Baptisms

Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

[Matthew 28:19-20]

All nations... that's quite a bit. It seems an impossible task, but if everyone does their part, it will be done 😁

We are very happy and grateful that we can obey the command of the Lord Jesus. On Saturday September 25th we baptized 6 people in the river near Langerak. It was a big celebration!

Two people who were baptized, have followed the Alpha course that we host in our coffeehouse/shop Twinkeltje. We want to start a new session soon for the autumn season, so please contact us if you are interested.

The theme of the baptism celebration was 'making choices'. We make choices every day to do or not to do things, to be for or against something, to belong or to walk away.

The people who were baptized on Saturday already made the most important decision in a human life: they decided to follow Jesus Christ and therefore not the things of this world. Their baptism was a public testimony of that choice.

As a non-profit organization, we do so much more than just fundraise for projects in more than 30 countries. We are also visible locally and active in helping people to make life-changing decisions.

Pieter Meijers filmed the baptism celebration and made a fantastic trailer!

You can make us happy with your prayers and a financial gift anytime!

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

Project solar heating Comunita Brezzano, Italy

Recently, we visited our friend Maria Meier in Italy. Maria runs Comunita Brezzano, a Christian therapeutic community in the interior of Tuscany. People with all kinds of problems (psychological, addiction etc.) can stay there for an extended time, rest, and get to know God better.

Comunita Brezzano exist thanks to donations, partial government support for each guest, and the sale of local produce.

They also receive people doing community service, they are put to work in the surrounding villages maintaining flower beds and painting village benches, nice work!

We (Jan and Marja) rented guest house Casa Shalom for a week and enjoyed a wonderful vacation. It was also a great opportunity to catch up and gather some information to support a new project.

On the roof of the men's house Casa Nuova they want to place two (used) solar collectors for hot water supply. This will make a significant difference in the electricity bill.

In addition, they want to connect the existing hot water boiler (which is also heated by solar energy) to the central heating and radiators in Casa Shalom.

So no more wood-burning stove to heat the radiators, but solar energy. In this way, the house can also remain better heated in the winter months.

Traveling Light would like to help with funds. If you want to join us, please

• Send a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and make sure to mention BREZZANO, or you can
• 💳 Give by card

Update Teen Challenge Albania

In April of this year, we wrote about the expansion of the Teen Challenge rehabilitation center for drug and alcohol addicts in Albania.

Orges Hysenaj, the director and founder of Teen Challenge Albania, keeps us regularly informed about the ins and outs of the 'Streha' center.

If you are interested and want to stay informed you can follow TC Albania on Instagram

Through the coffeehouse work, more and more addicts come into contact with the work of Teen Challenge. It is there that they often hear for the first time that there is HOPE and that they do not have to struggle with addiction all their lives.

It does mean, however, that they have to take the step to turn their backs on the old life, someone else cannot do that for them! Every human life is precious and we are pleased to see that human lives are changing, one by one… also in Albania.

The work in 'Streha' house depends on donations. More men in the program also means more funds are needed for the day-to-day business (food, drink, gas, light, salary of staff, etc.).

If you have a heart for Albania and want to indirectly help to bring hope to the hopeless ...

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

Twinkeltje: 5 years in the neighborhood!

On September 3rd it will be five years ago since 🥳 Twinkeltje opened the doors in Papendrecht, in the Flower neighborhood as it is commonly called. A lot has happened in those five years.

We welcomed many, many visitors, we listened and talked, played games, had meals together, shared happy and sad times, received goods and sold most of it, offered bicycle lessons, prayed with people, started an Alpha course, and so on and so on.

These wonderful community times enabled us to donate more than 👉67.000 euro (!) towards projects all over Europe. Projects that mostly deal with helping the addicted, homeless, poor, refugees, and prostitutes with their children. And as of last year,  Atelier Café de Schor helps us as well by donating part of their proceeds towards Traveling Light!

We truly believe each town or city should have a 'Twinkeltje' 😀 where God's love is tangible and everyone feels welcome.

Pieter Meijers made a great video last week, just for you... so, wherever you are in the world, it doesn't matter... you can have a look inside and experience the atmosphere!

You can make us happy with your prayers and a financial gift anytime!

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

Project updates all around Europe

Many of you might enjoy a vacation 🌞, maybe that is a good moment to read how your gifts are being spent. Let's make a tour of Europe.😀 We'll start right here at home...

