Switzerland added to our network

During work week 2018

We promised to write a short report about our recent visit to Switzerland. At the end of May we (Jan and Marja) drove to Zurich.

We had received an invitation to be present at the annual meeting of Comunita Brezzano. We have supported this ministry for years through our work weeks in their therapeutic community in Italy and also with financial donations for the construction and maintenance of the shelter homes that our good friend Maria Meier is running there.

The wonderful thing was that we were asked to give a presentation about the work of Traveling Light. How cool is that? We are happy to travel for that reason alone.

Members of the Comunita Brezzano Foundation

We were warmly welcomed by Corina Schmidt who works among the homeless and addicted in Zurich. We stayed at her home the first night and enjoyed a delicious sabbath meal together. Sharing life, sharing meals... a great way to get to know each other 😊

The annual meeting was a party in itself, because everyone had brought good food ... organic and vegetarian! We gave a presentation about the projects we support in the various countries of Europe and 👉we were able to share a lot about the work of Teen Challenge and everything God is doing in countries all over Europe.

prayer room

Our book table

Our story was a huge encouragement for the Swiss ... to know that, no matter how small your organization is, we are all part of something much bigger! Every human life that changes counts.

They even did an offering for Traveling Light and collected almost 1500 euro, which of course fully benefits the various projects we support.

We were then invited by Werner & Heidi Dellapiazza to go home with them for the rest of the weekend. We talked a lot, shared meals, walked, prayed, even played games. Quite delightful, especially when you consider that we had never met these people before. We felt connected right away.

Looking over Buchs with Werner and Heidi

Werner and Heidi lead prayer movements in Switzerland. In their house there is also a 24-hour prayer room where everyone can go (the door is always open) to seek silence and to pray for Israel. It was very inspiring for us to see and hear that in Switzerland people are seriously working out their faith and that they have a heart for the nations.

PS: At the end of August we will go to Italy again for a work week. If you want to come along, please contact us.

Donations for all our awesome projects are always welcome at St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U.

Building project Teen Challenge Moldova

construction men's center Falesti

Earlier this year, our Weissensee fundraiser brought in the nice amount of 9,000 euro, purposed for the expansion of the Teen Challenge men's rehabilitation center in Falesti,  Moldova.

The house offers a Christian rehab and discipleship program for men with life controlling problems.

Construction work is now in full swing and they sent us some photos to share with you all. It is wonderful to know that the donated amount is indeed being used for the construction work: to realize a 2nd floor on the existing house. Which simply means there will be room for more beds and therefore more men will be able to get help.

Starting to look like something...

As we wrote earlier, a team of men from the Teen Challenge program in the Czech Republic drove to Moldova to help. What a great servanthood mentality, an example for all.

In every Teen Challenge program there are men who have a background in construction work, and such a project as this is a great opportunity to roll up sleeves and work together.

New room!

Again, we would like to thank all donors, and of course our ice skating team, for your generosity. A great fundraiser with a fabulous result!

The team in Moldova sends their greetings.

They worked really hard this week and we are really proud to see the work of their hands prosper. It gives us great joy to be part of the]is life changing ministry. God is good!

What can we say? Wow!

Donations for all our awesome projects are always welcome at St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U.

We are currently fundraising for Teen Challenge in Albania, where such a beautiful center must also be opened!

Project Teen Challenge Albania

Gesi and Jan

As promised, a short report about our recent visit to Albania. Last month, Jan spent a few days with Orges Hysenaj (Gesi) in Tirana.

Gesi is the director of Teen Challenge Albania and an excellent travel guide and planner ... unbelievable how many activities he can fit in just a few days 😁

We have written about the work of Gesi among the addicted in Tirana on several other occasions. He visits methadone clinics, has started several coffee houses where addicts are welcome for a conversation, coffee and a touch of God's love. He gives Bible studies and courses and has been seriously searching for a building or house that can be turned into a rehabilitation center. As for now, there is no Christian rehab in Albania.

Coffee house TC Albania

A few of the men, whom he has taken under his wings, have already gone to rehab centers in other countries (Romania and Slovenia), but the language barrier makes it really hard.

Unfortunately, real estate prices in Albania are quite high, but Gesi is not discouraged by that. Nevertheless, a substantial investment is needed ...

