A Day in the Life of MARKED | Un día en la vida de MARKED

Many have been asking what a day in the life at MARKED looks like. While every day is a bit different, we do keep our daily programs on a set schedule. So, here is what happens each day at MARKED!

Muchos nos han estado preguntando cómo se ve un día en la vida de MARKED. Si bien cada día es un poco diferente, mantenemos nuestros programas diarios en un horario establecido. Entonces, ¡esto es lo que sucede cada día en MARKED!

9:00 Prep space & food | Preparar el espacio & la comida

Staff arrives at Casa MARKED and starts cleaning up the space.  The house, playground, kitchen, bathroom and patio all need to be disinfected and tidied up. Food also needs to be prepped for drop-off at our partner schools.

El personal llega a Casa MARKED y comienza a limpiar el espacio. La casa, el patio de recreo, la cocina, y el baño necesitan ser desinfectados y ordenados. También es necesario preparar la comida para llevarla a nuestras escuelas aliadas.

10:30 Prep hearts & minds | Preparar nuestros corazones & mentes

Devotional, prayer and meeting with staff to prepare hearts and minds for the day as well as go over the day’s plan. Then it’s time to load up the truck and take food for the first meal drop of the day, at the public preschool in La Peña.

Devocional, oración y reunión con el personal para preparar corazones y mentes para el día y repasar el plan del día. Luego es hora de subir todo a la camioneta y llevar alimentos para la primera entrega de comida del día, en el kínder público de La Peña.

11:00 Door opens | Se abre la puerta

At this time, we officially open up Casa MARKED to the public. The first shift of kids come for our daily program in which they get to play, eat, and learn about God. Shifts allow us to give personalized attention and care to each child who enters. In total, this ends up being just over 150 kids each day!

En este momento, abrimos oficialmente Casa MARKED al público. El primer turno de niños viene para nuestro programa diario en el que pueden jugar, comer y aprender acerca de Dios. Los turnos nos permiten dar atención y cuidado personalizado a cada niño que ingresa. ¡En total, esto termina siendo un poco más de 150 niños por día!

12:00-4:00 Simultaneous programs | Programas simultáneos

This is where our days vary most and normally, staff is split up to cover different tasks. Some stay at Casa MARKED to lead activities with the children like games, crafts, mealtime and a Bible lesson. Others help keep the kitchen in order as clean-up and prep happens! During the late afternoon is also when a couple of staff will head out to other neighboring towns like Agua Caliente to do street ministry and give out sandwiches as well as head to our other partner school, the elementary school in Chalpicote to do another meal-drop and spend time with the people there. Once a week we share donations of produce with our communities and host the Mommy & Me class for mothers and their babies too!

Aquí es donde nuestros días varían más y, normalmente, el personal se divide para cubrir diferentes areas. Algunos se quedan en Casa MARKED para dirigir actividades con los niños como juegos, manualidades, hora de comer y una lección bíblica. ¡Otros ayudan a mantener la cocina en orden mientras se realiza la limpieza y la preparación! Al final de la tarde también es cuando un par de miembros del personal se dirigirán a otros pueblos vecinos como Agua Caliente para hacer ministerio en la calle y repartir sándwiches, así como también se dirigirán a nuestra otra escuela aliada, la escuela primaria en Chalpicote para también traerles comida. y pasar tiempo con la gente de allí. ¡Una vez a la semana compartimos donaciones de productos agrícolas con nuestras comunidades y organizamos la clase de educación inicial para madres y sus bebés también!

4:00 Last shift | Úlitmo turno

Normally, most if not all of our staff is back at Casa MARKED by this point and the last group of children is welcomed in which consists of teens. Surprisingly, it is almost always an all-boys group. They get to choose what the want to do but nearly everyday they come wanting to play soccer and then, it is time for staff to join them for their meal and discipleship time. This is where we take time to pray for one another and go over a Bible passage together.

Normalmente, la mayoría, si no todo, de nuestro personal está de regreso en Casa MARKED para este punto y se da la bienvenida al último grupo de niños que consiste en adolescentes. Sorprendentemente, casi siempre es un grupo de chicos. Pueden elegir lo que quieren hacer, pero casi todos los días vienen con ganas de jugar fútbol y luego, es hora de que el personal se una a ellos para su comida y tiempo de discipulado. Aquí es donde tomamos tiempo para orar unos por otros y repasar juntos un pasaje de la Biblia.

5:00 Doors close & hugs given | Se cierra puerta & se regala abrazos

Casa MARKED technically closes the doors at 5:00pm but staff does not rush out. They ensure everything in the kitchen and patio are put away correctly and that as kids leave, everyone gets a proper goodbye. If you know about the hospitality of Mexicans, you know how long goodbyes can take!

Casa MARKED técnicamente cierra las puertas a las 5:00 p. m., pero el personal no sale corriendo. Se aseguran de que todo en la cocina y el patio se guarden correctamente y que cuando los niños se van, todos se despidan como es debido. Si conoces la hospitalidad de los mexicanos, ¡sabes cuánto tiempo pueden durar las despedidas!

This is a quick look at what a day at MARKED entails. Each day is a little different and there are no shortages of surprises however, one thing remains true we consider every single day a privilege. Each person we come into contact with means we get another opportunity to be love. We care for these communities so deeply and we are beyond thankful for the dedication of our staff and for you, who together make each day of programs at activities at MARKED possible.

Este es un vistazo rápido a lo que implica un día en MARKED. Cada día es un poco diferente y no faltan sorpresas, sin embargo, una cosa sigue siendo cierta: consideramos que cada día es un privilegio. Cada persona con la que entramos en contacto significa que tenemos otra oportunidad de ser amor. Nos preocupamos profundamente por estas comunidades y estamos más que agradecidos por la dedicación de nuestro personal y por ustedes, quienes juntos hacen posible cada día de programas en actividades en MARKED.

Would you like to see and experience what MARKED does each day? Dates for 2023 and 2024 trips are open now! Click the button to sign up or contact us with any questions!

¿Te gustaría ver y experimentar lo que MARKED hace cada día? ¡Ya están abiertas las fechas para los viajes de 2023 y 2024! ¡Haz clic en el botón para registrarte o contáctanos con cualquier duda!

Haz clic arriba para hacerte “key partner” de MARKED.

Already a partner? Would you consider sharing this with a friend?

¿Ya eres “partner”? ¿Nos ayudarías a compartir esto con alguien más?

One, the biggest number | Uno, el número más grande

Behind each statistic we share are individuals, each with a unique experience and a different story to tell. Numbers could not possibly encapsulate the transformation we see day to day or properly quantify just how much is happening in our communities. However, numbers do help us plan, budget, and share more information about MARKED with our friends like you! So, here is a glance at some numbers from the past week.

Detrás de cada estadística que compartimos hay individuos, cada uno con una experiencia única y una historia diferente que contar. Los números no podrían encapsular la transformación que vemos día a día o cuantificar adecuadamente cuánto está sucediendo en nuestras comunidades. Sin embargo, los números nos ayudan a planificar, presupuestar y compartir más información sobre MARKED con nuestros amigos como tú. Entonces, aquí hay un vistazo a algunos números de la semana pasada.

15 water jugs |15 garrafones de agua

As part of our nutrition programs, we emphasize the importance of drinking filtered water in addition to a vitamin rich meal. Before MARKED came to educate the communities, very few drank water and very little. Now, to see jugs empty and children asking for more is a huge victory.

Como parte de nuestros programas de nutrición, enfatizamos la importancia de beber agua filtrada además de una comida rica en vitaminas. Antes de que MARKED viniera a educar a las comunidades, muy pocos tomaban agua y muy poca. Ahora, ver cántaros vacíos y niños pidiendo más es una gran victoria.

You can probably think of many benefits of drinking water and for us, there is another very crucial one. Due to environmental pollution, residents of the communities we serve are more likely to contract kidney disease and drinking water to help the kidney filter out toxins is an easy first line of defense.

Probablemente puedas pensar en muchos beneficios del agua potable y, para nosotros, hay otro muy importante. Debido a la contaminación ambiental, los residentes de las comunidades a las que servimos tienen más probabilidades de contraer enfermedades renales y tomar agua para ayudar al riñón a filtrar las toxinas es una primera línea de defensa fácil.

55 pounds of tortillas | 25 kilos de tortillas

There really is nothing quite like a fresh corn tortilla. It is the perfect complement to nearly every Mexican dish. At MARKED, tortillas are the one of the few things we do not make in-house. We choose to support a local business instead. Just a few doors down from Casa MARKED is where we are able to purchase our tortillas, hot off the comal and simultaneously, empower others in the community.

