One Month Old

I wish I was more of a photographer, especially after seeing some other baby pics on other blogs - but this snapshot will have to suffice for now! Jana is now one month old. Eating well, sleeping - well, she has her good nights and her not so good nights. But she's taking a bottle (praise God! Eliana never did!) And a pacificer (Amazing! I can't believe it - my other 2 never did that either! It sure makes my life easier.) And at the least she's survived her 2 older sisters for a month! We've even gotten a couple good smiles out of her the last week.

Team Picture

Our team has changed a lot in the past 8 months! We are now only 4 families, and just recently added 3 new team members: Malakai Forbess, Jana Marcum, and Grant Bull. Welcome to these 3 new little ones!

Highlights from my parents visit

Our first family picture with 5 of us


The main highlight was Jana of course!


Making special snacks with Nyanya


Bath time


Swimming with Nyanya, Babu and Dada


Reading with Babu


Playing in the little house my mom made for the girls for Christmas


Playing memory with Nyanya and Babu


Pillow fights and wrestling with Babu


Blowing bubbles with Nyanya

Living by Faith and other Valentine's Day Reflections

We said goodbye to my parents yesterday. It was definitely a time of mixed emotions: thankfulness for their visit - it has been such a blessing having them here; sadness - it's always hard to say goodbye; relief - knowing that we'll be seeing them in 3 and half months, which I'm sure will fly by; doubt - wondering if I'm up to the task of handling 3 under the age of 3 without their help. Josh asked at the dinner table who was going to go through the most Nyanya and Babu withdrawal. I know without a doubt it will be me!

But as I was journaling in my time with the Lord on this Valentine's day - I reflected on how much love surrounds me. The love my parents made in making the financial sacrifice to come down here and be with us at this time. The love they've shown me my whole life in parenting me - how much you appreciate you parents after you are one. A loving husband who serves me and our children beyond measure. The love and snuggles of our daughters. The love of our friends and family from a far. Most of all the love of our God in our Savior, Jesus, and the other countless blessings He bestows in His favor.

And in reality, the answer is - I'm not up to the task of raising 3 under the age of 3! At least, not without Him. Part of the reason I liked Faith for a middle name for Jana is because I knew that it was only going to be through faith in Him that we would be able to raise these beautiful girls in His light. The last few days the refrain to a hymn has been running through my head "Living by faith, in Jesus above, Trusting, confiding in His great love, From all harm safe in His sheltering arm, I'm living by faith and feel no alarm".

May God grant you the faith you need to meet the task of living day by day.

Jana Faith Marcum

We're thankful to our God to announce the birth of our third beautiful daughter, Jana (Hebrew for God is gracious) Faith Marcum, yesterday, February 4th at 12:32 pm. She weighed 3 kilos, 100 grams (just about 7 pounds) and was 52 cms long. She has red-blonde hair and blue eyes, like her daddy and her 2 older sisters. The birth was without complications and we are home now, enjoying being with my parents who came down to help us out for a couple weeks. God is good! We love you all! Enjoy the pictures.

New Births

Well, as 2 of us are waiting for the immenent physical births of our children, we were excited to celebrate the spiritual births of 2 of our youth. Rene and Vanessa made the decision to put Christ on in baptism yesterday. They have been faithfully attending church, Bible class and our CAFE group for months. I have been impressed by their sincerity, and their longing to learn. After expressing their desire to be baptized, Josh spent 7 weeks studying with them both - and said he was always impressed when he arrived for their study, because they had everything ready - Bibles out, homework done. Sometimes in the midst of being a mom and wife, it can be hard to see what, if anything, I am contributing... but after teaching Rene and Vanessa in Bible class, and seeing their desire to follow Christ, I am struck again by what every teacher feels the weight of - the promise of the future. I am excited to see how God will lead and train up these 2 young people to serve and honor Him within the church. Please pray with me for Rene and Vanessa.

Pray for Kenya

My whole childhood is wrapped up of memories spent in Kenya, a beautiful country with beautiful people - and the last few days have made me so sad. How Satan can work - to turn people against one another. Email and news reports tell of the town I was born in burned and gutted; people afraid to leave their homes, going without food and water; living in forests in fear for their lives; homes burned; people killed for their tribal ethnicity. I can't help but think back in my mind to members at our Komarock church - who was Kikuyu? And yet it is not just the Kikuyu whose lives are being threatened. Christian brothers are sheltering Kikuyu families, putting their own lives at risk. And that is the work of God and the love of Christ in action! It is at times like this, I am proud to be called a Christian - when faith is put to the test and shines forth like a beacon in the darkness. Please pray with me for this country and this people that I love!

