Farnsworth Family Forum February 2015/Febrero 2015



Even though February already has arrived “on the scene,” we still cannot believe that it is 2015!  Last month Jacob and Elías turned three, Joel will turn 12 in July and Amelia 10 in December.  Ned’s and Marisol’s ages remain well-guarded secrets (no, not really)!  Ned will be 50 in April and desperately needs to take a drink from the Fountain of Youth!

Earlier this month the ministry team of the Amigos en Cristo Church held their second annual retreat in Lita.  There, Ned, along with the newly appointed elders, Daniel Alcusir (left in the photo above) and Alfonso Rosales (right), and five other church leaders, engaged in church planning for 2015 and beyond.  Much work still needs to be completed before our family’s furlough, beginning in summer 2016.  We did extend our time here by one year to help prepare the church for this transition.  Please pray that God provides a full-time national pastor for Amigos en Cristo.  A recent missions team from Virginia worked hard to help complete an apartment at the church for the future pastor and his family to stay in.

The MINTS Seminary presses forward, currently studying a new course that examines the infiltration of Neopaganism in Ecuadorian society, even wielding its influence in evangelical churches.  Eight students participate in the weekly class sessions on Saturday mornings from 8:30-10:30.  MINTS will hold its next graduation ceremony on March 21, 2015, in Ibarra with four students earning Bachelor degrees.  Pray for the future of MINTS in Ecuador.

Thank you for praying for home school.  Currently it appears that we will finish the school year in late May.  Morgan Burkholder has been a good addition to our family, both personally and academically.  God has also provided us with a helper for next year: our niece Lauren Farnsworth from Philippi, WV, will come to stay with us.  This development excites us greatly, as one of the struggles of missionary work means that our children cannot really build relationships with their cousins in the USA.  God is ALWAYS good and ALWAYS faithful!  How we praise Him!

Please continue to pray for the health of our parents, Wilson Bedoya and Zulema de Bedoya and Glennis and Marilyn Farnsworth, and Marisol’s grandparents, Enrique Palacios and Jovita de Palacios.  Good health is one thing that we do not want to take for granted.

Thanks for praying for our family as we serve the people of Ecuador and each other.  We strive to be good parents and good spouses, with God’s help, for His glory.  We appreciate your partnership with us very much.


Aunque febrero ya se acaba, no podemos creer que es 2015.  El mes pasado Jacob y Elías cumplieron tres años, Joel cumplirá 12 en julio y celebramos el 10º  cumpleaños de Amelia en diciembre.  Las edades de Ned y Marisol son secretas (¡no realmente!).  Ned cumplirá 50 años en abril y desesperadamente necesita tomar de la Fuente de la Juventud.

Este mes el grupo ministerial de la Iglesia Amigos en Cristo de Cotacachi fueron a Lita para su segundo retiro annual.  Ahí Ned, con los nuevos ancianos, Daniel Alcusir (izquierdo, en la foto arriba) y Alfonso Rosales (derecho), y 5 líderes más, planificaron para 2015 y más allá.  Hay mucho que hacer antes de nuestra salida para USA en junio del 2016.  Nosotros extendimos nuestro tiempo aquí por un año para poder preparar a la iglesia para esta transición.  Oren que Dios provea a un pastor nacional de tiempo completo para Amigos en Cristo.  Un equipo misionero de Virginia pasó una semana en febrero trabajando duro para completara el departamento para el futuro pastor y su familia.

El Seminario MINTS sigue adelante, actualmente estudiando un curso que examina la influencia de Neopaganismo en la sociedad ecuatoriana, aun infiltrándose en las iglesias evangélicas.  11 estudiantes participan en las clases semanales sábados de 8:30-10:30 am.  MINTS tendrá su próxima ceremonia de graduación el 21 de marzo del 2015, en Ibarra, con cuatro graduados de licenciatura.  Oren por el futuro de MINTS en el Ecuador.

Gracias por orar por “home school.”  Parece que vamos a terminar el año escolar a fines de mayo.  Morgan Burkholder ha sido una buena ayuda para nuestra familia, personalmente y académicamente.  Dios también ha provisto a una nueva ayudante para el próximo año: nuestra sobrina Lauren Farnsworth de Philippi, WV, vendrá a quedarse con nosotros.  Estamos bien emocionados, porque uno de los desafíos de trabajar como misioneros significa que nuestros hijos realmente no pueden tener mucha relación con sus primos de USA.  Dios SIEMPRE es bueno y SIEMPRE fiel.  ¡Cómo le alabamos!

Por favor sigan orando por la salud de nuestros padres, Wilson Bedoya y Zulema de Bedoya and Glennis y Marilyn Farnsworth, y los abuelitos de Marisol, Enrique Palacios y Jovita de Palacios.  La buena salud viene de Dios.

Gracias por orar por nuestra familia mientras le servimos a los ecuatorianos.  Queremos ser buenos padres y buenos esposos, con la ayuda de Dios, para su gloria.  Apreciamos mucho su apoyo.

With love from Ecuador, The Farnsworths!
 

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