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735 Herndon Avenue
Orlando, FL 327972

407-308-0358

Market Colors is an online store and nonprofit organization. Our team collaborates with craftsmen in Africa and India to create handmade products that will sell well throughout the world. We exist to equip African men and women with a sustainable income, generated through the sale of their products.

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12 Days of Christmas

Lizzie Wirgau

by Lizzie Wirgau This past year has been full of so many new adventures for Market Colors. We expanded our number of craftsmen, intern team, office space, and product lines. I cannot wait to see what 2014 holds. When planning for the upcoming holidays, I knew we had to celebrate with our Market Colors 12 Days of Christmas giveaways!

Throughout the next 12 days (starting… now! December 1st!) we will be giving away 12 products, one each day. Many of these products are brand new and have never been a part of any of our giveaways. We cannot wait to get some of these bad boys into your hands just in time for the Christmas season.

So tune into Instagram  or Facebook, get those reposts ready, and start celebrating the Market Colors 12 Days of Christmas!

Market Colors Goes Camping!

Lizzie Wirgau

by Aubrey Gard Recently, the Market Colors team hit the road and got in touch with our adventurous side on our first camping trip! We believe that each of us contributes something unique to this team, and the Lord blessed our time together by letting us get to know each other and revealing ways in which we can serve each other.

Although we packed our cars to the brim with things to sustain us, God had so much more in store for us as we finally reached Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine. Some of us set up the tents, while Allee and Lizzie began the process of starting our first fire so we could prepare our hotdogs, as well as veggie burgers for Beverly and Grace.

After dinner, we took a short walk to the beach, just in time for the sunset. We spent time at the water, taking photos and making videos. The walk back to the camp site led us up a dock that ironically looked like Africa! Lizzie then shared with us how important her relationship with the Lord is to her, and about some of the personal difficulties she faced when starting Market Colors. Some of those difficulties made her feel inadequate. Lizzie shared that God says we are all worthy and able and that this truth can diminish our inadequacies. S’mores came next, and we talked and laughed until we couldn’t sit up anymore and made our way to our tents for the night.

In the morning, we made breakfast burritos and ate while Robyn led us in a devotional, followed by an hour of quiet time. We all were able to share our struggles, plus God’s redemptive truths with each other. Then we headed for the beach with watermelon and snacks, and spent several hours lounging in the sun. We were sad when it was time to pack up and go home, but grateful for the time the Lord provided for us. We were so happy to have had the time away from the office to learn about each other and make memories. If only we could take a Market Colors retreat every weekend!

Interns: Jessica & Allee

Lizzie Wirgau

by Grace Ingram

Things are rolling along here at Market Colors this week as we prepare for our benefit show this Friday night. With so much to do it continues to be a blessing to have this team of hardworking women interning with us this summer. Last week we got to introduce you to two of our new team members, Aubrey and Kaylee, and today you get to meet Jessica and Allee.

Jessica

Jessica graduated in May from the University of South Florida where she studied Relational and Mass Communication. While looking for career opportunities, she stumbled upon Market Colors through a friend's Facebook page. Immediately, she fell in love with the purpose and aim of Market Colors. Although she has never traveled to Africa, she has a heart for the nations and was extremely excited to work with an organization that invests so well in African countries. Jessica is interested in how social media can be a tool that helps equip African craftsmen. As a social media intern, Jessica will help communicate and promote the ideas of Market Colors by means of social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. In her free time, Jessica enjoys finding new places to eat, spending time with friends and using her Eno (awesome hammock) to relax outside in the trees.

 

Allee

Allee is from Woodstock, Georgia and just graduated from Florida Southern College. She received her bachelors degree in Advertising and Public Relations with a concentration in Graphic Design. She loves the Lord and desires to do everything for the sake of the gospel and His kingdom. Allee has spent two summers serving on mission teams in Africa and has a heart for the unreached people of the world. Her desire is to allow the Lord to use her to lead these people to Him. Allee first heard about Market Colors while interning at Children of the Nations, where she is the Event Planning Intern. She has a passion to create things that are visually intriguing and appealing to help raise awareness and funds for the organizations that she works with. Allee is honored to be able to use this passion to serve at Market Colors as the Graphic Design Intern.

