Lunch in Huanchaco

President and I went to the beach for lunch.

We heard that the schools of anchovy were in the bay

and hundreds of birds were diving.

And they were there.

The birds were everywhere.

And so were the local fishermen.

We love to watch the men head out in their Reed Ponies.  

These are the small reed boats that date back to pre- inca age.

They are shaped like a surf board for easy maneuvering. 

They are called Artisan fishermen 

They are small scale, low tech, traditional, throw nets... 

and they sell their catch to the local restauranteurs and families.

We were at one of the best restaurants on the beach.

But Neither the President nor I ate seafood.

This restaurant is known for their Ceviche.

The missionaries are not allowed to eat Ceviche.

There are too many sicknesses associated with 

this raw fish preparation.

We are from Arizona... We didn't grow up eating seafood.

We are landlocked.  No fresh fish in Az.

When I was young,

I had the occasional fish sticks when my parents were going

out for the evening.  That's it!

Mieles, Davila, Soto, Morales

Tuesday, when President Turk was out teaching with

Elder Mieles and Elder Davila

they taught a woman who had

been to church five times.

Her concern was that there wasn't a professional

preacher giving the sermons in church.

She thought it needed a little more spice, maybe some

professional musicians.

Funny, because I think that is one of the great things about 

the church...  No paid clergy.  Fantastic!

President Turk talked to her about receiving a witness

if this is the true church that is directed 

by the Savior.

When you receive that witness

then you will understand that we are all 

growing and developing through callings in the church.

She is going to focus on receiving an answer to her prayers.

Old traditions are hard to break.

The picture above is of the Chinese Food Restaurant

that we always go to after we have a 

group of missionaries leave us.

It's the bottom floor of the little hotel.

The people that work there think I am 

very emotionally disturbed or very depressed

because I always shed a few tears there.

This restaurant was in the area 

that President and the Elders were teaching in yesterday.

 Elder Mieles and Elder Davila are excellent missionaries.

We love having them in the office with us too.

Today President was out with Elder Soto and Elder Morales

in Esperanza.

They went to teach one of their investigators and he wasn't home

but his older brother was there.

They asked if he would listen to a message...

He declined and said he didn't have time.

The missionaries were very persuasive... they wouldn't let up.

They told him they would be very short.

He agreed.  They taught a very powerful lesson.

This young man was impressed and felt the truth.

He wants to know more.

He said he was looking for something to give him

meaning and direction.  

He is so thankful that they were so eager

to share the Gospel with him.

Now three brothers and their mother

are all taking the lessons in that home.

Missionaries bless peoples lives and they bless our lives incredibly.

Les Amamos! 

Surprise! Let Me Check Your Room...

While the President is sitting in on District Meetings...

I always grab the missionaries keys and head out

with my posse to check 

their rooms.

Today we were with the Porvenir Zone....

Elders: Chacon, Russell, Lobaton, Alva, Merida, Astill, Sumi, Zarian

Ramos, Fackrell, Calisaya, and Ramos II.

Zone Leaders in the back are Elders Lopez and Berroteran

Of course our Assistants Elders Mecham and Vera are with the President.

I won't tell you whose rooms we visited.

But we found this giant poster on one of the walls.

 I caught my posse,

 Elder Richards, Elder Cook and Elder Lopez (Rocky)  

getting into Elder Zarian's candy from home.

They think it's a perk of their job. 

They didn't really eat anything Elder Zarian.

But next time they were hoping your mom would send 

some sour patch kids or starbursts.

Sometimes it is tricky finding all the apartments

but I'm pretty sure that this is the right place...

What do you think?

I love to see the little critters that live with our missionaries.

They are always just sitting among 

all the missionary paraphernalia.

They make me smile.

Our latin missionaries are learning English too.

Here is a prayer written out in Spanish and English

but the best is the green pronunciation guides.

This also makes me smile.

Now in this bathroom you step down a large step into the shower.

Your head is already touching the ceiling 

while you shower

So when you step up out of the shower,

your head has to hang sideways to brush your teeth

and shave etc...

It's kind of like camping.

We are looking for a better room for these missionaries

right now.  In some areas it is hard to find 

the perfect living space.

This apartment has a room with a view.

This is one of the nicer streets that you will 

find our missionaries living on.

Great job today Elders.... Keep those rooms nice and clean.

I am coming to your area soon...

Beware!

Six Alarm Fire.... Fires are Scary

When your email, phone, skype, and messages

start to light up all at once

and you're out of the country,

you know something major has happened.

My heart started to race.

And then the news came that one of the 

Farnsworth Companies was going up in flames.

My Dad's Wholesale Plumbing Supply Warehouse

caught on fire and was 

causing quite the scare because of 

the explosions of the propane tanks

that were catching on fire.

