Farnsworth Forum

Recently Marisol and I had the opportunity to volunteer for one night in Awana Cubbies. It brought back memories of my years as an Awana worker at our church in Guam. The most exciting part of Awana to us as parents is watching our children hiding God's Word in their hearts. That will stay with them forever!

Normally our family does everything together. However, two Saturdays ago one of Amelia's friends invited her to a princess birthday party, and Joel participated in the Awana Sparks-A-Rama. So we went our separate ways. For reasons of transportation, I accompanied Snow White to the birthday party. . . . . .and Marisol took Joel to the Awana Games, where his team place third in their group. We are proud of our princess and our Sparky.

Amelia recently lost her first tooth. As always, she surprised us by not crying at all. She must have a high threshold for blood and pain. Now she second tooth is loose; we'll be in touch again soon!

Presenting the Missionary Retreat Fellowship Stars on Ice: the Farnsworth family. We had a great time skating two times courtesy of some skates that were donated to MRF. I was impressed with how well Joel and Amelia did for their first time ever! Who knows? Maybe there's a future Scott Hamilton or Dorothy Hamill among us!

This photo needs a good explanation. When Joel and I were sledding one day, we stated that we wanted to go clear down to the stream. Well, mission accomplished well-done! We went into the stream and had wet pants to show for it. Brrrr!

On the night before my ordination exam we attended a performance of Disney's Beauty and the Beast at Berks Christian School. Although some people seemed surprised that I was there, I knew that I didn't want to spend the night before my ordination cramming like a college student. We enjoyed the show very much, except the wolves who literally had Joel and Amelia jumping up out of their seats. It was great fun to see Kate Lebo in the role of Belle. She had played Gretl in The Sound of Music when I played the priest in 2000 during my stint as the Spanish teacher at Berks Christian. She and the rest of the cast performed enthusiastically and beautifully, or should I say beastly!!!!

Thanks for praying for my ordination on March 12. The pastors pictured above with me (from left, Rick Knarr, Dave Klase, Bill Schuit, Larry Crabtree, Tony Perez, Wayne Rissmiller and George Hege) asked me questions to test my qualifications and calling to the gospel ministry and approved me. Their participation and the different roles that they have played in my life will always be in my heart. Rick taught me how to play piano years ago and served as my youth choir director and youth director and continues to be a good friend. I grew up with Dave's sister at my home church, where he serves as the current pastor. Bill is the director of Liebenzell Mission USA (LMUSA). Larry is one of my earliest childhood friends, having been born the same year. We were nursery babies together, and we spent many times together at each others' houses. We also went through the Christian Service Program together, and I attended my first week at Haycock Mountain Brigade Camp with him back in ...

This past week, to inaugurate the first full week of spring, we received five inches of snow one day followed by three or so more inches by the end of the week. I hate to admit this because most people are sick and tired of the wintry precipitation, but our family was happy to have more snow. It's a matter of perspective: we didn't have it for four years in Guam and we surely won't have it in Ecuador either. I was secretly hoping for another snowfall, and God answered. But please don't tell anyone. You can see the following pictures from our final fling with spring, oops, I mean, WINTER! Enjoying a final dose of snow! Sledding in a spring wonderland! Look at the proud snowman creators! Now here's one enthusiastic sledder! Amelia likes to practice her writing, even in the snow. Joel and Amelia pose next to two of the snowpeople we made. Some goldfinches enjoy the banquet at Marisol's homemade feeders. A chickadee finds what she was looking for at our window ...