Al & Diane Mellinger's Missionary Adventure

What we have done so far (since being back)!

December 5, 2019 - We have now been back in Bulgaria and have been pretty busy. We are in our new apartment (Pictures in the coming weeks) and trying to get settled, are getting the store here set up for Christmas, picked up products from Livelihood groups and dropped off the raw materials for more merchandise. shopping wrapping and sorting (along with many others – here is a link to the video on a wrapping day) the Virtual Christmas Gift Box gifts, as well as keeping an eye on operations in the states. 

All of that said we are finding ourselves more affirmed that these ministries and programs are helping and making a difference in people’s lives.  During a recent pickup, our knitters were excited about a trailer that had been purchased to be used to meet in for their church.  This happened because the knitters were able to tithe and give a good portion of the funds to make this happen.  They now, not only have income but are able to support their church because of it.  It may not be too exciting for us but they were so proud.

When you help us help them economically, it is more than being just about income – it is helping them have dignity, feel they matter and can contribute.  They want to care for their families and communities but often lack the opportunity to do so.  When they work, they make a difference.

I have also since being back had calls from folks excited about the store in the states, they all say we love what you are doing – thanks for bringing the store to Jackson.  For that, we are very thankful but what we need is for folks to be more than thankful – we need folks to shop and remember the store is there and that we are not just a business that makes money but also one that is selling fair-trade items that we know are helping people care for their families.

We are and have been trying new things to market what we are doing.  We have stocked up for the holidays we are getting and adding more and more merchandise of all different kinds in order to appeal to a larger audience.

God is good and He has it all in control – but I know that sometimes we all need reminders about what is there.  So, any folks near the store – remember this Holiday Season to stop in and check out what we have that might make great gifts.  Take a short trip over or get a group and make a morning, afternoon or evening of it.  Pray for the store because its sales determine how many people we can impact in the future. 

If you are not close we do have an online shop marketplacemanna.com that you can order from – it does not have all the items we offer but a good amount.

We did not get into retail because we love the hours and the work it goes into having a shop – we did it because people need help and this was the best way we saw for long term ongoing support of the people.

Thanks again for your support and prayers

Pray this week for:

The store sales this Christmas Season in both in the US and Bulgaria

The Sweets as they are returning and readjusting to life in Bulgaria

The Virtual Christmas Gift Box ministry this month.

 

Bonus - Yearend giving link. 

If you are looking at your yearend giving we have a number of areas of need. Below are links for online giving.

Our (Mellinger) Support 

Marketplace Manna’s Development fund for Livelihood Group expansion 

Bulgarian Country Support for the new Church Leadership 

 

 

Today is Giving Tuesday! (Bonus Blog this week!)

Today is Giving Tuesday – if you have not yet decided where you want to give let me throw a couple of options to you list.

Development Fund - We are wanting to begin in the new year a couple of additional Livelihood groups with some of the new church plants in a really poor area of Bulgaria – it cost us about $5000 to start a new group. We need to get the raw materials and supplies and also have enough for a couple of month salaries for the workers until we get fund being sent back from sales. To donate.  https://squareup.com/store/marketplace-mannas-around-the-world-shop/item/fundmarketplace-manna-development

Marketing Fund - We are also wanting to expand the retail exposure and how we get the products to customers – we are wanting to raise $12,000 for this project. https://squareup.com/store/marketplace-mannas-around-the-world-shop/item/marketing-fund

What we do and Why we do it!

November 27, 2019 - As missionaries in the Free Methodist Movement, we trace our heritage back to John Wesley and the values he promoted. John Wesley wanted souls to be saved but he also understood the realities of living.  He held a very holistic approach to Ministry and serving the people.  Here is a list of things John listed as important.

As I read this post I was reminded again of why we do what we are doing and how this is central to the Gospel message we also proclaim within the work here in the Balkans and where ever we are.

As leaders of the work in the Balkans, all of the above issues are important to us and all are addressed with the work that we do.  As we encounter persecution, racism, and inequality we work to make a difference.

As we are planting churches, seeing souls saved and making disciples of the believers, we also serve other basic needs of the people.  Economic empowerment by providing jobs and work opportunities and we are assisting with feeding and caring for the physical needs of the people.  We are promoting programs to stop slavery and abuse of the vulnerable we serve.  All of these things are important and central to the work. All of these are part of what it is to be on mission!  We have never been nor ever should be solely focused on making converts. We are about the whole person and making Disciples – people who now LIVE differently.  LIVE with a higher purpose.

