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...

 A little background to this story.  I have been a fan of The Waltons from the beginning of the series.  In 2017 I attended the 45th anniversary celebration of the show in Schuyler, Virginia, the small hamlet where the series' creator Earl Hamner, Jr., was born and raised.  Perhaps I can share a bit more about that in a future post. During that weekend in March 2017 I met Reen Christie Bula (a/k/a Tammi Bula), who played John-Boy's love interest Marcia Woolery in the early seasons. Here is a shot of Reen and me, As well as a shot of all the cast member in attendance at the reunion with the exception of Michael Learned who went to bed early due to a play appearance the following day. During the weekend Reen, her husband Gordon and I shared time together, and she shared with me her testimony, how she came to the Lord through the witness of friends (she was working as an RN at the time) and how she saw the sign of Pi in the sky one day which prompted her to check out J...

 Everyone likes good news.  Ned's Bible Institute class on the Occult is going well.  He and his almost 30 students meet every Thursday evening from 7:30-8:30 pm through Zoom.  Last week we had a special guest: Marcia Montenegro, founder of Christian Answers for the New Age (CANA).  Marcia was a professional astrologer for over 8 years before becoming a Christian.  She shared her testimony with the class, relating how a Christian man and his church were praying for her for a year before Marcia gave her life to Christ.  Now she works with people who struggle with some of the same questions and situations that she was involved in prior to coming to faith.  Marcia took time to answer the students questions for a good hour.  We appreciate her time and expertise.  Please pray that God would use her in her many online interactions with people seeking the truth. More GOOD NEWS to come in the coming days.  Thanks for your patience and inter...

 Ministry has been a struggle during COVID-19 for us here and for many of you in different places in the world.  Recently we have been encouraged with higher numbers in our online GO ENGLISH CLUB.  We have averaged around 25 children in the last couple weeks.  Thanks for your prayers, and please keep them coming.  We appreciate the kind help of our friends Marybeth, Michelle, Faith, and Dayana. We give God the glory for what He is doing in us and through us.  We pray that the children that we are working with can know God personally.  Their families, too!!

Celebrating our new Liebenzell Mission friends who have arrived within the last year.  This includes Marcel and Faith Friess with their two daughters and Andreas and Maren Gauss with their two sons. We've enjoyed spending time with them at our house and also in meetings and on outings, such as this one to the Peguche waterfall near our house in Otavalo. WELCOME AND GOD BLESS YOUR SERVICE IN OTAVALO FOR HIS GLORY!!