Al & Diane Mellinger's Missionary Adventure

Virtual Christmas Gift Box - Special Blog Announcement

October 23, 2004 - As we are now feeling the chilling effect of the weather in Bulgaria we are well aware of this time of year and what will soon begin: “The Christmas Holiday Season” – I am sure that you are beginning to see Christmas decorations up all over the stores.

As I was driving back to Petrich the other day and idea came to me. It isn’t a new idea but rather a bit of a twist of an existing idea.

We have many street kids, orphans and families that just don’t have much. (the average income in Bulgaria is about $4,000 a year) The costs are going up Bread and Dairy have increased about 20% since our arrival in April and are scheduled to go up another 20% again before year ends (the increases are mandated as part of the entrance to the European Union). Unfortunately wages are not going up at the same rate if at all right now (We are now into the 5 week of a Nationwide Teacher Strike which they say could last the entire year which means students lose an entire year of classes and will have to make them up) What this all means is a much more difficult Christmas for most here higher prices and with less money for many.

So what was my new twist on an old idea? Instead of getting and filling a shoe box that then has to be shipped, imported and then distributed why not do a “Virtual Christmas Gift Box” Go to our website www.almellinger.com to down load how. But in a nut shell, go shopping on paper and create your box – total the cost of the items you selected for us to give and then sent us the money by depositing it a local bank in the states than I will then withdraw and use it to purchase, with the team here, the items you requested and we will get them to needy kids.

Why do it this way?
1) Saves on shipping and importing costs.
2) Helps the local economy as we buy from area businesses.
3) It will help the work we have here gain positive standing with the people we are trying to reach. We are showing care for the kids and families with little.
4) Saves on time as we can get the money within 24 hours of it being deposited and use it to help.

The program has different components so it can be a great teaching about missions for the children – youth or the entire church. It also allows families to do the virtual shopping together, which helps with the giving concept for kids. I always want what I suggest to not only help us but also teach and challenge the folks in our Partner Churches.

I hope you will consider being a part of this idea. I know it is late this year and so you may not be able to do a lot but any participation would be helpful!

Pray this week for this project
Pray for our Residency ID Card Application the last step in the process (we think)
Pray for our Language Study which keeps getting side tracked a bit.

You never know who you might meet in Petrich, Bulgaria?!

Last Sunday (10/14/07) we decided to go to one of the other churches here in town to introduce ourselves and make a contact with the pastor. This Sunday a group of 3 College age students (from Sofia) was there sharing and they sang a song. As they were singing I leaned over to Diane and said I think the guy in the leather jacket is a friend of mine on Facebook.

(Facebook is an online community of people who have are friends or who have the same interests and have connected. If you are not on it you should be!)

After Church we were introduced and as we were talking Peter (that is his name) said I think you are on my Facebook to which I said I thought you were on mine. Now how is that for a small world?

How did we get connected on Facebook? Well another student who attended the church in Greece (where we were this summer) attended a conference with Inter Varsity in July in Hungary. When he returned he said he had met a couple of guys from Bulgaria and sent me their contacts on Facebook – so I added them as friends and they confirmed me as a friend and we now had a contact.

My schedule has been so busy that I haven’t had time to do anything with them although they were on my list to connect this week. Well God has a great way of bring together his people. I am not sure where this will lead but it is more than just chance that we were brought to the same small church in Petrich on the same Sunday and both of us remembered that we were connected on Facebook.

Isn’t the internet and technology great? You never know how God will use it if you learn about it and claim it for kingdom work! I will let you know how things are going with this, as I am sure God has something in mind that we have yet to figure out.

This week Praise God for…
1) …getting our D- VISA (Now on to our Residency Permits)
2) …a great trip to the UK (We learned a great deal, made so new contacts and had some great times of worship and teaching)
3) …all the contacts that God has brought our way in the last few weeks it is amazing!

UK Update

October 11, 2007 - Since last Friday we have been in the UK (England) and been learning a lot.

Saturday (10/6) - Was a Leadership Conference at Renewal Christian Centre. We attended and had a group of 5 Bulgarian Church Leaders. It was a great time of learning and experiencing God.

Sunday (10/7) - We attending the services at Renewal - which were awesome (the services reminded me of Church life at CrossRoads Community Church)

Monday (10/8) - We had meetings on Monday with a Bible College in Birmingham - and with one of the Pastors of Renewal. In the Evening I attend an outreach Bible Study Class called the "Alpha Course"

Tuesday (10/9) We attended the Weekly staff prayer meeting, visited an old English Abbey and participated in the Weekly Pastoral Staff meeting at Renewal - then attend the Weekly Tuesday Night Service - the Ministry of Power Service. This is a service for healing and growth. Truly and amazing time.

Wednesday (10/10) we rented a car and drove from Solihull to Preston (about 2 1/2 hour drive) on the opposite side of the road (by the way gas prices here in England come out to over $7.00 a gallon - that is US Dollars and US gallons - no complaining now) We are staying with one of the Missionaries here for a couple of days. Then we had dinner with 2 pastor friends we have made here in England. It is fun to have connections with people all over the world!

Thursday (10/11) we visited the office for the FM Church UK - I first met the Conference Supt of this group of churches in 1996 when we brought a team to England to do a mission. It was great to reconnect again.

Friday (10/11) we return to Bulgaria and resume our normal life (what ever that is? When and If I find that out I will right and tell you). Thanks for praying for us during this week of travel.

Pray this week too for Peggy and Steffon as her uncle pass away last Friday and they are having a difficult time with his passing.

Pray too for our next step in the Residencey Process - we are going next week to get the VISA Stamp in the Passport and then will return to begin the residency process.

Recent Friends and New Contacts

October 4, 2007 – This past week has been very exciting in many ways.  We visited 3 churches in the area and spoke 4 times.  Let me recap:

Since returning to Bulgaria in early September we have had people calling us who have heard we are here now.  From these conversations we have made follow up visits with most and are now seeing where God might take them.

Mladin is a Pastor and the leader of Samaritans Help a regional connection of independent churches.  We spoke at his church last Friday.  He is also constructing a church meeting place with a school on top in another near by village.  His goal is to provide for leadership Development for Bulgarian Pastors.  The meeting room they hope to finish in a few weeks with the top floors later when they have more funds. (He was also approached by some of the towns people where he lives to run for Mayor and he is – who know what that might bring)

Ivan is a local pastor who has a heart for the villages around Petrich and has kind of a circuit going to different ones each week.  They have one nice complex with a meeting room, a youth area, a kitchen with a dinning area under construction plus space for the kids to play.  I was ask to speak Sunday morning last week there.  Ivan is also trying to organize soccer clubs as a way to share the gospel in the villages too!

Mitkov is a local gypsy pastor here in town who is connected with Mladen and so he asked us to speak this past Sunday night at his church and he invited other churches in their group to join them so other churches came in. Had more than 70 people there in a very tiny room.

Not to mention that we are still having the Bible Study in our home on Wednesdays.  So I had the great opportunity to preach and connect with at least 4 other congregations last week (by the way most only asked a day or two a head of time if we would come, they don’t plan too far ahead I am finding out).

So I am not sure where this will lead but it is more than chance that all this is coming up at once. I will keep you posted and you keep praying!

Diane and I will be in England October 5-12, 2007 at a Leadership Conference and following up meetings on the Pastor’s Conference of a few weeks back.

The follow-up on the Pastor’s Conference in Sofia.

The follow-up with all the new contacts that seem to be dropping in our lap in and around Petrich and

Safety in travel as Diane and I head to England for a week!

Next Week a report from the UK)