Christmas Part 3

When you have thousands in your network, Christmas is a month long event. And though we are now well into January, we are just finishing up and starting to get back into our ‘normal’ rhythm.

However, we still have a few more events we wanted to share with you!

So here is Christmas part 3.

Every Friday, we have hundreds of kids who attend our weekly programs, consisting of a meal together, a lesson, an activity, hygiene education and more. It is a time for us to learn not only names, but stories, who their families are and a more detailed look into their personal lives. This is a time for us to not only give back, but to slow down and learn. It’s a place of safety, and laughter. A place where these children and families alike are learning more in-depth what it means to be a family. And for our team, where they learn to slow down and love deeper despite the heartache and pain of the stories they are now entrusted with.

Our team requested we do something more personalized for the hundreds who attend weekly, so they set off and made a plan and executed beautifully. They partnered with our local church in Guadalajara, Origen who personalized and stuffed well over 300 boxes filled with toys, clothes, hygiene products, food and more.

When the day came, we began our weekly activities per usual, only this time they had one surprise after another wrapped into their usual activities. I don’t think there was a quiet moment this entire day no matter how hard they tried. The squealing could have been heard for miles. At the end of each groups activities, we piled them all inside one of the rooms in our village base, sat them down, and told them that someone who loved them had gone out and hand picked gifts specifically for them. That their names were known.

One by one, we called out their names, the room filled with cheers and applause. Gifts were given. And soon after ripped into. Every child excited for the next. Laughter, tears, and tangible excitement filled the air.

Thank you’s and hugs and a quick hurry out to show their mamas what they were given, as the next groups lined up outside waiting for their turn to see what all the excitement was about.

Next week: Christmas part 4

Christmas Part 2

After weeks of hard work and dedication from our team, of both staff and volunteers, our rooms and stations were ready to go, with our team of mamas cooking in the kitchen.

Our staff and volunteers splitting up into 10 different stations.

Each station stocked with another surprise.

Then we waited, until all of us sudden you saw (or should we say heard!) hundreds of children in their uniforms filling the streets with white paper bags now decorated for Christmas. The first school had arrived!! Let the party begin!

Each school that arrived was greeted from different volunteers and organizations who had also made this week possible.

We then had them split into groups, and the children and teachers dispersed. Some heading inside to make snow globes, play Christmas bingo with marshmallows, and to hear/ act out the Christmas story all the while filling their bags with goodies and drinking hot chocolate. While the others were headed down to the field to meet Santa, make Play-dough Christmas trees, get their faces painted, eat a yummy burrito, make a candy cane reindeer and play different games.

The laughter could have been heard for miles.

With each group that left another came.

For 2 full days, every hour on the hour a new set of faces would come across our stations. But this time, rather than it just being faces, we knew their names.

Next week: Christmas part 3



Let's Talk about Christmas Part 1.

First of all, THANK YOU to everyone of you who made Christmas for our kids possible this year. We celebrated big with over 2,500 children in our villages alone, not including all our home visits.

Jacque, our home lead, specialized each Christmas celebration to the homes request. For our baby house that looked like hundreds of diapers and formula gifted all the way to our girls home where they requested Samy and Pati’s tamales, Christmas cookie decorating, Christmas caroling, a photo booth and games, a piñata and more. Ending the night with a big game of hide and seek in the dark.

For our villages, we split the celebrations into 3 days. Each day seeing almost 1,000 children. The Monday prior to their event day, our crew headed to the school with paper bags to invite the kids to their big Posada (Christmas party). We handed out white paper bags as their “ticket” in that was to be decorated with their teachers prior to their arrival.

Inviting the children was more than we could have imagined. We added 2 new schools to our programs this year, many of which only eat a meal or two a week (for most that is the meal Marked provides through our school lunch program) let alone do anything for Christmas, and so seeing their faces and their responses to the invite will forever mark us. From mouths completely dropped to the floor, to tears, to kids laughing in hysterics because they were so thrilled, it was a moment we will never forget.

Moments like these are made possible by you! And for that we are forever grateful.

Next week: Christmas Part 2.

2019. 2019. 2019. 2019. 2019.