Gesi took Jan to the methadone clinic, among other things. Jan was given the opportunity and time (by the doctor and nurses!) to tell the staff and clients what brought him to Albania and what his connection with Teen Challenge was ... how wonderful!

The meeting in the coffee house in Elbasan was also very special, more than fifteen men showed up and together they sang songs and shared a hope filled word from the Bible.

Dutch bicycles in Tirana

On Friday night, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association hosted a big dinner event to which Gesi was invited, and so Jan came along. This summer, for the first time in the country's history, a major evangelistic campaign will be held in Tirana. During the dinner, the organization of this event was discussed with the hundreds of volunteers who will participate. A good prayer point: spiritual revival in Albania.

Last year we donated two bicycles to Gesi and they certainly came in handy now! The men spent the entire weekend cycling. They also visited a number of real estate properties that are listed for sale. Watching, praying, talking, thinking and above all listening to God's guiding voice.

Good exercise!

We fully support the work of Teen Challenge in Albania. Gesi has shared Jesus with many desperate people and given them hope for a better future. We are standing with him in faith that the opening of a Christian drug and alcohol rehabilitation center will be happening soon.

Do you believe that Albania can change? Then please pray and/or send a gift to IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht and make sure to mention ALBANIA.

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

Twinkeltje, Sweden, Italy and Moldova

Jan, Teus and Cora

We love it when people get creative and come up with ideas to sponsor what we do. Friend and family member Teus Donk decided to participate in a 10 km run in our town and raise funds to support the daily operations of our shop/coffee house Twinkeltje.

It was a very successful campaign. Together with his daughter, Teus ran the 10 km in an excellent time. He raised 1,000 euro. Last Saturday he handed the check to Traveling light board member Cora, who runs the shop.

With that money we can continue to receive people with hospitality and free coffee and tea. All sponsors, thank you! Come visit us.

Community meals

Talking about Twinkeltje ... Last week we had visitors from Sweden, Christian Alderblad (director of Teen Challenge) and his family were our guests for a week. We had a great time together.

During the mission night on Wednesday June 5th, Christian shared about Englahaket, the shop/coffee house that they recently opened in their city Örebro. The offering that evening was more than 1,000 euro which will also go towards the Teen Challenge coffee house work in Sweden. Thank you all very much!

Work week Italy 2018

From August 26 to September 2 we will again travel to Italy for a work week in Comunita Brezzano. Do you enjoy hard work (chopping wood, sawing and stacking) and good fellowship? Please contact us.

Every year we enjoy being in beautiful Tuscany.

Construction work in the Teen Challenge Men's Rehabilitation Center in Falesti, Moldova will start next week. The Weissensee fundraiser brought in 9,000 euro (!) for this purpose earlier this year. They will be adding a second floor to the existing center.

A team from the Teen Challenge program in Czech Republic will go to Moldova to help with the construction. They have promised to send photos so we can follow along 😀

We still owe you a report of Jan's visit to Albania and our recent visit to Switzerland.

Donations for all our awesome projects are always welcome at St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U.

We are currently fundraising for project summer camp Teen Challenge Ukraine.

Sponsoring summer camp Teen Challenge Ukraine

Last year during summer camp

As in previous years, we want to sponsor the annual summer camp in Ukraine which is being organized by Teen Challenge Ukraine and the Jewish Messianic congregation in Berdychiv.

The camp is a special time for men and women who are (or have been) in drugs- and alcohol rehabilitation centers all over Ukraine. But also volunteers, workers, children and family members are welcome.

They are expecting around 230 participants this year.

A mid week camping out, playing games, laughing, Bible study, music, food, prayer and friendship is a very special time for the participants. For many it will be the first time they go on a summer trip like this, especially if they have lived in the streets or been in prison.

Outdoors class room :)

We (Jan and Marja) have been invited again to participate in the camp, to give Bible studies, encourage and minister to people. The camp will be held from July 1-5, 2019 and it costs about 25 euro per person to attend this summer camp.

If you have it on your heart to help, please send 25 euro (or a multiplication thereof) to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and make sure to mention: SUMMER CAMP.

Sponsoring the summer camp is a very direct and practical way to give heed to the Biblical calling to go and make disciples of all nations. We believe people as well as nations can and will change!

Visit to Slovakia

Sunday service at Faith Baptist Church Bratislava

A few weeks ago we promised to write a short report on this blog about our visit to Slovakia, back in April.