Interns: Aubrey & Kaylee

Lizzie Wirgau

by Grace Ingram

It's officially summer here at Market Colors and with that comes the blessing of four new interns, bringing our total to six! With our team having doubled in just a week it's amazing to see how much we are able to accomplish. Each of them is so talented and bring unique skills to the table which we are so thankful for. You've already met Beverly and Grace, who started in January, and today we'd like to introduce Aubrey and Kaylee.

Aubrey

Aubrey is from Orlando and is pursuing her Bachelors degree at the University of Central Florida. She is studying Interpersonal and Organizational Communication, the study of relationships, and minoring in Leadership Studies. She is passionate about the Lord and the people He has given her to love and serve. Her desire is to spend her professional career in community outreach and build relationships with all she meets. More specifically, the Lord has put a call on her heart to work with the underprivileged, homeless, and disabled. Aubrey has traveled to India to evangelize and work with the homeless, individuals with special needs, and those with leprosy. She carries the same passion and vision as Market Colors, to reach out and reveal the love of Christ.

Aubrey heard about Market Colors through her close friend, Lizzie Wirgau, (our CEO) and now holds the position of Event Planning Intern. In her spare time, she loves to create and enjoy music, spend intentional time with friends, and eat good food. She is very involved in her church's worship program and volunteers with Younglife ministry.

Kaylee

Kaylee is an Orlando native and currently in her final year at UCF, studying Nonprofit Management and African Studies.  She immediately connected with the mission of Market Colors because of "the amazing things we're doing in Africa".  Kaylee has served in Kenya for the past three summers and has fallen in love with all of its beauty.  She will be getting married later this year and is excited to be moving to Kenya with her sweetheart next year. She'll continue working to promote more opportunities for young people.

Kaylee loves photography, interesting patterns and bright colors, reading about social justice and international development, the outdoors, and traveling.  She is obsessed with avocados.  Besides interning with Market Colors as the Marketing and Outreach Intern, Kaylee also works at Starbucks and loves all things coffee and tea.  This summer, Kaylee will be managing our Home Parties, working with the Street Team, and connecting with churches and other organizations.

Check back with us next week to read more about Kaylee's experience in Kenya and to meet our other two new interns, Jessica and Allee!

Video Campaign Success

Lizzie Wirgau

 

by Lizzie Wirgau

When we looked at our budget for 2013, I knew we would have to work very hard to meet it. With the success of our video fundraising campaign in 2012, I knew that was something we should do again. But how much to raise? I started to pray about it. And, as God has (thankfully!) done so much in the last 18 months, He put an answer on my heart: $10,000. Yikes. That’s a lot of money. Especially when we’re depending on donations from individuals. But five weeks later, we raised a total of $15,215. Overwhelmed and grateful… that’s how I feel. This campaign was such a beautiful example of how God can use each one of us to make a difference.

Market Colors is such a great blessing to me. It shows me that God is very much at work in our lives today. It also encourages me. All the encouragement from our supporters, new and old, shows me that there are people who are passionate about making change happen. There are so many people excited to fight for those without a voice.

Market Colors looks different than I first thought it would. I don’t think I knew that this type of support would drive our organization so much. While our main goal is to give opportunity to craftsmen, the craftsmen alone aren’t the only people we depend on. Our supporters are the ones who have allowed us to equip these men and women. Both the craftsmen and our supporters encourage us. The craftsmen make us want to work hard. Our supporters make us feel… well, supported. And that they believe in what we’re trying to do, as crazy as it may feel some days.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for believing in the work we are doing. Market Colors will be able to make an impact for 500 craftsmen in 2013 because of your financial commitment and your ceaseless prayers.

