Al & Diane Mellinger's Missionary Adventure

Divine Connections!

November 5, 2020 – Over the past few weeks, we have had several things come our way that can only be described as “Divine Connections” -  Let me briefly tell you the stories.

• Our worker at our Jackson Store messaged me that a gal from FMWM Burundi had come in with products that she wanted to know if we wanted to sell. Our staff sent some photos and it all looked good.  I followed up by phone and found out that the gal was working with the Burundi Conference Directly and was the granddaughter of some retired missionaries we know.  Her role with the Burundi conference is helping to market and develop products for their folks to make.  Because of COVID she had to leave Africa and only had products that she could carry with her.  We purchased them and then found out she was hoping to go back in January but was looking for work.  I was looking for another staff person for our new store (which I had been praying hard about).  So, she is now learning what the public wants for when she returns to Burundi.
• As many of you know we have an apartment for rent, but had not gotten it rented. One day I got a message from a pastor in West Virginia that we work with asking if we still had an apartment for rent as he knew someone in Michigan needing one.  I gave him the details.  Well within an hour the gal looking contacted us, we met her, showed her the place, and agreed to rent it to her. She is on staff at a church in Jackson and will work out extremely well for our home. (Who knew our best advertising was a friend in WV?)
• We have talked about REED Workshops and we are looking to do somethings with fabric but that would mean sewing and that would mean having a sewing machine. I have been praying about this but have not really looked or told anyone of the need.  This week in Iowa our host asked us if we could use a sewing machine and I started laughing (with Joy) as we did, but had not told anyone about it.  We ended up being given 2 machines and will be able to start making some of the fabric items in a few weeks.

I share these as encouragements to you!  God is working on your behalf as you focus on His Kingdom!  I am amazed at how He provides for us what we need as we need it.

This week pray for:

• A member of our church in BG fell last week and broke a vertebra-while waiting to have an MRI (which took most of the day) he contacted COVID and now no hospital will take him. Pray for this situation on so many levels!
• The new REED Workshop that will be happening with Sewing,
• Our ongoing travels (see below)

Where we will be:

November 8, 2020 – McPherson, KS

November 15, 2020 - Platteville, WI

November 22, 2020 – Kokomo, Indiana

November 29, 2020 – Chelsea MI

December 6, 2020 – Jackson, MI (1208 Greenwood)

What a Year so Far!

October 29, 2020 – 2020 has been a year most would like to forget.  If you listen to the media we are headed for a worse 2021. The work in the Balkans and for us personally has had some ups and downs.

Covid 19 may have changed how we do things but God is still moving and using those who will let Him impact their world.

We did have to suspend our livelihood groups but plan to restart them in January, but our church plant training continued (via Zoom), the agriculture project was amazing and is being used to feed those who are in need.  We closed a shop in Bulgaria but have opened an extra Holiday Shop in the US.  The Virtual Christmas Gift Box program is on schedule with even more families being helped. We are still connecting with churches and sharing the story of What God is doing. God is still on the move.

With two months to go, we want to ask you to think about your year-end giving.  Many will be asking for your help as it has been a tough year.  We want to ask you to consider an extra gift to Marketplace Manna as we are wanting and needing to expand our Livelihood Group presence both here in the States and in the Balkans. That means start-up funds for supplies and initial salaries for the workers.  We do not want to just give them things for a month or so but actually help them to have ongoing sustainable income to meet their needs.

We are looking for any amount but are also looking or for some large gifts to help us jump-start the projects. Our goal is $20,000 for our year end project.  If you are willing and able to give click this link or mail checks to Marketplace Manna 1088 Jackson Crossing Jackson, MI 49202

This week Praise reports:

• God sent us an amazing renter for our open apartment
• God continues to connect us with folks who are on mission with us and whom we can help each other out – (next week the full story)
• There was a good Harvest with the agricultural program.

Travel Schedule:

October 31 - November 1, 2020 – Chillicothe, MO

November 4, 2020 – Lunch at Urbandale, IA

November 4, 2020 PM – Marion & Toddville, IA

November 7 - 8, 2020 – McPherson

November 15, 2020 - Platteville, WI

November 22, 2020 - Kokomo, Indiana

November 29, 2020 – Chelsea MI

The Beauty of Fall

October 25, 2020 - This week we have been on the road from Michigan to Pennsylvania to Illinois.  It has been a great week as we have gotten to see the beauty of the changing of the fall leaves.  The higher in the mountains we were the fewer leaves on the trees but in the flatlands, the changes were just starting.

Seasons are a good reminder that some things come and go, it is part of life and how God operates.  With the dropping of the leaves, we are reminded that winter will hear soon and most do not really like that but following winter comes spring.  

Our lives are lived in seasons too. As missionaries, we do different things (normally) depending on the time of year.  Some seasons are busier than others.  We have learned to enjoy each season no matter what it brings.