Realmente no hay nada como una tortilla de maíz fresca. Es el complemento perfecto para casi todos los platillos mexicanos. En MARKED, las tortillas son una de las pocas cosas que no hacemos en casa. Elegimos apoyar un negocio local en su lugar. A solo unas pocas puertas de Casa MARKED es donde podemos comprar nuestras tortillas, recién salidas del comal y, al mismo tiempo, empoderar a otros en la comunidad.

650 pounds of vegetables | 295 kilos de verduras

Each Monday is our market day where part of our staff drives into the city to go to the market where we have deals with local vendors to get the very best produce at the very best price. Though the weather in our area does not change too drastically. the seasons of harvest for vegetables do so our community kitchen director, Paty works hard to plan meals, adjusting menus to incorporate vegetables and make intentional pairings with other foods for the best vitamin absorption as well as great taste!

Cada lunes es nuestro día de mercado donde parte de nuestro personal conduce a la ciudad para ir al mercado donde tenemos acuerdos con los vendedores locales para obtener los mejores productos al mejor precio. Aunque el clima en nuestra área no cambia drásticamente. las temporadas de cosecha de verduras sí. Hacen que nuestra directora de cocina comunitaria, Paty, trabaje arduamente para planificar las comidas, ajustando los menús para incorporar verduras y hacer maridajes intencionales con otros alimentos para la mejor absorción de vitaminas y un gran sabor.

320 sandwiches | 320 lonches

In addition to the hundreds of meals served at Casa MARKED and in our partner schools (reaching just under 1,000 most weeks), we have also been bringing sandwiches on our visits to Agua Caliente and Chalpicote to offer a bit of nourishment to the families there and give people a reason to come out and chat with us. Because of these sandwiches, we have been able to pray for and with these 320 people as well. We get to hear their stories, encourage them, and discuss the dreams they have for their families.

Además de los cientos de comidas que se sirven en Casa MARKED y en nuestras escuelas asociadas (llegando a poco menos de 1,000 la mayoría de las semanas), también hemos estado trayendo sándwiches en nuestras visitas a Agua Caliente y Chalpicote para ofrecer un poco de alimento a las familias allí y dar a la gente una razón para salir y charlar con nosotros. Gracias a estos sándwiches, hemos podido orar por y con estas 320 personas también. Podemos escuchar sus historias, animarlos y discutir los sueños que tienen para sus familias.

185 children in partner schools receiving meals | 185 niños en escuelas aliadas recibieron comida

We currently have two local public schools that we partner with to serve meals and support the staff and families in every way we can. You might remember reading about the progress we have seen with the public preschool that has been a part of MARKED for a couple of years now but we also have a newer addition, the primary school in Chalpicote where we hope to increase feedings and our involvement.

Actualmente tenemos dos escuelas públicas locales con las que nos asociamos para servir comidas y apoyar al personal y las familias en todo lo que podemos. Es posible que recuerde haber leído sobre el progreso que hemos visto con el preescolar público que ha sido parte de MARKED durante un par de años, pero también tenemos una incorporación más reciente, la escuela primaria en Chalpicote, donde esperamos aumentar la alimentación y nuestra participación.

20 teens in discipleship group | 20 adolescentes en grupo de discipulado

Along with the Mommy & Me class, school partnerships and daily programs at Casa MARKED for school-aged children, our staff is giving special attention to the teens in San Pedro too. Sam. our community center director leads prayer, Bible study and discussions with 20 young men. In the areas we serve, there are infinite pressures teenagers face, especially males. At MARKED, we aim to show them another option of life, one of faith; one that does not permit the stresses of life to sway our joy or compromise our values.

Junto con la clase de educación inicial, las escuelas aliadas y los programas diarios en Casa MARKED para niños en edad escolar, nuestro personal también brinda atención especial a los adolescentes en San Pedro. Sam el director de nuestro centro comunitario dirige la oración, el estudio de la Biblia y los debates con 20 jóvenes. En las áreas en las que servimos, hay infinitas presiones que enfrentan los adolescentes, especialmente los hombres. En MARKED pretendemos mostrarles otra opción de vida, la de la fe; uno que no permita que las tensiones de la vida influyan en nuestra alegría o comprometan nuestros valores.

1 salvation | 1 salvación

Big numbers reflecting growing enrollment, participation and thousands of meals served are great yet it may come as a surprise that the number that has us jumping for joy is one. Ultimately what we do is not just serve meals or play sports, it is building relationships and seeing a culture transformed, one by one so that the next generation always lives more fully than the last. This week, one is our biggest number.

Los grandes números que reflejan el aumento de la inscripción, la participación y las miles de comidas servidas son excelentes, pero puede sorprender que el número que nos hace saltar de alegría sea uno. En última instancia, lo que hacemos no es solo servir comidas o practicar deportes, sino construir relaciones y ver una cultura transformada, una por una, para que la próxima generación siempre viva más plenamente que la anterior. Esta semana, uno es nuestro número más grande.

The option to celebrate | La opción de celebrar

In addition to our existing core values, we recently added one more: celebration.

WE BELIEVE IN CELEBRATION | Knowing that there is always something or someone to celebrate

Además de nuestros valores fundamentales existentes, recientemente agregamos uno más: celebración. CREEMOS EN LA CELEBRACIÓN | El saber que siempre hay algo o alguien para celebrar

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We added this value because we have seen what happens when we congratulate someone in our community or acknowledge the fruits of hard work. Celebrating places value, it honors, and it encourages those being celebrated. In the past few years, more research has been done on the effects of celebrating and here are just a few:

• Celebration improves one´s perception of social support and confidence

• Creativity and innovation are boosted

• Taking time to enjoy and savor a good moment lowers stress levels in the body

• Acknowledging a job well done helps craft a community that attracts others

• It reminds us of the option we have to choose

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Agregamos este valor porque hemos visto lo que sucede cuando felicitamos a alguien en nuestra comunidad o reconocemos los frutos del trabajo duro. Celebrar valora, honra y alienta a los que están siendo celebrados. En los últimos años, se han realizado más investigaciones sobre los efectos de celebrar y estos son solo algunos:

• La celebración mejora la percepción de apoyo social y confianza

• Se potencia la creatividad y la innovación

• Tomarse el tiempo para disfrutar y saborear un buen momento reduce los niveles de estrés en el cuerpo

• Reconocer un trabajo bien hecho ayuda a crear una comunidad que atrae a otros

• Nos recuerda la opción que tenemos que elegir

Mommy & Me Group celebrating Children´s Day at Casa MARKED | Grupo de educación inicial festejando el Día del Niño en Casa MARKED

Hopefully you have gotten to see pictures from our Children´s Day fun already! If not, be sure to check out our Instagram where we post daily updates and even have videos from each of the three Children´s Day parties. It was a beautiful time of local churches, businesses, and individuals from near and far coming together to celebrate the lives of the children in our communities. Though it´s now days later, we still get chills looking at the photos and reliving the fun as kids come to Casa MARKED each day mentioning what a great time they had.

¡Esperamos que ya hayas podido ver fotos de nuestra diversión del Día del Niño! Si no, asegúrate de revisar nuestro Instagram donde publicamos actualizaciones diarias e incluso tenemos videos de cada una de las tres fiestas del Día del Niño. Fue un tiempo hermosoen que iglesias locales, negocios e individuos de cerca y de lejos que se unieron para celebrar la vida de los niños en nuestras comunidades. Aunque han pasado días, todavía nos dan escalofríos al ver las fotos y revivir la diversión cuando los niños vienen a Casa MARKED todos los días y mencionan lo bien que la pasaron.

Angelica and her son with our community center director, Sam helping set up for MARKED Fest! | Angélica y su hijo junto con nuestro director del centro comunitario, Sam, ayudando con el montaje de MARKED Fest

While we received a great deal of outside help to make these events possible, our neighbors and local friends also blew us away with their willingness to help. The woman in the picture above is Angelica. She is the teacher of the Mommy & Me classes held at Casa MARKED. The decorations at MARKED Fest (our big Children´s Day carnival) were thanks to her creativity! She, along with some of the other mothers hand-made each of the decorations you see in pictures- cardboard and balloons made into giant boxes of popcorn, rolls of crepe paper made into an exciting entrance for our children, and a piece of foam transformed into a fun frame to take photos in.

If you had asked us months ago when we began hosting the Mommy & Me class, we would have never imagined the community it has created amongst the mothers. With what started as a simple class and time to ask questions about caring for young children, has turned into a group of women empowered.

