Marathon sponsor run for Teen Challenge Castanheira, Portugal

Jan Visser

As we announced last week, our long time friend Jan Visser is planning to run his very first marathon ever on April 13, 2014, in the city of Rotterdam. Yep, it is his way of celebrating his 50th birthday :) and he wants to make it even better by running for a good cause. Well, Traveling Light has plenty of good causes that need support.

We discussed the possibilities and decided that all proceeds from his sponsor marathon run will go to the work of Teen Challenge in Portugal, and well specifically to the rehabilitation center in Castanheira do Ribatejo, just outside Lisbon. They need funds to renovate the men's shower room.

Center Castanheira do Ribatejo

This past January we visited the beautiful Teen Challenge center in Castanheira which offers room for 10-15 men who are struggling with life-controlling problems. They can start a year long recovery and rehabilitation program here and for many of them it will be the first time to learn more about Jesus and the Bible. The program offers daily devotions, groups studies, bible studies and groups and individual counseling sessions.

Men at work in the wood shop

With the help of God they will get their lives back on track, sometimes after years and years of being addicted, homeless or depressed. The workers and volunteers of Teen Challenges live in the center as well. There is also a huge garden, a mini farm, a wood shop and greenery. The men can do all kinds of work and in this way practice and develop their skills.

The shower room in the center needs work desperately in order to meet European standards for sanitary services. Just look at the picture below. Nelson Rato, the director of Teen Challenge Castanheira, really wants to renovate these showers, but there is a lack of funds for material. Most, if not all, of the work they will do themselves.

plenty of showers like this...

So, back to the marathon sponsor run... it is possible to sponsor Jan Visser by:

• pledging an amount for finishing the marathon,
• pledging an amount per kilometer completed, or
• pledging an amount, no matter what the results are....

Send an email to Traveling Light if you want to sponsor Jan Visser and help Teen Challenge Portugal, or send us your donation now!

EUROPE: St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275, BIC: RABONL2U

USA: Eastern Europe Outreach, make sure to mention: TC Portugal, Castanheira

PS:

- Project Tamimi family in Jerusalem is still going

- Project jewelry Israel is still going

- Coming up: Poland, Slovakia and.....?

NLdoet, volunteers day in The Netherlands

Where would we be without volunteers?

This past Saturday we participated with some of our volunteers in NLdoet. This is an annual event organized by the Orange Foundation and thousands of organisations in the Netherlands. NLdoet is the biggest volunteer event of the year.

NLdoet wants to put volunteer work in the spot light and encourages every citizen of Holland to come into action. We at Traveling Light are active all over Europe, but this weekend we decided it would be good to shine our light in our own home town :)

At nine in the morning we were escorted to the location where we were going to prune and cut some willow trees, in order to help the Nature- and birdwatch Alblasserwaard. This was nothing but HARD WORK. The branches we had to cut and saw off were huge, and it took a lot of effort and power to move the branches to designated areas where a truck came to pick 'm up. It was very good and useful to come and work together like this!

And, as promised, the year report 2013 is available online. Sorry, it is only available in Dutch, but maybe you can run Google Translate over it :) It is just so awesome to see how many projects we were able to sponsor and how many countries we visited. The financial report shows that many, many gifts came in in this past year and that we were able to give away almost 50,000 euro to all kinds of small scale, locale projects throughout Europe and the Mediterranean area. A large chunk of it went to Teen Challenge centers.

Thank you very much! With your help 2014 will be a blessed year as well. Please, tell others about Traveling Light and keep sending your gifts.

Click here for an overview of all projects per country since 2011.

News items & prayer

We received a kind email from Guus Peters in Terneuzen thanking Traveling Light for the 800 euro we donated, result of your gifts, for project Bibles for sailors. He writes: "You are helping us in a great way. It is often difficult to find sufficient funds to purchase the materials we hand out... Attached is a picture of Rean, he is a shy guy (just 20 years old) from the Philippines on his first trip, and he is really home sick. He still needs to work for seven months. He is a Christian and was very happy with the New Testament Bible in English/Tagalog that he received, thanks to you all. We are very thankful." Let's pray Rean will receive power and joy!