Thanks to all who pray and support our work.

This week pray for:

The Sweets who will be returning to Bulgaria and need help getting to Chicago from Jackson, MI on November 10^th

The Virtual Christmas Gift Box details, the funds, the shopping, and the delivery of the gifts.

(virtualchristmasgiftbox.com)

Our travels and the sale at our 3 stores (one in Bulgaria and 2 in Michigan)

Travel Schedule:

October 31 & November 1, 2020 - Chillicothe, MO

November 4, 2020 – Lunch at Urbandale, IA

November 4, 2020 PM – Marion & Toddville, IA

November 8, 2020 – McPherson, KS

November 15, 2020 - Platteville, WI

November 22, 2020 – Kokomo, IN

REED Workshop Begin Again!

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

A Little Break!

October 9, 2020 - This week we have been spending time with our oldest son, his wife and their daughter (Faith - our granddaughter).  It has been a wonderful time of reconnecting and getting to know Faith better. Here are a few photos of us.

Things are still progressing and the ministry is still going on. We are beginning our prep in the Balkans for the Virtual Christmas Gift Box ministry this coming Christmas season. Go to virtualchristmasgiftbox.com for all the details.  Also if your church is wanting to participate and needs more info please contact me right away so we can get you started.

This week pray for…

Our ongoing partnership presentations. Some are in person – last Sunday we did it by Zoom and some are not happening due to the COVID realities.

The Virtual Christmas Gift Box ministry this year as we are planning on 1000 kids.

The store sales – pray that we are able to help many folks around the world with the sales.

 This Months Travel:

October 11, 2020 - Janesville, WI 

October 18, 2020 – Milan MI - AM

October 18 - Deefield - PM

October 20, 2020 – Wellsburg, WV  

October 21, 2020 – Phillipsburg, PA

October 22, Clearfield, PA

October 24, 2020 – Rochester NY – Edgewood 

October 25, 2020 – Albion, NY

November 1, 2020 – Chillicothe, MO 

Grand Opening of a second Around the World Shop!

October 3, 2020 – We had our official Grand Opening on Friday, October 2, 2020 of the new Around the World Shop in Okemos (Lansing), Michigan.  It was a great deal of work setting up a second store with getting inventory, getting everything priced and in the tracking system but we did it. The reaction from the community was better than we hoped for.  Sales for the first couple of days exceeded expectations and that was with little to no local advertising.

What is exciting to us is when we share the purpose and reason behind the shop, people are excited to hear and know that what they purchase is truly making a difference in someone’s life.

Here is a video of opening day!

Please pray for:

The harvest with the Agricultural Program.

Our Stores sales and impact

Out travels

Here is where we will be:

October 4, 2020 – Oswego, IL - ZOOM CHURCH MEETING

October 11, 2020 - Compass Church – Janesville, WI

October 18, 2020 – Milan MI

October 18 Deefield, MI PM

October 21, 2020 – Phillipsburg, PA

The World is all around Us!

September 26, 2020 – After a recent church visit we found a local hole in the wall to eat, called Mel’s Diner. It was set up so you could see the cook fixing your meal. It was not very busy and so I greet the cook. “Are you Mel?” I asked and he said yes. We chatted for a minute or so about the food and it would have been over, but as I sat waiting I recognized that he had a slight Slavic accent to his English speaking.

After we were done eating and about to leave I asked “Mel where are you from?” He said “Albania”. I said, “We work most of the time in Bulgaria”. His eyes lit up and we chatted about the Balkan region and the politics over there. He had been to Bulgaria as a student when it was still communistic. It was a great conclusion to the meal. My comment to Diane was "if we lived in the area we would come back and eat here to engage Mel and his team."

For us having now lived abroad, we are more aware of accents and folks from other countries.  We try to engage folks that we meet and are finding we are meeting the world almost everywhere we go.  You will see it if you look for it.

This week pray for:

The Opening of the second retail location. (it has been a lot of work)

Our Partnership Building Schedule.

Team Balkans – the Sweets will be returning to Bulgaria this week – pray for their flights and getting back into Bulgaria,  And Dee Dee Galloway has made a quick flight to the uS because her father had major surgery and will be going through cancer treatment.

Here is where we will be:

September 26, 2020 – Melrose Park, IL

September 27, 2020 –McConnell, IL

September 29, 2020 -  Ottumwa & Fairfield, IA

September 30 – Waukegan, IL

October 2nd Grand Opening of New Store

October 4, 2020 – Oswego, IL (Live Stream only)

October 11, 2020 - Janesville, WI

October 18, 2020 – Milan MI

October 18 Deefield, MI

The Adventure Continues…

September 18, 2020 – Our time stateside has been very busy.  We visited 7 churches in 4 states so far. Additionally, we have met with 20 additional Pastors, business leaders, mission coordinators as we cast our vision and seek new partnerships.