For those who gave, you will be receiving your perks throughout the next few weeks and months (depending on the perk.) To everyone, we cannot wait to share with you what God will do through Market Colors in 2013.

Together we can transform lives of African craftsmen.

Indiegogo Update

Lizzie Wirgau

UPDATE: Day 18

Watch our March campaign video here: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/for-the-next-craftsmen

This January, I felt a clear call from God to raise at least $10,000 for Market Colors’ next 5 craftsmen communities through a March Indiegogo campaign. We saw donations come in immediately and it was incredibly encouraging. However, things were moving slower than last year and I began to get a touch nervous as $10,000 is a LOT of money. But I clung to the truth that God had clearly put $10,000 on my heart, no matter how large a number that seemed. So, I began to surrender the campaign to God every day.

Now, less than 3 weeks into the campaign, $12,500 has been raised! It’s proof of God’s amazing provision, and your dedication and belief in what we’re doing. God has used you, our supporters, to further the work of Market Colors. And we’re just 18 days into our campaign. We still have 19 days left to go!

A verse God has laid on my heart time and time again is Ephesians 3:20, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us…” God has used many of you to do more than we could ever ask.

So please join us in reaching our 2nd goal of $15,000. This additional $5,000 will go toward a media trip where we will begin documenting the stories of our craftsmen. We know that the world wants to hear more about the lives of these amazing men and women, and we want to do our best to tell you their stories. Please watch the update video for more information: Lizzie Wirgau, Market Colors Founder, giving an update 

Please partner with us by: - Sharing the campaign page on Facebook - Emailing the video to friends and family - Selecting your perk, and donating to our campaign

Thank you for all your support. Join us in reaching our 2nd goal of $15,000! Together we can transform lives throughout Africa.

On behalf of the Market Colors team,

Esther

Lizzie Wirgau

by Lizzie Wirgau This past Sunday, I received word that Esther, a craftsman for Market Colors in Kenya, lost her battle with AIDS. Esther, 33, had been told that a special drink would cure her illness and that she no longer needed to take her medication. I share this not to pull on heartstrings or to bring any shame to Esther but to communicate the weight of very real corruption throughout the world.

When I was 15, I became very passionate about the organization To Write Love On Her Arms. I think I was first drawn to them for their interesting shirts that I saw celebrities wearing -- such as my favorite - Bryce Avery. TWLOHA has an inspiring story that goes along with their mission and vision. In it, they write, “We are only asked to love, to offer hope to the many hopeless. We don't get to choose all the endings, but we are asked to play the rescuers. We won't solve all mysteries and our hearts will certainly break in such a vulnerable life, but it is the best way. We were made to be lovers bold in broken places, pouring ourselves out again and again until we're called home.” I’ve come back to this quote countless times when I’ve needed inspiration but also when I’ve needed to be lifted off the ground from heartbreaking news.

I want our customers and readers to know that many of the craftsmen we are partnered with in Africa come from very difficult backgrounds and are working through incredible struggles. Many of their challenges look different than ours. Thinking on Esther’s passing has caused many of us to feel an overwhelming sense of sadness. But it’s also emphasized the burden Market Colors was created to bear: to transform lives for these craftsmen. We realize we can’t fix things and we know that we are new at this. But we also realize that we are able to play a very real part in changing lives and giving opportunity. In the wake of something so tragic, it’s apparent that this needs to happen now. It’s what God has called us to as an organization.

Many of you have received products made by Esther. She worked on the laptop cases, iPad carriers, and Mini Bags. I hope that when you do stumble upon her product card, you are compelled to do something. Market Colors was called to transform lives for African craftsmen and to do our best to be “lovers bold in broken places.” What are you called to do?

Please keep Esther’s family in your prayers. Esther’s husband died recently so her three children are now left orphaned. May her story motivate you to discover what God is calling you to do. For information about how you can support Esther’s family, please contact lizzie@marketcolors.org.

