Requests for help from Lithuania, Lebanon, and Serbia

The proceeds from our stores, Twinkeltje and de Schor, in February amounted to €2,000, which went to Bertine House, the rehab home for women and their children in Poltava, Ukraine.

The new project for March is "Alabaster Jar" in Germany. On Wednesday, March 11th, Sandor Hofäcker will be at our mission evening in Twinkeltje to talk more about this outreach among prostitutes in Berlin. We look forward to seeing you at that special evening!

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And now, a quick note about three different requests for help that reached us in recent days. First: an appeal from Willem Jan van Dijk of the aid organization Vilties Inkaras in Lithuania for help to a family who is currently homeless because their house burned down. This is a Roma family with eight children.

The plan is to build a new house. In the meantime, Willem Jan hopes to arrange a 20ft container, which will provide a temporary roof over their heads. Next week, he will be in the Netherlands to collect items (clothing, household goods, blankets, etc.). We would like to help him with a donation.

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Secondly, we received a call for financial support from our friend and director of Teen Challenge in Lebanon, Garo Margossian. As a result of the war Israel and the USA are fighting to destroy the Islamic regime and associated terrorist organizations (including Hezbollah), many residents of southern Lebanon and Beirut have been displaced.

In addition to spiritual support (prayers), humanitarian aid is much needed: clothing, food, blankets, water, medicine, etc. Garo can provide assistance through his organization, NFD. We would like to help him with a donation.

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And thirdly: Boris Štrbac, founder of Restart  in Serbia, asked us to help with a financial donation towards the purchase of a new (used) professional coffee machine for the coffeehouse in Novi Sad. The old machine is really in need of replacement.

At the coffeehouse, people struggling with addiction can get information and discuss support options. Over the years, Boris referred many people to various Christian rehab centers in the Balkans. A visit to the coffeehouse is often the first step in seeking help towards a changed life! We would also like to help him with a donation.

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We are happy with your donations. Make them payable to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. You can also give by card or donate directly via our website! You can indicate the specific country you'd like to support. We will distribute unspecified donations among these three projects.

Follow-up project Teen Challenge Lebanon

Garo Margossian has been involved in drug and alcohol addiction prevention and education for many years. He is the founder of the organization No For Drugs (NFD), a non profit dedicated to bringing attention to the drug problem in Lebanon.

NFD is affiliated with Teen Challenge and we have known Garo for years from the Teen Challenge conferences. Awareness campaigns are being organized, prisons are visited and legal assistance is provided. Together with his wife Gabriela and daughter Adelina Grace, they live in Beirut.

Garo has a vision for a men's and women's center where people with addiction problems can stay for a longer period of time. The construction of the men's center is complete. Yes!

At the moment, staff training is in process and hopefully, the center can be opened soon.

A generator system has now been installed and the house is fully equipped, even with a small clinic for medical treatments and detox.

Garo hopes to start the construction of the women's center when funds come in. The artist's impression shows how it should all turn out in the end. There is still a lot of work to be done and we are grateful that Garo has been able to hold on to his dream over the years.

We are grateful for people who will not let themselves be stopped, who have a heart for their country, and who are committed to carrying out the work that God has prepared. We, therefore, want to encourage him again with a gift so that he can order building materials again.

If you want to help, sow a seed into the work of Teen Challenge in Lebanon. You can give in several ways. Please direct your gift at:

• St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U, and don't forget to mention: TC LEBANON
• 💳 Give by card
• 👉When in the USA it is also possible to make a tax-deductible gift payable to EEO Inc. Make sure to mention: TC LEBANON.

Check out the video below to get an idea of what it all looks like. We pray that many in Lebanon will find their way to Jesus and true freedom!

Project fruit trees Teen Challenge Lebanon

We are supporters of the construction of a faith based drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Lebanon.

About two years ago, our friend Garo Margossian 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.

The construction of the center is taking place in phases. Every time funds are available, the work continues.  The roof is on the building now, all windows and doors have been placed.

The center is expected to open this year!

Garo is good at thinking ahead 😀 He is currently raising funds to plant fruit trees around the house, preferably as soon as possible, so that when the house is occupied, harvesting can be done within a short time. 

Of course, in addition to purchasing young trees, an irrigation system is also needed. We believe with him that this is a nice investment that will pay for itself in years to come.

The plan, according to the project application, is to use part of the proceeds from the fruit sale to help the poor. With his team, Garo has been supporting 200 families since the country has been in a serious economic and financial crisis.

If you want to help, please choose one of the following ways:

• Send a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and make sure to mention TC LEBANON
• 💳 Give by card
• 👉When in the USA, make your tax-deductible gift payable to EEO Inc. Make sure to mention TC LEBANON

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 rehab center Lebanon

Garo & Gabriela Margossian

Our network continues to grow, as is shown by the projects we recently supported in Lithuania and Latvija. Particularly during the Europe Teen Challenge conferences we meet all kinds of people who feel called to share the love of God with the addicted, homeless and poor.

One such person is Garo Margossian from Lebanon, we have been in contact with him for a number of years.

Garo is the founder of  No For Drugs, a non-profit organization in Beirut that aims to bring awareness to the drug problem. They participate in awareness campaigns and programs, visit prisons and provide legal assistance.

For years, Garo had this dream to build a rehabilitation center in Lebanon. Preparations for this started as early as 2013. A piece of land outside the city was made available and drawings were made.

Artist impression by Maya Bechara & Majed Abou Fadel

Last year the construction of the center started. It is quite a big project as you can see in the pictures. A lot of work needs to be done before this wonderful facility will be put into use.

NFD is affiliated with Global Teen Challenge. A good move, because there is a lot to learn from each other. The drug scene is growing enormously in Lebanon, especially among young people (some users are only 11 years old!) Prevention work is therefore an important part of NFD's work.

Traveling Light encourages and supports such new initiatives on a regular basis. We would therefore like to make a contribution to the construction of this center in Lebanon and we will definitely visit Garo at some point in the near future!

Construction of the new rehab center

NFD depends on donations and Garo has assured us that even the smallest gift is a blessing and a gentle push to continue. Every time money comes in, construction can continue. How wonderful is it to invest in human lives in the Middle East?!

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: NFD.

Below you can view a short video about the construction work of the center.