Can you believe 2019 is here!

Happy NEW YEAR!

There is something magical about the start of a new year.

For us it a clean slate to dream, to explore and to discover.

Its a new year to grow, reflect and change.

Its a time where we plant deep, for the new seasons that are ahead.

Its a time for hope to arise, and to remind our soul of the promises that await.

Each year we set time aside to reflect on the past year, and dream for the year that is head of us.

We take time to slow down, and ask questions.

To reflect.

And to strategize.

What are some of the ways you start each year? Do you have a word for each year that you hold onto? Do you look back at your journals to see all that has taken place over the past year? Or do you jump straight into the new year? Do you like to reflect back with others? Or is it something you do personally? Or maybe not at all? Do you set goals for each year? Or write down things you would like to see happen?

We would love to hear how you look back on each year, and how you strategize for the year that lies ahead.

However you do it, we wish you a happy new year! May this year be MARKED with provision, favor and dreams fulfilled. May it be filled with meals around the table and laughter in your homes. May 2019 be a year you will never forget.

.

Its hard to believe we are at the close of yet another year. 2018 was filled with so much growth within our children and communities, but also for Marked. 2018 has been yet again another monumental year for us, we are pleased to inform you that because of you, our generous partners, this has once again proved to be our most successful year to date.

With your support both financially and of your time, we have accomplished so much to improve the lives of thousands of children and adults in our network.

Here is a brief summary of what we have accomplished TOGETHER this year. 

This year, we reached nearly 16,000 children through our programs, not including their parents and grandparents alike. With that, we served over 200,000 meals nearly 17,000 kilos of that being protein.  We distributed over 38,000 articles of clothing through our Marked store and saw 2,460 children enrolled in school through our school partnership program. 

We also expanded into new buildings this year. Receiving the Marked Community center, from the local government, not only increased the amount of people we can now reach but also, has given us access to a new community. It gave us our own soccer field, which has now seen over 120 of the hardest cases running up and down the field. 

Hundreds of medical and dental cases have been resolved, and over 20 children have been rescued just this year alone. 

We cannot thank you enough for the love you have poured out and the lives you have changed because of your generosity. We cannot wait to see what 2019 brings. 

So here is to a new year, new growth and abundance. For every seed you plant, may you see an abundant harvest. 

-The Millers

Wishing You A Merry Christmas

From all of us at Marked,

We wish you a Merry Christmas. We pray your week is filled with laughter, meals around the table, warm fires, sparkling lights, candles burning and a hot cup of Marked Coffee in hand.

That memories will be made, and stories will be shared. That you would take time to dream about the new year, and reflect on the year just had.

We are thankful for each and everyone of you. And pray this season would bring you joy unspeakable as we move into a new year.

May you feel His presence wrapped around you this Christmas season.

Love,

The Marked Family

Christmas Activities

Now that school is almost out, we wanted to create a short list of activities you and the family can do to spark connection and focus on what is important this time of year. Each other. We hope this season is filled with meals around the table, long conversations and dreaming together for the new year.

Build a Gingerbread house together, or make it a competition.

-Either buy a pre-made kit, or take your kids to the local grocery store (ideally one that carries bulk candy), let everyone pick out a couple different kinds of candy, then buy everyone a container of frosting and a box of graham crackers and have at it. If its a competition give them a timeline. Then vote!

• TIP: Stores like Winco have cheap bulk candy isles, and/or the dollar store for frosting and graham crackers for a buck!

• TIP: Turn on Christmas music and make a hot coco bar for the entire family to enjoy while they are decorating.

A Christmas Day- IN

- Start your morning before the kids wake up, brew yourself a coffee, turn on the Christmas tree lights, light the candles, play Christmas music softly in the background and start making breakfast for the family. What were some of your childhood favorites? For us, we are big fans of sticky buns, cinnamon rolls (both of which can be prepared the night before), dutch babies (you can find the recipe in our Marked cookbook) or a waffle bar with all the toppings.

- Once the kids wake up, have them each open up a cookbook and pick out a Christmas cookie they would like to make, if they're little, we recommend sticking with a classic sugar cookie recipe and letting them pick out the cookie cutter designs as well as helping you decorate.

