October 15, 2020 – Our mission is to help the poor, disenfranchised, persecuted, disabled, and unemployed around the world. We have our Around the World Shops that sell items from partner organizations we work with. A few are in the United States but most have their focus overseas.
As part of our mission, we want to figure out how to partner with groups serving the needy in our community and we are creating our model by working with the Jackson Interfaith Shelter here in our hometown of Jackson, Michigan.
This week we took the T-shirts, Tennis Balls, Pinecones, and Candles that were donated to us and made Dog Chew Toys and Fire Starters. We take these items and work with folks from the Shelter. We pay them a fair wage for their time and they in turn are shown how to make products that we put into our inventory for sale.
Our REED Workshops stand for Repurposing items, Economically beneficial, Environmentally helpful, Developing Skills. We take something that would be discarded and take space in the landfill and transformed it into something that can be used by another.
Much like the lives of the folks we get to spend time with, they are seen by many as discarded and not of much value but we know that they are made in God’s image and have great worth. While they are working we chat and get to know who they are and what their story is. For us, the real purpose is not the items made for the store but the lives that we get to invest in for the KINGDOM!
We are looking for volunteers to help us with other products. If you would like to learn more about our REED Workshops email me (almellinger@yahoo.com) and we will see if we can duplicate this program where you live and serve!
This week Pray for:
- We need to rent one of our apartments in our house soon. Pray that God sends us the right person(s).
- The ongoing REED Workshops as we work to expand this ministry.
- Our travel schedule – with New York adding Michigan to the states that would require quarantine we are altering our travel schedule. Pray that we connect with the right folks for what we need.
Travel Schedule:
October 21, 2020 – Philipsburg, PA
October 22, Clearfield, PA
October 23, 2020 - Oil City, PA
October 25, 2020 – Decatur, IL –
November 1, 2020 – Chillicothe, MO
November 4, 2020 – Lunch Urbandale, IA
November 4, 2020 PM – Marion & Toddville, IA
November 8, 2020 – McPherson, KS