We have already received more than 1,000 euro for project Tamimi family in Jerusalem. We have not set a certain amount to help them financially. The purchase of a good family car/taxi will cost several thousands of euro's and we hope to be able to help them with a big chunk towards that purchase. It is good to take care of our Arab brothers and sisters in the Middle East, to encourage and pray for them. You can make your gifts payable to: St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U

Project jewelry from Israel kicked off last week, already three necklaces have found their way to happy owners. Just for clarity: you don't buy these necklaces, you get one for your gift of 50 euro. All proceeds will go to the women's home Ark in the Negev in Arad. Please pray that abused and addicted women will find their way to the women's home.

Sports: our friend Jan Visser turned 50 last month. A great moment to run his first ever marathon... well, that's what he is planning to do. On April 13th he will participate in the Rotterdam Marathon. 

He wants to make it a fundraiser run for Traveling Light and  raise money for the Teen Challenge men's home in Castanheira do Ribatejo in Portugal (we visited the home in January). We pray that Jan will stay in good health and that he will be able to raise a generous sum for the work in Castanheiro. Please, keep an eye on this blog for more news.

In February we visited Macedonia. We spoke in several churches and home groups and went to see the Roma families and the Saraj church in Skopje. It was such a time of encouragement! We are hearing more and more stories of God's Spirit moving among the Roma people in Europe. Let's pray for the wonderful (and difficult) work Sokrat & Lena are doing among them.

We are almost finished with the 2013 year report. The report is only available in Dutch, sorry :) But we can tell you we have booked great results last year, nothing but good news :) The year report will appear on our website.

Isn't it wonderful to see what we can do in Europe when we work together? THANK YOU SO MUCH. And please, pray for the Ukraine.

Project jewelry from Israel

As we announced in our previous blog post, we are currently fundraising for project Tamimi family in Israel. Most believers in Yeshua (Jesus) are having a difficult time there, whether they have a Jewish, Arab or Palestinian background. Let's help and encourage them!

Another project in Israel that we are sponsoring is Ark in the Negev, the women's home of Teen Challenge in Arad. We were visiting the women's home again this last November and the director Polly showed us some of the jewelry the ladies and a group of volunteers are making and selling.

The proceeds of the sales bring in some money for the day-to-day operation of the women's home. We took ten of those necklaces back to Holland with the following sponsoring idea: for a gift of 50 euro (or more) you will receive a beautiful necklace! The necklaces are made with semi-precious stones and come in all colors and shapes (click on the picture for a larger view).

Ten necklaces = ten x fifty euro = 500 euro. Well, that would be a wonderful donation towards the work in Arad, don't you think? Within Europe you can send your gift to: St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U

Make sure to mention: JEWELRY ISRAEL

This makes GIVING fun, doesn't it? God just LOVES cheerful givers!

PS: Please make sure we have your home address (email us).

Project Tamimi family, Israel

Beautiful day in Jerusalem

In the picture on the left you see Naem and Faten Tamimi. We came in contact with them through a dear sister in a church in Germany. She has helped ans supported them for years and she asked if we were willing to visit this family and encourage them. So, here we are, enjoying a beautiful day at the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.

Naem was born in a Palestinian Muslim family in Jerusalem and Faten in an Arab Christian family in Bethlehem. Their different back grounds could not keep them from falling in love, and against all odds they decided to marry. Over the years they were blessed with five healthy children. A romantic story, right? But there is more...

Naem and Faten did not do much with the faith of their parents, but several years ago they both came to a living faith in Jesus Christ. We do not want to go into details on this blog, but their decision lead to problems in their families and neighborhood.

After an accident Naem lost his job and at the moment he works only a few days per week, doing jobs here and there. That is not enough to provide for his family. He would like to make extra hours (and income) as a cab driver. He has all the necessary paper work to do this, all he need is a good reliable second hand car. He is looking out for an affordable car (for example a 7-seater Skoda) that can serve as a family car as well. 

The family wants (and needs) to move to another neighborhood in Jerusalem in the near future, but they do not have the money at the moment. We would love to help them. Why? Because we believe that we should help each other as believers. In the Middle East political and religious relationships are very complicated. But really, we would like to keep it simple :) It is the faith in Jesus Christ that binds people together and that brings peace, whether you have a Jewish, Arab, Palestinian or Gentile background! We need each other now more then ever.