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Aunque recibimos una gran cantidad de ayuda externa para hacer posible estos eventos, nuestros vecinos y amigos locales también nos sorprendieron con su disposición a ayudar. La mujer de la imagen de arriba es Angélica. Es la profesora de las clases Mommy & Me que se imparten en Casa MARKED. ¡La decoración de MARKED Fest (nuestro gran carnaval del Día del Niño) fue gracias a su creatividad! Ella, junto con algunas de las otras madres, hicieron a mano cada una de las decoraciones que ven en las imágenes: cartón y globos convertidos en cajas gigantes de palomitas de maíz, rollos de papel crepé convertidos en una entrada emocionante para nuestros hijos y un trozo de espuma transformado. en un marco divertido para tomar fotos.

Si nos hubieras preguntado hace meses cuándo comenzamos a organizar la clase Mommy & Me, nunca nos hubiéramos imaginado la comunidad que ha creado entre las madres. Con lo que comenzó como una simple clase y tiempo para hacer preguntas sobre el cuidado de niños pequeños, se ha convertido en un grupo de mujeres empoderadas.

This is the cart of a young lady that walks through town each day to sell her fruit. The staff at MARKED is always sure to buy some fruit whenever she stops by. For months she has come by at least once a week to sell us fruit and chat for a moment but she had never accepted the invitation to step inside Casa MARKED, that is, until this week. She stayed for a good while, talking with our staff, enjoying a snack and taking a break before continuing her work day. To us, this is no small feat, it´s another soul that finds safety and good company at MARKED and that´s worth celebrating.

Este es el carro de una joven que pasea todos los días por el pueblo para vender su fruta. El personal de MARKED siempre está seguro de comprar algo de fruta cada vez que pasa por allí. Desde hace meses viene por lo menos una vez a la semana a vendernos fruta y charlar un rato pero nunca había aceptado la invitación para entrar a Casa MARKED, es decir, hasta esta semana. Se quedó un buen rato, hablando con nuestro personal, disfrutando de un refrigerio y tomando un descanso antes de continuar con su jornada laboral. Para nosotros esto no es poca cosa, es otra alma que encuentra seguridad y buena compañía en MARKED y eso vale la pena celebrarlo.

Volunteers helping staff prepare sandwiches to give out on the streets | Voluntarios ayudando al staff preparar sandwiches para repartir en las calles

Volunteers and their help is always something to celebrate! This week, we had a visit from some long-time friends of MARKED and it was great to have the extra help. Casa MARKED is full each day, our feeding programs in our partner schools are thriving and our visits to the streets of Agua Caliente are all things to celebrate!

¡Los voluntarios y su ayuda siempre son motivo de celebración! Esta semana recibimos la visita de algunos viejos amigos de MARKED y fue genial contar con la ayuda adicional. ¡Casa MARKED está llena todos los días, nuestros programas de alimentación en nuestras escuelas asociadas están prosperando y nuestras visitas a las calles de Agua Caliente son todo para celebrar!

Praying for and with the people of Agua Caliente before sharing lunch together | Orando con la gente de Agua Caliente antes de comer juntos

As we work in areas that experience extreme poverty, violence from organized crime organizations, lack of education and access to health care, of course there is no shortage of difficult news, challenges and heartbreak but we choose to celebrate every good thing.

Each day we see hearts being transformed, minds being renewed and lives being changed for the better. We do not always share each story to respect the identities and privacy of individuals in our community but there is always so much to celebrate.

Como trabajamos en áreas que experimentan pobreza extrema, violencia de organizaciones del crimen organizado, falta de educación y acceso a atención médica, por supuesto que no faltan noticias difíciles, desafíos y angustia, pero elegimos celebrar todo lo bueno.

Cada día vemos corazones que se transforman, mentes que se renuevan y vidas que cambian para mejor. No siempre compartimos cada historia para respetar las identidades y la privacidad de las personas de nuestra comunidad, pero siempre hay mucho que celebrar.

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A week of celebration | Una semana de celebración

The past week was one full of celebration as we hosted three separate Children´s Day parties!

¡La semana pasada estuvo llena de celebraciones ya que organizamos tres fiestas separadas del Día del Niño!

Before we share some of the highlights, we want to first thank each and every person who made these events possible. Over 400 children did crafts, received prizes, ate a delicious meal and got extra goodies along with a present to take home. Thank you for your support in making these days so special for our communities!

Antes de compartir algunos de los aspectos más destacados, primero queremos agradecer a cada una de las personas que hicieron posible estos eventos. Más de 400 niños hicieron manualidades, recibieron premios, comieron una comida deliciosa y recibieron dulces adicionales junto con un regalo para llevar a casa. ¡Gracias por su apoyo para hacer estos días tan especiales para nuestras comunidades!

What´s a good party without snacks, right? Along with a meal and candy, we had a surprise waiting for the children-cotton candy! To nearly all of the children at each of the parties-the preschool in La Peña, the primary school of Chalpicote and the big carnival at Casa MARKED- this was something totally new. The children were in awe of how the tiny specks of sugar grew into a fluffy dessert and once they tried it, were even more delighted! We loved being able to introduce something new to the children and share in the joy that is eating cotton candy!

¿Qué es una buena fiesta sin snacks, verdad? Junto con una comida y dulces, tuvimos una sorpresa esperando a los niños: ¡algodón de azúcar! Para casi todos los niños en cada una de las fiestas -el preescolar en La Peña, la escuela primaria de Chalpicote y el gran carnaval en Casa MARKED- esto fue algo totalmente nuevo. Los niños estaban asombrados de cómo los pequeños pedazos de azúcar se convertían en un postre que parecía nube y, una vez que lo probaron, ¡estuvieron aún más encantados! ¡Nos encantó poder presentarles algo nuevo a los niños y compartir la alegría de comer algodón de azúcar!

Another sweet part of these celebrations was being able to offer a variety of activities to the children. As we mentioned before, we had a carnival set-up with various stands for food, crafts, and different games! This meant that upon entering, the children had the freedom to choose what they wanted to do. Many asked, “I can really do anything I want?” with confused looks or even after playing one game they would ask, “I can play another game?”. It was as if they had never had so much autonomy. Most of the time, children are told what to do and in our communities, children are often given several responsibilities at home such as collecting firewood, taking care of younger siblings, or helping to cook and clean. However at these parties, along with food and fun, they were gifted freedom too.

Otra parte dulce de estas celebraciones fue poder ofrecer una variedad de actividades para los niños. Como mencionamos antes, tuvimos un montaje de carnaval con varios puestos de comida, manualidades y diferentes juegos. Esto significaba que al entrar, los niños tenían la libertad de elegir lo que querían hacer. Muchos preguntaron: “¿Realmente puedo hacer lo que quiera?”. con miradas confusas o incluso después de jugar un juego, preguntaban: "¿Puedo jugar otro juego?". Era como si nunca hubieran tenido tanta autonomía. La mayoría de las veces, a los niños se les dice qué hacer y en nuestras comunidades, a los niños se les asignan varias responsabilidades en el hogar, como recolectar leña, cuidar a los hermanos menores o ayudar a cocinar y limpiar. Sin embargo, en estas fiestas, además de comida y diversión, se regaló libertad.

If you remember, it was Children´s Day 2022 when we officially inaugurated Casa MARKED so along with celebrating the children in our communities, we also got to celebrate the first anniversary of this special space where we have seen thousands of meals served and hundreds of lives touched. We are so thankful to be able to have Casa MARKED and how it has become a home to many others in our communities.

Si recuerdan, fue el Día del Niño de 2022 cuando inauguramos oficialmente Casa MARKED, así que además de celebrar a los niños de nuestras comunidades, también pudimos celebrar el primer aniversario de este espacio especial donde hemos visto miles de comidas servidas y cientos de vidas tocadas. Estamos muy agradecidos de poder tener Casa MARKED y de cómo se ha convertido en un hogar para muchos otros en nuestras comunidades.

Pictures worth one million words | Fotos que valen más que un millón de palabras

We imagine that you have probably heard the phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words” but in looking at pictures from this past week, we think these are worth even more. They represent change, hope, growth, and how lives are being impacted in various areas.

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Imaginamos que probablemente hayas escuchado la frase "una imagen vale más que mil palabras", pero al ver estas imágenes de la semana pasada, creemos que valen aún más. Representan cambios, esperanza, crecimiento y cómo las vidas han sido afectadas en varias áreas.

Upper elementary students at the primary school in Chalpicote | Alumnos de primaria mayor en la primaria de Chalpicote

This picture was taken as some of the 5th grade boys wanted to show our staff their work. Statistically in the villages we serve, children do not finish elementary school and many drop out by 3rd grade. To see a room full of older students, engaged in their learning and proud of their efforts shows little by little, the culture of education is being changed and MARKED is thrilled to play a part in it.