 In memory of Esther Wanjiku Wacera

Interns: Beverly & Grace

Lizzie Wirgau

by Lizzie Wirgau A new year... new interns! We currently have three interns that work with us in the office. They are each so talented and bring great things to the table. We are confident Market Colors will grow over these next 4 months because of these ladies. You already know one of them, Robyn. Now, meet Beverly and Grace.

Beverly

Beverly is a junior at UCF, majoring in Communications and minoring in Nonprofit Management. In her free time, she loves volunteering, finding new music, catching up on old films, thrift shopping, and being surrounded by family and friends. Beverly says that after she found out about Market Colors, she was “completely hooked” and is so passionate about our mission and vision. She loves feeling connected to the craftsmen and knowing that what she does is making an impact. Beverly’s role includes event planning, development, and day-to-day office tasks such as shipping. She is also a vegetarian. While the Market Colors internship is not solely for those with dietary restrictions, we do seem to attract vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free, and lactose intolerant girls. We love them all!

Grace

Grace moved from Bradenton to Orlando in 2009 to attend UCF, where she is studying Communications and Nonprofit Management. After completing her degree this past December, she began looking for opportunities to work with nonprofits that serve in Africa and found Market Colors to be a great fit! Grace loves good books, coffee, antiquing, any opportunity to travel or explore new places, and all kinds of food (but especially Thai!) While working with Market Colors, she will be handling some of the social media including Pinterest, curating the blog, and helping keep up the Twitter account.  And, keeping true to Market Colors intern form, Grace is gluten-free as well!

 

Interested in being an intern this summer or fall? Email Lizzie at lizzie@marketcolors.org for more info!

Launch Night

Lizzie Wirgau

by Lizzie Wirgau Brainstorming sessions, meetings, coffee runs, e-mails and trips to Africa, product orders, 1,000 post-its, sleepless nights, and lots and lots of prayers… everything this past year led up to September 9th, 2012 at 7:30pm. It was the day we opened our Market Colors store for our first product sales.

We had two launches that night… (1) our Product Launch & Benefit Show in Orlando and (2) our online launch at midnight.

Thank you so much to everyone who came out to our event! We had about 400 people attend and sold a ton of products! We’re so grateful to our sponsors for their support and participation: 4Rivers, Hunter Vision, Newfashioned, Embraced by Grace, Real Thread, and Fluid Prints. We also had some incredible performers at our launch... Tigerweather, Rubox, Chris Burns, and The Silver Fleece. And thank you to Redlight Redlight - our amazing hosts for the evening!

Be sure to check out our store to view all the products. With the exception of our t-shirts and decals, every item is handmade by craftsmen in Africa. When you purchase an item, you also get a product card with information about the craftsman that made your item!

The craftsmen were so excited are to hear how much people like their products here in America! Through the success of our store, we've been able to order new products and re-order some favorites! We will have several new items in time for Christmas gift giving.

Thank you again to all who've been so supportive and encouraging. Together we can transform lives throughout Africa!

Some pictures from the Product Launch & Benefit Show

Lining up outside the venue waiting for doors

Thank you to the KBurgers Food Truck for being a part of our event!

Product display

Bird's eye view of the main room

To see more pictures from the night, please visit our Facebook page.

Color The Country: DC and (bonus) France

Lizzie Wirgau

We have colored our country’s capital! Oh Honest Abe, we are so lucky to have your support.

Throughout her travels this summer, Liz Hartsell visited Washington DC. She took a night tour of the monuments and grabbed this picture at the Lincoln Memorial! Little known fact: Liz serves on our Market Colors board as our Secretary!

 

Le Marché de Couleurs dit bonjour de France!

Ahhhhhh, Paris! My love for Paris started when I was 9 when I saw Mary-Kate and Ashley’s movie Passport To Paris. What’s not to love about two 12-year-old twins gallivanting around Paris on mopeds? Paris is a magical city with some of the most amazing views, food, history, and people in the world.

Tim Bergsma and his family spent time in Paris this summer. He left before we released our v-necks and decals so he did the next best thing – iPad pic of our logo!