In May we collected funds for restoration of the outreach bus that belongs to Nieuw Leven Gemeente in Alblasserdam, a church with a heart for mission and outreach.

We were able to donate 2.500 euro. They did all necessary bodywork on the bus and gave it a new paint job! Well, shining like the sun. The bus can be rented for outreach events and open air church meetings. 

At the beginning of July we wrote about port evangelist Alexander Eberson who had this idea to publish a booklet and hand it out to the sailors in the ports of  Terneuzen and Ghent, Belgium. 

We were able to send him 1.000 euro and he emailed us last week that the books came in! On behalf of Alexander and the sailors, thank you very much.

The summer camps for the Roma children and teenagers in Serbia were a success, especially after the camps were canceled last year. Many participated and they had lots of fun.

We donated 1.000 euro towards the Oaza camps which will help them to cover the costs. We saw some pretty neat video's on FB! On behalf of Miki & Suzana Kamberovic we want to thank you for your support.

We furthermore were able to donate a significant gift of 10.000 euro towards Teen Challenge in Slovenija for the upcoming renovation of the men's center in Nova Vas.

They have plans to expand their capacity to twenty beds! We will write some more about it soon, they also promised us to make a short video.

Last month we shared an update on the new Teen Challenge women's home in Berdychiv, Ukraine. We received some more pictures and an update. 

The floors and ceilings are done and it looks fantastic. They are currently waiting for funds to come in for the purchase of kitchen appliances and furniture. As soon as this is all done, the house can open its doors.

What a blessing that we have been able to participate in this project. We are currently rasising funds for the repairs of their Volkswagen engine.... 

On top of that, we have sent a gift of 3.000 euro for the annual summer camp that is organized by Teen Challenge and the Jewish Messianic congregation in Berdychiv. The camp is intended for men and women in Teen Challenge drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs anywhere in Ukraine. 

[click on the photo's for a larger view]

We can say that this was a fruitful summer when it came to giving financial support. And we did much more... we'll keep that for another blog. You can make us happy with your prayers and a financial gift anytime!

• Send a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and make sure to mention the specific project
• 💳 Give by card
• 👉When in the USA you can make your tax-deductible gift payable to EEO Inc. Make sure to mention which Teen Challenge center you want to support.

Visit to Teen Challenge Sluknov, Czech Republic + project

Last month Jan got on his motorbike and visited the Teen Challenge men's center in Sluknov, Czech Republic.

We had promised so many times that we would come and visit, but somehow it never happened.

Last summer we supported another Teen Challenge Czech Republic project in Poštovice, another location near Prague.

We were supposed to go there in September of 2020. Unfortunately, that visit was canceled and postponed to some other time.

For now, Sluknov it was. The center offers a residential program for about 12-15 men who are struggling with addictions. It is a beautiful old country house on a large property.

Petr & Mira Kral are the directors of the center and we know them personally from the many conferences we have attended over the years.

The center has a communal kitchen and classroom area. Vegetables are grown all around the house and there is also a workshop.

Teen Challenge recently purchased an old factory near the center which will also be used as a workshop for creative projects.

Wow, what a fantastic building and what an opportunity to dream about a coffee house, a shop, studios, prayer room, etc. etc. We got really excited about that.

There is certainly no lack of vision! In a time of 'limitations' it is good that God's people see possibilities.

As in various other Teen Challenge centers in Europe (Albania, Slovenia, Ukraine, etc.), there is also a need to expand the number of beds here as more and more people are looking for God and for a solution to their problems and hopelessness.

For the expansion (dormitories, toilets, showers, etc.), part of the house has to be renovated. quite the job :) Since the program is largely dependent on donations, all help is very welcome!

If you want to invest in people's lives, please direct your gift at:

• St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and don't forget to mention: TC CZECH SLUKNOV
• 💳 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 CZECH SLUKNOV

Thank you!

Update women's home Teen Challenge Berdychiv, Ukraine

Earlier this year our alternative ice skating campaign brought in 7,000 euro and those funds have been used for the purchase of a house in Ukraine where women can live with their children. Women who come out of a life of addiction, prostitution, and sometimes homelessness.

In March we announced that the house had been purchased! It is now almost time for the house to be put into use. Here is a quick update.

The first thing they did was to move the kitchen from the hallway to a separate room. And of course, this kind of renovation work brought other things to light that needed fixing. 

