Al & Diane Mellinger's Missionary Adventure

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

The More that is Sold, the More Folks we can Help.

April 9, 2022 - Currently we are partnering with more than 25 groups/organizations representing people in 47 countries. We have all kinds of stuff from soaps to chocolate, from wood trivets to paper beaded jewelry.  Each has a story that impacts a family trying to survive.  We are constantly looking for unique items to add to the collection.  We are partnering with many local organizations, as well as more overseas, as there are poor and needy folks everywhere!

Having a variety of items is not our end goal. Selling what we have so that we can purchase more is. The families have been paid for everything you see in our stores or online.  To continue to help our partners and the people they serve, we need to be constantly getting new items in, but to do that we need to sell the items that we have so we have the funds to make the new purchases. We need folks to continually stop by and purchase gifts and items so that we will need to replace those items in the store (thereby helping those we serve).

That is why we often say – Think Fair Trade First!  We are also trying to get new and different items in regularly so that when you come back, you will find something different.

In addition, we are looking for more points of sale opportunities to move product as well.  This could be at your church, with your club or organization, your school or just a group of friends. It could be a small display in a local business, in a waiting room, or church lobby.

Here are a few other ways you can helps us continue to help those in need.

Craft & Vendor Sale Volunteers

We are looking for people who would be willing to set up a display and work at area Craft and Vendor Sales to help us sell the handmade merchandise and the stories that go with each item.  If you would be interested in doing this, let us know, and we will then see what craft/vendor sales are in your area and see if it would work.

Investment Opportunities

Looking for (an) investor(s) who will help get us the start-up funds to put to work Ukrainian Refugees in Bulgaria.

Looking for (an) investor(s) who will help get us the start-up funds for a center in Jackson to help us in training and working with the groups we partner with in the southern Michigan area.

If interested, email or phone me (almellinger@yahoo.com or 517-395-3054)

Pray for the above-mentioned needs

Pray for us as we try and figure out how we can put the refugees to work

Pray for our personal support

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To help with our personal support click here

Marketplacemanna.com – online store

To help with our development fund click here

 

To help with our personal support click here

Marketplacemanna.com – online store

To help with our development fund click here

The Otsego Apartments & The Friendly Home: Lives impacted!

April 7, 2022 – In Jackson we have four groups/churches that we are partnering with to assist and support people with great needs.

In the Otsego Apartments, we are now holding a monthly gathering with any resident that wants to come. It includes an activity, presentation, and discussion of the presentation.  The numbers vary from month to month but we are getting to know the folks and getting known by the folks.  This past week one of the residents stopped me as I was heading into the store and said you pray when you gather, right?  I said yes. Well, one of the residents that was liked by all died – can you say a prayer this week for Kevin.  My response was yes! 

That may not seem like a big deal but the fact that they know we are prayers and they seek us out for prayer is a huge bridge for other conversations from time to time. These folks are in their last few years and many have no one to show them any attention. They are lonely and cranky sometimes but people that God made in His own image and who loves them very much.  If we can be His arms, to hug and mouths, to pray then that is where we want to be.

The Friendly Home – is another elderly home for older women who again do not have anyone else to care for them.  Once a month we pick up products that they make (that we pay them for) and drop off the raw materials for the next month.  We have been doing this and are getting to know the ladies that we work with – they are so thankful for something to do and for a bit of extra cash.

When I chat with the folks and hear what they have to say I am in awe of how God has lead us to connect with these folks to show his love for them and to affirm that they still matter and can do something …they are not a lost cause.

What group or organization might be in your town?  How could they be served?  If you would like some ideas or want some help, let's talk! We are looking to partner with others who can reach the poor, disenfranchised, persecuted, disabled or unemployed where ever they are.

Pray…

… for the relationships, we are making that they would lead to spiritual conversations and more.

…for our travel schedule for the spring and summer as we are looking to get out and share what God is doing and how others can be a part of it.

… for our financial support –may we find new partners to pick up the shortfall we have experienced.

Giving links:

To help with our personal support click here

Marketplacemanna.com – online store

To help with our development fund click here

2022 Update so far!

March 28, 2022 – It has been an interesting year so far.  We have connected with several new groups we are now in conversations with about how to engage the poor, we continue to work with the groups we are already committed to work with and we are involved with the group from the senior center above the Jackson Store monthly.

We find ourselves in conversations weekly with people around us in need.  Sometimes we feel like there are too many opportunities before us and so we are not sure how to proceed.

When we were in the Balkans and just getting started it was very much the same way.  Pursing all options that presented themselves to us – trying to figure out which ones we should pursue. Sometimes they did not lead where we thought but they put us in touch with the people God wanted us to connect with.

We are doing that and it will take time. Keep praying that God will continue to guide us, as we are busy breaking new ground for the kingdom.  At a recent conference gathering, we were reminded that the US is now the 3^rd largest mission field in the world.  There is so much for us to do here that is different than what the local church is doing and yet is important kingdom work.

That being said we covet your prayers. We are going through a bit of a tough time (which happens every few years in ministry). Whether it is the testing of our faith or the enemy attacking we know that we depend on our supporters as we seek God and seek His direction.

Thanks for your prayers.

If you would like to know more and get involved click here.

 

 

 

Got Faith?