Wondering what we're talking about? Check out the post about our campaign: Color The Country!

Want to be featured on our blog? Grab your v-neck or decal, take a pic by a license plate or landmark, and send it in to us!

Color The Country: Michigan

Lizzie Wirgau

Michigan: home to Cider Mills, two peninsulas, National Coney Island’s “Hani,” The Great Lakes, snow, Sparty, and Kristen Bell. Also, our founder, Lizzie, spent the first 18 years of her life in Michigan.

Katie Turk decked in her Market Colors v-neck with her Michigan license plate. We are grateful for Katie’s support of Market Colors and how she helped us “color” Michigan! We’re also so grateful that Katie once had a customized license plate that said “KTLADY1.”

We’ve colored Michigan and Florida! 48 States to go! Traveling somewhere? Live somewhere else? Grab your v-neck or decal, pose with something that explains where you are, and send it in to us! We want to feature you on our blog!

Color The Country: Florida

Lizzie Wirgau

Florida: home to oranges, The Orlando Magic, alligators, Disney World, The Fountain of Youth, and the Market Colors headquarters! Since Florida is home base for us, it seems only natural that our first Market Colors decal spotting took place in Orlando.

 

Kylee Talbot with her decal in Orlando, FL. Kylee is a huge supporter of Market Colors and she is heading to the Amazon in just a few weeks on a mission trip. We are fully expecting a picture of a Goldon Lion Tamarin wearing her Market Colors v-neck. We would also settle for a spider monkey.

 

The Case Family Tahoe. Heading out on a family trip up I-75 with Ohio as their destination, Heather Case said she wanted to promote Market Colors along the way. So here’s there first pic from their driveway in Orlando, FL.

We've colored Florida! 49 States to go! Traveling somewhere? Live somewhere else? Grab your v-neck or decal, pose with something that explains where you are, and send it in to us! We want to feature you on our blog!

Color The Country: 50 States To Go!

Lizzie Wirgau

Our goal is to COLOR THE COUNTRY by having Market Colors represented in all 50 States!

HOW? Take a pic of your Market Colors decal on your car, OR one of you or a friend wearing the Market Colors shirt, next to something that clearly shows what state you're in.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN? Send it to our Facebook or Twitter, and your picture will be featured on our page!

So grab that 35mm or camera phone, and pose with your Market Colors shirt or decal next to the state line, state landmark, or a license plate!

WHERE DO WE GET THE SHIRTS/DECALS? You can order them online! We just opened our online store on Monday!

Click here to visit our store

There is a special prize if you take the most creative picture... you will get a Market Colors African product before anyone else!

We are accepting photos now! Let's COLOR THE COUNTRY!

Our New Campaign: 61 New Partners

Lizzie Wirgau

When we decided to do the IndieGoGo campaign: For The Craftsmen, we asked ourselves: “What do we really need to raise?” and kind of left the question of “Can we actually do it?” unanswered. I think that’s how I’ve tried to approach most things in Market Colors… doing my best and leaving the results up to God.

Read More

FAQ With The Founder

Lizzie Wirgau

I've seen your site, but can you tell me what Market Colors does? Market Colors works with craftsmen (men and women) throughout Africa. These craftsmen are making incredibly unique and exquisite products but they have hardly any market for them. By connecting them with the international market, we are increasing their demand which, in turn, will create many jobs throughout Africa. When our products are up for sale, we will activate our online store where you will be able to purchase all our items from our website.

We really believe that this organization has the potential to transform a significant number of lives. The truth is, even if hundreds of organizations like Market Colors exist, there still wouldn’t be enough. There are so many villages with so many craftsmen throughout Africa. The need is great.