Some days it is like we are tripping over folks who want to connect and offer things we are needing. Other days it is like we hit a brick wall and nothing seems to be going right.  But through it all, we are pressing on to investigate and try what we believe God is leading us to do and be a part of.  Each day is a new step of Faith for us and the folks we are serving.

It is an exciting adventure that we are on. One that is full of surprises and twists and turns. Thank you for your prayers! WE will keep you updated on all that is happening and how you can be involved.

This week pray for:

Everything happening in the Balkans while we are here – the church plants, the planning for virtual Christmas Gift Box Ministries, the Bible school, ag program and the safe house.

For our travels as we will be visiting many churches and meeting with many others over the next few weeks

The opening of the second Holiday Store starting October 1^st.. So much to do – so little time.

Our travel Schedule

September 20, 2020- St Charles, IL AM

September 20 – Woodstock, IL PM

September 26, 2020 – Melrose Park, IL

September 27, 2020 –McConnell, IL

September 29, 2020 -  Ottumwa & Fairfield, IA

September 30 – Waukegan, IL

October 2^nd Grand Opening of New Store

October 4, 2020 – Oswego, IL

The World and us today!

September 10, 2020 - As I watch the daily reporting of the happenings in cities around the country (and the world for that matter) I am reminded that you cannot force folks to conform.  Living as missionaries in a former communist country where conforming was mandated by law, I see that that did not work.  When the authorities were present people did what they were supposed to, but when the authority was absent what was really in the person(s) came out.

With that being said what I am learning and taking away from all that I see going on and from the Holy Spirit is that I have to do more than just talk about what is wrong and demand a change – I have to be the start of becoming the change.   I need to be aware of how I am living my faith so that what God cares about – I care about.

Our missionary work has focused quite a bit on helping the persecuted and helping those who do the persecution come together.  In the Balkans, all people are impacted by financial difficulties.  With NO jobs and NO income, you can’t support the family.  The parent(s) often go overseas to find work.  This economic reality has led to New Start (our EU company) and Marketplace Manna (our US company) being formed.  Not because we want to make lots of money but because we want to generate funds to invest in those who are poor, disenfranchised, persecuted, disabled, and unemployed around the world.

God cares about the economics of his greatest creation(man) and I know from scripture that man functions best when we value them and what they do.  Give them an opportunity and expect them to work and they will turn things around.  Without the opportunity, it is hard for folks to be all that God wants them to be.  That is partially why we encourage folks to purchase products we have in our shop and online – Think Fair Trade First.  When you purchase fair trade items you are helping folks work and find the dignity in earning a living.  You are supporting people who are trying to take care of their families.

Now it doesn’t have to be our store – if you have a local fair-trade store or can buy fair trade certified products make the choice to do that.  It will not solve all the world’s problems but it is a start with practical benefits.

Here is a video that we made that shares a bit more.

markeplacemanna.com is our online shop if you want to check it out!

This week pray for:

The plans for the opening of the Holiday Shop in the Lansing, Michigan area.

Our travels as we are doing partnership building.

The churches and the folks wanting to work that they would find meaningful jobs.

Our Travel for the next few weeks:

September 13, 2020 – Beloit, WI 

September 17, 2020 – Kentwood, MI 

September 20, 2020- St Charles, IL (AM)

September 20, 2020 – Woodstock, IL (PM)

September 26, 2020 – Melrose Park, IL

September 27, 2020 – McConnell, IL

September 29, 2020 -  Ottumwa & Fairfield, Iowa 

September 30 – Waukegan, IL

 

Marketplace Manna is Experimenting (again)!

September 3, 2020 – We have been stateside for almost a month now. We have meetings or presentations almost every day.  We have been encouraged by the meetings and conversations we are having.

We are working on several new ideas.  One of those ideas is that for the Holidays we are opening another store – this one in Lansing, MI at the Meridian Mall.  We will open on October 1^st through the end of December.  Please pray for this as we want to expose more folks to the products that we carry and the stories behind them.  The more we can sell the more folks we help.

The location is amazing – facing center court and right next to the food court in the Mall.

Prayer for our ongoing travels.

Pray for the new store opening and the temporary hires we will make.

Pray for us as we work on a few more projects while stateside.

Pray for Funding as we travel and share our vision. It is tight now and we need His wisdom.

(If you want to give to our new projects click here.

 Our Travel Schedule:

September 6, 2020 – West Unity, OH

September 13, 2020 – Beloit, WI

September 17, 2020 –Kentwood, MI

September 20, 2020- St Charles, IL (AM)

September 20 – Woodstock, IL (PM)

September 26, 2020 – Melrose Park, IL

September 27, 2020 –McConnell, IL