Farnsworth Forum

World Cup 2026. This worldwide soccer event every four years always takes me back to Mexico in August of 1999 when I witnessed the victory of Mexico team over Brazil 4-3 in FIFA's Copa Conderaciones. Oh, the joy of being in the Estadio Azteca with my beloved Mexicans! And celebrating afterwards with my favorite tacos al pastor. Deliciosos....  Flash forward to 2026. Now I'm here in Ecuador since 2001, torn between the green (Mexico) and yellow (Ecuador) and also the U.S.A., doing quite well starting with two victories for the first time since the World Cup started in 1930. Then they lost to Turkey 2-3. My adopted country of Ecuador beat Germany 2-1 on Thursday, quite unexpected but joyful for everyone here. Car horns beeping in the streets, victory parties everyone, since this allows Ecuador to advance to round two. We work with German missionaries as part of Liebenzell Mission, and everyone acted with grace and good sportsmanship, especially since Thursday's game allowed E...

 Welcome back to Farnsworth Forum! I plan to write at least one post per week to keep you all updated. Many of you know that my mother passed away on February 16, 2026, in Leesburg, Virginia. I was on my way to USA from Ecuador to see her when I received the news about Mom's death. Although that news hit me hard, especially since I was en route (in Houston, although still too far to see her one final time), I am glad that her suffering is over. The past month or so of her life on earth was very difficult. Of course, I was not there to witness her declining condition, but my sisters shared with me. Losing mom here on earth has brought back many memories that I will be sharing little by little. Good memories like the last time she traveled to Ecuador to visit us in 2018 at 86, and yes, she came by herself! It was lovely to have her here with our family, and she often told us that she was so glad that she came at that time because later it would have been impossible with her increasin...