Where did this idea come from? I worked at Summit Church in the Missions Department for a few years. My job was facilitating the trips we took to Malawi, Sierra Leone, and the Dominican Republic. Because of that, I was able to go on trips as both a participant and a leader. Throughout my visits, I began forming real relationships and God started working on my heart. While I really loved my job, I began feeling like God had a different plan for me regarding my work in Africa. My awesome boss, John Parker, and I started brainstorming about what that could be. We identified this need: there are skilled craftsmen in Africa but no one can get to their products. Then we worked through how I could help meet that need. Those initial conversations happened in April of 2011.

It’s important for me to note that Market Colors could not exist if this wasn’t something God wanted. I get to see God bless our organization daily… often in some pretty huge ways. I feel so lucky to be a part of His work in Africa. Market Colors is a blessing to me.

What countries do you work in? We work solely in Africa. As of now, we have three partnerships in Kenya and one in Malawi with more on the horizon. We are hoping to grow to at least 20 partnerships over the next five years.

We chose Africa because that’s where our church and community are focused and it’s where my heart is. Also, there aren’t as many groups selling products from Africa because it’s so far and so difficult to ship from. That goes back to how we wanted to meet a need.

Is this your full-time job? The short answer is yes. My “work hours” aren’t typical 9-5 because I work on this more than I would on an average full time job. I’ve committed to not being paid a dollar for the first year. This means every penny that gets donated goes directly to making this nonprofit happen. I also work about 15 hours/week for Hunter Vision as a promoter on their Street Team. So that means I know a lot about Africa and LASIK!

What do you do every day? Well, it depends on the day. But on average…

Morning: Because of the time difference between Africa and here, I usually wake up to a handful of emails that I try to tackle early before Africa goes to bed. These emails are usually about product questions and approvals, shipping and payment details, or inquiries about future partnerships. I’ve also started dedicating a chunk of time in the mornings to praying for Market Colors, our partner organization, and craftsmen.

Lunch: One thing I love about my job is that I get to meet with people all the time! I meet people who are interested in getting more information about Market Colors and/or working with us in some form, people who are way smarter than me and I want to learn from, or people who encourage me in this occasionally overwhelming adventure.

Afternoon: At this point, Africa is asleep or just starting to wake up. So I try to use this time to focus on what we’re doing in the US. Right now, this mostly means marketing. I’ll spend time working on social media, design, research, setting up meetings, and brainstorming.

Night: I start to get responses from some of my morning questions that I sent to people in Africa. The iPhone literally changed my life. I can be working at all hours of the day, no matter where I am. I’ve communicated some pretty big and immediate decisions from my phone. It lets me always be in touch. Which is super-essential when you are starting an organization.

How can I help? Share our new video next week. One really great opportunity will be coming up next week! I’ll be posting a video with never before seen footage from my trip to Africa this winter. It has footage with the craftsmen who are making our products! This is going to be used as part of a fundraiser we are doing to raise money for our initial products. Watch the video and then please share it!

Show us your skills. If you have a skill that you think could be useful, please contact us! Some needed skills: marketing, graphics, social media, website, writing. Also, if you have connections with companies, let us know. Examples of companies: printers, t-shirts, sponsors, marketers, etc.

Give us your lunch money. Well, not exactly. But another big way you can help is to donate. Donations keep us going and they allow us to reach more people in Africa. Even donations of $10 can really make an impact!

Pray. Pray. Pray. Please be praying for our growing organization. Please pray for the craftsmen we work with, the production of the items, the growth of Market Colors, and for clarity as our leadership makes big decisions.

When can we buy products? What will these products be? FALL. By early fall we will have products for sale from at least three of the four initial partners! Initially, we will be selling laptop cases, satchels, purses, rugs, and jewelry. They’re all unique, very well-made and affordable.

Hurry Up and Wait

Lizzie Wirgau

by Lizzie Wirgau Hurry up and wait. If I had a nickel for the number of times…

Disney World. Fully adorned in fanny packs and sunscreen, my family and I would leave our hotel before the sun was up so we could arrive at Disney right when the gates opened. Upon entry, we would realize that no matter how early we arrived, we would still have to wait for the monorail, Space Mountain, and the Tea Cups. Busy, no-breakfast mornings, then waiting.

