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!

Christmas packages 2024

Every year, Traveling Light supports a number of 'Christmas package' campaigns from various organizations. It is a blessing to be able to give to people who, for whatever reason, are not doing so well, perhaps because they are refugees, addicted, homeless, or far from home. Surely, one of these projects has your heart 💓!

Winter packages Moldova

Winter is approaching again in Moldova. The first snow has arrived and the Pilgrims and Teen Challenge team is getting ready to help people in need! Johannes writes:

"Last year we were able to distribute 450 food packages and almost 35 tons of wood and coal. By visiting the houses, we can see if there are any more needs, and in a dilapidated house in one of the villages we met Andriana, a 12-year-old girl who really needed help. She is now with us in "Pilgrim House" in Riscani and is flourishing!"

A standard aid package consists of 2-3 bags of coal or briquettes + a large food package of 12-13 kg; that is equivalent to a full month's pension. They start the practical part of the project immediately after New Year and continue until the beginning of February.

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Christmas bags for sailors in the ports of Ghent and Terneuzen

For port evangelist Alexander Eberson, the Christmas period is the best opportunity to show the seafarers in word and deed that God also cares for them. He wants to give a Christmas package to the sailors he visits.

Such a package contains a hat, a pair of socks, a patience game, a notebook with pen, a bar of chocolate, a roll of Mentos fruit, a bottle of shower gel, a homemade Christmas card and a Christmas message. A Christmas package costs approximately €7. He can only distribute packages with your help.

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Operation Christmas Joy in refugee camps

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

OCJ was founded in 2015 and at its core is about sharing the joy of Christmas with children living in difficult circumstances. OCJ began as a 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 grown from a single event to a series of weekly outreaches that allow the Transform Iran team to build relationships with these children, provide them with a loving community, regular educational and recreational activities that build their confidence and strengthen their understanding of who Jesus is and how to relate to Him.

Give the gift of real help this Christmas! If you like to sponsor a Christmas package, you can send a donation to:

• St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U, or 
• 💳 give by card, or
• donate directly via our website!

Christmas packages 2022

Every year, Traveling Light supports a number of Christmas package projects from various organizations. It is a blessing to be able to give to people who are less fortunate because they are refugees, addicted, homeless or just far away from home. Surely, one of these projects has your heart!

Christmas bags for sailors

For port evangelist Alexander Eberson, the Christmas season is the opportunity to show seafarers in word and deed that God loves them as well. He wants to give a Christmas goodie bag to the sailors he visits in the ports of Ghent and Terneuzen. Each bag contains: a hat, a pair of socks, a game, a notebook with a pen, a roll of Mentos fruit, a bar of chocolate, a bottle of shower gel, a homemade Christmas card, and a Christmas devotional. A bag costs approx. € 6.00.

Operation Christmas Joy 

Operation Christmas Joy brings the joy of the birth of Jesus to children in need, many in refugee camps. Last year, more than 1500 children in seven countries, including Iran, Turkey, Armenia, and Pakistan, received a nice package! A package includes clothing, shoes and educational supplies, but also toys and sweets to give them that little bit extra. Whenever possible, the children are gathered for celebrations, this is also an opportunity for their families to hear the gospel firsthand. A Christmas package costs approx. € 75.

Winter packages Moldova

For the 18th time, our friends from Pilgrims and Teen Challenge are organizing their winter aid campaign. Last year they delivered 35 tons of coal and more than 400 food packages to the poor and widows. The food packages do meet an enormous need, each package contains about 12 to 13 kilos of food!

We have been sponsoring this project for many years and we will certainly do it again in 2022. If you want to stay warm this winter, give warmth to someone else! Give... and it will be given to you 😁

Bags of Love Athens

We don't always realize it, but in Athens many people live on the streets, including many refugees. The Passage to Live team takes care of them throughout the year with the distribution of food, but the 'Bags of love' project has been set up specifically for this winter.

They want to provide 1,000 people with a package containing a blanket, a woolen hat, socks, croissants and the gospel, all within the coming months. A package costs approx. €20.

Generator and heaters rehab Berdichev

And finally, and this is not a Christmas package but an emergency call, a request from our friends at Teen Challenge in Berdichev, Ukraine. The drug and alcohol rehab center is full, everything is running at full speed. As a result of the war however, they are often without electricity (and gas).

Just like the center in Zaporozhye (of which photos will be posted soon!) they would also like to purchase a good generator, fuel and a number of separate heaters to get through the winter. Shall we surprise them with a nice gift for that?

If you like to sponsor a Christmas package, you can

• send a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U, or 
• 💳 Give by card 

Don't forget to mention for which project!

Project children's home Teen Challenge, Armenia

For those who have been reading our news blog for a while, the work of Teen Challenge in Armenia is not unknown. In 2020, our ice skating team raised a nice amount towards the purchase of a second drug and alcohol rehab center.