- When the cookies are done, or maybe they are cooling. Pull out a puzzle, or a game they have been asking to play for awhile. After all you are in no hurry today.

-After games are done and the puzzle completed, begin to prep dinner. Maybe its build your own pizza night, or chili and corn bread around the fire. Either way, use this intentional time to connect. Asking questions like what they loved about this past year, and even what they didn’t.

• TIP: We call this “popcorn” where we go around the room letting each person pick the next, asking about their ‘high’ and ‘low’ of the day/week/year.

- Last, turn on a Christmas movie the whole family will love. Pop popcorn, create a build your own hot coco bar, snuggle up by the fire and enjoy a quiet night together.

• TIP: PopCorn bar: popcorn, m&ms, nuts, caramel corn, cheddar corn, cinnamon and sugar shaker. etc. Hot coco bar: Hot chocolate, mini marshmallows, mini chocolate chips, candy canes, whipping cream, straws.

Day OUTside

- Pack a sack lunch, lots of snacks, a thermos of hot apple cider/ or hot coco and some Christmas cookies and head to the mountains.

• TIP: Sandwiches, apples, carrots, and pre-made salads, both pasta and green are great for on the go. If you have multiple thermos’ hot soup is also another favorite of ours to take on the road.

-Find a hike that you have been wanting to check off your list, if snow is in the forecast find a place with a good sledding hill, if you are a family that enjoys outdoor sports, head to your local ski resort for a fun day out.

Favorite things gift exchange

-For those of you who do not have kids, or have older kids, this is another one of our favorites. Invite a group of friends/family over to the house for cookies and coco and ask them all to bring “X” amount of their favorite things. (For example, if you have 5 friends joining, everyone brings 5 of the same item to give.) For each gift being given, have the giver explain why the item is their favorite. By the end of the evening, everyone leaves with “5” new favorite things that hopefully they too will love.

• TIP: If you are worried, set a price point (ie $10 per gift), or set a theme (ie Kitchen, Spa day, outdoors etc). If you have more people joining, then ask everyone to bring 3-5 gifts, they won’t each get one of everything, but everyone will leave with the same amount of gifts.

Serve Together

-Find a local shelter, church, or organization that you believe in and spend an afternoon serving them together.

-Collect socks, shoes, blankets and coats and deliver them to those in need.

-Fill ziplock bags with non-perishable items and deliver them to homeless in or around your community.

• TIP: Things to add to bags: hand warmers, hand sanitizer, toothpaste, toothbrush, bandaids, socks, gloves, granola/ protein bars, apple sauce squeeze pouches, nuts, crackers, fruit/fruit snacks, water bottle.

Still needing a few more ideas?

1. Go see a Christmas show (Like the Nutcracker!)

2. Go see a Christmas movie in theaters (Like the Grinch!)

3. PJ’s and Christmas Lights, drive around with the family finding the best Christmas lights in your city.

4. Write letters to Santa

5. Go Visit Santa

6. Let each kid decorate their room with snowflake cut outs, and other Christmas crafts they have created this year.

7. Read the Christmas story

8. Act out the Nativity story

9. Go Christmas Caroling

10. Go to a Candle Light Service at your local/or home church

We hope this Christmas season is filled with memories that last a lifetime!

ITS TIME FOR CHRISTMAS

How fun it has been to see the kids faces light up with delight. This year, being in our community center we opted to have the community get involved with the entire process from decorating and getting the rooms ready, to volunteering for the day of events.

We had different local organizations join in on the fun, donating Christmas trees to fill our rooms, decorations, crafts and more.

Our team has been hard at work for weeks leading up to the events, anticipating all that is to come, seeing the smiling faces, hearing the laughter filling the rooms.

The simple sounds of Christmas.

For many this will be their first Christmas experience, first Christmas tree & first time hearing the Christmas story. But for most, this is one of the incentives of being in school. For us, we choose to partner with the local schools, for every child enrolled in school they are invited to participate in events like these.

Christmas for them is another time to celebrate. But for us, not only is it a time to celebrate but it is also another way we encourage education and sustainability through out the year.