Happy New Year!

We ended the year with a church-wide time of fellowship at our house, complete with a smoked leg of pork (thanks to my multi-talented husband!), sports, karaoke, a hay ride for the kids in the back of our 79 Chevy pick-up, burning the "old man" (an Ecuadorian custom of making and burning a dummy to symbolize getting rid of old habits), a devo, and fireworks. What a wonderful way to bring in the new year! (Although for the first part of the day, I had a few concerns: it rained all day -luckily we had rented a tent- but it cleared up and was beautiful; the flies were the worst I've ever seen, thousands of them - I have a new appreciation for the Egyptian plague in Exodus - we went through 6 cans of insect spray just to make it bearable - but the temperature dropped and the flies went away; the first guests showed up over an hour late, and most people didn't arrive until a couple hours after we said we would start.) The devo was a special time of singing and sharing some spiritual goals for the next year, and I think it really helped people reflect. Bruno, one of the young men of our congregation who has taken on a leading role with the youth, tearfully expressed a heartfelt desire to be a good role model. Renan, his father, reflected on all that God has blessed them with this last year, and a desire to serve God with those blessings in the year to come. Miguel stated he wanted to be a better father, spending more time with his kids and having more patience. Letticia wanted to humble her heart more before God. Please pray for all these brothers and sisters in their walk with Jesus.


Fellowship


Gaston with the "old man" dummy


Happy New Year!

Eliana Walking

Tis the Season!

Here's a taste of what's been going on during the Christmas season in the Marcum household:

We put together gift bags of hygenic items and treats for the children who live in the women's prison. Here in Bolivia, it is common for the families of the inmates to live with them in the jail. Katie has been key in this ministry, holding a weekly Bible study for the ladies in the prison, and one in a sort of "half-way" house. This year she involved the ladies in putting together and delivering the bags.



We wrapped up studying Colossians and Philippians in small group and had our small group over for a Christmas party, making it more of a formal occasion with a sit-down dinner and small recital featuring the children in our group (2 of whom attend a special music school here and play the viola, piano, and sax.)

A taste of home! In a random conversation with one of the brothers from the church, Josh mentioned how much we miss rhubarb from the States. Amazingly, this brother grew up in Oruro, attending a Catholic school in a monastary. He told us the nuns there grow rhubard! Of all the things! He brought us back some on his last trip home, and came out the day before our small group dinner to learn how to make strawberry rhubarb pie - Josh's favorite by the way!

Following in my mom's footsteps! Growing up, my mom would make multitudes of Christmas cookies - lots of different kinds, and many years we would make plates to give away. This year, I decided to follow suite and made 8 different types of Christmas cookies and 17 plates to give away to the members of the church, our small group, and some of our neighbors.

Two weeks before Christmas, Josh informed me that since he was preaching the Sunday before, he would really like the kids in the intermediary class to present a little drama of the birth of Christ. So I went to work on costumes. It was a simple little production (the kids actually just read and acted out the Scripture from Luke), but I think all enjoyed it.

Meet Priscilla and Alejandro. She is a single mom with 2 children. Her oldest, Yusaara, has spinal meningitis and attends a special school for the disabled here in Cochabamba. Priscilla lives in a small room with her two kids, and works really hard to provide what she can for them. The church's benevolence program, of which Jeff is in charge, helps them out some with groceries. Alejandro is quite a handful, but has such a good heart, you can't help but love him to death. He loves to sing - and you can hear him belting out the songs above everyone else in church. Anyway, on the Sunday before Christmas, Miguel, another one of the brothers, bought gifts for all the children who regularly attend services (and a few extras for the visitors who came!) The look on Alejandro's face when he opened his little car was priceless. Definitely what the Christmas season is all about. And Priscilla was thrilled to death when we sent a gift home with her for Yusara. Please pray for this precious family and the many like them in Cochabamba.

