Al & Diane Mellinger's Missionary Adventure

Why Up-Cycle Stuff to make New Products?

May 18, 2022 – We collect all kinds of stuff that seem random at times.  They are items that someone doesn’t use, want, or need.  To many, it looks more like junk or trash and we are often asked, why do you do that?

There are several reasons:

• It helps the planet, keeping things out of landfills (at least for now).
• We work with people who take the stuff we collect and through it learn a skill and a bit of income as they make something useful to another.
• The items become the EXCUSE to get connected with the poor and needy around us. By helping them meet their felt needs we earn the right to share Jesus with them.

By caring about the planet and people’s economic needs we find more doors open for us to get involved and then share the Gospel with people.

We are currently working with several organizations that have no spiritual aspect to their service to the poor, they are only trying to address the immediate needs of their clients. By helping to address the needs, with the groups, we then earn the opportunity to give them what they really need (Jesus).

Things are growing as we are weekly having conversations with groups about possible partnerships. That is exciting as means word is getting out and folks are looking for partners to engage.  It also means that we need more upcycled items to keep folks engaged.

Right now, we need more unwanted T-shirts – especially white (as we tie-dye them) but are still building our collection of everything else too.

Additionally, we want to create a workshop/training space -  to bring some of the local folk we work with for production purposes.  When we tie-dye shirts they need a place to make them and then dry.  Other times things are painted or sealed and need a space to dry.  We have been dreaming about a place for a couple of years and have followed up on 2-3 places that have not worked out.  Would you join us in praying about such a space?

And when we get a space we are going to need folks to help by teaching and working with our folks.  We would love to start a list of folks we can call upon when the workspace is acquired if you have any skills.

This week pray about:

a workshop space

partner conversations that we would create good sinergy

travels as we are entering a busy few months

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Simply Stuff!

May 10, 2022 – Recently Diane and I were on a trip and were talking. Diane was reflecting on the fact that we are working to take simple things to make new stuff.  That got me thinking and remembering how Jesus used “simple stuff” to draw folks in and teach on His kingdom.

• The woman at the Well – A Drink
• Feeding of the 5000 – 5 Loaves of Bread and 2 fish
• Wedding Feast in Cana – Jars of Water
• Zacchaeus – Lunch
• Healing the Blind – Spit, dirt, and mud

And if it wasn’t stuff, it was simple instructions

• Leprosy – go wash in the river
• Lame man – get up and walk

For too long we in the church have tried to make it more complicated than it needs to be, more spiritual than it has to be, and more ritualistic than it should be!  It is all about relationships – meeting folks where they are and helping them move to where God wants them to be.  In reality, it always starts with something small and moves to something much bigger.

We have been collecting stuff folks no longer want and making it into things people can use.  We will take t-shirts and tennis balls and make chew toys for pets, we take ties and make cases, headbands, and bracelets for people. We take fabric and cherry pits and make warming and cooling pads.  Simple things that when you first see them are not impressive but when you transform them they become something useful and beneficial.

The same is true for people.  Too often we look at them and they don’t look like much but once transformed by God (as only He can), they become useful and beneficial to those around them.

God wants to use…

…what we have to reach people!

…what we know to teach people!

…who we are to love on people!

So, what do you have?

            What do you know?

                        Who are to love on?

When you answer these questions, you will begin to find out what needs to be done to make an impact in your part of the world!

This week pray about...

... new groups we should start and connect with

... new locations for points of sale

... ongoing support needs for our support and the development fund.

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To help with our personal support click here

Marketplacemanna.com – online store

To help with our development fund click here

 

Points of Sale Expanding

April 30, 2022 – A few weeks back we wrote about the more we sell the more we help people.  That can be done by selling more in our current locations or it can be done by increasing our “Points of Sale”.

When we travel and are speaking we have a point of sale for the time we are there. Sometimes, groups, have us send them products for a display for a special event, that is another point of sale. (If you would like us to come or for a display let me know)

But another option is to have some of our products in consignment-type shops where we join with other vendors to create a store or point of sale. This is the area that we are looking into and investigating the options. It really started when a man approached me, while I was filling in at the Ann Arbor location, about an idea for a development he was working on in Coldwater, Michigan. We followed up and are working on that location currently. 

But that got us to think that maybe there are more enterprises that we might be able to partner with to share the merchandise made to help the poor and needy around the world. We are now in conversations with locations in Portage, MI, Mason, Michigan, and Marshall, Mi.

In fact, we are looking at having Marketplace Manna’s Up-cycled Shop – where we only sell things that are made from recycling items. This will benefit the local groups we work with as all the items made by local groups use upcycled materials in them

Think of all the folks that could be impacted as we figure out more and different ways to help the needy. Maybe you know a place near you that might be interested in having some of what we produce and get from others in a shop near you!

Please join us in praying about this. Pray God would open the right locations with the right shop to have a huge impact.

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To help with our personal support click here

Marketplacemanna.com – online store

To help with our development fund click here

Environment

April 22, 2022 – I am writing this post on Earth Day.  A day established to promote and celebrate taking better care of the planet.

As part of our goal to help the poor, disenfranchised, persecuted, disabled and unemployed, we also try to encourage the products we sell to be earth-friendly. Our REED Workshop products all have a recycle or upcycle component to them (using old t-shirts, Candles, pinecones men’s ties, etc.).

Because we have “Sustainable products” for sale, we participated in and were featured with a special display at the Briarwood Mall.

That is great but Environment is even more important for people.  What is it like for the poor and needy? What was it like for these folks growing up?  Environment goes a long way in to shaping how we live, think and function as people.

Several of our partners work with women who have been abused.  The homeless shelter also works to change or create a better environment for its clients.  Getting the needy into a new environment is critical to their recovery.  The same is true to ministering to and working with those struggling around you.  

Working to change the environment that they live in is very important. For some it might be where they live, for others, it might be the encouragement they get.  For us to give folks something to do, that they can accomplish, to help themselves, is building a new environment.

Jesus tells many stories about the needs of people and about how others responded or fail to respond to those needs. (parable of the Sheep & Goats, the persistent widow) These stories help us if we have ears to hear, to realize that people are what God wants us to focus on and care about. They are the only thing we can take with us to heaven when this life is done.

We are thankful and grateful that we are able to in some small way touch the lives of folks around us be they in our backyard or across the sea.  We want to encourage everyone to be looking for and finding the needy God has placed near you so that you can be His hand and feet to minister to them in some way.

This week pray for…

…eyes to see the needy around you

…our travel schedule and ongoing funding need for our support and the work we engage in.

…the refugees our Bulgarian Team is working with and we are trying to figure out how we can best help them.

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To help with our personal support click here

Marketplacemanna.com – online store

To help with our development fund click here

Happy Easter To All!

April 16, 2022 - This was part of the Easter Decorations at our Briarwood Store. We had many Eggs from all over the world (hence the Egg Hunt).  We know eggs are not the reason for the holiday. It is Jesus' death as the payment for our sins and His resurrection that brings us all New Life!

We hope and pray that all would come to know Jesus!

thanks for your prayers and support!

This week pray as God leads you for us and our ministry!

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To help with our personal support click here

Marketplacemanna.com – online store

To help with our development fund click here