Follow us along on Instagram (@markedbyheaven) these next few weeks as we share more of the Christmas experience with you.

You Use The Word Sustainability A Lot...

What is Sustainability?

You might think that “sustainability” is just a buzzword. You probably hear it used all the time in all kinds contexts. There’s sustainably-sourced clothing products and food, sustainable business growth, and sustainable treatment of the Earth.  You might call this word trendy and common and be tempted to throw it out. But we never will, because the truth is, sustainability is at the very heart of everything we do. 

As an orphan care ministry, here is an idea of what we DON’T want: to spend endless donated resources on a system we created that relies on us, creating a culture where the only time good things happen is when we show up with lunch. What happens if we can’t be there? What happens when we drive away at the end of the day?

In everything we do, our heart is to create sustainability. We want to empower people to stand up and take ownership of their villages and cities. We want to give people everything they need to continue the work we’ve started, creating jobs and opportunities for people who would have otherwise stayed lacking.

When we’re the heroes, only we win. When we make them the heroes of their own story, everyone wins.

With this kind of sustainable growth, villages are transformed and nations are changed. This is the heart of Marked. In everything we do, our heart is to champion the ones that are often ignored, and encourage them to go farther and dream bigger than their circumstances should have allowed.

For Marked as a whole, our focus has become to create sustainability in every single thing we put our hands to. We’ve been dreaming of bringing in resources above and beyond the generous donation of churches and individuals all over the world. We’ve started to use our gifts to create things that will propel the mission forward. We wrote a cookbook, dreaming of feeding families in Mexico with the proceeds. We’ll begin selling Mexican coffee as well, with the intent of creating jobs for young adults (most of whom typically resort to joining the cartel or prostitution, out of desperation for money and belonging). Our artisan shop where moms and dads alike are creating custom leather goods and the Marked store and barber shop are other ways we are breaking cycles and empowering lives.

Instead of creating a system of dependency and lack, we’ve decided that we’ll become part of a sustainable solution. Long-term transformation and impact for countless little lives. Will you join us in this journey?

Because Sometimes its Important to Share Again: 500- Year Vision

In today’s world, sometimes it’s hard to have “vision” beyond what we will have for dinner in a few hours, much less a year or two down the road. With things changing and shifting so often, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to set goals, make plans, and run after them relentlessly. In America it’s easy to grab ahold of the “just take care of YOU” narrative and have no grid for the kind of world we’re creating for our children and our children’s children.

I’ve heard stories of old men in ancient days that would plant hundreds of acres of seeds, with the vision that one day their great grandchildren would have an entire forest of old oak trees to build with and cultivate. They saw beyond themselves and paid a price for something that they would never reap the benefit of themselves. We see the same story with biblical kings that would invest everything they had to build a temple that they would never actually lay their own eyes on, because it would take hundreds of years to complete. What’s the difference between them and us? What has changed?

It all comes down to vision. These people chose to say no to the luxury of today because they saw that the inheritance that they could leave for their ancestors, and it was worth it to them. 

We talk a lot about our “500-year vision” around here. It seems startling to people sometimes. How can you have vision for something that may never see come to pass? Our answer looks a lot like the old man with the handful of seeds. We’re thinking about the ripple effect that just one life can make. What’s our vision? An Orphan-less World. We don’t think we’re going to get there overnight. Maybe not even in our lifetime, although we will believe for it and do everything we can to see it come to pass. But every single thing we do, every life saved, every family transformed, every orphan adopted, is one seed in the ground.

What’s YOUR 500-year vision? What do you want to see transformed in your lifetime? What kind of world do you want to leave for your children and grandchildren? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Marked 2018 Christmas Gift Guide

Trying to get your Christmas gifts purchased before December hits? With just a few weeks away, we wanted to help make your gift giving a bit easier before the busy hustle and bustle begins.

So in the spirit of ease and treasuring the Christmas season, we put together a list of all our favorite, go-to Christmas gifts. All of these items come from companies we believe in, and many of them are items handmade by close friends and family. We believe in shopping with intentionality and purpose, and we are so happy to stand by every one of these companies, who share our hearts and carry a message that we are happy to partner with. 

