Farnsworth Forum

I don't usually write about my own personal feelings on the blog. However, today I will make an exception. These have been some difficult days for our family as we get ready to leave our home in Guam. I say home because even though we came as temporary workers to Pacific Islands Bible College (now Pacific Islands University) back in September 2006, we quickly put down roots. It has been a blessing to grow and learn along with our fellow PIU staff members who quickly became family to us. They supported us as our children grew, became surrogate aunts and uncles, grandmas and grandpas. We can't thank them enough for their contribution to our lives, both personally and professionally. The students became big brothers and sisters to Joel and Amelia, and the other staffs' children became fast friends. Now it's time to move on. We kept postponing the thoughts in our minds, but as we bought tickets last week, we can't put off the idea of transition any longer. Marisol and I...

One of our favorite things is entertaining friends at our home and even being entertained sometimes (thanks to the Choram family). Here are some pictures: Two of our favorite grandfather figures at PIU came to visit us earlier in the year: Grandpa Steve and Uncle Harald. Both of them have inspired us through their lives and Christian testimonies. Our Mexican friends from church, Jose and Monica, came over a couple months ago. No, we didn't make Mexican food for them. I feel a little funny cooking Mexican for Mexicans. Can you relate? We asked our new missionary friends who work with Campus Crusade for Christ in Fiji to come to lunch after Caleb spoke in the PIU chapel. Caleb is from Pohnpei; Rose is Filipina. Their daughters played so nicely with Joel and Amelia. It is a blessing to know them. Eric, Karyn, Katie and Noelle helped us celebrate my birthday (and Eric's too) at Outback Steakhouse. Evelyn, who worked with me in Student Life when I first came to PIU, and her husban...

On Saturday morning we revisited a favorite swimming spot that we hadn't been to in a while. It was one of the first places we went as a family to the beach when we arrived in Guam back in September 2006. Here is a picture of then and now. You can really see how our children have grown and changed. Joel and I swam out to walk on the reef. Guam has a "fringing reef," which means that the reef starts close to the shoreline. Amelia practiced her swimming strokes. There was a nice rock to sit on. We had a fun time remembering the past and making new memories. We will miss the beautiful beaches and clear ocean water in Guam. We are enjoying it until we leave.

Happy Father's Day to all you fathers out there. Your job is very important. No matter how it may seem, it is NOT in vain. Do it to the best of your ability, with God's help!

Welcome to our last Pacific Islands Dispatch! We are leaving the tropics of Guam on June 30. After making two stops along the way (Pohnpei and Hawaii) to visit friends, since it didn’t increase the price of our plane tickets, we will arrive in PA on the afternoon of July 5 for our home ministry assignment. Then in 2011 we will return to Ecuador to work with the Liebenzell team. Although we truly believe in our hearts that this is God’s will for our family, I feel a surge of deep sadness at the thought of leaving the ministry of Pacific Islands University and our friends. We have spent four years here. I realized the other day that I have lived almost 10% of my life in Guam, Marisol more than 10%, and Guam is really the only home that Joel and Amelia remember. Moving on is not easy. Please pray with us for the following things: 1. That God will help us through this BIG change with grace and patience. 2. That Joel and Amelia will be able to make new friends in the USA. 3. That God will c...

We discovered World Cup Mania in Saipan during our recent trip. Although Ecuador did not qualify for the 2010 World Cup in Africa, we still wanted to show our spirit by wearing our Ecuador soccer shirts. May the best team win, although the games are not telecast here in Guam unless you have cable. We do not!

Joel and Amelia will really miss the Tsunami Swim Club. When they started, they knew nothing about swimming. Now they are doing very well. We must try to find swimming classes for them in PA. Joel racing with his friend Roxanne. Joel doing the backstroke. Joel's coach Iijima is firm yet kind. Joel has learned so much from him. This is Ken, one of the club's graduating seniors and considered to be the best male swimmer in Guam, speaking to the crowd at the end of year swim party. He will be going to Japan to swim and study later this year. We wish him all the best. He is a very nice guy and treats everyone with kindness and respect. Amelia with her new swim teacher/assistant. Amelia in the hot tub with her teacher Miss Kauro. This is Joel with the entire swim club, at least the ones who were present on the day the picture was taken. Amelia's class wasn't part of the picture. Joel is seventh from the right in the front row.

On March 13 Marisol came running into the house and told me to go outside; she wanted to show me something. I followed her and saw the reason for her excitement: a pineapple was growing on two of our plants. Here you can see what I saw that day. By April 17 it had grown this big. Here is the pineapple on June 5. We are still optimistic that it may be ripe before the time comes for us to go to PA for our furlough. Who knows?

Thanks for everyone's prayers for Amelia's chin. The stitches are out, courtesy of Dr. Perez, and Amelia likes to show off her scar. It will be a Guam memory for her.

Joel and Amelia have really enjoyed their time at the Tsunami Swim Club. They will miss it. We hope to find a place for them to swim in PA and then in Ecuador. These are some older pictures. I'll try to post some newer ones before we leave Guam.