College applications. I applied right when my senior year started. Think I was excited to get out into the world? Not only did I hurry and apply right away, I wanted options. So I applied to 9 schools. Then I waited. Nine times I waited. Hard work, then waiting.

My iPhone. I did the research. I switched to AT&T. I had a buyer for my LG EnV Touch lined up. The release date rolled around, and I, shamelessly, waited in line just to pre-order the phone. I even paid for the phone. And, of course, I couldn’t get it that day - I still had to wait 6 weeks for it to be delivered. Payment, then waiting.

This weekend, I spent time with my family, visiting my brother in Miami. We were reminiscing about growing up in Metro Detroit and how different our lives look now than we ever imagined. My mom said, “People would give anything to just be able to look at their lives in 5 or 10 years.” My brother laughed and said, “Mom, people would pay $1,000,000 to see what’s going to happen to them in 10 minutes.” And it’s true. We aren’t used to waiting. We can’t trust the process of waiting. Instant gratification is what the world has groomed us for: On Demand TV, “I’ll just Google it”, fast food, and HSN. These conveniences are amazing and I’m not planning on giving up my Netflix account. However, these instant rewards make seasons of silence much harder to deal with because they are so foreign to us.

Imagine if I decided to withdraw my college applications because UCF was taking too long to accept me. Or imagine if I paid for my iPhone and then decided just to go back to my EnV because I couldn’t wait.

Galations 6:8 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

What this means to me is to not get disheartened. While all of these examples are incredibly “small deals” in the grand scheme, I think there are things to learn about ourselves and about our Creator in these seasons of waiting, instead of just pressing pause on our lives until what we’ve waited for arrives. My favorite part about this verse is where it states “at the proper time.” We can always, always hold to the truth that God’s timing is the perfect timing. In this sweet, yet sometimes unwelcomed, stillness, there is so much God wants to teach us.

We can’t always see the end result, but if we can grasp that our God is FOR us, than we can at least cling to that truth, even when the rest of our future may look foggy. We can know that God is still at work in the stillness and that He does have a plan for us.

Lately, to hurry up translates to working hard and doing my best. Getting Market Colors set up for success. And then waiting on God to work and fill in the gaps. This has let me depend on Him every step of the way and it keeps me humble… relying on Him to do far more than I am capable of. In these seasons of waiting, we can come before God and ask Him to do more than we can even think or imagine. To pray the big, scary prayers. To let God grow you and shape your future in these times of stillness.

So we work hard and seek God hard. And then we wait. We wait upon the Lord. We trust Him for his perfect timing.

Max Lucado writes: "His job is to fight. Our job is to trust. Just trust. Not direct. Or question... our job is to pray and wait."

The first craftsmen have been found. The products have been ordered. The production has begun. Now we prepare. We pray and wait.

7pm with Market Colors and Johnny Cash

Lizzie Wirgau

When you are creating and developing something, it’s scary when you first share it with the world. I’ve felt that a few times since Market Colors started. I felt it again at 6:55pm last night. The cookies were made, the Coke Zero was chilled, the whiteboard was hung, and, most importantly, the products were displayed throughout my small apartment in Orlando. With Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison Blues spinning around the record player, I proudly opened my door to greet my guests. In walk 10 close friends, and I give them the first look at the incredible work of the Market Colors’ craftsmen in Africa. These 10 people were invited to see products I selected in Kenya and Malawi and give their feedback, opinions, and ideas. The products we promote and sell on our website will be high quality and handpicked. Some products will have more of an African feel to them than others. The first products we release will be a variety of satchels, laptop cases, purses, jewelry, and scarves.

I could tell you in detail where we landed on each product. But how not fun would that be? We will officially announce our spring products soon. I imagine that will feel like opening up my apartment to not just 10 guests, but to hundreds. This is organic. This is the draft. This is the beginning. This is the work God has called us to. Thank you for being a part as together we write the beginning of Market Colors.