Without further ado, happy shopping! 

1. Wall Banners from Pinehurst Home

We may be biased (we love our in-laws!), but we think that Ariana at Pinehurst Home is the very best. These wall hangings are the cutest addition to any room, and there's something in her shop to suit every kind of personality! 

Wall Banners start at $16

2. Balms From Gold Clover

“Passion Balm features a unique blend of essential oils that are known for clarifying and nourishing the skin to create clear, radiant glow. This chosen set of oils also provides a sweet, slightly spicy scent with aromatherapeutic benefits, including stress relief, mood elevation, and even boosting feelings of euphoria and love. Together, these oils create a complex blend packed with skin care benefits, from soothing, and clearing and preventing acne breakouts, to boosting circulation and healing tissue to create an even skin tone, and youthful, healthy radiance.”

Balms start at $8

3. Coffee, Cookbooks and Hand-Made Earrings from Marked

Shameless plug - you can support Marked while you shop too! Our Marked Coffee and Sustain: The Marked Cookbook along with our beautiful earrings are both perfect for gifting, and are event more perfect for the coffee lovers and hobbyist cooks in your life. The message is simple: life is better when you spend it around the table with the people you love. Our earrings are made to be dressed up or down and with multiple designs and colors there is one for everyone in your life.

Coffee & Cookbooks start at $16

4. Wooden Pens from Red River Turning

Beautiful hand made pens.

“These pens came from the big maple that stood at The Meeting House in Logan County, Kentucky. The tree was there when Peter Cartwright preached, James McGreedy prayed, and heaven listened. Through the days of the pioneer circuit riders it shaded feasts and festivals and fiery preachers. It stood through the shouting revivals and outpourings as God moved and the world changed… This is the place of the beginning of one of the greatest awakenings in history.”

Prices start at $125

6. Leather Bags and Backpacks

Gorgeous leather goods with a great cause. Win-win. Magnolia partners with organizations like FashionABLE who fight world poverty by equipping women in impoverished countries with the tools to create beautiful products and build businesses to sustain themselves and their families. 

Magnolia Traveler Backpack - $178

6. Give the Gift of Giving

We all have those people in our lives that “have everything” or “don’t want anything”. This year, give the gift that keeps on giving. Make a donation on their behalf to their favorite organization, charity or something you and they believe in. No amount is ever too small.

Happy Shopping!

What Christmas Looked Like Last Year!

It is always fun to go back and look at what has taken place over the last year. For us, the Christmas season is our time to reflect on all of that. And since we here at Marked are already getting into the Christmas spirit, we though we would share some of our favorite memories from last years Christmas with you! '

2,400 children. 2,400 gifts. 2,400 meals shared. Santa. The Nativity story. Live music. Games. A parade. And so much more!

But the best part of it all, was that MORE children enrolled in school this year so that they too could be apart of our events. And those who were already enrolled in school sky rocketed with their grades and attendance records. Where most of the students were averaging a failing GPA, now, the average is getting an A- GPA. Something we here at Marked don’t take lightly.

We cannot thank everyone who gave last year enough— You are changing the generations through your generosity. And we cannot wait to see what this years events lead to!

To be apart*: marked.org/give or text any amount and the word ‘marked’ to 45777

*All donations made before Dec. 31st are tax-deductible for 2018 taxes

I know, I know, how can we be planning Christmas before Halloween has even happened?

Heres why!

We need you!

This year we are celebrating with over 2,500+ children that are in our network. That means, that we are celebrating 2,500+ children who are enrolled in school, attending our programs and have chosen to better their lives.

The villages:

This will be a 3 day event! Each day we will celebrate with the different schools where the kids will come with their teachers to our community center. Each room (7 + field games) a different interactive activity that will leave them with a bag of gifts to take home as well as their bellies filled.

They will hear the Nativity story and will be given a “movie” ticket to invite their family to come back later in the month to watch different Christmas movies and hear the Christmas story for themselves.