35 weeks and counting! Just a few more to go before the newest baby girl Marcum makes her appearance. We spent Christmas day with the Forbess family (Katie is due just 2 weeks before me!) and Jubilee and Michaela enjoyed playing together as always. We dispensed with traditional Christmas dinner (this pregnant woman didn't feel up to turkey and all the sides!) and had lasagna instead (a special treat here because the ricotta cheese is hard to find). Michaela got a trike for Christmas, and loves riding it everywhere. And mom's best Christmas present was that Eliana started walking! Video to come shortly.


Merry Christmas from the Marcums!

Thanksgiving

Seems like a lot has happened since my last blog post. Josh took a trip to Sucre to visit his family there and for the inauguration of the church; his family returned with him and spent 10 days visiting with us here - Jenny and Erik's stay being unwillingly (although we loved having them!) extended due to the polictal problems we're experiencing (for more on that please visit BBC news); we celebrated Thanksgiving complete with smoked turkey and cranberry sauce; Eliana is taking her first few steps; we said goodbye to the Sandovals as they left on furlough (now it's just us and the Forbesses!). Here are a few highlights from the last couple weeks.


Turkey time! Josh and I got a good laugh this year when we went to buy the turkey. We heard of a place that according to everyone sells the best turkeys, and so went exploring one day down in the Cancha to find it. We never would have found it if not for the huge 6 foot inflatable turkey outside the door of an autoparts shop - yes - I say again autoparts! This family raises turkeys on their farm outside of Cochabamba and sells them in the back of their autoparts store out of a deep freeze - but they were good turkeys! I tried my hand for the second year in a row at cooking the bird - but we had such a crowd (Josh's parents and James, his sister and brother-in-law, the Forbesses and Sandovals and 2 from the Sucre team), we actually cooked 2! Josh smoked one - and I actually think his turned out better. There's nothing better than Thanksgiving dinner - especially when you are able to find cranberry sauce to go along with it. Everyone pitching in to bring sides and desserts (including pumpkin and pecan pie!) and the fellowship around the table made it a year to remember.


Michaela had a blast playing with James. I was worried she'd be bored out of her mind when they left.


Josh and his dad went to work and replaced all the screens on our windows - many of which had rotted through. As it gets warmer and starts raining more, the flies and mosquitos get bad. I have been very thankful for our new screens the last few days.


Nana was in heaven with 3 out of her 4 grandchildren. We missed you, Kaidan!


This is our first year since being married that we'll celebrate Christmas in our own home. It was also Michaela's first year to decorate the tree! She caught on quickly to what the Christmas spirit is all about.


We made Christmas cookies with Nana and James. I wasn't quite prepared for the whirlwind of decorating Christmas cookies with a 2 year old! But in spite of the mess, it sure was fun.


We found a little plastic bat and ball for Michaela for a dollar and my creative husband set up a makeshift t-ball court in our back yard with a pvc pipe. Michaela loves playing baseball - and is actually getting pretty good at hitting the ball (although she still needs a little practice with the logistics of running the bases!)


Josh's mom and I made a trip to the used clothes section of the Cancha (the Bolivian version of goodwill) and she bought Michaela some dress up clothes for Christmas. She and Michaela then proceeded to have a tea party in their new clothes. Michaela loved it!


Michaela in her dress up clothes.


Eliana took 12 steps on her own! She had lots of people to practice with, and loved every minute.


We spent the day a local retreat center and the daddies and kids went swimming together. It was Eliana's first time to really enjoy the water - and Michaela had fun as always swimming with Daddy.


Zion and Eliana discovered the tupperware! They had fun playing together (although Zion can run circles around Eliana).

And the news is...

Eliana is officially crawling! Not far yet - but definitely getting from one point to another on her hands and knees. This 7 month pregnant mom is definitely happy that she will now be able to get places on her own - and looking forward to the day she starts to walk (although I may regret my words as soon as she starts getting into everything!).

