After the fiasco with the babies escaping through the back door and playing in the rain and the largest puddles they could find, we identified the culprit (the dog) who pushed the doors open for them. We changed the ways the door closed so it couldn’t happen again.

So Nancy took the babies for a walk, and the egg man came and dropped off some eggs in our `safe’ room. They were on the shelf, and Nancy didn’t notice them when she returned and placed the babies in the room and walked into the kitchen.

The babies noticed them, and instantly went to work. In less than two minutes, they had tested almost every egg, and found them to be structurally unsound. We didn’t get pictures of this one; it was too messy, but funnier as time went on.

This morning, Nancy was in the kitchen and noticed a different sound from Katie. She had managed to get on top of the piano, and was sitting on the keyboard. I think the next year will be FULL of adventures.

African skin has surprised me, but African hair has been a true revelation. All of the woman reading this can just shake their heads and include me on the clueless list, but I had no idea how hair extensions worked. I just sort of figured that someone hair grew long or something; I didn’t know.

It is quite common for African woman to use hair extensions to style their hair. There is a woman who lives nearby who offered to come over and do it. The result was: rage from Katie who didn’t want to sit still for two hours and tears from me who didn’t want to see his baby girl look like a grown up woman.

She really does look cute, but they are fascinating to Ben, who enjoys pulling them off, which gives her a unique look. I’m going to try to learn how to do extensions and braids, but I had to leave the room while they were doing it; this business of being a dad to a girl is going to be more challenging than I thought.

Some friends had a brief layover in Nairobi, so we went into town to see them. On the way back, the main road was covered with thousands of people attending a political rally. If 635 in Dallas or the Dan Ryan Expressway in Chicago were closed due to a political rally, it would be a shock, but apparently it is quite common here. It was scary, and we were driving through at five miles an hour, but all we got were waves and smiles. Kenyan elections can easily turn violent, so we were grateful to get through with no problems.

The major cause of death of missionaries in Kenya is auto accidents, and last week was an example of what can happen out here. Some friends were driving into town, and on their way back, a bus blew a tire and hit them head on. The driver broke his hand, the rest of the passengers were bruised, but 13 year old Paul broke both legs, both wrists, and has suffered head trauma. The full extents of his injuries aren’t known yet. I saw a picture of the tire of the truck that blew; absolutely no thread.

Paul is slowly recovering, and we are grateful that he is alive. If you saw the car, you wouldn’t think anyone was alive who was in it, but He extended His mercies once again.

Another thing struck me about this incident. Paul had a tough week prior to the accident. He had some discipline issues that were difficult, and I imagine that it would have been easy to have words at their home.

But we never know how much time we have. I want to make sure my words are appropriate, because you never know if they will be the last words you get a chance to say.

I want to always try to end on a good note. You never know.

Your pal

Steve Peifer