Al & Diane Mellinger's Missionary Adventure

Back Home & a few other things!

We made it back home after an amazing trip – Last week we were heading toward Eygpt when I wrote – We spent 2 days there and saw lots in 2 days – To look at those structures and to know they were around when Moses lived is amazing – I plan to add some photo albums to the site soon so you can see all the pictures.

We also visited the birthplace of the Olympics in Greece. To hear the stories and see where the ancient games began was very interesting to see.

Diane and I are home and unpacking and readjusting to REAL Life. As nice as it was on the cruise – I am happy to be home and ready to get back to what we came here for.

While we were traveling I was still keeping up on details and plans for the summer and they are getting busy – Pray about the summer work and workers coming here. I will be over the next few weeks telling you more about all that is happening.

One BIG requests I have is the scholarships for the BG youth and the LOVE BULGARIA CONFERENCE - with the Dollar shrinking (fast) and price rising here rapidly – we will need more funds for the conference – I had said it was $80 a teen, it is now with the conversion rate closer to $100 a teen. (Our rent has gone up $35 a month just because of the exchange rate and the dollar losing value since we started) So pray that we will have the right people helping to make this happen. Pray God brings his resources to this opportunity.

Thank God for safety in our travels, for no one getting sick and for a great time of refreshment. We all need a break now and then.

Report from out at SEA!

April 17, 2008 – Today we are on the open sea heading toward Egypt. So far the sailing has been smooth and the weather nice – not too hot – not too cold.

A couple of the highlights so far have been Istanbul and Ephesus.

In Istanbul we met Igor and his wife Alex – a wonderful couple working hard to share the gospel of Jesus. He is Ukrainian but for a number of years has felt called to Turkey and so he and his new bride (they were married in February 2008) are working hard in a city and country with less than .05% of the population as evangelical. Pray for them – I am fairly sure we will return to see and help them in the future.

The second highlight was visiting Ephesus. This is the largest excavated area of a former city. We as moving was being told that these were the same streets that Paul would have walked on. The same market place where Paul would have debate the town leaders and the same theater that He would have preached and shared Jesus story. John the writer of the Gospel of John and Revelations lived here for a while too. To gain a better idea of how they lived and what it might have been like was amazing and made you think a bit.

Additionally, the time with Diane’s Aunt and Uncle have been great. We have enjoyed a great deal of laughter and talking and encouragement from them.

I have also been in touch with people about things this summer to keep things moving on those fronts (Email is great)
This week pray for:

The Work in Turkey
The Love Bulgaria Youth Evangelism Conference details.
Our tiem coming up next in Egypt.

By the way this trip has had us on 3 different Continents – Europe in Turkey, Asia in Turkey too (Part of this country is in Europe and part in Asia) and Africa. That is an amazing idea that in this close area we are hitting that many places.

25th Wedding Anniversary Cruise.

April 9, 2008 – Well our anniversary isn’t until July of this year but we are going to be joining Diane’s Aunt and Uncle on a Cruise in the Mediterranean for the next 2 weeks. We will not be home with any family and friends and summer is looking pretty busy so when we had the time to be part of this event with family we decided to take it. Here is a link to the itinerary and port of call destinations Click here

So you know this is our Vacation and a special one that we have been saving for awhile (Missionaries don’t just cruise around) for this special celebration. (This is also Diane’s big 50 and so we are also celebrating that this year with the cruise as well but as a reader of this email you knew that from January).

We will be combining a bit of Business with pleasure though as we will meet a new contact named Igor in Istanbul Turkey the day before we start as there is developing work there. And while in Egypt will visit a VISA Missionary Dustin, who use to be a student of ours and is serving this year in the Middle East with our FM work. (So you will find that even in pleasure we can connect and build relationships for the kingdom. I guess you are never on vacation from being a Christian and being willing to serve God)

I am not sure we will be able to post anything next week while traveling (But I will try) so just pray for the following while we are away.

Safety and Health as we travel
Our meetings with Igor and Dustin
The team carrying out the work we do while we are away

UK Trip was busy but Good

April 3, 2008 – Have spent most of the last week in England It is good to be back home for a few days (although next week we are off again – but more on that next week).

The time was a great expression of God at work. Through the partnership with Renewal Christian Centre and some of the Bulgarian Pastors a new network is beginning to emerge to strengthen the church around the work. Renewal is working to come alongside Pastors and church by helping to better train and equip the leaders to lead. This weekend was the official launch with Bulgaria being one of the first out of country groups to organize.

My role is to chair for Renewal with Bulgarian Pastors this group and to work at creating the training and develop times of encouragement for the leaders. There will be training and teaching times about 4 – 5 times a year. Both Pastors from the UK and America will be brought over to share basic how to’s and theological principles on a regular bases. (If you are a Pastor/Teacher and would like to come and do some teaching please let me know I am working on a schedule for the next year or so)

There was a great sence of God bring our thoughts, desires and plans together – It was amazing to see God’s spirit bring every one together. The BG pastors that are part of the board also got to see and experience what Renewal Christian Centre is like over 5 days. We attended many services, pray meetings as well as meeting with many of their leadership team as a group and one on one.

Thanks for your prayers – continue to pray for this new organization – Renewal International Netword (RIN) Bulgaria – Pray that God would now bring the right Leaders and churches to become part of this and pray that as we plan the training and times of encouragement that they will be just what is needed for those involved.

Have a great day!