Although the house was in living condition, many things were in need of repairs in order to have comfortable conditions for women with children.

They landscaped the garden and put part of the fence up. They also connected the sewage system from the kitchen to the street. The house has now all new electrical wiring, plumbing in the new kitchen, and a heating system in the dining room.

They already purchased a refrigerator, washing machine, bunk beds, new pillows, mattresses, and two sofas. So, it is beginning to look like home! Work still needs to be done in order to build a playground for the children and to make a garden house for summer studies, communication, and holding services.

A classroom has yet to be set up on the second floor and a few doors still need to be bought and installed. 👉 Anyway, the plan is to open the house at the end of August!

Sergey Romanenko emailed us last week that the engine went out in the Volkswagen van that is used for the various Teen Challenge rehabilitation homes. This causes quite a problem in transportation.

Perhaps we can help them with that as well. The engine can be replaced, approximately 2,000 euro is needed to replace it.

All donations, large and small are welcome and can be directed at:

• St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and don't forget to mention: VAN BERDYCHIV.
• 💳 Give by card
• 👉When in the USA you can make your tax-deductible gift payable to EEO Inc. Make sure to mention: TC UKRAINE BERDYCHIV

Project summer camps Serbia

Summer and vacation, the two belong together... for most people at least.

However, not all children will actually have somewhere to go, which is why summer camps are being organized in many countries.

Miki & Suzana Kamberovic provide summer camps in Serbia. It's been a few years since we wrote about them (and supported a project). We always receive their newsletters and follow them on Facebook.

Miki and Suzana live with their children in the Roma Center OAZA in Jagodina. They run a Roma church, a kindergarten, and a children's club and they share the good news with these kids. They have hope for the future of this young generation.

Unfortunately, the summer camps were canceled last year. But this year they had a green light. Miki and Suzana organize summer camps for children aged 7-10, and 11-15 years and also a youth camp for those aged 16 and up.

👉The theme for the children's camps is Spiritual Growth (read your Bible, pray every day!). Great to teach children at a young age that they can grow in their faith and that God loves them and has a plan for their lives, despite existing prejudices (about the Roma culture).

The first camp started this week. The children are overjoyed that something is being organized for them.

If you want to help cover the costs for these camps, please send a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and make sure to mention: SERBIA OAZA.

You can also 💳 Give by card

THANK YOU!

Project renovation Teen Challenge center, Slovenija

It's been a while since we visited the Teen Challenge drugs and alcohol rehabilitation center in Slovenija.

So, it is about time for an update of the work over there.

Teen Challenge is no longer a tenant of the building, they were able to purchase the property! 🏡This is great of course, but it also means that they are now fully responsible for maintenance and renovation work on the buildings.

Plans are ready for a thorough renovation of the old country house. These plans include an expansion of the sleeping/living capacity.

👉On average there are about 8-12 men in the program, but after renovation there will be room for 20(!) men.

More beds, more students, this also means an expansion of sanitary facilities and kitchen facilities. The drawings and plans have been submitted to the municipality and everyone is waiting for the necessary permits.

An exciting period, for sure. We wholeheartedly support the work of Teen Challenge in Slovenija and we would like to help them with a donation for the upcoming renovation. Will you join us?

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

The proceeds from Twinkeltje and De Schor over July/August are also intended for this project.

Please, watch this documentary about this Teen Challenge center if you want to get an idea about the impact of such a rehabilitation program, it has English subtitles.

Project seafarer's soul care book

As most of you know by now, seaport evangelist Alexander Eberson visits the sailors on the ships in the ports of Ghent and Terneuzen.

He listens to them, talks, prays together, and distributes Bibles, Christian booklets, flyers, DVDs, and other materials when requested.

He recently wrote a book especially for the sailors, to support their life of faith. It is not always easy to be away from home for a long time, not to attend church services, and sometimes to be on board with a very small group of believers.

Alexander initially wants to have five hundred copies of the book printed to distribute to the sailors who are interested.

We think it's a great project and we want to help him pay (part of) the costs for publishing and printing.

A book costs about 3.50 euro, so if you want to make it possible for Alexander to give away as many copies as possible, transfer that amount or a multiple thereof to: St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. Make sure to mention SAILORS.

💳 You can also Give by card

Thank you in advance for your help. Alexander will be very happy with it. He reaches a group of people with the gospel that most of us do not easily come into contact with (because you have to have a permit  as a seafarer's chaplain to board the ships).