A Year Later : Marked Soccer

*A note from our director in Mexico 

In just a few weeks, we will be celebrating 1 year with our Marked soccer team. 

And what a year it has been. 

Never in my life have I seen more growth and desire to belong than I have in these boys. 

Never in my life have I seen the impact of family form so quickly and so intentionally. 

And never have I seen such dramatic change among a group of boys and men so quickly. 

This past week, we celebrated by taking the boys back to play against our friends at Colegio Once Mexico, the first school to say ‘yes’ to the risk of hosting this group of boys from the ‘barrio’. We drove them to the Chiva stadium in the city to dream once again, and shared a meal around the table at The House, the same thing we did less than a year ago, for their first time out of the villages where they grew up. 

Left to Right: May 2018 - February 2019

But what was so profound was reflecting and celebrating with them about how far they have grown and changed. 

“A few days later, as I sat on the sidelines of our weekly Saturday games, one of the boys who started the year with us but chose to go to work in the city instead of taking us up on college courses came and sat next to me and began asking about each of our players on the field and where they are now:

Four of our boys are all in their last year of secondary school (middle school) and will start prepa (high school) in the fall. One is working with us part-time and going to school part time to make up for 17 years of missing out on an education. Another is going to school part time as well to pick up where he left off when he dropped out of school 2 years ago, but is now also attending carpentry school where he not only is learning how to be a master carpenter but was just asked to come on with them for a couple hours after class because of his outstanding work ethic and skills. In addition, we have another who still struggles to stay out of trouble but we continue to cheer him on at every success. He just signed up for GED classes with us and will keep encouraging him until he finishes.And lastly, Gabriel now helps coach the team, he will start barber school in a few weeks, in addition to volunteering his time keeping our boys looking fresh. He dreams of opening the first barbershop in his village, where he can support his family and little boys to dream and grow in wholeness. 

And as I sat almost awestruck at what they’ve accomplished in a year, I turn to see someone else listening as well. ‘R’. He is a brother, cousin, friend, and a bad influence to several of our boys. I half jokingly commented to them both: “see I always accomplish my word.” ‘R’ very bold faced replied that's the way it always should be. He said it as if not one single person in his life has ever lived up to what they said they would do. But that he was dead set on if he said it, he will accomplish it. He acts as though he hates everyone, won’t depend on anyone, do what I want, when I want, how I want and there is nothing anyone else can do about it. Except here he was, yes on his own terms, but here he was on my side of the story. Better yet where he is beginning to realize he’s been written into life, a story so much bigger than his own and where the words and promises spoken over him are a part of God’s story and that His Word is unfailing, everlasting, and “pursuing him like that Shepherd and that one sheep.” 

Then he wanted to know about ‘P’ and why he has stayed. The newest member of our team. He is from the neighborhood our new community center is in, only 3 miles away from our original base but considered a completely different barrio. He goes to school with a few of our other boys, since it’s the only middle school in the area. Though they were not friends, our boys had invited “P” to come out to practice one day when they noticed he was having a hard time at home. ‘P’s dad left their family for another life in the US. New family, new wife, new kids and left ‘P’, his 3 other brothers and sisters, and his mom to fend for themselves. They knew ‘P’ left school early once a week to go to a doctor that helped him with his anger and questions. But they insisted and brought ‘P’ to practice a few weeks before Christmas. And has been with us since. 

After practice we pile all the boys in the truck and drop them off one by one at their homes, because of the threats they receive walking home at night, down the only road that runs through the villages. Since this team was inaugurated by the death of one of their young men, I always made a point to yell at them out the window Te quiero ‘J’ (I love you, J), Te quiero ‘R’ and so on as each one hops out of the back of our truck. 

One day I couldn't make it to practice and the boys took it upon themselves to make sure each one was told that they were loved as they were dropped off. And now 10+ boys ride down the road unashamed to tell each other they love one another so much that they yell it out the window, each and every Wednesday and Saturday. Family. That's what ‘P’ found, thats what each of these boys have found. Family. Not by blood. But by choice and love. And that is what has kept them here.” 

Changing the Culture of Education

This past week, our team call focused heavily on the testimonies regarding our newest program launched last month. 

Homework club. 

Stories have been pouring in of the impact the teachers and parents are seeing. Our class sizes have doubled in size each week since the end of January, with 4-one hour classes each week, hosting an average of 40 children per class. 

One 6th grader came to us to let us know that his father had enrolled him in both the morning and evening school to try and give him a boost in his education, but rather than a boost, it has caused so much confusion and set backs as both teachers are teaching different things on the same subject. This, along with many other reasons has caused him to fall to a 2nd grade education level. 