March 25, 2022 – The past week we have had our granddaughter ‘Faith’ staying with us. She is 3 and from the time she wakes up until she goes to sleep she is non-stop energy.  She is always investigating whatever she finds. She does not seem to fear much but goes ahead and tries and/or touches everything.  That means we have to constantly be watching and making sure she is safe.

She is full of questions wanting to know more. Sometimes she is thinking and then explains to us what she has figured out – watching logic and cause and effect become real to her is amazing.

 

 

 

 

 

She loves music and wants to dance when it comes on. She doesn’t like to dance alone so Granma and/or Pa have to dance with her. Needless to say, we are a bit more tired than normal but to watch her learn and grow is encouraging.

As I think about our time with Faith I am reminded that Spiritual faith requires much of the same things. Trying new things without fear, going for it with all your energy, trusting God to keep us safe, asking lots of questions, and figuring out the impact it will have.  Finally, we need to learn to celebrate and bring others in as we do!

Faith has reminded us to keep going and to trust the God, who loves us and cares for us, is watching out for us just like were watching out for our granddaughter, making sure as she grows and tries things, she has what she needs.

We hope and pray that God will be growing your FAITH as well!

This week pray for

…the store staff as they interact with people and increased sales so we can help more people in need

… additional prayer/support partners for the work – personal and developmental

… our friends in the Balkans who are working with Refugees from the war.

To help with our personal support click here

Marketplacemanna.com – online store

To help with our development fund click here

 

 

It's been a while but ...

March 11, 2022 – It has been a busy and crazy time – we had an unexpected trip to see Diane’s mom in Florida as she went into the hospital. The conflict in Ukraine has us in communication with our friends in the Balkans as they are impacted by the refugees.  We also have spoken at several churches and groups over the past month as well.

But we want to give you a few updates on what God is doing. 

Our monthly meetings with the senior above the Jackson location is still impacting the residence. Still connecting and praying for the residents as they have needs.  Had another on the street prayer time with one of the residents.  These encounters are so special.

(Two of our helpers for the Senior Residents - they come to befriend the folks and be Jesus to them)

I also had the pleasure of meeting with a teacher and his autistic students who make natural soap that we have in our stores.  They use the profits to help other schools and kids in need. I was so blessed by the time I spent with them

Recently while filling in at our Ann Arbor location I was helping a customer and noticed she had a Slavic accent so I asked her where she was from and she said: “you don’t want to know” (which told me it was Russia). She then shared how she was getting hate calls from folks she knows yelling at her for what was happening. I told it that we were glad she was here and it was not her fault (she said I have been here in America for 20 years).

(by the way from now until the end of March 5% of all in-store and online sales will be given for Refugee Assistance in the Balkans - https://youtu.be/Lhw9nqbOavw)

It reminds me how many people are hurting and needing a kind word and concerned spirit.

This week pray:

• Contacts and meetings with folks who can help us fund and/or start programs with the poor here in the states.
• Our personal support – with economic times some donors have had to stop while other donors have had to cut back – pray for Diane and me as we look for new support to continue the development of helping the poor around the world.
• Our upcoming travels – with the reality of rising fuel cost it will take more to get to where we are going and Pray that the schedule flows without too much back tracking.

Marketplacemanna.com – online store

To help with our development fund click here

To help with our personal support click here

WWJD or WDJD?

February 9, 2022 – A few years back the letters WWJD appeared on bracelets and other things to remind us of the question “What would Jesus do?”. It was a way to help us live more like Christ.

But in today’s culture, I would suggest we ask the question – “What DID Jesus do?”  In order to ask what would Jesus do, we need to know what Jesus did. How did He live his life?

We often look to the Bible to find instructions/words to tell us what to do. That is good but not all that we need to study. If His instructions or words were enough that would be all that we would need – let’s have an instruction book, but we don’t have just words we have what He DID recorded as well.

Jesus went here, interacted with him or her, Jesus healed, Jesus withdrew, Jesus got into a boat and crossed the sea. We need to also study who Jesus interacted with in His living. How did he treat the folks He interacted with – sometimes with compassion and sometimes with anger, sometimes as a teacher and sometimes as a caring friend.

I am convinced we can learn as much from studying what Jesus did as we can learning what Jesus said.

In our Jackson location, we have a number of homeless folks that come in. One gal stops by several times a week she is polite and tells us what she is doing (although it is the same story each time) she asks for nothing she mainly comes in to warm up in the winter or cool down in the summer.  We don’t try and change her but love her as best we can.  Another guy comes in several times a month and he does want us to give him money – he says for food but when we offer him some food he doesn’t want it.  We have suggested services to help which he tells me he has been kicked out of them.  We do not give him what he wants and so he leaves.

Why do I share this with you, because sometimes we have to be gentle and sometimes we have to stand our ground?  If he will not take what he says he needs, he is only trying to milk you for all he can get using the sob story knowing someone will give him money to get rid of him.  I pray for both these folks, I pray for them and I pray that we would know what we should do to help them come to know Jesus.

I would like to challenge you to take some time and read the gospels not for what is taught but for what is done.  Ask why did the writer add the description, what purpose does knowing this or that make?

This week pray:

We have our second meeting with the seniors in Jackson – pray that the right ones will attend.

Diane as she needs to make a trip to see her mom next week. pray or all the details!

For sales at our stores – with inflation concerns we are not seeing the normal amount of sales needed to cover all the expenses this time of year. pray for an increase in customers and sales.

To help with our development fund click here

To help with our personal support click here