2nd Phase project rehab center, Lebanon

We do not physically travel to other countries yet, but we are in contact with dozens of people within our network through social media, newsletters and email. This is also the case with Garo Margossian in Lebanon.

About two years ago, he began the construction of a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Beirut. Garo is the founder of the nonprofit organization No For Drugs (NFD), an organization dedicated to promoting drug prevention. They offer awareness campaigns, prison ministry and legal aid.

NFD is part of Global Teen Challenge and we have known Garo for years from the Teen Challenge conferences in Europe, we regularly attend.

The construction of the center is taking place in phases. Every time funds are available, the work continues. The exterior is now covered with stucco, work is being done on a terrace and inside they are working on floors, walls and sanitary areas.

It is good to see that this huge project continues and that Garo remains in good spirits and believes that his long-cherished desire to open a faith-based residential center for drugs and alcohol rehabilitation will become a reality.

We know every country has its own struggles with addiction issues and we also know that a program like Teen Challenge can have a big impact on people's lives and society. We would like to be part of the blessing this work brings to Lebanon.

Gabriela, Adelina Grace and Garo

Traveling Light wants to contribute once again to the construction of this center in Lebanon. How wonderful it is to invest in human lives in the Middle East from wherever you live. Let's encourage one another without ceasing!

If you want to help, please send your gift to St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and do not forget to mention: Lebanon.

👉When in the USA you can make your tax-deductible gift payable to EEO Inc. Make sure to mention: TC Lebanon.

Project news

Last month, we already announced it: During the month of May, Atelier De Schor in Papendrecht would open her doors every Friday and Saturday between 10:00 and 17:00 for the sale of super nice flea, vintage, and retro items.

Half of the proceeds will go to a project in Uganda and half to Traveling Light! We will add it to the proceeds of Twinkeltje over May and this time the amount will go to Sokrat and Lena Apostolovski and their work among Roma children in Macedonia. The sale of flea, vintage, and retro items is going well, so shop owner Chantal de Jong wants to continue in June. So, please come by and visit. It's fun, the stuff is awesome, and you support a good cause with your purchases.

The other project that we are currently raising funds for, is the work of non-profit organization Embrace in Hungary. Michael and Janet van Boxtel work there among the poor, the homeless, and the addicted. This week the Dutch embassy in Hungary posted a video about the work of Michael and Janet.

Nice to see that their work is getting noticed. We will transfer a donation this week. So, if you still want to donate, do it quickly!

We received the following message from Stella Saghian, in response to a gift of 3,000 euro that we were able to give to 222 Ministries for the support of Farsi speaking Christians in Turkey.

"Through our churches in 15 cities in Turkey, we offer this support to our brothers and sisters in Christ and we hope to relieve them in this desperate situation. We are so grateful for your cooperation. We see positive aspects as we come into contact through our online church (the Persian Community Church) with people in Turkey and Iran ...

We have shifted our monthly church services (with an average of 2000 participants) to weekly services. Last Sunday we had about 5,000 participants. In the past two months, we have seen more than 200 people come to faith who are now joining in our discipleship training. Even in the midst of turmoil, God reaches for the lost! Thank you again for your support and cooperation in helping Farsi-speaking Christian refugees. We pray that your light will travel further and shine even more in this dark world."

Practical help, financial support, and spiritual encouragement, ... a triple cord, really. And it works, we see it everywhere!

GIFTS (large and small) for all our projects are always welcome and can be directed at St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U.

Project support for Embrace, Hungary

Michael and Janet van Boxtel, founders of the non-profit organization Embrace, work among the homeless, addicts, and the poor in Hungary.

They wrote to us about the current situation in the country and especially the consequences of all the restrictions for their target group; the people they have been helping for years.

Various economic support measures have been announced for companies and individuals. Apart from a ban on evictions, these measures do not offer any benefit for poor people or the homeless, the target group we are committed to. This is a group that is hit hard because the demand for short contract workers and day laborers has largely disappeared, leaving many without income.

For Tápiobiscke village, Embrace has been granted an exemption from the mayor to be able to move freely for assistance. For Budapest, the Baptist Aid has been granted an exemption to enter the homeless center and provide support and assistance. Within the rules that exist, Baptist Aid gives us the freedom to do what we want and/or can do to help.

In Tápiobiscke, Embrace provides assistance to the elderly, single mothers, and poor families. The help consists of a weekly food package, prescription medicines, and other things such as diapers and baby food. it used to be approximately 50 addresses per week, but this number is now increasing rapidly due to the fact that more and more people are losing their jobs (if they had any).

We have continuous and intensive collaboration with the mayor and the Bureau for Family Affairs. The number of homeless people we reach used to be around 50, but is currently already more than double that number per week! This is because many other organizations and locations no longer provide help.

Well, it may be clear that any support is welcome. Michael and Janet hand out around 70 packages per week in the village of Tápiobiscke, which cost 18 euro each, making a total of 1260 euro per week. In addition, about 100 packages per week for the homeless (another 600 euro per week). The packages contain food for a week.

Embrace works through donations. We will be happy to send them a generous gift. Any amount is welcome. You can make your gifts payable to: St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. Make sure to mention: HUNGARY.

Thank you!

Support knows no restrictions

The proceeds of our secondhand shop Twinkeltje over the month of March went to the work of Teen Challenge among the homeless and addicted in Slovakia. This week we spoke with director Patrik Hipp over the phone.

At the time the government measures were announced, they had 15 men in the center in Sered. Many of them then chose to end the program early, not wanting to be "locked down" without knowing for how long.

So, seven men remained and no new students are allowed to enter the program during the lockdown. 'That is quite difficult for the men,' says Patrik. 'Part of the program's strength is that students come and go, which brings refreshment and perspective. When new students arrive, the others realize how far they have actually come.'

The atmosphere in the center is good and a lot of hard work is being done in the vegetable garden, as shown in the video below. Patrik wants to thank everyone for the gift and sends a warm greeting from Slovakia.

Last week we also received a newsletter from Pastor Steve Telzerow from Slovenija. This included a documentary about the work of Teen Challenge there, which was recently shown on television. The video is really worth watching.

• We are currently raising money for the work of 222 Ministries among Christian refugees in Turkey.
• The monthly project in Twinkeltje for May is the work among Roma children in Macedonia.

As you can see, the support we offer as Traveling Light knows no restrictions.

GIFTS (large and small) for all our projects are always welcome and can be directed at St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U.

Video Teen Challenge Slovakia

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