Family Camp 2007

When we began discussing ministries as a team during the beginning stages of our development, several on our team expressed the desire to coordinate and network with the already existing churches in Bolivia. Since the beginning of our time here, we have attempted to visit and encourage the brethren in all parts of the country, and in return have been much encouraged as well. However, we didn't want to encroach on things that are already happening among the churches. For example, there is a yearly ladies and mens conference that the congregations organize. So we decided to plan something a little different - a retreat focused on families. Josh has had some experience planning and organizing these during our years working for the iglesia in Memphis (thanks, Jim!) and so had at least some idea of where to start. And I must say, I have a husband with a head for details - so he made a great point man. However, it was definitely a team effort. The Sandovals and Forbesses helped so much with the logistics and made sure the camp went smoothly. One of the newly baptized brothers, Pedro, organized all the sports tournaments. The ladies and I planned Bible classes for the kids during the adult classes. And we invited a Bolivian brother, Tom Allen, who has been preaching in the States for the last 10 years to come down and give the classes. He did a wonderful job presenting from the book "A Purpose Driven Life" and gave the best sermon I've heard in a long time on Sunday (partly because both girls slept through most of it - they were so tired!). And God is so good. He used the camp and Tom as a catalyst for 7 baptisms last Sunday! 4 of those baptized were ones Josh has been studying with for months - so he was very excited. By the time the weekend was over, I was ready to pass out I was so tired - but it was a wonderful experience all the same. Here are a few pictures from the camp and Sunday's baptisms.

The camp was about an hour from Cochabamba near a lake called Coroni. It was beautiful and cool - at a higher elevation than Cochabamba - and a welcome escape from the warmer days right now where we live.


Here's a view of some of the cabins. Families slept together with 3-4 families per cabin.


This is one of the main worship times in the chapel. We had 5 worship times with singing and a lesson.


Here's a picture of the group. We had representation from Sucre, La Paz, 2 churches in Santa Cruz and Cochabamba - a total of about 130 people including children.


Meals were provided by the camp and were tasty Bolivian fare. Here is a picture of fellowship time in the eating hall.


We planned a mini-VBS for the kids, with lessons focusing around the "I Am"s of Jesus, songs, and an activity.


Sports tournaments were planned especially for the adults, with groups competing from each church - men and women. Here are the kids playing dodge ball. There was even a rock climbing wall - which was a big hit.


We held a talent show the last night which was a lot of fun. The kids performed a couple songs we had practiced during the class time. Josh and his sister Jenny sang a Paul Simon song (Jenny played guitar and Josh harmonica), and also one by the Mexican group Mana.


Here is a picture of one of the baptisms on Sunday morning. Unfortuately all the pictures turned out a little fuzzy. This is Pedro, who was baptized along with his wife Beatrice and teenage daughter Rebeca. Josh has been studying with their family since June.


We also held a special inauguration for the contact center and unveiled a new sign. We are partnering with Tom Allen's church which also has a Christian Education Center. They are providing funds every month for the purchasing of materials for the library. We are very excited and grateful for the help we're recieving from them.

Tribute

My granddaddy, Dean Clutter, passed away very peacefully on Monday, October 29th at around 7:00 pm. My grandmother, my parents, my aunt and uncle, and one of my cousins were with him till the end. My dad and mom were reading Psalms to him till the last. My sweet husband spent 4 hours on the phone trying to figure out a way that I could go home for the funeral (which is on Tuesday, Nov. 6th), but it was financially impossible (not to mention difficult timing, as we just got back yesterday from hosting a family retreat at a camp an hour from Cochabamba for all the churches in Bolivia and all hands were needed on deck!).

They are going to post tributes to my grandfather on a bulletin board at the funeral, and so though I can't be there in person, I will of course be there in spirit and thanks to the wonders of technology, I'll be able to have my tribute posted along with the rest of my family.

"My granddaddy. It's hard to put into words what this wonderful man has meant in my life. For starters, he has given my family an amazing heritage of faith. I can't begin to describe the blessings that stem from a family rooted in God and His word. My granddaddy provided that for my mom, who then passed it on to us, and now I have the incredible task of passing it on to my children - his great-grandchildren. Scripture truly speaks when it says "showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commands." Ex. 20:6

He was not only an amazing example of faith in his personal walk with the Lord, but also in his service to Him. I am so proud to have a grandfather who spent over 60 years in full time ministry right up until the Sunday before his surgery- through ups and downs and different churches. I remember he would always leave the house at least an hour before service to study and pray before each sermon. He kept a record of all of his sermons in files in his office - I would love to look through them some day. His personal library was a tribute to the hours he spent in the studious reading of the Bible. One of the most touching gifts he ever gave was a set of Biblical commentaries to Josh. I know he had used them well before he passed them on, and Josh was very grateful.