Unfortunately, he is not alone in this. Every student who has walked through our doors are years behind where they should be. But this is changing. 

In addition to students having no value for education, they are lining up an hour early to ensure they have a seat at the table. 

We are seeing the culture shift happening right before our eyes. Keeping kids in school, educating a community and empowering them for a bright future has and will always be a goal of ours. And we are excited for the changes that are coming. 

-If you are in the greater Guadalajara area and would like to volunteer and become a tutor send us a message at lopez@marked.org 

-If you are local to Jalisco and would like to donate school supplies, books, and other resources to stock a classroom, please send us a message at lopez@marked.org 

-If you have a heart for education, but can’t be there in person, sign up today to be a key partner to help with the programs.  http://www.marked.org/keypartners

Together we are making a difference. 

How your morning cup of Joe can transform a life.

Have you tried our coffee yet?

Did you know that for every bag sold, you provide 10 meals to a child in need?

If you are new to our coffee or our community, welcome! Marked coffee exists as part of the broader Marked community. Being a justice based organization, our mission is to break cycles of poverty in the orphan community of Latin America through a model of empowerment. With every bag sold we move one step closer towards our dream of emptying orphanages by empowering lives. Our call is to the lost and broken, our heart is for family and our mission is wholeness that breaks cycles.

By purchasing coffee, whether it be a single time, monthly subscription, or the 5lb bag for your business, church or home you are partnering with the mission to see sustainability brought to a community, children being fed and another tool that is keeping kids in school.

To order, go to marked.org/store or click the link below

Transformation through Education

We have always said, education changes lives and impacts culture. But in order for education to be valued in an environment where it has been seen as a hinderance to working and earring an income from a young age, you must model its importance.

Over the past 5 years, we have done just that. Education has been in constant conversation, and on the forefront of our minds. We have invested in the schools, spoke with parents, directors and government officials. We have spoken highly of and encouraged our kids about how education can shape the coarse of their lives, and set them and their families up for the generations to come. A foreign concept by a long shot. The idea that education can help?

But the fruit of our efforts is being seen. This year, the village towns have had their highest enrollment on record. 2,460 children enrolled in school, and growing.

And just this past month, we had 30 adults and youth who most never attended even kindergarten sign up to receive what would be equivalent to their GED.

Everyone of our staff moms, and even our soccer boys are learning the importance of what education means for their future.

We know this is just the beginning, and we cannot wait to see how this ripple effect with continue to spread throughout the communities.

Christmas Part 4

Rounding out our Christmas events we had 2 special groups that also needed to be celebrated.

First our mamas group who work and volunteer weekly in our village communities, their home towns. They are our extra hands each and every day, seeing that thousands of children get fed, that the store runs and the jewelry gets made.

They are the mamas who are being taught through our weekly programs, and they are the mamas that we hold near and dear to our hearts. These mamas are our family.

The second group was our Marked Soccer team. These boys, as you have heard us say time and time again are near to our hearts. They are Marked. Every week in order to be apart of the soccer team, they must serve their community. We have seen so much growth in these boys over the past year. They didn’t know that they were getting a special party, and yet all month long they have served tirelessly. From pulling all nighters to make sure nothing walked away during our Christmas event, to being Santa on the big day. They carried, cut, glued, cooked, ran errands, played with kids and more all the while not knowing they too would have a special celebration all their own.

After the big week of events came to a close, we watched them play their final soccer game of the year. Tied. 3-3. We gathered them together, and at the end invited them to their very own “posada” at Carlos and Karlisa’s house the following week instead of practice.

To see their faces being invited ‘home’ was priceless. They played games, tackled the “human piñata” to get their candy, and ate till their hearts were content. We invited a friend to come and share his story with them, we read the Christmas story, and simply connected. After all was said and done, gifts specifically for each boy, with their name on the package was handed out and opened. Everyone more excited than the next. Simply because the anticipation was being built. For some these were their first Christmas gifts ever given. And for all they were the most extravagant gifts they had ever received. From shoes, to soccer balls, hair gel to socks, it didn’t matter, they were thrilled, and we were elated to give it to them.

Christmas for us was one for the books, because of what it was for each of the ones we celebrated with. It marked us, and reminded us of the simplicity of what it is to give, give time, love and that no matter how big or small of gift to give is better than to receive.

They joy we gained in seeing their faces closed out 2018 for us as another year grateful for each of you who make moments like these and the other 364 days a year possible. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the gift you gave this past year in partnering with us.

You’re changing lives simply by saying yes.

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 ”