Marja's book "Spirit of Truth" has been published in Slovak language and we were invited to the presentation. It was a very exciting and hopeful weekend.

We spoke about the theme 'truth' during a youth evening in the Faith Baptist Church in Bratislava. Around forty (!) young people were present and we discussed common lies and Biblical truth.

Later that weekend Marja spoke in the same church during the Sunday morning service about the attack on truth, just like in the time of Jesus.

Of course we visited the Teen Challenge drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Sered and we spoke in the David Wilkerson Chapel about the importance of knowing the truth and about the lies that often keep people imprisoned for years.

Teen Challenge chapel Sered

"You always remain a user," "you need drugs or alcohol," "you will never be anything." Lies the enemy whispers. We prayed very personally with the men in the program and then used a meal together.

Radio Pokoj was present throughout the weekend to make recordings of our speeches and also to conduct a number of interviews. We supported Radio Pokoj last year with a gift, so it was really nice to work together again.

Lutheran church in Vrbovce

We also had coffee with Pastor Miroslav Hvozdara of the Lutheran church in Vrbovce, a small town on the border with the Czech Republic, about 100 km north of Bratislava. He works among homeless people and addicts, fantastic what this man is doing. We encouraged him and prayed together.

Not so far from there we went to look at a beautiful property that could perhaps become a second Teen Challenge location. We ended up praying together on the floor, asking for wisdom, insight and provision.

Prayer time

Well, sometimes people ask us what we do when we are traveling 😀 We never know  beforehand, but it is always exciting! The focus is always on prayer and encouragement for people working in the Kingdom of God, throughout Europe. (We travel on our own expenses, your donations will always go towards the projects.)

• Wednesday, June 5th we will host another MISSION NIGHT in Twinkeltje. We have Teen Challenge Sweden visiting us . They will share about the coffee house/secondhand shop that they have recently opened there! Evening starts at half past seven with coffee and tea.
• Financial donations for all our awesome projects are always welcome at IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht.

Changed lives in Belarus

In April we visited the Europe Teen Challenge conference in Zeewolde (Netherlands) where about 450 people from more than 40 countries were present. For us such conferences are always a wonderful opportunity to catch up with the people behind the projects we support.

For example, we sat around the table with the staff of Mission Return from Belarus. We have helped them several times with finances for the expansion and renovation of an old school building in Baranovichi in which a shelter for homeless people, classrooms for people in rehabilitation and a crisis shelter for women are located.

Renovation and building work is still going on at the 2nd floor in the left wing. The women's shelter, also known as the 'Overnight Home' is on the first floor.

Since the opening (2016) 16 women and 18 children have found safety and a new start through the shelter.

One of these women is Anna (29). She was addicted to alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes and had sexual disorders in her life. Anna has 4 children from her first two marriages and is now married for the third time. Her ex husbands took her children away from her through the court. They mocked her when she was drunk and put it on the internet.

Anna was very depressed and started looking for a way out. She understood that she would soon lose her children and asked around for help. She was advised to seek help from Christians. Deep in her depression Anna came to the crisis relief center early this year and immediately agreed to go to the rehabilitation program in Kukovo.

There, Anna received prayer, she repented and received freedom from her addictions. She is now visiting a church and has found work. Thanks to the prayers, she has also been reunited with 3 of her children.

Anna's story is one of the many stories we heard. How wonderful that there is a place for first contacts, a place that helps women to move on to one of the Christian rehabilitation centers elsewhere in the country and get free! Those first encounters and conversations, that first sign of hope ... it is often the beginning of change.

The proceeds from our secondhand store / coffeehouse Twinkeltje over March went towards the work of Mission return in Belarus.

👉 Your cheerful donations for all our awesome projects are always welcome at IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht.

Project Stolpersteine Dordrecht

Entrance Auschwitz

On May 2 it was Yom Hasjoa (Holocaust Memorial Day). An international day on which the destruction of six million European Jews during the Second World War is being remembered.

May 4th is national remembrance day in The Netherlands. The message is the same all over the world: never again!

It has been four years since we wrote a message about the Stolpersteine ​​in Berlin, the bronze plates / stumbling blocks in the sidewalk bearing the names of Jewish people who lived there and died in concentration camps.