His marriage to Grandmother was just another powerful example of his faith lived out. They were always loving and considerate of one another. They always worked in the garden together. When Grandmother lost her eyesight and ability to read, Granddaddy read the Bible to her every night.

I remember lots of little things as well - fishing trips and pool games, a bowl of ice cream every night, giving Michaela her first bite of ice cream at 8 months, an amazing memory that never forgot a name or face, joking with my brother and teasing my sister, special nicknames for us grandkids, smiling blue eyes, lots of laughter (I tell people that my Granddaddy reminds me of the laughing Uncle Albert in Mary Poppins), special woodworking gifts he made for us, tears that came too easily when he was touched by something, warm summer evenings in their homey house on furlough, lots of Christmases and Thanksgivings together during and after college - playing euchre and drinking apple cider, a special Christmas day hunting trip together, playing the bugle for us kids.

All I know is he touched countless lives through his life, including mine. He was faithful to his family, his wife, his country, but most of all to His Lord. As hard as it is to say goodbye from afar, I take comfort in these words. "Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep or to grieve like the rest of men who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him." I know Granddaddy is in the eternal rest found in Christ, this special servant and soldier of the Lord held close to His side, commended for his walk of faithfulness. We will love and miss him greatly, but we will rejoice again together on the other side."

To Obtain One Bolivian Drivers License You Must...

1. Take at least 15 trips to transito (this is not exagerated!)
2. Take 2 trips to Interpol to obtain one background check costing 40Bs.
3. Take 2 trips to the police station to obtain one request for a background check and one background check (for which you have to purchase a special form) in total costing 35Bs.
4. Take the theoretical exam on a Thursday night (in Spanish) covering signs, road rules (are there any in Bolivia??), and car mechanics.
5. Have at least 10 copies of your Bolivian ID card, 5 copies of your passport, one copy of your birth certificate, one copy of your American drivers license, one copy of the theoretical exam, one copy of the list of the theoretical exam saying you passed.....
6. Have 2 pictures 3x3cm on a blue background costing 15 Bs for the files and one digital picture for the actual license.
7. Stand in line for 2 hours to have an eye exam which costs 50 Bs.
8. Stand in 7 other lines at other desks.
9. Pay 160 Bs. for the actual license.

However, I am very proud to say that after a year of driving without a Bolivian license, I am now a legal driver in Boliva! (Although, for the record, they probably wouldn't give me many problems so long as I had my American license to show - many of my ex-pat lady friends drive without licenses).

My Granddaddy

Last week we got an email from my mom saying that my granddaddy was on his way to a cardiac center in Michigan, as they were pretty sure he had had a heart attack. Turns out they aren't sure if he did or not, but his heart was in pretty bad shape and they decided to do quadruple bipass surgery. After a few days of waiting due to some blood and pulmonary problems, they did what seemed to be a successful triple bipass surgery. But complications developed, as often do in 83 year old men, my granddaddy had some breathing problems, developed pneumonia, had to have a temporary pacemaker installed etc.

Needless to say, it's been a difficult couple of weeks for my family. My mom has taken off work temporarily to be able to be with my grandmother and granddaddy at the hospital. I just got an email from my dad saying that things continue to look bad for granddaddy - and that within another week, they'll have to make some tough decisions about medical care, seeing as his chances of recovery are slim.

I was very thankful when I heard of the successful surgery - I guess I started thinking about how nice it would be to have Granddaddy to be able to meet Eliana and the new little great-grandaughter that will be joining our family before we go back next June on furlough. But maybe God is ready for this great servant of his to join the ranks in heaven.

Growing up in Kenya had some sacrifices to it. I didn't get to spend much time with my grandparents. But I have always loved and respected my grandparents so much. My granddaddy has been preaching for all of his adult life - up until the Sunday before these heart problems occured - and has touched countless lives for Jesus. He is a joyful, humble, people-loving servant of the Lord, and I am so proud to have him as a grandfather. He never forgets a person's name once he meets them (a talet I wish I inherited!)

Anyway, I guess I am requesting your prayers for my grandfather and my whole family as they face this together. I knew being gone for 2 and a half years that both Josh and I might have to face some family loss from afar. But it still makes me sad to think I might never get to see his baby blue eyes smiling again - and let my 2 little girls meet him.

Thank you for your prayers and your love and support. I am so thankful for the Christian faith - for being able to face times like this with the hope of heaven and the love of Christ.