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Esta foto fue tomada porque algunos de los niños de 5to grado querían mostrarle su trabajo a nuestro staff. Estadísticamente, en las areas a las que servimos, los niños no terminan la escuela primaria y muchos abandonan la escuela antes del tercer grado. Ver ua salón lleno de estudiantes mayores, comprometidos con su aprendizaje y orgullosos de sus esfuerzos demuestra que, poco a poco, la cultura de la educación está cambiando y en MARKED estamos encantados de poder ser parte de este cambio.

Children playing soccer in Casa MARKED in San Pedro Itzicán | Niños jugando fútbol en Casa MARKED en San Pedro Itzicán

If you follow us on social media, you probably saw that this week we were gifted two soccer goals from the community sports organization in Poncitlán, a nearby city. It was a little difficult to get the goals from the city town to the villages going under bridges, passing under low-hanging electricity wires but the children helped carry the goals from the entrance of the town all the way down to Casa MARKED. Their dream of having a soccer field came true and days later, the excitement has not worn off even a bit!

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Si nos sigues en las redes sociales, probablemente viste que esta semana nos regalaron dos goles de fútbol de la organización deportiva comunitaria en Poncitlán, una ciudad cercana. Fue un poco difícil llevar las porterías de la ciudad a los pueblos pasando por debajo de puentes y los cables eléctricos pero los niños ayudaron a llevar las porterías desde la entrada del pueblo hasta Casa MARKED. Su sueño de tener una cancha de fútbol se hizo realidad y días después, ¡la emoción no ha desaparecido ni un poco!

Giving out food and clothes with the people of Agua Caliente | Repartiendo comida y ropa con la gente de Agua Caliente

Just a few months ago we began visiting this village and would bring about 100 sack lunches to give out. Now, over 300 people gather each week. They line up, patiently waiting their turn to receive food or this time, pick out some clothes too! However, the best part is that they don´t immediately leave. They stay. This has allowed MARKED to not only address physical needs but also, address emotional and spiritual needs as well!

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Hace apenas unos meses comenzamos a visitar este pueblo y traíamos alrededor de 100 bolsas de comida para repartir. Ahora, más de 300 personas se reúnen cada semana. Hacen fila, esperando pacientemente su turno para recibir comida o, esta vez, ¡escogieronn algo de ropa también! Sin embargo, la mejor parte es que no se van inmediatamente. Ellos se quedan. ¡Esto ha permitido a MARKED no solo abordar las necesidades físicas sino también las necesidades emocionales y espirituales!

Praying together before a meal in Casa MARKED | Orando juntos antes de la comida en Casa MARKED

The last couple of shifts each day at Casa MARKED are when some of our roughest and toughest young men come. The same kids who used to come with big attitudes, arguing and fighting now look like this- young men with heads bowed and eyes closed seeking the Lord each day in community. showing gratitude and care for one another.

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Los últimos turnos de cada día en Casa MARKED son cuando vienen algunos de nuestros jóvenes más rudos y duros. Los mismos niños que solían venir con grandes actitudes, discutiendo y peleando ahora se ven así: jóvenes con las cabezas inclinadas y los ojos cerrados buscando al Señor cada día en comunidad. mostrando gratitud y cuidado el uno por el otro.

Teens on the playground at Casa MARKED | Jóvenes en los juegos infantiles de Casa MARKED

When some of the older boys climbed up on the playground, they proudly said “this is our house”, our staff couldn´t help but smile. It never fails to surprise us how the inner-child of each person seems to be brought out through play at Casa MARKED. Each week we have babies, to teenagers, even grandparents play, imagine, and find a sense of belonging. We have told everyone who enters Casa MARKED that it is their home but now, they truly seem to believe it.

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Cuando algunos de los niños mayores se subieron a los juegos, dijeron con orgullo “esta es nuestra casa”, nuestro personal no pudo evitar sonreír. Nunca deja de sorprendernos cómo el niño interior de cada persona parece salir a la luz a través del juego en Casa MARKED. Cada semana tenemos bebés y adolescentes, hasta los abuelos juegan, imaginan y encuentran un sentido de pertenencia. Les hemos dicho a todos los que ingresan a Casa MARKED que es su hogar, pero ahora, realmente parecen creerlo.

Playing and serving food at the preschool in La Peña | Jugando y sirviendo comida en el kinder en La Peña

Last but certainly not least, we wanted to share this picture with you. In it, you can see staff members plating food and also, on the floor with the children. This is just a glimpse of the progress we have been able to make with our partner schools. With what started as just providing meals has grown into relationships with teachers and directors, being invited to lead and participate in class activities , hosting teacher trainings, and being able to share a culture of education, nutrition, and holistic care with students and their families.

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Por último, pero ciertamente no menos importante, queríamos compartir esta imagen con ustedes. En él se puede ver a miembros de nuestro staff sirviendo comida y también, en el piso con los niños. Esto es solo un vistazo de los avances que hemos podido lograr con nuestras escuelas aliadas. Con lo que comenzó como solo proporcionar comidas, se ha convertido en una relación con maestros y directores, ser invitados a liderar y participar en actividades de clase, organizar capacitaciones para maestros, y poder compartir una cultura de educación, nutrición y cuidado holístico con los estudiantes y sus familias.

Our communities | Nuestras comunidades

Another week has flown by! This was the second week children were on vacation and we have had a full house at our base and community center, Casa MARKED.

Since there were no classes this past week, we spent the time we normally have with our partner schools on the streets of those same neighborhoods, building more relationships with the families there, especially in Agua Caliente and Chalpicote, where we were invited to help out just a few months ago. 

Sam and some boys ready to play a pick-up game of soccer!

Passing out some tomatoes, a key ingredient for most Mexican dishes, to our communities!

If you’re not familiar with the area, here’s a map to see! Our base of operations is in San Pedro Itzicán, which locals lovingly call San Pe. The kindergarten we serve meals at each day is in La Peña, which is about a 10 minute drive away, and actually where two of our staff are from! 

The land surrounding Lake Chapala, including the villages we serve is known as the “Ribera Chapala”.

For years MARKED has had a strong presence in these two towns. About 20 minutes in  the opposite direction, heading east, are the two communities we have mentioned quite a bit lately—Agua Caliente and Chalpicote. Our staff is going out to these areas each week, doing street ministry and also visiting the primary in Chalpicote, a new partner school! 

These tupperware containers allow us to bring hot meals from our base all the way to the school in Chalpicote, fresh and ready to serve!

As we spend more time in these areas, investing in new relationships, and engaging in conversations, we hear of different needs along with dreams and desires for a changed community. Similarly to the areas of La Peña and San Pedro, Agua Caliente and Chalpicote are plagued by gang violence, environmental pollution, lack of education and job opportunities, food scarcity, and other basic needs not being met. 

Lake Chapala, Jalisco, México

Would you join us in prayer for these communities and the beautiful individuals that reside in them? Here are some specific things we are praying and we would love your support!

• That we would continue to be led to the individuals and specific places in need of help, in the Ribera Chapala and beyond!

• To be the hands and feet of God on Earth to each of the communities we are in, serving the families only in ways that are truly helpful, empowering and sustainable

• That we, MARKED are love to everyone we come into contact with, anywhere we go

• That seeds of faith and love continue to be planted so that generations to come can reap the fruit

• Direction for what steps to take next in the new areas we are serving

Sending love from Casa MARKED!

Thank you for taking the time to read our updates and for your continued support.

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Nuestras comunidades

¡Otra semana ha pasado volando! Esta fue la segunda semana que los niños estuvieron de vacaciones y hemos tenido una casa llena en nuestra base y centro comunitario, Casa MARKED.

Como no hubo clases la semana pasada, pasamos el tiempo que normalmente tenemos con nuestras escuelas aliadas en las calles de esos mismos barrios, construyendo más relaciones con las familias allí, especialmente en Agua Caliente y Chalpicote, donde fuimos invitados a ayudar. hace unos meses

Sam y unos niños listos para jugar futból

Si no estás familiarizado con el área, ¡aquí hay un mapa para ver! Nuestra base de operaciones está en San Pedro Itzicán, que la gente local le llaman cariñosamente San Pe. El kinder en el que servimos comidas todos los días está en La Peña, que está a unos 10 minutos en carro, ¡y de donde son dos miembros de nuestro personal!

La Ribera Chapala

Durante años MARKED ha tenido una fuerte presencia en estas dos areas. A unos 20 minutos en dirección opuesta, hacia el este, están las dos comunidades que hemos mencionado bastante últimamente: Agua Caliente y Chalpicote. Nuestro personal sale a estas áreas cada semana, haciendo ministerio en las calles y también visitando la primaria en Chalpicote, ¡una nueva escuela aliada!