A Stolperstein

More than 70,000 stones have now been placed throughout Europe. In the Netherlands, the first 'stumbling block' was installed on November 29, 2007 in Borne.

Traveling Light wanted to sponsor 7 Stolpersteine ​​and in doing so commemorate the Holocaust victims. Due to changes in the organization, our order was delayed again and again.

We recently came into contact with the Stolpersteine ​​Dordrecht foundation and we have agreed to sponsor 7 Stolpersteine ​​in the city of Dordrecht (Marja's city of birth).

So, closer to home. The organization in Berlin also figured it was more logical to sponsor stolpersteine in our own country. Later this summer the stones will be installed in the streets of Dordrecht in memory of families who were taken and died during the Holocaust.

Names of Dutch Jewish people murdered in Auschwitz

We were in Auschwitz last year, which made a very deep impression.

Individually and as a non profit foundation, we have a 💗for peoples and nations and wherever we go we bring a message of peace and reconciliation made possible by our Jewish Lord Jesus Christ!

Events and meetings

Enthusiastic team

We have had a number of special events and meetings in recent weeks which we would like to share with you.

On Wednesday, April 17, we participated in a local event, raising funds for non profits such as sport clubs and ngo's. For every 2,5 km you run or walk, a local business pays your organisation 1,50 euro. A great way to team up and bring in funds for our projects!

We ran no less than 62 rounds together and raised 93 euro. It was a great evening, very nice to be on the move together. Thanks everyone!

Thursday evening, April 18, we watched The Passion with a number of people in Twinkeltje, on a big screen. We all loved it! There was someone from the neighborhood who did not know the Easter story yet and was very touched ...

Seder meal in our secondhand shop / coffee house

On Friday, April 19, we celebrated the Jewish Seder meal with a group of  Traveling Light friends and volunteers.

We took turns reading the Haggadah and saying the prayers. Just like last year, Good Friday coincided with the start of Pesach and that made the evening very special.

Communion meal with our volunteers

Friday evening, April 26, we held our annual inspiration evening for our volunteers. We came together for a good meal, to catch up and encourage each other with stories and testimonies.

Doing life together, meeting as often as we can and inspiring each other ... we just love that kind of fellowship!

And yes, then came Saturday April 27 of course, the free market during King's Day. It was an happening as usual and we sold lots of secondhand stuff: 330 euro.

That amount brought the proceeds for the month of April in Twinkeltje to more than 1,100 euro! An amount that will fully benefit the work of Teen Challenge in Slovakia... we  were there in April as well, but more about that in another blog post 😁

In the meantime, gifts are pouring in for the kitchen in Berdychiv. Very nice!

👉 Your happy donations are always welcome to IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht.

Project kitchen Teen Challenge Berdychiv, Ukraine

New addition TC men's home

We regularly write about the fantastic work of Teen Challenge among the homeless and addicted in Berdychiv, Ukraine. As a matter of fact, we always write about Berdychiv (a city about 200 km west of Kiev), but actually the men's and women's homes are in the town of Raygorodok.

Last year we visited (read here) and we could see with our own eyes how beautiful the expansion of the men's home has become, a project that Traveling Light has sponsored.

Front TC men's home

The home offers a safe place for men with addiction and other life-threatening problems. They live and work there for about a year before returning to society. The rehabilitation homes are connected to the Jewish Messianic congregation in Berdychiv.

The first photo shows the new addition that was built next to the dormitory and which is being used as a classroom, chapel and meeting room. In the overview photo of the men's house that new space is located on the right. On the left you see a small white walled extension, that is the kitchen and the old bathroom.

Current kitchen

Director Sergey Romanenko told us last year of the plans to thoroughly renovate that kitchen space. The shower room is now in the new part, so there is room to expand the kitchen. A project much needed when you consider that there are around 10 to 12 men living in the center.

He recently emailed us asking if we want to help with an initial amount so that they can purchase building materials. Winter is over and the men are eager to start a new building project and to roll up their sleeves 😀

Sergey & Irina Romanenko

Many of them have a background and skills in construction work. A building project on site is a great part of the practical program and a healthy addition to the Bible studies and group lessons they follow.

Do you want to help them with a gift for the renovation of the kitchen?

If so, then please send your gift to IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht and make sure to mention BERDYCHIV.

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

PS: In July we (Jan and Marja) we will visit them again!