The smoke was jet black.  They had 40 firetrucks at the scene

and 200 firefighters.

The Lumber Company was right next door.

The wholesale office building and showroom was

right next to the fire and being doused with water.

I was able to watch it live from the mission home

on the Internet and Slingbox.

It was 112 degrees today in Mesa.  It was a nightmare

for the firefighters.

The wind was whipping up but we were so grateful that it was 

blowing in the right direction, away from the 

other structures.

They interviewed my dad on the news and they asked him 

how he could be so optimistic

and he said 

"Nobody was killed or injured.

We are so grateful.  We can replace materials.  

We will rebuild and replace

and get going."

He has lived long enough and been through some tough times

and he knows that this is what life is...

dealing with problems... trials, tribulation.

You can be depressed and say why me

or you can roll up your sleeves and get back to work.

You have to make the best out of every situation. 

He is a very optimistic person.

It's like the Mule that fell in the farmer's well.

The farmer decided that the mule nor the well was worth saving

So he and his neighbors started to bury the mule in the well

to put it out of its misery.

The mule was hysterical.

But then he realized that every time a shovel of dirt

landed on his back

He would shake it off and step up.

He did it over and over.

He fought panic and just kept shaking it off and stepping up.

It wasn't long until the old mule stepped triumphantly 

up over the wall of the well.

What seemed like it would bury the mule actually helped him

all because of the way he handled his adversity.

If we look at our challenges with optimism

and fight back anger, fear and self pity 

We will succeed and be better for it.

Mark and Bonnie our prayers are with you.

Hang in there.

Mark, Paul, Mike, Freddie, Devan...

Let's get 'er done!

WE LOVE YOU!

ps... This was the first time in two years that 

I wish that I was home for the day.

You want to circle the wagons when something

like this happens to family.

But our prayers will have to do.

I am going to be optimistic and shake it off

and I know they will too!

pss... they found out that the fire was started by a cigarette.

10 million dollars worth of damage

from one little cigarette. Sad!

My Father's Interviews

Ross Nash Farnsworth - My Dad

(a photo of him relaxing at the cabin enjoying the grandkids)

Photo courtesy of Melissa Kay

Happy Fathers Day...

I Love You!

I love this picture of my Dad.

He is always happy.  He is fun to be around.

I spoke a little about my dad today in Stake Conference.

I told them that I was grateful for a father

who taught me the Gospel by living the Gospel.

I told them that he was always worthy

to give me a priesthood blessing 

at any time in my life...

My dad use to give each of his children

individual interviews once a month

to see how we were doing, 

to catch up on our goals and activities, 

to see if we were happy

and how we were growing spiritually.

We always ended in prayer

and a kiss and a hug.

I felt special and loved.

My dad has 12 children.

These interviews were a necessity for him to 

keep up with all of us

on our comings and goings.

But President Turk kept this tradition

with our children.

We only have two children...

but these interviews were very special to him

and to our children.

Fathers who preside over their families in righteousness 

are my heroes.

Fathers who use their Priesthood to protect their 

homes from evil... make me happy.

The adversary in pounding on the door and Fathers need

to stand firm and committed in everything they say and do.

Fathers, set the pattern of family prayer, family scripture study,

family home evenings, church attendance and activity and Temple attendance.

This is the best gift you can ever give your children and grandchildren.

Thank you Dad.  You have given me the best gift ever...

living a life centered around our Savior.

And thank you Terry for being the best father ever 

to our children.

I love you!

Avenida Pizarro

President Turk and I went walking down Avenida Pizarro yesterday

to buy a few items for thank you gifts.

It's a cute street that they have closed off for pedestrian traffic only.

It has some great shops, fun architecture 

and look at these huge wooden doors...

I love them!

The street starts right off the Plaza de Armas.

And then... I spy with my little eye

Something special...

Can you see?

Two very familiar looking white shirts...

Yep, sure enough it was the Zone Leaders in the Central Zone.

This is their area.

It is one of their main thorough fairs that they walk a lot.

Elder Brian and Elder Saldivia...

Always fun to run into our missionaries

out working hard and changing lives.

These two are great missionary leaders and examples.

Keep up the great work!

Tillman is Three!

TILLMAN TURK IS THREE YEARS OLD!

Mama and Papa T Love You...

Happiest Birthday!

Elders Levos and Acuña

President Turk was out in the field yesterday with 

Elder Levos and Elder Acuña.

Another unbelievable opportunity to be with his Elders that he loves

and to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ....  that he loves.

They had three great lessons with investigators.

All very unique and sweet.

The first lesson they taught a single mom 

who kept her home so nice and clean.

She listened carefully.   There was a strong spirit there

and she said that she truly felt it.