Primaria en Chalpicote- estos tupers nos permiten llevar comida caliente desde Casa MARKED hasta las escuales, lista para servir y disfrutar

A medida que pasamos más tiempo en estas áreas, invirtiendo en nuevas relaciones y entablando conversaciones, escuchamos diferentes necesidades junto con sueños y deseos de una comunidad cambiada. Al igual que las áreas de La Peña y San Pedro, Agua Caliente y Chalpicote están plagadas de violencia de grupos de crimen organizado, contaminación ambiental, falta de educación y oportunidades laborales, escasez de alimentos y otras necesidades básicas que no se satisfacen.

Lago de Chapala, Jalisco, México

¿Te unirías a nosotros en oración por estas comunidades y las hermosas personas que residen en ellas? ¡Aquí hay algunas cosas específicas por las que estamos orando y nos encantaría su apoyo!

-Que sigamos siendo guiados a las personas y lugares específicos que necesitan ayuda. en la Ribera Chapala y más allá

-Ser las manos y los pies de Dios en la Tierra para cada una de las comunidades en las que estamos, sirviendo a las familias solo de maneras que sean verdaderamente útiles, empoderadoras y sostenibles.

-Que MARKED sea amor para todas las personas con las que entramos en contacto, dondequiera que vayamos.

-Que se sigan sembrando semillas de fe y amor para que las generaciones venideras puedan recoger el fruto

¡Te mandamos muchos saludos y amor desde Casa MARKED!

Gracias por tomarte el tiempo de leer nuestras actualizaciones y por tu continuo apoyo.

Sweet Surprises // Dulces sorpresas

*Desliza hacia abajo para leer en español

This week came with a few sweet surprises that we would like to share with you. 

Our staff has started prep for Children’s Day which we will celebrate later this month as it is multiple days of nonstop fun for the kids in our communities and of course, what’s a good party without good food? So, they started testing different recipes and ideas, one of which was cotton candy! This was something brand new for the majority of our staff. No surprise, they loved it! 

To make things even sweeter, we were called for a pick-up of donations from a local agriculture group and upon arriving, were given hundreds of tomatoes! Then, to top it off, the director there let us know they want to give weekly donations of fresh produce. Thank you, Argaman! This is an incredible gift and will allow us to bless many families just like we were able to this week, giving out fresh tomatoes along with sandwiches to over 300 people. 

Right now, students in Mexico are on spring break. Normally during breaks, attendance for our programs dips as many kids are put to work or help watch younger siblings yet this week, Casa MARKED has been full! The kids are waiting for us to open our doors in the morning and don’t want to leave! We are so excited this is how they are choosing to spend their vacation. 

But perhaps the biggest, sweetest surprise was having a group of children on the street  gather around to sit and hear about Jesus, who He is and  how deeply He loves us. 

This week we smiled a little extra and laughed a little harder, enjoying these sweet surprises. We hope you had a joy-filled week and enjoy this Easter weekend. 

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DULCES SORPRESAS

Esta semana vino con algunas dulces sorpresas que nos gustaría compartir con ustedes.

Nuestro staff ha comenzado las preparaciones para el Día del Niño, que celebraremos más adelante este mes, ya que son varios días de diversión continua para los niños de nuestras comunidades y, por supuesto, ¿qué es una buena fiesta sin buena comida? Entonces, comenzaron a probar diferentes recetas e ideas, ¡una de las cuales era el algodón de azúcar! Esto era algo completamente nuevo para la mayoría de nuestro personal, obviamente ¡les encantó!

Para hacer las cosas aún más dulces, nos llamaron para que recogiéramos donaciones de un grupo agrícola local y, al llegar, ¡recibimos cientos de tomates! Luego, el director allí nos hizo saber que quieren dar donaciones semanales de productos frescos. ¡Gracias, Argamán! Este es un regalo increíble y nos permitirá bendecir a muchas familias tal como lo hicimos esta semana, repartiendo tomates frescos junto con sándwiches a más de 300 personas.

En este momento, los estudiantes en México están de vacaciones de Semana Santa. Normalmente, durante las vacaciones, la asistencia a nuestros programas disminuye, ya que muchos niños se ponen a trabajar o ayudan a cuidar a sus hermanos menores, pero esta semana, ¡Casa MARKED ha estado llena! ¡Los niños están esperando que abramos nuestras puertas por la mañana y no quieren irse en la tarde! Estamos muy emocionados de que así elijan pasar sus vacaciones.

Pero quizás la sorpresa más grande y dulce fue tener un grupo de niños en la calle que se sentaron a platicar y escuchar acerca de Jesús, quién es Él y cuán profundamente nos ama.

Esta semana sonreímos un poco más y nos reímos un poco más, disfrutando de estas dulces sorpresas. Esperamos que hayan tenido una semana llena de alegría también y que disfruten este fin de semana de Pascua.

Spring in full blossom // La primavera en plena floración

On Monday, March 20th, spring officially began. For this change of season, schools often do parades or events like we shared last week and nature shows off new spring colors too. The “lluvia de oro” or, raining gold along with bougainvilleas and the gorgeous jacarandas blossom.  

Just like the flowers, we are seeing growth and blossoming in the lives of some of our teens. If you’ve been around MARKED for a few years, you might recognize names like Lucy, Anahi and Ñoño who are some of the first generation of kids that have grown up  in our programs. 

Lucy, just celebrated her 11th birthday and her mother, who is on staff with us, was able to buy a birthday cake for her. Over half of Mexican children 18 years old and younger (52.6 percent) live in poverty meaning that the ability to be celebrated and have cake with family and friends is truly a luxury, one that Lucy got to experience for the first time!

Ñoño, is a young man who is also doing something for the first time thanks to MARKED-driving! He showed interest in getting his driver's license so we helped him do it. The privilege of a valid license is something few obtain as it costs money and requires taking both a written and a driving test but he did it! This means he can be considered for better, higher paying jobs as well as makes healthcare and shopping more accessible.

Anahí, is 18 and is also defying statistics. Unlike many of her peers she is enjoying her youth, unmarried and without children. In the latest state census, 9,000 girls in the state of Jalisco aged 12-17 had at least one child already but we are thrilled to see a young woman able to pursue her dreams like higher education and work that she's interested in, versus being responsible for taking care of children so young and putting her own dreams on hold out of necessity.

So along with the excitement of beautiful spring flowers and fun, we celebrate the statistics being changed and the stories being rewritten. Despite the lack of ideal conditions for growth and overcoming the many challenges of poverty in our communities, it's happening.

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La primavera en plena floración

El lunes 20 de marzo comenzó oficialmente la primavera. Para este cambio de estación, las escuelas suelen realizar desfiles o eventos como compartimos la semana pasada y la naturaleza también luce nuevos colores primaverales. La “lluvia de oro”,  junto con las bugambilias y las hermosas jacarandas están floreciendo.

Al igual que las flores, estamos viendo crecer y florecer las vidas de algunos de nuestros adolescentes. Si has sido parte de MARKED durante algunos años, es posible que reconozcas nombres como Lucy, Anahi y Ñoño, que son parte de la primera generación de niños que han crecido en nuestros programas.

Lucy acaba de celebrar su cumpleaños número 11 y su madre, que forma parte del personal de MARKED, pudo comprarle un pastel de cumpleaños. Más de la mitad de los niños mexicanos de 18 años o menos (52.6 por ciento) viven en la pobreza, lo que significa que la posibilidad de celebrar y comer pastel con familiares y amigos es realmente un lujo, ¡algo que Lucy pudo experimentar por primera vez!

Ñoño, es un joven que también hace algo por primera vez gracias a MARKED-manejar! Mostró interés en obtener su licencia de conducir, así que lo ayudamos a hacerlo. El privilegio de una licencia válida es algo que pocos en nuestras comunidades obtienen, ya que cuesta dinero y requiere tomar un examen escrito y uno de manejo, ¡pero lo hizo! Esto significa que puede ser considerado para trabajos mejores y mejor pagados, así como también hace que la atención médica y las compras sean más accesibles.

Anahí, tiene 18 años y también está desafiando las estadísticas. A diferencia de muchos de sus compañeros, disfruta de su juventud, soltera y sin hijos. En el último censo estatal, 9,000 niñas en el estado de Jalisco de entre 12 y 17 años ya tenían al menos un hijo, pero estamos encantados de ver a una mujer joven capaz de perseguir sus sueños como la educación superior y el trabajo que le interesa, en lugar de ser responsable. por cuidar niños siendo tan joven y poner sus propios sueños en espera por necesidad.

