Al & Diane Mellinger's Missionary Adventure

Name Day & New Year’s

December 27, 2007 - A tradition in Bulgarian and other parts of Easter Europe is Name Day. Here your name is given a date and everyone knows it and so instead of making a big deal about your birthday (since people can’t always remember that) they will celebrate your name day. Today (12/27) is the name day for Steffon (Stephen) and since one of our co-workers is named that and since our landlord is named that. We got to experience name day celebrations with 2 friends.

Not knowing what to expect we went to our landlords first – we took a chocolate bar as a token of good will – were ushered into their living room where she has salads on the table for us. When we were done they brought out a main course plate and then we wer offered dessert. We had no idea what would happen but we enjoyed the time. Others joined in and came as we were there and they received the same treatment.

We then went to our coworkers house (who was sick with the flu so we didn’t stay) and wished him well and left the chocolate for when he was feeling better.

Name days are celebrated highly by some and not a lot by others. And since there are many names there can be several in a week all year long. According to the tradition, guests are supposed to come uninvited and the person who has the celebrated name is supposed to be prepared to treat everyone. Today people prefer to invite their guests at home or at a bar or a restaurant. The celebrations are similar to those of birthdays, but usually the food, the music and the feel is somewhat more traditional, and rarely even religious. Here is link to the Name Day Tradition in Bulgaria

New Years Day in America may be known for Football but here it is Kukeri like Halloween with Costumes and dances and music competition on the City Square – we are not sure what to expect but we will observe and repost back to you what we see on Tuesday of next week.

From our House and Home we want to wish you a Great ’08!

Pray for the house church here we had 11 this past Wednesday – the highest number to date!
Pray for our language Studies – they were interrupted a bit over the holidays and we need to get back to them pray we remember what we are learning
Praise God for a wonderful Christmas Season here we did miss our family but felt God with us and that was great!

Merry Christmas

December 20, 2007 - Merry Christmas 2007 – Our first Christmas in Bulgaria – Our son Casey made it with no problems or delays and that was great (as it was snowing in Sofia when he arrived) we are enjoying having him here and I think he is enjoying his time as well.

This week we have been getting the “Virtual Christmas Gift Boxes” ready to go and we have distributed some of them as well. It has been exciting and sad all at the same time. Exciting to see the joy on having something given to them that is new but sad to see the environment that they live in. But we do it for Jesus and we will see what He can do with it.

By the time you get this we will be taking Casey to Greece (10 mile south of where we live is the boarder) to visit the Longs and celebrate a bit with the folks we worked with all summer. We will show Casey some of the historical sights and place there. On Sunday I will be preaching in the church there again! What a great time to preach on Christmas!

We return on December 23rd to observe Christmas here – they Celebrate for 3 Days the 24th – 25th and 26th – we are waiting to see how it is done. On Christmas Day I have been asked to preach in a Village Church not to far from here so we will – and then we will hand out some small bags of Candy and coloring books that we are putting together as these are not kids that were part of the Gift Box program this year.

We will fix a big Christmas Dinner later and have Peggy and Steffon and family over.

We have posted a new Newsletter for December on our blog that you can open and read even more about all that has been happening. We have added so photos of the preperation for the Virtual Christmas Gift Boxes and our own Christmas Decorations that you can see on our website.

We do want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed and Happy New Year!

This week pray …
…for the New Year and all the possibilities it will hold for us.
…for all the children and families that received a Gift from us that it might open the door to hear more about Jesus.

The Neighborhood

December 13, 2007 - As we have now been here a few months we are starting to get to know people – not that we can say much beyond hello and how are you – but we recognize them and they us. As we try our Bulgarian on them they are pleased and that communicates that we are trying to adapt and fit in.

One guy, which we met at the Hotel we stayed at when we first arrived also works up the street at a car detailing place. (Yes, there are people who have cars that want them detailed) I walk by this place on my way to the bank and so I have seen him several times over the months. He speaks some English and is always wanting to try it out on me.

The other day as I was walking to the bank – he stopped me and after greetings he asked “ What are you doing here?” You are not a pensioner you are too young (Pensioner is what retired folks are call in England). So I told him we were working with a church – and a mission organization - “So you are a Pastor?” he continued and I said “yes, we were here working with some people to begin a church and right now we had Bible Studies on Wednesday nights and he was welcome to come”. I then gave him my card (in Bulgarian and English) telling where we live and how to contact me if he had questions.

He didn’t come that next Wednesday but I will continue walking to the bank and greeting him if out and talking to him about whatever he wants so that I may build a relationship to share Jesus.

This time of year I am reminded that Jesus did something very similar – John 1:14 says (in the Mellinger translation) “He began human and moved into the neighborhood” and then lived and learned and laughed and loved the people around him – so that He could share His message and plan for the world. He has now gone to heaven and left the job of moving into the neighborhoods to us. Our neighborhood is in Petrich Bulgarian – but you too have a neighborhood. Who are the people you pass by or see often? – Do they know Jesus?

So this week instead of praying about us during the missions prayer focus – take some extra time and pray over your neighborhoods and the people you pass regularly and the fact that they need to know you, so that they can know Jesus!

Blessings

PS - Casey our son is Traveling (12/14/07) from Michigan to visit us for Christmas - say a prayer for safe flights without delays and that he will make all his connections - He is 20 but the first time he will be flying internationally alone.

The Work in Petrich

December 6, 2007 - When we were asked to come to Bulgaria as missionaries we were told of a group we would be working with in Petrich. Well from the time we said yes until we arrive the group had dwindled to about 6 and is now down to 3 Regulars. Most have moved to other parts of Bulgaria or the EU (European Union Countries) for employment.

So this fall we began meeting as a Bible Study each week – studying God’s Word and praying together. My plan was just to get them being together again and see what might happen. Well counting Diane and I we have had as few as 5 and as many at 8 at the study. They are inviting visitors and they are coming. Praise the Lord

The other week they asked if we could meet 2 times a week so that they could study more. We are working on that and what kind of study it should be – I am proposing once a week as an outreach evangelistic study where we invite seekers and the other a more intense time for the believes. We will see.

The group in Petrich is also doing a couple of outreach activities this month. One I suggested and one they suggested. The first I have written about is the Virtual Christmas Gift Box. And the Second is a Christmas Coloring book that tells the story of Jesus coming to earth at Christmas that we are giving to all the preschools in Petrich to hand out to the children – we have over 1000 of these to give out. We have put our logo and phone on the back of each and are praying that some will become interested and find Jesus.

So after only arriving in September – God seems to be moving fast in the lives of the Core people here to create a desire to share Jesus with others. WE are honored and grateful to God for allowing us the chance to be a part of it - and as prayer partners you are too!

This week pray for …
…the weekly Bible Study and the direction we need to take with the next one.
…the Christmas Gift Boxes that they will be used show God’s love to children and families. Pray that these might be the first of many contacts to bring them to JESUS
…Pray for the distribution of the coloring books in the preschools that they might be effective are sharing the LOVE of God to these homes.

We are praying you Christmas Season is full of chances for you to share God's Love and Celebrate the season with family and Friends!