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