Al & Diane Mellinger's Missionary Adventure

Inflation is having its impact!

December 1, 2022 – Inflation is real and is having an impact on what we do.  This fall store sales have been 40%-50% less than last year.

We understand – people who used to have funds to spend on things like what we sell now have to put it in the tank or on the table but the folks we serve and who depend on us selling a certain level will be impacted as we are not purchasing as much for the stores.

Additionally, our overall expenses for labor, insurance, rent, and utilities have not decreased.  That means we have to become even more creative in how and what we do.

People that enter the stores love the story and mission of helping the poor but are purchasing less than before.

Again, we understand that people just don’t have as much surplus money to spend.

This week I am asking our partners to pray for the right folks to come into the store and for our sales to increase.  (God says to pray about everything) If you are near one of our stores please come by and see if we might have something for the special someone on your Christmas list.

And for those who can’t come into the store, you can order online at marketplacemannna.com if you order more than $100 and use the code “xmas22“ we will ship it for free until December 17, 2022.  That should get it to you before Christmas.

If you want to help you can also make a donation to our development fund. The links are below.

To help with our personal support click here

Marketplacemanna.com – online store

To help with our development fund click here

 

Giving Tuesday

November 28, 2022 - Giving Tuesday is happening on November 29, 2022 and if you would like to support our work there are two ways:

1. Personal Support helps us focus on helping the poor through the programs and ministries we engage with.
2. Development funds are money we invest in projects and groups.

You are getting asked by many to give and help for Giving Tuesday.  Everyone wants to get a part of the funds donated on this day during this time of year.

We would very much like to receive a portion of what you can give us if you feel it is what God would have you do.

Thanks for your support and prayers all year long.

(If you want to know more about what we are doing and where your gifts go re-read previous blog posts)

To help with our personal support click here

Marketplacemanna.com – online store

To help with our development fund click here

 

 

 

I Have an Idea...

November 19, 2022 - Martin Luther King had a dream – but we have an Idea or two.  The more we are doing what we are doing, in the ever-changing culture after Covid, and with inflation continuing to happen, the old ways of doing things are not working as far as retail goes. 

With that in mind, we are watching the numbers and trying to figure out the best way to keep costs low while serving the people we partner with.  We are exploring online opportunities, scaled-back retail hours, more shows with churches and other groups as well as some different kinds of displays. Praying and asking God what we should do.

With Fairtrade merchandise people, often what to see and touch what they are getting but they don’t always remember we have a store (or 2) to come and see it.  When we are out sharing with folks the sales are often very good. So, we need to figure out how to take the store to the people more often.

Additionally, we have projects that we want the folks we work with in Jackson to help with but they require space for more than a few hours each month.  Sometimes things need to dry before the next step can take place right now we do not have the ability to create these projects because of our space limitations.

The reality is we need additional support/income to make some of our ideas happen.

• What would it take to get and convert a truck into a mobile shop?
• What would it take to get space to create a year-round workshop close to the folks we serve?
• What would it take to start new groups with partner churches in other towns?

These are just a few of the questions we are asking God and our partners.  Each day we see God’s hand at work leading us to folks who need us, leading us to folks who want to help us, and providing equipment and supplies before we know what to do with it.

As you are pondering Giving Tuesday and your year-end giving – Think about helping us as we work to figure out new ways to impact those in need with not only the loving message of God but some financial support for their families as well

This week

• pray about the needs we have.
• Pray for those we partner with
• Pray for new support for the ideas we have.

Praying you have a blessed Thanksgiving and Christmas Season!

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To help with our personal support click here

Marketplacemanna.com – online store

To help with our development fund click here

Thankful

November 9, 2022 – With Thanksgiving just around the corner we are challenged to think about what we are thankful for. So, I am going to share both personal and ministry praises today.

Ministry

It has been almost 2 years since we stepped aside for our direct hands-on oversight of the work in the Balkans.  When you let go you wonder will it survive or will it stop?  The work in the Balkans has not stopped it is still growing.  Seeing more churches started, training taking place, and baptisms happening is something we are very thankful for.

We are also planning on returning to Bulgaria for about 3 weeks in January of 2023.  We will finally be able to wrap up a few things that we could not get done and for that, we are praising God. (Can’t wait to see many folks that are dear to our hearts)

We have found that the connections and contacts with the work here are growing and for that we again are thankful.

Personal

We are so thankful to be closer to family.  To be able to see and interact with our granddaughter is priceless.

We are both sad and thankful that Diane’s mom is in a better place.  The last couple of years she was here physically but not in other ways.  She is now with her Lord and for that we rejoice.

We are still trying to full figure out what God is wanting from us, some days we are wondering and other days it is great.  The fact that He has always lead and provided is the truth that we lean on. Knowing He knows is something that we are very thankful for.

As you think about your year-end giving both our support and development funds are always taking donations.

Take some time to think and Thank God for all that He does!

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To help with our personal support click here

Marketplacemanna.com – online store

To help with our development fund click here

Pop-Up Shops

October 26, 2022 – We are offering Pop-Up Shops for groups or churches that would like to give their members a chance to buy fair trade gifts this Christmas season.

If interested contact us and we will see what we can arrange.

We are still collecting for our Virtual Christmas Gift Program - Click here to give 

This week pray for:

Store Sales – They are down and we feel inflation is the cause.

Our Partners – We are not getting as much as we cannot afford to purchase it right now. Pray God would still take care of their needs.

Our Support – Needing more monthly supporters.

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To help with our personal support click here

Marketplacemanna.com – online store

To help with our development fund click here