The war situation and political unrest in the country led Gagik and Lusine Mkrtchyan to also establish a ministry for orphaned and at-risk children.

Over the past few years, they have been able to remove numerous children and women from burning villages and very dangerous places.

Many children are at risk to use drugs and alcohol and being out on the streets. To this end, the couple wanted to establish a school. We were also able to make a gift towards that initiative in 2021.

Last May, at the Europe Teen Challenge conference in Prague, we had time to catch up with the Mkrtchyans. They told us that, in addition to their own five children, they have taken in ten orphans.

It will come as no surprise that there is an urgent need to build an addition to their house so as to create extra (bed)rooms. The plans are there, and now the funds need to be raised.

In the month of July, the proceeds of our shops De Schor and Twinkeltje will go towards this project. But of course, it is also possible to make a specified donation for this purpose if you feel prompted.

Let's bless this special family with a substantial gift so they can start with their construction work.

If you would like to make a donation, you can do so in different ways, please take note:

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

THANK YOU in advance for your donations and prayers! The situation in the country is still unstable Gagik and Lusine would like to see children grow up in a safe and loving home environment.

Project school for children-at-risk, Armenia

In January 2020 our ice skating team raised funds for the work of Teen Challenge in Armenia. TC was able to purchase a big property and opened up a second rehab center. You can see their thank you video HERE.

The rehab centers are running, the work continues. Praise God. But because of the current situation in Armenia (war, political unrest etc.) Gagik and Lusine Mkrtchyan decided to also start a ministry for orphans and children at risk.

They will be opening up a school for spiritual, educational, and professional skills teaching, depending on the children's abilities. Because of the war, there are at least ten thousand orphans and widows in the country at the moment.

Gagik and Lusine already took away almost a hundred children (see pictures) and women from villages on fire and from very dangerous places. Many children are in the risk zone to use drugs, alcohol and to be out in the streets. That's why they want to have this school for them. 

As a Christian nation, Armenia is surrounded by hostile groups and countries and experiences a war of terror attacks and persecution.

Teen Challenge Armenia fights this war without weapons, because they realize they are not fighting against flesh and blood, but against forces of spiritual darkness. 

They wrote us a letter, asking for our participation. They will need funds to set up the school, to purchase materials, to feed the kids etc.

If you want to help to give these kids hope and a future, please send your donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275, BIC: RABONL2U and don't forget to mention: TC ARMENIA.

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

Let's do it! Let's follow up on God's Word and take care of the widows and orphans.

THANK YOU for your donations and your prayers!

More Christmas giving opportunities

We were able to give a nice donation towards the Christmas gifts for the sailors in the ports of Ghent and Terneuzen.

As is our custom in December, we will highlight several opportunities for you to be Santa. After all, it is better to give than to receive 😀

Last year we gave a donation towards Operation Christmas Joy, organized by 222 Ministries and Pearl of Persia. Again, this year they want to bring hope to Christian refugees from Iran in central Turkey and we have offered to raise some funds to help them out this Christmas.

222 Ministries is preparing packages for children containing warm clothes, shoes, and games. Unfortunately, no big party this year, but let's not leave them empty-handed.

Christmas packages are also being prepared in Moldova for distribution among the poor and elderly. A package for a family consists of 3 to 4 bags of coal for heating and about 12 kilos of food.

Our friends from Teen Challenge and Pilgrims will deliver the packages with their 51 year old Steyer truck. Last year they distributed 50 tons of coal and 450 food parcels. What a great gesture!

If you are still in doubt about who you want to bless with a special Christmas gift this year, one of these opportunities might be what you are looking for.

You can transfer any amount to St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U.

Please mention whether it is for CHRISTMAS JOY or for MOLDOVA, and we will make sure that all gifts will go there directly.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Sponsor a Christmas package

A real Christmas celebration for children

Many people will receive Christmas gifts or a Christmas package this month, but it is much more fun to give one (or more) away! Traveling Light offers the opportunity to make people happy with a Christmas package.

We have chosen two completely different initiatives, but the idea behind them is the same ... letting people know that they are not forgotten and that Jesus came to earth for us all!

Last year's Operation Christmas Joy

Operation Christmas Joy is an initiative of 222 Ministries and Pearl of Persia. This month they want to bring hope to the forgotten Christian refugees in central Turkey. Many of these Christians have become refugees as a result of conflicts and/or have been persecuted for their faith. Living in Turkey, they receive no support and they have no right to work.

With their Christmas campaign for children, 222 ministries wants to meet practical needs (warm clothing) and bring an atmosphere of joy and celebration to victims of persecution and war.

That face tells a story

The care that their teams have shown to the children in the past has encouraged many parents to rebuild their broken communities.

