Farnsworth Forum

This weekend we enjoyed a visit with Elilai and Sonny. Sonny, a 2009 graduate from PIU, and his wife Elilai were some of the first students that we became close to when we arrived in Guam. They got married this past summer. The first picture is from their visit when we lived on-campus in January 2007. The second picture is from our recent visit with them. We had a great time catching up with them.

On Saturday we finally hiked to the Piti Guns. The Japanese were installing these guns during their occupation in anticipation of the arrival of the U.S. Marines during World War 2. When the marines did arrive on July 21, 1944, the guns were not yet operable. They still exist in their original locations as a testimony to war and what might have been in they had been used to fight off the U.S. They were discovered covered and hidden with palm fronds. The Farnsworth family is on their way to gun # 1. Notice Amelia's walking stick. Marisol armed Joel with more repellent to ward off the pesky mosquitos when we arrived at the first gun. We also hiked beyond the first gun a bit to see the remains of another unknown structure (possible a plane?). Joel was the first to spot gun # 2. S0 he asked me to take his picture with it. I gladly obliged. Then we were on to gun # 3, the gun most often photographed in books and postcards, etc. This was overlooked Asan Beach, one of the two actu...

We enjoyed our second trip to Shark's Hole with some PIU staff members and students on the day after Thanksgiving. Sorry for the late report. We saw some sea urchins up close and personal. Taking a trip in Guam is ALWAYS educational. Here's Eseuk before. . . . . .and after! Merlyn and Davy chill out. TJ found a blue starfish. The blue starfish helped to cover my increasing bald spots while Amelia, Joel and Niño watched. A mini family portrait! Joel enjoyed his time with Niño, who unfortunately has returned to Palau because his U.S. visa request to work at PIU Guam was denied. Please pray for him to be able to come back to Guam and continue his work with us.

Amelia is the newest member of the Tsunami Swim Club at the Onward Hotel. She started in January. We are glad that our children have this opportunity to learn. Here Joshua is teaching her how to kick. Joel is kicking in the background with his teacher Juju. After class the kids enjoyed seeing their friend Alfonsito. Before leaving the hotel Amelia and Joel posed with the Christmas lights one final time.

On Sunday night we went to see the Christmas Village for the second year in a row at the St. Fidelis Friary. The Capuchin Brothers are part of the Franciscan order. This is a scene of the altar in the friary chapel. As last year, there was much intricate detail in the display. One of the brothers greeted our friends Iotaka and his daughters. It was a special treat to have our friends Iotaka and Vivian and their daughters Ann Marie, LouAnn, and LeeAnn along with us, which made it a lot of fun to see the joy on the children's faces. Joel and Amelia were glad to have their friends with them. The focal point of the Christmas village was the nativity scene. "The Father sent His Son to be the Savior of the world" (1 John 4:14).

Some more obscure death notices (not necessarily current, sorry about that): Composer Vic Mizzy died at 93 on October 17, 2009. He is most famous for the unforgettable theme song of The Addams Family. I don't think it's being used in the current musical en route to Broadway. Kim Peek died on Amelia's 4th birthday on December 19 at age 58. Peek was the inspiration for the Dustin Hoffman character in "Rain Man." His life was truly amazing with all the facts he could memorize despite being labelled as mentally challenged. I can live without the movie. I've never been a Tom Cruise fan. His acting tends to get on my nerves. On December 20 Arnold Stang, 91, passed away. Stang was the comic guest on many old TV shows, but his significance to me is that he voiced of Top Cat. You can't be a kid from my generation if you didn't watch "Top Cat."

We had a group of 7 male and 1 female student who stayed on campus during the Christmas break to work. One night during a storm a tree fell down in the yard of one of the dorms. I wish I had a picture of the tree in the yard right after it fell. Definitely an ominous presence. The guys had an extra job to do which they hadn't planned on. They did an excellent job of taking care of it right away. In this picture you can see Gary, Judson (with ax in hand), Mamu, and Erten (far right). Don't miss Rusty in the tree in the background chopping off branches with a machete. Judson and Leeman helped carry off part of the trunk. Now the job is nearly done. Earlier in the break they repaired the dock of the Student Study Center, and brilliantly I might add. Kudos to all the student workers, and thanks for your faithful labor!

Last week Amelia and I made a trip for Amelia's booster shots. She received 5 and didn't cry a single tear. The nurse said that Amelia was her best patient of the day. Talk about a high threshold of pain. Wow!

Okay, the Christmas season is officially over with the arrival of Three Kings Day. We celebrated this morning with the visit of one of the kings. His camel must have gotten lost somewhere on the way to Guam! "When they saw the star, they were overjoyed" (Matthew 2:10). May we worship Jesus in what we do this year. Happy Three Kings Day to all of you!

The house smells like banana bread because our banana plants are producing like crazy and the storm knocked some of them down so we harvested prematurely. Come and taste some of Marisol's famous banana bread and banana muffins and cooked bananas and. . .Soon we'll have them coming out our ears!

As 2009 closes and 2010 begins, we would like to wish all of you a good year in 2010. May God bless and keep you. We share a picture from our late December hike to Pagat Cave. Please keep in touch during the new year.