But the special thing about her was this beautiful bright son that she had.

He was young but kept asking all these questions.

The President told the mother that he was special

and needed the Gospel in his life to direct his great spirit.

She is coming to church this sunday.

The second lesson they were returning to a man 

that had been taking the lessons and had gone to church several times.  

He is ready to be baptized

but is first heading to Lima for some surgery.

The missionaries had already given him a blessing the day before.

He has 30 grandchildren.  When he is baptized 

he will become the example for his whole family to follow.

The third lesson they were teaching a young family...

the husband was working but the mother of four children

was listening and was absolutely loving the lesson.

She was an Evangelical.

So when the missionaries started to talk about the 

Book of Mormon

she immediately closed her mind.

There is nothing but the BIBLE!

We believe in and love the Bible...

But with the Bible there are so many interpretations and mistranslations

and Religions confessing this and that.

Who is right... 

A young boy who loved the Bible

was reading and studying this beautiful book.

 He wanted to know the truth and which church to join

so when he read a verse in James that said...

"If any of you lack wisdom

let him ask of God

who giveth to all men liberally

and upbraideth not"

(James 1:5)

He decided to Ask.

And this he did!

Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ 

told this young boy of 14

that the truth was not here in its fullest form.

The Lord has given us more.

The Book of Mormon...

Another Testament of Jesus Christ

that goes hand in hand with the Bible.

If any of YOU lack wisdom then

ASK OF GOD...

He will let you know

by the power of the Holy Ghost

if this is True.

We have done this and testify that it is true!

By the way, this woman said that she will read the 

Book of Mormon and pray about it.

That's all you have to do...

Sincerely ask... He will answer.

A Day in the Life...

Our day started with knee surgery.

We had to get Elder Veléz knee cleaned up.

He will be back out before you know it.

This was a quick fix not a 6 to 9 week knee thing.

Then we finally got to spend time with Elder Quall's mother, Barbara.

She came in on Tuesday morning and they were heading to Chimbote

to spend a couple of days there first.

But her luggage was lost in Mexico.

They waited all day for the luggage and then went down to Chimbote.

They came back to Trujillo this morning

and we had a nice lunch with them at Squallos.

They are having quite the adventure.

I am so happy she came.

They will never forget this trip.

They are heading to Cusco and Machu Picchu too.

It's fun to have your son all to yourself

before he gets home and he's out in the real world again.

President Turk went out to work this afternoon

and I am heading back to the hospital...

Looks like we are having an appendectomy at 4:00.

I will post more later.

PS - Thank you Elder Wright for your stack of referrals

while traveling around with your parents.

You are the Best!

Elder Merida was a very nice patient when he came out of surgery.

He told us that he loved us all so many times.

He also spoke a lot more English than any of us had ever heard.

Wow... Incredible medicine.

They removed his appendix and everything went smoothly.

Elder Veléz was getting antsy in the hospital after his knee surgery.

Today both of the patients were delivered to their places of recovery

and they should be up and running soon.  Yes!

When In Rome...

I saw this picture and cracked up...

I have had three of the six hairdos in this photo.

Right now I am rockin' the bottom center haircut.

I just wish I looked as cute as they do...  Darn!

Eight is Great!

The Fun has Arrived!

I told you that the mission is a big revolving door for me.

Every six weeks it starts to spin and somebody new appears.

They become a part of our lives forever.

Today I became acquainted with all 8 of the new missionaries...

And I LOVE them.

After orientation, we had lunch at the mission home.

President then went to train the trainers

and I played games and got to know the new ones.

They are a little shocked by my enthusiastic, competitive spirit.

It helps us bond quickly.

After games they tell me something unusual about themselves

or something special so that I can really get to know them.

I love this part of the day.

Every one of these missionaries will be an asset to our mission.

Here are the new ones with their trainers and new areas...

Elder Hoyos is training Elder Espinoza from Peru

and they are working in Huaráz

Elder Chicche is training Elder Vera from Lima

and they are working in Chao.

Elder Bulmini from Uruguay is training Elder Ferreira from Chile

and they are in Chimbote.

Elder Canaan is training Elder Palomino from Peru

and they are in Laureles in Trujillo.

Elder Rodriguez is training Elder Martinez from Bolivia

and they are in Esperanza.

Elder Reyes from Guatemala is training Elder Pimentel from Bolivia

and they are working in Trujillo.

Elder Iler is training Elder Robles from Chile

and they are serving in Paijan.

And lastly Elder Dickerson is training Elder Johnson from Utah

and they are working in Casa Grande

These trainers will be fantastic.  They are really outstanding missionaries.

Welcome New Ones!

*photos by Elder Richards...  Muchas Gracias!