We would be really grateful if you decided to stand with us and help this family. You can send your gifts to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U, make sure to mention Project Tamimi.

Thanks from Teen Challenge Serbia

Men's home in Novi Sad, January 2014

As a result of your generous and quick response we were able to donate 3,000 euro towards the work of Teen Challenge in Serbia.

Last month we announced Winter project Raskrsce Teen Challenge, Serbia. We wanted to encourage them at the beginning of 2014 with a gift to cover the day-to-day expenses of the men's and women's home in Novi Sad. 

class room in men's home

In the picture on the right you will see the group of men that is currently in the alcohol- and drugs rehab program. The other picture is one of the class room where groups and Bible studies are given. On behalf of the men and women in Teen Challenge we want to thank you all for your gracious gifts towards their recovery.

In the women's home they are also working on a new series of awesome bracelets. It is always good to do creative work and, besides that, the selling of this jewelry will bring in some funds as well.

Creating beautiful bracelets in the women's home

Greetings from Serbia!

• If you still want to give a donation for our current project Bibles for sailors, please do so quick! You can send your gift to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U We still need a few hundred euro's.
• Soon to come: more pictures and news about women's home in Berdichev, Ukraine
• For the following two projects we will take you to Israel...

Men's group stepping up for Teen Challenge Czech

Men's monastery retreat

A few weeks ago we received an email from a men's group in Dordrecht. They wanted to take up an offering for Traveling Light during their annual retreat weekend. They were looking for a practical project.

In that same week we received an email from Teen Challenge Czech Republic, asking us whether we could help with financing a generator, batteries and heater for their mobile coffee bus. Could there be a better and more suitable project for a men's group, or what?

The mobile contact center

Last year we helped Teen Challenge Czech with the purchase of a bus, a mobile contact center, for street outreach purposes. It is being used to reach the homeless, addicted and prostitutes of Brno and Prague.

The outreach team of Teen Challenge takes the mobile contact center into the streets several times a week. They park at designated places and hand out soup and coffee, trying to establish contact with the hope- and helpless. 

Reaching the hopeless where they are

Winters are cold in Czech, so they have to run the engine for hours at the time to keep the heater going. That is not a good situation, so they want to purchase a generator, some extra batteries, maybe a heater and anything else needed to stay in operation.

During the weekend retreat (in an old monastery) the men collected the awesome amount of 2520 euro for this project!

Fantastic, we are so thankful for their generosity. What a great thing to do. On behalf of Teen Challenge Czech we want to say thank you for your gifts. The money has been transferred and as soon as we have some pictures of the new generator in operation, we will post it on this blog or on our Traveling Light Facebook page.

Thank you men!

We truly hope this story will be an inspiration for other groups/churches/organisations.

Are you looking for a project to sponsor... a practical, small-scale project maybe? Don't hesitate to contact us, we will do our best to match your offer with a current need.

Photo's women's home Berdychiv, Ukraine

The three Sergey's in front of the new home

As promised some news and pictures regarding our Project Women's Home Berdychiv, Ukraine. It is absolutely wonderful to see how the money Traveling Light donated this last December, is being used and put into practice.

In the photo on the left you can see the three Sergey's involved :) And well (from left to right) pastor Sergey Romanenko of the Jewish Messianic congregation in Berdychiv, Sergey Glushko (director of Teen Challenge Ukraine) and Sergey (director of the rehab homes in Berdychiv).

The first inhabitants of the home

It has been pastor Sergey's dream for quite some time to open a rehabilitation home for women and their children. Saturday December 14th, 2013 was the big day.

Pastor Sergey Romanenko and his team celebrated the tenth anniversary of the rehab program they started from within the congregation. They have been able to help many people to start a new life and they currently operate three men's homes and a re-entry home.

New sinks and plumbing

And now finally, as a result of your donations, also a women's home. A home where mothers, who want to end their addiction, can live with their children. We hope and pray this house will be the first of many women's/children's homes.

We are happy to announce that knowledgeable staff is in place and that several women and children are already living in the house. In the picture above you can see two of the women with their children. We are so thankful that they have been offered a safe place to live and recover.

