned up the mess.  Oh! Did I mention that this ALL happened at 5:32 a.m. with the electricity off so everyone was running around with headlamps on. 

I guess every journey has to have one of these.  We are know different and are following the 2 simple rules:  (1) Be flexible and now waterproof, and (2) refer to rule #1.

Hope you enjoy.

Little girl at Spring Valley

So all the children dress in their very best for church. This one sat
in front of us and reminded me of my 3 year old Kendal.

C J with child

I had to take this picture without C J knowing and bot did it turn out
perfect. This is C J with a little girl from Spring Valley who just
wanted to be held. C J obliged.

Christian soldiers marching

The children of Kenya have their own Christian Soldiers song that they
sang and marched around the church with most of us in line.

Church In Spring Valley

This is a church that we went to on Sunday at Spring Valley. Spring
Valley is a slum area shanty town that is home to about 6000 families.
Pastor Stanley welcomed us and we attended the children Sunday School
an the main service. Total was about 4 hours. I tell you that my
church services will seem boring compared to this. Not that I like to
compare. Check out the video as well on the left.

Camel on the way to orphanage

I happened to be the only one to snap a photo of this man riding his
camel on the side of the road. Way cool.

Day 1 in Kenya

Well it was quite a day.  We spent the morning getting checked into the hotel and then off to the orphanage.  Here are some photos of our first day.  The kids greeted us out front by singing a welcome song.  Then we went into the new kitchen and dining area and they sang some more songs and danced for us.  After the singing, each one of them (even the small ones) recited their favorite bible verse for us.  Powerful.

We took the day to get to know the kids, do a bead craft, dance and sing, play games, read to them, etc... We also took a look at what we are dealinng with from a project standpoint.  To let you all know, ALL of the wood for the playground equipment was delivered today and it looks perfect.  It is treated and ready for a super creation for these kids.

These kids have already touched our hearts.  It is incredible.  Thanks to all of you and stay tuned for more.  Also check out the video of the songs the kids sang for us.

This is how they transport about 30 chickens in Kenya.  Boy do ours hove the good life.

This is how we wer greeted when we first drove up.  Yep that's dancing and singing for Jesus.

Shelley has a new friend.  Joseph.  There's nothing not to love about this little guy.  He reminds me of Korbin and is 7 just like him.

This is Dan.  He is one of the newest to arrive at HOREC.  He is HIV positive along with 9 others (10 out of 27).  He is a character and ended up doing a pretty cool dance for us before we left.  You would have thought he had ever eaten chocolate the way it ended up all over his face.

This is Alice.  She lead alot of the singing for us.  She is 13.

Shelley and Mary.  Almost all of the girls had their Sunday Best dresses on for us.  Reminded us of Kalli and Kendal when they play dress up.

Josephine and Susan were two more lovable girls there.

The taller girl is Cecilia.  She is a mother hen around alot of the smaller girls.  She is sharp as a tack.

Shelley and Cecilia

Tomorrow we will go to Sunday service at a church in Spring Valley which is a shanty town, but close to the orphanage.  We will take all 27 kids in 2 vans to a restaurant to each lunch and then swimming.  They have never swam before EVER, ANY OF THEM.   Culturally only the men can go swimming unless you are on vacation, so it will be 4 men and 27 never swam  before kids.  Please pray for us.  We want to spend more time w them before God takes them.  ;)

Test Post

This is a test post for the HOREC Orphanage blog