The homes:

Each home will have Christmas specified to their request! Some will be receiving extra diapers and milk, where other homes have requested respite for their directors where our staff will come and stay overnight, and do “Christmas eve + Christmas day” with the children. Lots of tamales, karaoke, crafts, pancake feed, the Nativity story and of coarse gifts.

Who knows, Santa may even make an appearance again!

Why we need YOU:

With 2,500+ children, our costs reach upwards of $15,000 to put on all these events, something we cannot do without your help!

Heres How:

If you are stateside or in another country besides Mexico, you can give financially to marked.org/give and select a one time gift*. If you are in Mexico, and would like to give tangibly or volunteer for any of these days, please reach out to Lopez@marked.org and we will let you know how!

*All donations made before Dec. 31st are tax-deductible for the 2018 tax year.

A Peek Inside

Many have asked to see inside our new community center and we cannot wait to start sharing it with you!

We have been moving in slowly, building deeper relationships among this community and learning their specific needs and desires. We are working with our Marked team on identifying problems and/or lack as well as strengths, defining major goals, and are in the process of developing a plan for execution. Sustainability is always on our mind, with long term transformation being our goal.

More to come, but for now, enjoy a few photos from inside our new center!

“Barber Shop”

“Industrial Kitchen ”

“Classroom”

“Dental Clinic”

“Marked Store Phase 1/ Location 2”

“Artisan Room”

“Entry & Waiting Room ”

Meet our New Barber: Gabriel

With the opening of our new community center, we began to dream about what we could offer to the community. What in our own lives, creates a safe space of community and connection. A place to hear stories, and share lives. A place to instill identity, even in ways that may seem unlikely. A place that is non-threatening and that would open the door to other men in our village communities.

We began to talk to the few men in our community that we trust, asking them to dream for their own lives, and what they would like to see for their villages. The result, a barbershop.

Gabriel has been apart of our community for a little while now, with his wife and children attending our mamas group. Gabriels family has gone through heartache after heartache, leaving him the oldest male, and the only adult male at 26, in his family. Their family of over 40 lives just a few blocks from our La Peña base in a tiny 3 room cement block house. His sisters and wife run our community kitchen. They have become not only staff, but family to us.

Gabriel expressed the desire to become a barber, and we had just the place for him. We made connections with a barber just outside of town who agreed to train him, and just a couple weeks ago, were able to show him his new space, and gift him with his first pair of clippers.

Gabriel is also currently helping with our Marked Soccer team, and weekly serves at our La Peña base because in his words, “I believes in this next generation, and I believe that they need good role models in their life, and I can be that.”

Just One of The Many Stories: The Goalie

*Note: Names have been changed for protection of child.

“Why is Jorge* always the goalie? Does he not want to play on the field? Or rotate positions with the other boys? Was the question noted by one of the other team members.”

The response, “When he first started he was terrified of the ball. This was something he asked to do to overcome his fear.”

When Jorge first started coming around, he was timid, soft spoken and showed every sign of a child who was severely beaten. From his behavior to the markings on his skin, you could tell this boy had lived through many years of heartache.

At 14 years old, Jorge had lived through more than most. His father, an alcoholic took all his anger, hurt, pain and aggression out on Jorge. He was not only his son, but became his fathers escape.

Over the past few months, soccer has given Jorge his voice back. Or maybe a voice for the first time at all. Instead of running from the ball as it came towards him, which took months to overcome, Jorge has found a love for the ball. He not only blocks it, but he now runs towards that which made him tremble with fear. Soccer has given him confidence. It has given him a band of brothers who are learning to love each other in a healthy way. It has opened the door to conversations, honest, raw conversations and it has given a place for us to love him well.

Jorge may have a ways to go, but we are seeing hope in his eyes for the first time. His smile beams from ear to ear as he runs and puts on his gloves when practice starts. Instead of hiding in the corner, he is now inviting others into the game. Others just like him.

Jorge is just one of many, all with stories of how a simple game has opened the door for transformation and wholeness to begin. A game that has allowed Jesus to show them just how fun, safe and loving a Father can be. A game that has given Jorge and boys like him a place to belong. A place to feel protected.