Sabbath celebration

Christian rehabilitation means so much more than taking people off of drugs and alcohol. It means that they will also encounter the love and grace of Jesus Christ. That they come to know Him for who He is: the Son of God, who came to the earth to set people free from sin, darkness and death.

The ex-addicts learn more about the Judeo-Christian faith. In the picture you can see a Sabbath meeting at pastor Sergey's congregation.

On behalf of pastor Sergey and the women in the new home, we want to thank you all very much for your gifts that enabled them to purchase this house.

new windows installed

It is definitely a confirmation and encouragement for them, and us, to experience how we can make such projects happen in a relatively short time when we unite in generosity! We hope to visit the home later this year.

Project Bibles for sailors

Do you remember our special December project? We wrote about Guus and Annemiek Peters who, for many years, have been visiting sailors in the ports of Antwerp, Gent and Terneuzen, giving Bible studies and talking with the men about Jesus. We were able to sponsor 60 Christmas goodie bags.

At the beginning of January we picked up volunteer Jim Hayes and we drove to Terneuzen to visit the Peters family. It turned out to be a wonderful and inspiring visit. This couple has some stories to tell. But more than words, they know how to put things into practice, and that is what we love of course! Please, read the following snippet of their latest news letter:

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety." (Psalm 4:8)

The year of 2013 was a year of leukemia and six chemo treatments for me. But the good thing is that, apart from some weight loss and tiredness in the evenings, I had no problems at all. I have not felt sick once. The Bible verse above has given me such encouragement. I have felt completely safe in God's hands. Annemiek and me feel so thankful and we acknowledge that this is pure grace, grace, and grace alone. I even visited 92 more ships than in 2012!

In total I have visited 843 ships. 53 of these ships had a crew from a Muslim nation, mainly men from countries as Turkey, Pakistan and Bangladesh... Furthermore I was able to give away 407 Bibles and 202 New Testaments to the sailors. Also 501 Jesus DVD's, 69 DVD's about the life of the apostle Paul, 140 God of Wonders DVD’s, 58 More than Dreams DVD’s, 87 worship CD’s, 131 books, many correspondence courses and thousands of flyers...

Well, do we need to say more? It is clear that no one can stop Guus! At the beginning of 2014 he needs to re-stock on Bibles and other materials. He needs at least 400 Bibles (in various languages) and the cost for that alone is about 800 euro. We would love to help him again. If you have a heart for evangelism as well, please join us and make your gift payable to:

St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht

IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275

BIC: RABONL2U.

Make sure to mention BIBLES SAILORS

Marathon skating for rehab home Ukraine

Krijn up front, snow storm at the Weissensee

What a great and challenging event it was! We are so proud of Krijn Donk and Henk Swijnenburg, who both skated 200 km on the Weissensee in Austria to raise funds for Christian Rehab home Istochnick in Ukraine.

They were able to raise more than 2,000 euro. This money will be used for the new Teen Challenge rehabilitation home Istochnick in the south of the Ukraine. This new home will be able to house about 22 men who are ready to quit their addiction and start a new life.

New rehab home Istochnick

At the moment they need quite a sum of money to continue with the last stage of the construction project. Mainly for plumbing, heating, electrical installations, etc. etc. You can see the new home in the picture. Most of the work is being done by the men in the program. Yes, it's more than Bible study, group therapy and counseling, they do awesome work with their bare hands!

Krijn Donk finished the 200 km in 8:09 hrs and Henk Swijnenburg in 9:30 hrs. Both of them beat their results from last year! We are very thankful for all the people who helped to make this event successful. We received many heart warming notes and donations. Needless to day that Andre Solovyev, the director of the men's home, is also very thankful for your help.

Praying for their food, the men at the old rehab home

PS and more news:

• Krijn Donk had a bad fall on the ice at km 175. He ended up with a shoulder injury. Please pray with us that he will recover soon. 
• Winterproject RaskrsceTeen Challenge Serbia is going very well. We have already received 2,400 euro in donations.
• MIB (Men on the Move) in Dordrecht decided to take up an offering for Teen Challenge Czech Republic. More about that in a next post.
• Harbor evangelist Guus Peters needs  to order new Bibles and we want to help him with the funds. More about that in a next post.