Entonces, junto con la emoción de las hermosas flores de primavera y la diversión, celebramos que las estadísticas cambien y las historias se escriban de nuevo. A pesar de la falta de condiciones ideales para el crecimiento y la superación de los muchos desafíos de la pobreza en nuestras comunidades, está sucediendo.

Welcome, Spring // Bienvenida, Primavera

This week we have had the pleasure to welcome spring alongside of our communities. In Mexico, the first day of spring is something that is celebrated across the country with parades, dances, parties, and other events.

Our week started off with a parade through town. We partnered with the moms who participate in the early childhood class at MARKED as well as their families to do a spring parade complete with decorations, banners, and of course, a costume contest!

The parents spent days helping their children design and make their adorable spring outfits using recycled material. There were so many amazing costumes to choose from but the winner was the baby chicken below because his costume was 100% recycled materials!

Later in the week, we continued the festivities at schools. The preschool in La Peña went all-out with their spring event. The children performed and danced, then afterwards, the king and queen of spring were announced and paraded across the patio! After the spring show, parents and children stayed for a little carnival-type party. This is where MARKED helped most!

Here you can see our staff was busy making popcorn and talking with the families. The children loved the big popcorn machine. This was something new for them and it seems they enjoyed watching the popcorn pop almost as much as they enjoyed eating it.

Throughout the week, we were so pleased to see mothers and fathers accompanying their children, helping them prepare for the events as well as attending to enjoy them together as a family. As parents walked in our parade and clapped for their children, it showed their interest in the future of their children. We can see how MARKED has helped empower these families to have the courage to start breaking cycles.

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Bienvenida, primavera

Esta semana hemos tenido el placer de dar la bienvenida a la primavera junto a nuestras comunidades. En México, el primer día de la primavera es algo que se celebra en todo el país con desfiles, bailes, fiestas y otros eventos.

Nuestra semana comenzó con un desfile por la ciudad. Nos asociamos con las mamás que participan en la clase deeducación inicial en MARKED, así como con sus familias, para hacer un desfile de primavera completo con decoraciones, lonas y, por supuesto, ¡un concurso de disfraces! Los padres pasaron días ayudando a sus hijos a diseñar y confeccionar sus adorables conjuntos primaverales con material reciclado. ¡Había tantos disfraces increíbles para elegir, pero el ganador fue el pollo bebé porque su disfraz era 100% de materiales reciclados!

Más tarde en la semana, continuamos con las festividades en las escuelas. El preescolar de La Peña hizo todo lo posible con su evento de primavera. Los niños hablaron y bailaron, luego, ¡el rey y la reina de la primavera fueron anunciados y desfilaron por el patio! Después del espectáculo de primavera, padres e hijos se quedaron para una pequeña fiesta tipo carnaval. ¡Aquí es donde MARKED ayudó!

Aquí puedes ver que nuestro personal estaba ocupado haciendo palomitas de maíz y hablando con las familias. A los niños les encantó la gran máquina de palomitas. Esto era algo nuevo para ellos y parece que disfrutaron viendo las palomitas explotar casi tanto como disfrutaron comierlas.

A lo largo de la semana, nos dio mucho gusto ver a las madres y padres acompañando a sus hijos, ayudándolos a prepararse para los eventos y asistiendo para disfrutarlos juntos en familia. Cuando los padres caminaron en nuestro desfile y aplaudieron a sus hijos, mostró su interés en el futuro de sus hijos. Podemos ver cómo MARKED ha ayudado a empoderar a estas familias para que tengan el valor de comenzar a romper ciclos.

Presence & Consistency | Presencia & Consistencia

As we continue to visit the communities of Agua Caliente and Chalpicote each week, we can´t help but notice their desire for presence and consistency from MARKED.

Since the very first day we arrived in these neighborhoods, we have come with the intention of connecting with the people there. For us, building relationships is always the first step in anything we do but for these towns, this is not the norm.  

Brayan, the boy on the right is one of the first kids we met. We asked simple questions about him, school, his friends and how he likes to spend his time. He was delighted to have someone interested in him, taking the time to get to know him.

Brayan assumed this conversation and meal was a one-time thing. Eventhough staff assured him they would be back, he was sure they wouldn’t but they have each week, as promised. 

It seems we finally gained Brayan´s trust because the last few weeks, he has been outside waiting for us, eager to come talk. To us, this was a reminder of how important keeping our word is and how desperate these children are for connection. Without being told to, they stay to chat and play with us as long as they can. They might have come for a sandwich but they stick around for so much more. Similarly, giving out sack lunches on the streets may be an excuse to come but we plan on sticking around long-term for so much more.

Thanks to you, we have been able to establish a consistent, positive presence in these areas and we cannot wait to see where it leads.

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Presencia & Consistencia

En las visitas a las comunidades de Agua Caliente y Chalpicote cada semana, no podemos dejar de notar su deseo de presencia y consistencia por parte de MARKED.

Desde el primer día que llegamos a estas zonas, hemos venido con la intención de conectarnos con la gente de allí. Para nosotros, construir relaciones siempre es el primer paso en todo lo que hacemos, pero para estos pueblos, esta no es la norma.

Brayan, el chico a la derecha es uno de los primeros chicos que conocimos. Hicimos preguntas sencillas sobre él, la escuela, sus amigos y cómo le gusta pasar el tiempo. Estaba encantado de tener a alguien interesado en él, tomándose el tiempo para conocerlo.

Brayan asumió que esta conversación y comida era algo de una sola vez. Aunque el personal le aseguró que volverían, estaba seguro de que no lo haríamos, pero lo hemos hecho cada semana, como prometimos.

Parece que finalmente nos ganamos la confianza de Brayan porque las últimas semanas ha estado afuera esperándonos, ansioso por venir a hablar. Para nosotros, esto fue un recordatorio de cuán importante es cumplir nuestra palabra y cuán desesperados están estos niños por conectarse. Sin que se lo indiquemos, se quedan a conversar y jugar con nosotros todo el tiempo que pueden. Es posible que hayan venido por un sándwich, pero se quedan por mucho más. Del mismo modo, repartir almuerzos en bolsas en las calles puede ser una excusa para venir, pero planeamos quedarnos a largo plazo por mucho más.

Gracias a ustedes, hemos podido establecer una presencia positiva y consistente en estas áreas y estamos ansiosos por ver a dónde nos lleva.

A Domino Effect // Efecto dominó

For MARKED, this current season has been one of growth which has been beyond exciting for all of us to see as well as be a part of. 

One of the areas we have seen this growth in is at Casa MARKED. When we first opened the gates, kids would trickle in throughout the day and families would stop by but we never imagined just a year later that we would have this home filled with children smiling and laughing all day, each week! 

To accommodate so many children and of different ages, ranging from toddlers up to adolescents, our staff has divided the children into groups. Each group has its own shift, or block of time in which they are invited to come to Casa MARKED. Over time, two shifts  turned into three, then four and sometimes it becomes five so that kids looking for a meal and a sense of belonging are not turned away. We would rather them be at Casa MARKED, even if it means saying yes to extra big groups because they are safer with us than on the streets. 

Outside the doors of Casa MARKED,  the community of San Pedro knows who we are and what we are about. They have witnessed transformation and positive change in their schools and families and word has traveled down to neighboring villages. 

Now, our staff has been going out to two of these villages each week–Agua Caliente and Chalpicote. These areas have asked for our help and we are thrilled to have been welcomed into these communities as well as to have been given the opportunity to serve them. For now, it’s ministry in the streets handing out sandwiches and snacks, taking time to play with the children, and engaging in conversations to learn the needs, interests and dreams of these communities to learn how MARKED can come alongside to support and empower them in their pursuit of thriving, safe, educated, and healthy neighborhoods.

We are delighted to see how lives have been positively impacted by MARKED and how this is causing a ripple effect, reaching more families and entire villages.

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Una temporada de crecimiento

Para MARKED, esta temporada actual ha sido una de crecimiento que ha sido muy emocionante para todos nosotros ver y ser parte de ello.

Una de las áreas en las que hemos visto este crecimiento es en Casa MARKED. Cuando abrimos las puertas por primera vez, unos niños llegaban poco a poco durante el día y  familias a veces se quedaban un rato, ¡pero nunca imaginamos que un año después tendríamos esta casa llena de niños sonriendo y riendo todo el día, toda la semana!