Last year, the Christmas Joy initiative reached more than 1500 children in 20 cities in Turkey. Packages were handed out with toys and warm clothing (temperatures can drop below -25 ° C). There was a Christmas message and also a party where children had the chance to have fun.

The price of a package is 35 euro. You can transfer that amount or a multiple thereof to St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. Make sure to mention 222 CHRISTMAS.

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Alexander (left) on board of a vessel

And then a bit closer to home ... Seafarer's evangelist Alexander Eberson plans to hand out some three hundred Christmas packages to the sailors in the ports of Terneuzen and Ghent. He wrote us:

"The month of December is a good month to evangelize. The sailors are very open for the good news around Christmas time, when they are far from home. Every year around Christmas I make the crew of different vessels happy with a Christmas gift. "

Christmas package

The price of a package is 6 euro. The sailors will receive a warm hat and socks, shower gel, candy, the Gospel of John and a notebook. You can transfer that amount or a multiple thereof to St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. Make sure to mention SAILORS CHRISTMAS.

We look forward to your gifts this month! Thank you so much.

Phase 2 project Teen Challenge women's home, Lithuania

Visiting the women's home in Slienava

Last year we were able to give a nice donation towards the replacement and raising of the roof of the Teen Challenge women's home in Lithuania.

We have been in regular contact with directors Edvardas & Rasa Kleinas and this last July we visited them for the second time.

The existing roof construction has since been replaced by a whole new construction that makes the house much higher, creating a huge space on the second floor.

New roof construction

It has been quite a job to close the roof, insulate everything, lay new beams and a floor and replace all windows. The women and children have temporary shelter in the smaller house on the same property. The time has come to install electricity and plumbing and finish off the various rooms.

We shared a devotion with the women and ministered to them personally. We enjoyed a delicious lunch and went on to visit the Teen Challenge men's home where we also did a Bible study and took time to pray with several of the men in the program for healing and restoration.

Ministering at the Teen Challenge men's home

In that same weekend we visited the city of Rukla, where unemployment is very high. Rukla used to have a large Russian army base that provided jobs for many residents. After the fall of communism, unemployment grew drastically, as well as increasing alcohol and drug abuse and crime. It seems very hard for the people to get out of that negative rut.

The kids club in Rukla

A group of volunteers from Kauno Krikščionių Bažnyčia, the church in Kaunas, has started a kids club in Rukla. What a fantastic job they are doing there. The children came running in. They sang songs together, learned a Bible verse, played games, enjoyed arts and crafts and ate pizza.

A number of children then took us into the neighborhood, they wanted to show us where they lived. They thought it was a cool to have foreign visitors. There were people everywhere who were drunk or high ... some being parents of these children.

Into the neighborhood...

Sunday we spoke in the church in Kaunas, you can listen to the message here. After the church service we talked and prayed with people for hours, with the patient help of our interpreters!

We are looking back at a very special visit. We talked with many people, seen a lot, heard a lot and above all received lots of gratitude from everyone involved, for the help and support that Traveling Light offers.

It is so rewarding to see that donations are well spent, that lives are changing and that people have hope for their city and country!

Preaching at Kaunas church

It would be nice if the women's house could be used before winter arrives. They still need funds for the house to be finished.

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

When in the USA you can make a donation to EEO Inc. Make sure to mention: TC LITHUANIA. 

Visit to Teen Challenge Lithuania

Teen Challenge women's home

Last weekend we (Jan and Marja) were visiting the country of Lithuania. At the end of May we presented project Teen Challenge women's home on this blog and we have now been able to transfer a donation of 6,000 euro for renovation of the roof.

By the way, that is only half of the amount calculated for this job. [Should anyone have a good idea to raise more funds ....]

We had an open invitation to come to Lithuania for years. Finally, the time was there. We received  a warm welcome from Edvardas & Rasa Kleinas, the directors of Teen Challenge Lithuania. They were our guides for the weekend :)

Edvardas & Rasa

We paid a visit to the women's center where we got a tour of the entire property.

There are currently 19 women and 6 children in this residential program. Actually, they are two houses. A large house (on the right, in the picture) where everyone sleeps, also the workers and volunteers, and a smaller house where the dining room, recreation room and the classroom are located.

Sharing testimonies

We met with the women and children, listened to their testimonies, shared a practical life lesson from the Bible and prayed with and for each other. Most women are here because of problems with alcohol and drugs, homelessness, crime and/or because they are tired of the street life.

For many it is the first place where they get to know God's love, mercy and forgiveness. Slowly but surely they receive hope for recovery!

Teen Challenge men's center

Later that day, after a scrumptious lunch, we went to visit the men's center. A beautiful farm where 19 men are currently in the program. We spent a lot of time with them, listened to their stories and prayed with each one of them. One man decided to invite Jesus Christ into his life, something he had not yet come to do.

