When you give twins a bath together, they NOTICE stuff. Since we are trying to do the toilet training thing, it has led to discussions about differences between a boy and girl. After almost every bath, Katie will tell me `Ben has one, and Daddy has one, and JT has one and Matthew has one but Momma doesn’t have one and I don’t have one.’

That was all good, but she and I were going for a walk and we passed a friend and Katie asked `They got one?’ Me, not being quick, asked `Got one what?’ Katie then said `Ben has one, and Daddy has one, and JT has one and Matthew has one but Momma doesn’t have one and I don’t have one.’

I said, `Oh THAT one.’ And I clarified that we generally don’t speculate about such things. And she said `Oh’. And I’m SURE that will be the end of that.

A friend recently wrote to me about a situation at work that reminded him of the scene in `It’s a wonderful life’ where Jimmy Stewart yells `Don’t you realize that this will mean scandal and prison?’

I knew how he felt.

The last time I bought maize the guy sold me some that hadn’t been dried well. That can rot, and it also violated the contract I had with him. In addition, since then the government has recently raised prices it would pay for maize, and so all prices went up.

I got many bids, and met with a family who gave a reasonable price and they had a sturdy truck. I told them that I hadn’t determined how much I would need, because I hadn’t gotten a firm price, but that I would work with them. I told them that I would determine how much I could buy based on the price and get back to them.

In the meantime, they bought and delivered one thousand bags of maize.

I’ve been scammed many times many times in Kenya, and I don’t think that is what happened. They were excited that I said yes, and they wanted to move fast in case I changed my mind.

The problem was I didn’t have enough money to cover that amount. The way our accounting works is that if someone makes a donation, it can take several months for the money to get here.

And I was stuck. There wasn’t a way out like in America, where I could return it.

The night before Christmas I couldn’t sleep. I was sweating so much that the bed was wet. I have some extra money from selling our home, but I didn’t want to touch it, but I didn’t seem to have many options.

Bottom line is this: it turned out I had nearly enough in the account to squeak by. We are buying fewer beans this term. Communication is tough out here, but this one really threw me for a loop.

Part of the reason it hit me hard was that I realized: I want to look good. Sometimes you find out how much you want to do good, and how much you want to look good. I found out, again, what I really am.

It was EASY to make new years resolutions this year. I want to resign from the looking good club. (Note to all old friends especially from Kansas who LONG to write hilarious responses to this: beat ya to it.)

It has been a tough month in many ways, JT has been sick, and Nancy and Matthew both have mild cases of pneumonia. Matthew also is experiencing high fevers whenever he stays up late, and the doctors haven’t been able to figure it out.

We went to the Embassy to apply for immigration papers for the twins. If they interpret the law one way, it will be a small of amount of money when we return to the states to apply for their citizenship. If they interpret it the other way, it will mean home studies and thousands of dollars. We are trying, sometimes successfully, not to be anxious about it.

So this is a good time to mention that we return to the states in July for our furlough year. The reason for a furlough is to renew yourself, which I never understood before. But I understand that it is easy to get burned out on the field, and it is best to take a year before you have to. AIM requires one every three or four years.

Part of our motivation is we don’t want JT to miss his junior and senior year at RVA. Part of it is to get citizenship for the twins. Part of it is to reconnect with family and friends. Matthew and JT have not been in the United States for three years, and Ben and Katie have never been.

A big part for me is to see if we can expand our programs. We are feeding 25 schools and 8400 students a day. I long to see many more children helped with this. We will finish our first computer center in March. I would love to return after our year’s furlough with the support to do many more centers. So, if your church or organization is open, I would appreciate the chance to share our vision.

Our furlough in the states will coincide with some big events in our family: JT will turn 16 and be able to get his drivers license, Matthew will become a teenager, the twins will become US citizens, Nancy and I will celebrate 20 years of marriage, and I will turn 50.

50.

I better step it up. I’ve got a lot I want to get done, and I’m running out of time.

Your pal

Steve