Para acomodar a tantos niños y de diferentes edades, desde niños pequeños hasta adolescentes, nuestro personal ha dividido a los niños en grupos. Cada grupo tiene su propio turno, o bloque de tiempo en el que son invitados a venir a Casa MARKED. A lo largo del tiempo, dos turnos se convirtieron en tres, luego en cuatro y, a veces, hasta cinco para que los niños que buscan una comida y un sentido de pertenencia no sean rechazados. Preferimos que estén en Casa MARKED, incluso si eso significa decir que sí a los grupos extra grandes porque están más seguros con nosotros que en las calles.

Fuera de las puertas de Casa MARKED, la comunidad de San Pedro sabe quiénes somos y de cómo trabajamos. Han sido testigos de la transformación y el cambio positivo en sus escuelas y familias y la noticia ha llegado a otros pueblos vecinos.

Ahora, nuestro personal ha estado yendo a dos de estos pueblos cada semana: Agua Caliente y Chalpicote. Estas áreas han pedido nuestra ayuda y estamos encantados de haber sido bienvenidos en estas comunidades, así como de haber tenido la oportunidad de servirles. Por ahora, estamos haciendo ministerio en las calles repartiendo sándwiches y refrigerios, tomando tiempo para jugar con los niños y conversando para conocer las necesidades, intereses y sueños de estas comunidades para aprender cómo MARKED puede acompañarlos para apoyarlos y empoderarlos en su búsqueda de ser zonas prósperas, seguras, y saludables.

Estamos encantados de ver cómo las vidas han sido impactadas positivamente por MARKED y cómo esto está causando un efecto dominó, llegando a más familias y pueblos enteros

MARKED pop-up store // Tienda pop-up MARKED

*Desplaza hacia abajo para leer en español

Every now and then you might see some flyers and publicity about collecting clothes or maybe you’ve even donated items yourself but, do you know what happens to them? 

Once they have been picked up from the generous participating families and schools, our staff takes them out to Casa MARKED where each bag and box of donations are checked to make sure everything is clean and in good condition. 

After every item has been checked, it’s organized into categories like mens, womens, and children. Then, everything is ready for the MARKED pop-up store! Our store changes locations depending on need and availability of spaces but whenever it’s a store week, we try to offer multiple locations across the villages we serve so that there is a convenient option for anyone who wishes to come shop! 

Just a few days ago, we invited our communities to the MARKED store! We held one day of shopping at Casa MARKED and we also opened up a shop at the preschool in La Peña where we deliver meals each day. The families enjoyed looking through clothes and as always, shoes, toys and items for their homes like blankets were a hit! 

Each item, no matter what it is, costs just one peso. Why? This way, prices are accessible to the community and also, people are able to proudly purchase items for their families. The money that’s collected from these events can then be used to thank a hosting location, or perhaps as a payment to any volunteers who helped man the store alongside of our regular staff. 

“
Poverty is not just a lack of income, it can be a lack of power, lack of confidence or just a lack of opportunity as well.
”

If you are local, we love to receive donations but as Casa MARKED is at full capacity, serving over one hundred kids every day, we would appreciate it if you could hold onto your gently used clothes, toys, or home décor items until just a few days before our next MARKED store days! We will announce on social media when we are ready for more donations! Thank you!

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Tienda pop-up MARKED

De vez en cuando es posible que veas algunos flyers y publicidad sobre la recolección de ropa o tal vez incluso hayas donado artículos pero, ¿sabes qué sucede con ellos?

Una vez que han sido recogidos de las generosas familias y escuelas participantes, nuestro staff los lleva a Casa MARKED donde se revisa cada bolsa y caja de donaciones para asegurarse de que todo esté limpio y en buenas condiciones.

Una vez que se ha revisado cada elemento, se organiza en categorías como hombres, mujeres y niños. Entonces, ¡todo está listo para la tienda pop-up MARKED! Nuestra tienda cambia de ubicación según la necesidad y la disponibilidad de espacios, pero cada vez que es una semana de tiendas, tratamos de ofrecer múltiples ubicaciones en los pueblos a los que servimos para que haya una opción conveniente para cualquiera que desee ir de compras.

¡Hace solo unos días, invitamos a nuestras comunidades a la tienda MARKED! Hicimos un día de compras en Casa MARKED y también abrimos una tienda en el preescolar de La Peña donde entregamos comidas todos los días. Las familias disfrutaron ver la ropa y, como siempre, los zapatos, los juguetes y los artículos para el hogar, como las cobijas, ¡fueron los favoritos!

Cada artículo, no importando cuál sea, cuesta solo un peso. ¿Por qué? De esta manera, los precios son accesibles para la comunidad y también, las personas pueden comprar con orgullo artículos para sus familias. El dinero recaudado de estos eventos se puede usar para agradecer el antrifión de lugar, o tal vez como pago a los voluntarios que ayudaron a atender la tienda junto con nuestro personal..

“La pobreza no es solo la falta de ingresos, puede ser la falta de poder, la falta de confianza o también la falta de oportunidades.”

Si eres local, nos encanta recibir donaciones, pero como Casa MARKED está a capacidad máxima, atendiendo a más de cien niños todos los días, te agradeceríamos que pudieras guardar tu ropa, juguetes o artículos de decoración para el hogar en buen estado hasta que solo un ¡unos días antes de nuestros próximos días de tienda MARKED! ¡Anunciaremos en las redes sociales cuando estemos listos para recibir más donaciones! ¡Gracias!

Adding Ingredients // Añadiendo ingredientes

*Desplaza hacia abajo para leer en español*

Last Friday, a group of students from a school in Guadalajara came out to San Pedro to share activities they had planned for the kids at Casa MARKED as well as the public preschool in La Peña. It was amazing to see them at work and of course the children in the community were thrilled! As  we wrapped up a fun day of preparing and serving food, participating in educational games and of course playing some soccer, our community center director, Sam shared a few words about just how much volunteering can do- no matter if it’s an hour, a day, a week, or more! 

Sam asked us to imagine as if each of the children had a pot. Each pot has different ingredients as well as varying levels of fullness which could represent different experiences they have had or even how well their basic needs are being met. When volunteers come, just like the students from ASFG did, they bring activities, dynamics and conversations that add something unique to the pots of the children being served. Whether it be teaching kids a word in English, showing them how to play a new game, serving a plate of food or chatting with them while they eat, taking time to learn their names or even bringing stickers to share with them, each of those interactions are like adding an ingredient to the children’s pots. 

If you have ever done any cooking, you know that adding even just a pinch of one ingredient can make a massive difference to the dish and with the children and families in our communities, it works the same way!  Each little ingredient, or experience is something they will carry with them and e might never know the potential it unlocked, the passion it awakened or the encouragement it provided. No matter what your involvement is or has been with MARKED, we thank you. Each positive interaction is so significant. 

If you would like to help us fill up these pots and pour into the lives of these families, contact us! We would love to share ways you can help from near or far!

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Añadiendo ingredientes

El viernes pasado, un grupo de estudiantes de una escuela en Guadalajara vino a San Pedro a compartir las actividades que tenían planeadas para los niños de Casa MARKED y el preescolar público de La Peña. ¡Fue increíble verlos trabajar y, por supuesto, los niños de la comunidad estaban encantados!

Al cerrar un día divertido de preparar y servir comida, participar en juegos educativos y, por supuesto, jugar fútbol, ​​nuestro director del centro comunitario, Sam, compartió algunas palabras sobre cuánto puede hacer el voluntariado, sin importar si es una hora, un día, una semana, o más!

Sam nos pidió que imagináramos como si cada uno de los niños tuviera una olla. Cada olla tiene diferentes ingredientes, así como diferentes niveles de plenitud que podrían representar diferentes experiencias que han tenido o incluso qué tan bien se están satisfaciendo sus necesidades básicas.

Cuando los voluntarios vienen, tal como lo hicieron los estudiantes de ASFG, traen actividades, dinámicas y conversaciones que agregan algo único a las ollas de los niños que se atienden. Ya sea enseñando a los niños una palabra en inglés, mostrándoles cómo jugar un nuevo juego, sirviéndoles un plato de comida o conversando con ellos mientras comen, tomándose el tiempo para aprender sus nombres o incluso llevándoles calcomanías para compartir con ellos, cada uno de estas interacciones son como agregar un ingrediente a las ollas de los niños.

Si alguna vez has cocinado, sabes que agregar incluso una pizca de un ingrediente puede marcar una gran diferencia en el plato y con los niños y las familias de nuestras comunidades, ¡funciona de la misma manera! Cada ingrediente o experiencia es algo que llevarán con ellos y es posible que nunca sepamos el potencial que desbloqueó, la pasión que despertó o el empoderamiento que brindó. No importa cuál sea o haya sido tu participación con MARKED, te agradecemos. Cada interacción positiva es tan significativa.