The stories were intense, as always: alcohol, drugs, prison sentences, criminal activities etc. What a joy that there is a place where these men can recover, make a new start and be prepared for healthy participation in society.

Encouraging one another

The director of the center, Andrej Bersenovas, went through this very program 15 years (!) ago!

The men's center also offers help for boys who, at the age of 18, come out of orphanages and have no place to go. There are ideas to build a house for them on the property (perhaps a project we can support in the future).

Sunday morning we were invited to speak in Kauno Krikščionių Bažnyčia, a church with a big heart 💗for the work of Teen Challenge. Great to see the women and men from the rehabilitation centers here again.

Sunday morning service

We are grateful for the kindness and trust of pastor Rytis and Valda Berūkštis with whom we spoke extensively while enjoying excellent meals. We endorse the importance of good relationships with local churches.

You can view the Sunday morning service HERE.

Edvardas and Rasa also showed us around Kaunas and the capital Vilnius. Fantastic, such beautiful cities, well worth a visit!

Sharing God's love (+ Teen Challenge cards)

It is also a good time to pray for a spiritual revival in the Baltic states. From August 30 to September 2nd, Awakening Europe Baltija 2018 will take place in Riga (Latvija) ... and it is no coincidence that we also support a project there :)

The projects we support as a Traveling Light offer the opportunity to visit nations (at our own expense) and see what God is doing around Europe!

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

We are grateful for your support.

Report WeissenSee 2018

Skaters in action

Tuesday morning January 30th was the big day, at 06:00 hours the 200 km ice skating race on the WeissenSee kicked off. Our skating team traveled all the way to Austria with high expectations.

In the end, the results are as follows:

Krijn Donk finished the 200 km in a fantastic time of 7:40 hours, despite the fact that in the last lap he got cramp in both legs and fell down.

Henk Swijnenburg unfortunately had to stop the race after the 13th round, so after more than 160 km. He had severe back problems a few days earlier and hey ... in that condition it is not easy to skate at all. So, thank you Krijn and Henk and of course Adrie, who is always there for care and support,  we are extremely proud of you all.

Residents Bertine House

Especially because their efforts are not for personal gain, but will benefit vulnerable women and children. The team raises funds for Teen Challenge 'Bertine House' in Ukraine, a Christian home for mothers (with their children) who come from prostitution, addiction or homelessness.

We have received quite some pledges and we ask that you transfer your donation as quickly as possible  to IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht. Make sure to mention WEISSENSEE.

We are happy to report that your promised donations have already exceded € 5,000 !!

We are very grateful for our skating team and for all the nice, sweet and encouraging messages we received.

Just try to imagine the joy in Bertine House when they will receive this donation. Shared joy is double joy!

As soon as we have calculated the final results of all received donations, we will let you know on this blog. Until then... we want to leave you with a challenge: WHAT can you do to raise funds for a good cause?

WeissenSee 2018 for Bertine House, Ukraine

At the end of this month many ice skaters will travel to Austria to participate in the Weissensee ice skating races. The Traveling Light ice skating team has been in serious training for the upcoming 200 km.

Krijn Donk (Papendrecht) and Henk Swijnenburg (Bleskensgraaf) will be skating 200 km (go figure!) with a clear goal in mind; they want to raise funds for Teen Challenge Bertine House in Poltava, Ukraine.

Some of the mothers and children of Bertine Hous

Bertine House is a Christian shelter and rehabilitation home for women who want to get free from addiction, prostitution, and other life-threatening situations. Mothers with their children can live there safely while working on a hopeful future!

Bertine House, Poltava

We have written about Bertine House in the past (read here). The house in the city of Donetsk was founded by Magne & Olga Gulbrandsen.

However, the war put the women and children in danger and  in September 2014 they had to flee and move to another city. A traumatic experience for those who already came from bad situations. Fortunately, a new location was found in Poltava where the new home was established.

Safe place for mothers & children

Bertine House is completely dependent on donations for everyday activities. Consider, for example, costs for gas and electricity, food, clothing, transport and compensation for workers. The number of women and children varies. If a mother with her child(ren) is ready to move on, there will be room for new guests!

The WeissenSee event is our biggest and most exciting fundraising event of the year and we are looking forward to your participation! All proceeds will fully benefit project Bertine House.

Thank you!

You can sponsor Krijn and Henk as as a team or individually as follows:

• pledge a certain amount for finishing the race
• pledge a certain amount per kilometer accomplished
• pledge a certain amount no matter what the result will be
• pledge a certain amount for breaking personal records
• pledge an amlount with whatever idea you have! We just LOVE to hear from you!

You can send your pledges by email to (krijncora@kpnmail.nl) or Facebook.

Of course it is possible to send a gift right now and well to IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht. Make sure to mention WEISSENSEE.

We are looking forward to an exciting race with great results, for the skaters as well as for the women and children in Bertine House!