---

Some have reached out and asked to be apart of partnering with us via the Marked Soccer team, here are a list of needed items below, with a link to give:

• Soccer net x2 for our goals: $250.00

• More practice balls for the additional kids who have joined: $11.00 ball x 30 new kids: $330.00

• Soccer cones for practice: $12.00 x 4 sets: $48.00

• Agility ladder for practice: $36.00

• Practice shirts: $4.00x 30 new kids: $123.00

• New pair of cleats: $17/pair x 30 new kids: $510.00

• Shin Guards: $5 x 30 new kids: $150.00

• Re-Usable Water bottles: $1.50 x 30: $45.00

• Dreaming* Duffle bags: $8 x 50: $400

• Dreaming* Custom Travel Suits (slacks, shirt, jacket, tie, belt, socks) : $65 x 20: $1,305

  • TOTAL: $3,197.00

A Dinner with Mama

There are very few places that are as special to us as this house.

If you have been following our journey for some time, you will have heard of Mama Rosa a time or two. Mama was the first person to welcome us with open arms into the village communities, in which we work. She was the first to bring us into her home to help feed and share Jesus with the children in the community.

Mama Rosa cooking our board and staff dinner

Her children, who are local government officials, have paved a way for us to work in more communities, and untimely have been the key to opening the door for us to be given our new community center.

This family has sacrificed, and loved well. They are Jesus to us and to this community.

Every visit, she prepares a special meal for our team, she loves to honor. She loves to serve. She is a bright shining light and though she will tell you over and over again what a blessing we are, to us she is the blessings, and this is her inheritance. She is Proverbs 31.

When the Board Came to Visit

Over the holiday weekend, we had the privilege of hosting our incredible board here in Guadalajara.

It was a packed weekend filled with multiple home visits, back to school drives, team meetings, soccer games, village and community programs, teachings and of coarse site seeing.

Doctor Tavis and his wife Kirsten, RN saw multiple babies, as well as adults, in addition to an afternoon spent with families to discuss the epidemic we seem to be facing when it comes to kidney failure.

Diane, spent many hours teaching, loving and simply being a mama to everyone she encountered.

We can honestly say, we couldn’t have a more incredible group of people linking arms with us in the way that they do.

They tried everything that was offered to them, and more. They danced, sang, laughed, encouraged and educated every step of the way.

Our team in Guadalajara hosted so well, making this a trip to remember.

We are so thankful for our Marked Family and every role that each person plays. Together we are stronger. Together we are seeing transformation. Together we are impacting the Nations.

Here are a few highlights from our trip:

Dr. Tavis and Kirsten

Bought Gabriel his first set of clippers and scissors for his first week of class to become a barber.

Diane

spent hours washing little hands, faces and brushing their hair.

back-packs

We were able to give out the first round of backpacks to our school in La Peña

Jaclyn

The soccer boys thought they were so funny parading Jaclyn around on the donkey

babies

so many babies are born into our communities each month. But this one was something special. Tavis and Jaclyn have known this babies mama since she was just a baby herself.

Family Dinner

We loved spending time with our Marked staff. Sitting around the table, eating tamales, laughing, talking, teaching and sharing. Moments like these are gold.

Home visits

Soccer games, ice cream socials, pool parties, dance parties, nail painting and more.

House Calls

Mama Diane loving the littles as Dr. Tavis and Kirsten discuss hard topics with the families.

For more photos and stories, head to our instagram page @markedbyheaven

Earrings Have Officially Been Stocked!

Earrings have officially been stocked!

We are sorry for the delay!

To all who have been asking, our earrings are finally up on our site ❤️ Thanks for your patience, as our team has been hard at work. We didn't expect the overwhelming response when we first launched! But more are in stock and are ready to be sent your way! 

Our earrings are handmade by those in our village communities. With each set purchased you will receive a card with the name and story of the one who handcrafted your jewelry. We hope you love them as much as we do!

By purchasing a pair, you are aiding in breaking cycles of poverty, drug abuse, trafficking, imprisonment and abandonment by empowering lives with sustainable systems to go further than they could have dreamed.

This is what you are championing, and we couldn’t be more grateful.

www.marked.org/store