The work is hard, but the reward is beyond measure!

As the week goes on, the more blessings we receive! Yesterday, we woke up to cooler weather and a fine mist and a little trickle of rain. This was welcome to not only the Kenya people who need the precipitation, but also to us because it killed the storms of dust we walk through each day. I must mention, because I have not had a chance too in the previous blogs, that by cooler weather, I mean in the 50's. We could see our breath today. This is Kenya's wet time (winter) and it had consistently been in the low 60's. Most of us wear sweaters, jackets, and pants. But the Kenyan people think this is COLD, so they are bundled in wool hats, gloves, parkas, etc. If only they knew what cold is in other parts of the world! As I type, the rain is falling again, thank the Lord, and hopefully they will be able to fill their buckets.

Our work continues at the AIDS Orphan Home. We have completed the walls, the roof, the concrete, the windows, and patching the holes. Today's work will complete the house as we waterproof it and paint the trim. The materials seem substandard compared to what we are used to, but the finished product is beautiful. The work is hard. They do not have electricity, so we use handsaws to make all the cuts on the wood. My upper arms has used muscles I may not have known I had!

The dedication will take place at 3 p.m. and we will all go down there to take part in the ceremony. Alisalana is the mother who will receive the home. She lives with her three children and possibly more extended nieces and nephews. We are unclear right now, but we believe her husband has died of AIDS and she may be positive as well. Right now she lives in a small shack and she cooks over a wood pile outside and washes her dishes in a small dirty bowl. Her grandmother lives out back and is blind. We found out that she is 100 years old! Our team looks forward to presenting their small village with a soccer ball so the kids can play together.

Another part of our team worked hard yesterday at the staff flats on the hospital compound. They build the flats out of stone and mortar. There is no wood, drywall, etc. These are meant to last a century! The team moved stone and threw mortar at the walls. The scaffolding is quite primitive -- twigs and wood tied together -- and several had very unique experiences trying to lay brick. Many came back with mortar in very interesting places!

Shirley continues to work hard in the sewing room and they are so appreciative. The Kenyan people reuse everything until it wears out. So to have new medical supplies is a godsend.

Today, we continue work on the flats, on the AIDS house, in the sewing room and Karol will work in the ER. I will be making rounds with the Hospital Chaplain and praying with the wards before they go into surgery and see the doctors. We even preach to the visitors before they can enter the hospital. Interesting system . . . but all for the glory of God!

We look forward to updating you in the next few days. Thank you for your friendship and Christian care!