Farnsworth Forum

This month has been filled with fun activities. Here's a sample: We finally finished making the gingerbread house that was interrupted when Joel's accident necessitated a hasty trip to the ER. We tried to attend the Pan American Junior Swimming Championships at the LeoPalace Resort, but we arrived too late. However, we did enjoy walking around their man-made lake. Beautiful! After reading the Bible and watching the movie we acted out our own version of the Nativity. Amelia played Mary, Joel Joseph, and I a shepherd. Amelia's faithful doll Hannah played Jesus. Last night was Crazy Hair Night at Awana. Joel and I had to use synthetic craziness because his hair is too short and mine is nonexistent. Miss Bert and Miss Juliet joined in the fun!

My colleague Hiob organized a campus Christmas party for December 26. All of us shared a wonderful time. A special delight for the Micah, Joel, Amelia and Jireh-lynn were the gifts sent by Daisy's parents' church, the Southern Baptist Church of Susanville, CA. Thank you all for your generosity. Hiob led us in some opening comments and songs. A Micronesian event would never be complete without copious amounts of food. It gave my parents an oppportunity to enjoy local food such as sashimi. Yum! Here Dad displays the world's smallest ice cream cone. We all played Musical Chairs. Joel almost won, unlike me. I was the first player out of the game. Oh well! Maybe I'll fare better in 2009.

One of the things the Farnsworth family loves to do is entertain guests. Aaron and Hollie helped us eat leftover turkey in the form of Turkey Pot Pies. We will miss them when they leave for Aaron's (Navy pilot) next assignment in Texas. Notice that we men all have our yellow uniforms. It was not planned in advance! The PIBC campus workers joined us for chicken, rice, and ice cream. We enjoyed our time with Meluat, Kalvin, Sonny, Erten, and Mamu. Our friends Lisa and Julie came over for cheesecake and conversation.

Yesterday the doctor removed Joel's three stitches, and he has only two more doses of the antibiotic to take. He has been a good patient, and we are glad that this ordeal is almost over. Please pray for our family doctor, Dr. Chris, who left on Friday for a tour of duty in Iraq with the Army National Guard. He will be there for ninety days.

Grandpa and Grandma left early this morning for their long trip back to PA via the Marshall Islands and Hawaii. Please pray for a safe trip for them. Thanks for praying for Grandma; she was feeling some better. When I was talking later with Joel, I mentioned that I was sad because they left. He looked at me and with wisdom far beyond his years told me, "That's how it is. When they come, they need to go back" and gave me a big hug. Wow! Who is the parent here, and who is the child?

Please pray for my mother Marilyn who has not been feeling well the past few days. We went to the doctor and hope that she is better before her and Dad's trip back to PA on Saturday, January 10. Thanks for praying!

Joel and Amelia received a Veggie Tales nativity set for Christmas Eve this year. Laura the Carrot sings "O Little Town of Bethlehem." I told the Christmas story for our neighbors' children before we gave them some small gifts. For Christmas Eve dinner we were invited by some friends from our church, Juliet and Ambrose. We enjoyed meeting Ambrose's mom, Nilda, who in her seventies still teaches high school every day for the Guam Public School System. Wow! She previously lived near Allentown, PA, so she definitely shared some common background with my parents. All of us spent some time singing Christmas carols together around the piano. Here Mom is talking to our friend Ellen. Thanks to our hosts for a lovely time!!!