Visit to Teen Challenge Romania

Last month, we (Jan and Marja) were in Romania, attending the annual Europe Teen Challenge leadership conference, which was held in Cluj this year.

This city is located in northwestern Romania, in the Transylvanian region.

The fall conference is always a great opportunity to meet TC leaders from all over Europe, to relax, and to be inspired and encouraged. We had a fantastic time.

We stayed in a beautiful hotel, outside the city, offering extensive wellness and spa facilities. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and had many wonderful conversations in the warm pool under the stars!

Friday was filled with teaching and worship. Saturday was excursion day. We first visited the wood workshop WeBecome, founded by graduates who completed the Teen Challenge program.

They design and make furniture for restaurants and businesses, but also create beautiful, small products. Check out their website. All proceeds go towards Teen Challenge.

And on we went. We visited the plot of land recently purchased by the Teen Challenge team in Cluj. The plan is to develop a complete TC campus there: a rehab center, a bistro, a wood factory, and much more.

We prayed together about the land and building plans, declaring that many people will find freedom in Christ at this location.

The bus then took us to the current TC men's center, a beautiful house in the heart of the city. We received a warm welcome, and the men provided a fantastic hamburger lunch for all of us.

We were personally deeply encouraged by conversations with young men who were in rehab (in Bucharest) when we were there in September 2024. Many still remember how we prayed with them and spoke prophetic words over them.

It was heartwarming to see and hear that they are doing well and that they are now volunteering for Teen Challenge and remaining involved, sometimes even as staff members.

It's so wonderful to hear time and again how much the visits, which we make on behalf of Traveling Light, are appreciated. It is valuable feedback for us.

We also had the opportunity to meet with and pray for Pastor Adrian and Sidonia Tamas of the Betel Centru Evangelical Church in Cluj. It's encouraging to hear how God is working among young people in Cluj! So many are coming to faith.

Each time we are in Romania, we meet with people who remember the humanitarian aid that used to come from the Netherlands, sometimes decades ago. Many Dutch churches and organizations have been involved in the social (and spiritual) development of Romania for years, and that is now truly bearing fruit.

Donations, large or small, for all the projects we support are always welcome. You can give in various ways:

Make a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. You can also give by card or donate directly via our website!

So thankful for your donations

We still owe you some project news and photos. As Traveling Light, we're not just asking for funds, we're also sharing as much as possible what's being done with it!

It's been a busy few months with visits, travels, and conferences, while in the meantime, we've received many donations to support various projects.

The year is coming to an end, so it's the right time for some updates.

In September, we posted a request on our weblog for a new central heating boiler at the Teen Challenge women's home Simcha, in Berdichev, Ukraine. We recently received photos and a grateful message from them.

With the money we raised, they were able to install a new boiler and make various repairs to the floors and walls.

The home, which currently houses 11 women and 9 children (aged 11 months to 13 years), looks tip-top again!

We're also pleased to hear that our friends from Teen Challenge in Moldova recently visited Berdichev. They encouraged each other, shared testimonies, and prayed. Such a visit brings joy to everyone. We know this from experience.

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In October, we (Jan and Marja) attended the official opening of the TOV home owned by the non-profit organisation 'Vrij om te Leven' (Free to live)  in Zeewolde, the Netherlands.

They offer Christian counseling to people of all ages who struggle with eating disorders and addictions. Tov is the Hebrew word for good.

The TOV home is not registered as a clinical mental health institution, for it is a warm, homey setting with rooms for guests and volunteers and a communal living and dining room.

👉Thanks to your donations, Traveling Light was able to sponsor the furnishing of one of the rooms last year.

Are you or do you know someone with an eating disorder? Please contact this organisation. They use a loving approach that emphasizes our identity in Christ. Donations for this work are always welcome.

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The proceeds from Twinkeltje and the Schor in November were phenomenal. We were able to transfer €3,400 to prison work in Albania.

The project for December is the work of Reza Nadirashvili and CIC Mission in Georgia, which includes printing and distributing the Gospel of John in Farsi.

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Speaking of Farsi, Transform Iran wants to show the love of Jesus to vulnerable children again, this Christmas. They are doing this with Operation Christmas Joy (OCJ).

OCJ began in response to the needs of refugees from conflicts in the Middle East and has grown into a major operation that continues to impact children in many countries, including Turkey, Armenia, Greece, and Pakistan.

Today, OCJ has evolved from a single event to a series of weekly outreaches that enable the team to build relationships with these children, offering them a loving community, regular educational and recreational activities that build their self-esteem and strengthen their understanding of who Jesus is and how they can relate to Him.

This goes far beyond simply handing out Christmas gifts. Traveling Light supports this children's ministry every year with a generous donation. Will you join us again?

Donations, large and small, are always welcome. You can give in various ways:

Make a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. You can also give by card or donate directly via our website!