Another way to say this is we promote and create Biblical communities where we all serve each other and care for one another.  Now it is not perfect and we do have to deal with problems that arise and take a hard stand from time to time, but each day we get closer and closer to healthy Biblical communities.

This is why we focus on all aspects of life – the spiritual, the economic, the educational and the emotional as well from time to time.  If we only do one of these we are not creating healthy disciples. When you have healthy disciples, they will produce healthy disciples who will produce healthy disciples.  You will only produce what you model and teach. We pray that we are producing healthy disciples who will keep the process going.

Within the work in the Balkans – God has assembled a team to help oversee different aspects of the work.  We are not all focusing on the same issues. 

The area that we (Al & Diane) work on specifically is that of economics – This includes livelihood groups, microloans, marketing and merchandising the products that we produce.  That is a big job and if it were easy it would already be happening.  There are no systems in place to get what we produce to markets – these are being created.  We also look to help figure out what needs to be done next as the systems start functioning.  We are looking for additional ways to expand the work to help more of the body of Christ in our area and beyond. (To read more about one of our systems see this article just published in Light & Life Magazine)

How can you help us with our work?

• Pray – prayer is the first and most effective way to partner
• Shop either at our store if in the Jackson, Michigan area or online at marketplacemanna.com or when we come to your church.
• Make a donation to the Development Fund so we can start new groups who need and want to support their families but struggle to find the means.
• Host a display of products at your church or with your group to promote fair trade shopping – knowing what you spend helps families.

With Small Business Saturday (November 30th) and Giving Tuesday (December 3rd), we would appreciate you considering a gift to our Development Fund (Click Here) as we continue to make a difference in people's lives.

Funny thing happened on our return to Bulgaria…

November 22, 2019 – The first two nights when we got back we ended up sleeping in our old apartment. Our former landlords are also employees at our store in Petrich and they had not yet rented out our old place. They offered it to us until our new apartment was ready.  Sometimes the old is what you need to readjust a bit.

We are slowing working on getting settle – I say that because even though we are sleeping here the kitchen is not finished and some of the electrical and lights have yet to be completed but we are making the best of it and know that it is going to help us as we return to new work and new focuses.

We have also gotten to work on the Virtual Christmas Gift Box shopping and organizing and well as another round of livelihood group products and getting ready to preach in our local church this Sunday. 

This week pray for…

…all the details of organizing the Virtual Christmas Gift Box program

… Diane and I as we continue to get settled in

… the sale of the product we have in our store and in churches that help the poor

 

Here is a link to a video a Jackson Michigan group did about our store a few weeks back that just came out today. 

https://www.facebook.com/jacksononearth517/videos/552633862192429/UzpfSTY2Njg4NzU4MDoxMDE1NjI3NDc2NTYxNzU4MQ/

We made it back to Bulgaria!

November 15, 2019 – We had about a 22-hour travel time from leaving our home in Jackson, Mi to arriving in Petrich, Bulgaria.  Our new apartment was not ready so we are actually staying in the guest room of our old apartment.  The landlords also work for our store here and had not yet rented it our – so for 2 nights, we came back home (sort of).

Now that we are back we are focusing on all the changes that will be happening over the next few months (more on that in coming posts). 

For now, I want to take a moment and ask our supporters to remember our team.  There are currently 2 other missionary families partnering with us and they work with us on getting much of what we report done.  They are amazing, gifted and wonderful folks who work very hard at serving the people of Bulgaria.

You folks are amazing supporters of us and what we do and we thank you! WE are also wanting to ask you to consider either a one-time gift or regular ongoing support for our team. 

David and Jill Sweet with their new family are not as well-known and support raising is a bit tough on them!  I am hoping and praying that we can help get them funded so they can focus on their work and not worrying about funds. click here to give online

Chance and Dee Dee Gallaway are also amazing workers who work long and tirelessly with our Church plants.  They too could use some support as well. click here to give online

This does not mean we don’t need your ongoing support as we always do – but we have seen God Bless us and we want to ask you to consider blessing them too if you can. Click here to give online

This week pray…

… for the team of missionaries and nationals

… the process of getting our Virtual Christmas Gift Box program organized for this year

… our apartment to get finished and for us to get settled and back at it full time.