Si deseas ayudarnos a llenar estas ollas que son las vidas de estas familias, ¡contáctanos! ¡Nos encantaría compartir formas en que puedes ayudar de cerca o de lejos!

Play.

We believe that being child-like means going back to the simple, enjoying everyday life, treasuring small moments as gifts. And if we think of children and gifts, the first thing that crosses our mind is a toy!  For them, playing and having fun are primary agents of everyday life.

Thanks to our donors, we had the opportunity to purchase two exceptional play structures!!  And these games not only provide a great space for attention and fun in our backyard, but they are also the vehicle that God is using to reach the children and connect Casa MARKED with the community.

These simple but grand play structures have opened doors for families in the community.  It is so nice to see how children come every day to play, knowing that this house is a safe and a stable place.

Casa MARKED is becoming a benchmark for family and for how we as leaders in our community treat others with respect, care, love and honor.

Our heart is to provide them with an open place to talk and trust, because our goals are based on building a culture that transforms and also impacts the community that is surrounding us

*Written by Ana

Goodbye 2022.

2022 for MARKED was a year focused on play.

The importance of play for both children and adults alike. In February of this year we soft launched the opening of “Casa MARKED” with our official launch in April with the Miller’s, local staff as well as government officials holding a ribbon cutting ceremony on Kid’s Day after many weeks of demolition and the remodeling of our beautiful new space. 

Throughout the year our staff has been training in different methods of play and education. Learning new skills and tools, to offer a safe refuge for anyone who enters our home. Hosting a semi-weekly class for around 30 new moms with children ranging from 0-3 years of age. But what is so fun is that we also have multiple grandparents who are in their late 70s coming regularly to play and share a meal together, who continue to remind us that walking through our doors was the first and only time they had ever felt safe in their entire lives. Of course every age in between also joins in on the fun, as our largest group of kiddos range from 8-13 years old. Daily our home is buzzing with nearly 100 children who rotate through to play, learn, share a meal together and find refuge. This past fall, we installed the first “park” in the communities on the back side of our home for all to enjoy. 

Our school lunch and sports programs serving over 500 children daily have continued to operate in the local schools and we are watching as the directors, teachers, coaches  and parents alike are starting to dream with us on how we can continue to grow and improve together for the sake of the communities. 

Multiple rescues have been successful this year, with those making the courageous decision to leave organized crime, and instead choose LIFE while pursuing full recovery. We have witnessed them draw a line in the sand for their futures and we could not be more proud. 

This next year, we have a desire to grow our reach as well as our impact. For us depth over numbers will always be our top priority, but as our depth grows, transformation comes and neighboring communities are taking note. We have an ever growing waitlist of those desiring to be apart. As you pray with us and for us in 2023, would you also pray once again about your role in your partnership with us? 

Thanks to the impact of your generosity, together we are 11 years in and building towards forever.

Cheers to a new year with endless possibilities, 

Jaclyn and Micheal Miller, and the MARKED Family

Reaching Generations.

Our home and base, Casa MARKED is located in a village where MARKED has been serving families and children directly for over eleven years.  The kids that have gone through our programs during this time are now adults and some, even have children of their own. We are now seeing a generation that looks different than the last one.

This is the case for one of the boys who grew up coming to MARKED for meals and who enjoyed our sports programs. As a young boy, he was rough and pushed limits. He was someone our staff prayed for often and deeply desired to see him thrive. As time went on, he had ups and downs, sometimes falling back into the things he was familiar with- violence and drugs and other times, running to MARKED to escape and find something different.

Thankfully, he did find something different. If you ask him, he´ll tell you that MARKED gave him things he had never had and never thought he would experience. He calls MARKED his family and happily shares that it was in this new family that he found acceptance, unconditional love, and discovered what a healthy community looks like.

Now, that little boy is all grown up and though he mentions wanting to be able to stop by Casa MARKED more, his work schedule makes it complicated. So, we don´t see him as often as we´d like to, but now, we get to spend time with his son who he makes sure comes to Casa MARKED as often as possible. That wild little boy was marked by love and now, we are watching with such joy as he defies statistics and writes a new story for himself and his beautiful family.

We know that as we invest in this new generation, it will bring a brighter future for the next. It´s for this reason that we are focusing on the kids in these communities so much. They are the adults, parents, and leaders of the following generation. If they are empowered with meals, education, and a new mindset, they can help empower those that come after them which is exactly our prayer and desire- that damaging generational cycles are broken and replaced with healthy, restorative ones. It isn't a quick or easy job but we are already seeing glimpses of the impact this approach will have for the years to come. 

If you aren’t partnering with us yet, would you consider? And if you are already a monthly partner, would you consider sharing us with a friend?

Become A Partner

Oh What Fun.

2022 for MARKED was a year focused on play.

The importance of play for both children and adults alike. In February of this year we soft launched the opening of “Casa MARKED” with our official launch in April for Kid’s Day after many weeks of demolition and the remodeling of our beautiful new space. 

Throughout the year our staff has been training in different methods of play and education. Learning new skills and tools, to offer a safe refuge for anyone who enters our home. Hosting a semi-weekly class for new moms with children ranging from 0-3 years of age. But what is so fun is that we also have grandparents who are in their late 70s coming regularly to play and share a meal together, who continue to remind us that walking through our doors was the first and only time they had ever felt safe in their entire lives. Of course every age in between also joins in on the fun. Daily our home is buzzing with nearly 100 children who rotate through to play, learn, share a meal together and find refuge. This fall, we installed the first “park” in the communities on the back side of our home for all to enjoy. 

Our daily school lunch and sports programs have continued to operate in the local schools and we are watching as the directors, teachers, coaches  and parents alike are starting to dream with us on how we can continue to grow and improve together for the sake of the communities. 

Multiple rescues have been successful this year, with those making the courageous decision to leave organized crime, and instead choose LIFE while pursuing full recovery. We have witnessed them draw a line in the sand for their futures and we could not be more proud. 

Thanks to the impact of your generosity, together we are 11 years in and building towards forever. 

Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas. May 2023 be FUN & BRIGHT. 

Jaclyn, Micheal & Everly Miller, along with the MARKED Family 

Fall Sports Season.

This past fall, we were excited to have been invited to partner with a local elementary school to support their sports program. In years past, the school has always sent teams of 5th and 6th graders to compete against other schools but unfortunately, they came back empty handed. The teacher in charge of putting the teams together commented that not only had they not gotten a trophy the previous years but to other schools who came with jerseys and obviously more access to resources, this school was the laughing stock of the competitions.

So, this year, the teacher was determined to lead his students to victory, to seeing their own worth and to value their hard work. Our staff was of course more than willing to help as they were equally as eager to see the underdogs from a community we so dearly love have a new story to share.

Since September, each week our staff has gone out to the fields to work with the teams of students in both track and field as well as soccer. During each practice, they cheer from the sidelines and the stands and afterwards, they congratulate the students with snacks and lots of hi-fives and hugs. What a difference this has made.

At the end of October, the track and field team arrived at the regional competition, excited but a bit nervous. Our staff pulled out  a surprise for the team- some jerseys that a local church had donated and earlier that week, unbeknownst to the students, had been embroidered with the MARKED logo and the name of their school. Their eyes lit up and smiles stretched across their faces as soon as they saw. They were no longer the unprepared school from the poor neighborhood, they were selected athletes, prepared for the events and the only group with official jerseys. 

At that event, our MARKED-San Pedro team took home 28 of the 35 possible medals, more than any other school had that day or ever. In that same moment, so much more was won- trust, belief in themselves, and a new attitude of hope, looking forward to what the future holds for them. This was just the first competition but what an incredible start to the sports season and new season for these kids- one that simply started by someone who dared to say something different about them; you are capable, you are valued, and you belong here. Over the past few months, they have continued being the team everyone wants to beat.

Merry December.

This is a very exciting month for us, we officially started our Christmas season celebrations, hooray!

Last week we started with one of our favorite activities “buñuelos” with the kids and their families. A delicious and fun treat for all of us! Have you had one?

Our kids are full of so much joy and expectation for the holiday activities that we planned for them throughout the month. We love making this season for all of them a little more jolly and merrier by making special and new activities everyday with Christmas flare and the story of our Saviors birth.

We also had our very first celebration with one of our partner schools. In partnership with the school celebration we support them with any additional resource that they may need to make it a very memorable Christmas party for the kids and their families at the schools.

We also are so thrilled and grateful about all the donations that we are getting for the kids Christmas gifts. If you want to partner with us you can do it through this link . We appreciate your generosity!

May it be this season for you be jolly and merry!