Visit to Teen Challenge, Lithuania

The summer vacation has started for most people. Whether you are staying at home or traveling, we wish you a good, relaxing time.

We (Jan and Marja) also went on a trip at the end of June, and well to Lithuania. We were invited by Teen Challenge to give a seminar on the 'Meaning of Life' at the women's and men's rehabilitation centers, and also to speak at the church in Kaunas (the second largest city after Vilnius, the capital) on Sunday.

It is approximately a 1,600 km drive to Kaunas, and we divided it into two days, with an overnight stay in Poland. It was incredibly hot everywhere in Europe at the time, so it was very pleasant to be in the car's air conditioning 😀

On Friday morning, we visited the women's center in Slienava. In a morning and afternoon session, we reflected on the theme using various Bible verses. We asked the ladies to write down their thoughts on the meaning of life. It turned out to be very good and useful to seriously reflect on this, as you can see in the photo.

We came to the conclusion that there is no meaning to life outside of God. It is He who gives us life and also a purpose to live for. Fortunately, there was also time reserved to talk and pray with all the women and girls individually.

At the end of the afternoon, together with our hosts and directors of Teen Challenge, Edvardas and Rasa Kleinas, we sought the shade to cool off a bit in a very beautiful castle park just outside Kaunas.

The next day, we were expected at the men's center in Pikeliai, an hour's drive from Kaunas. Just like last year, a tent had been set up for the meetings.

We continued with the theme. First, Pastor Rytis Berūkštis gave a Bible study on the search for meaning. He used several texts from the book of Ecclesiastes, which we were able to connect with beautifully!

We always find the personal conversations with the students, who are in rehab, to be the most precious time. Together with an interpreter, we listen to their stories, ask the Holy Spirit to speak, and pray very specifically for deliverance, healing, and revelation. 

They often have so many sincere questions. It is just wonderful when we can shed light on the matter together, guided by the Bible.

On Sunday, we spoke at the church in Kaunas, Kauno Krikščionių Bažnyčia. Yeah, try pronouncing that. The church, led by Pastor Rytis Berūkštis, has a big heart for the work of Teen Challenge! Unfortunately, something went wrong with the live stream technology, so the sermon is not online.

After the service, we had time to minister to people individually, with the help of our interpreters. Our Dutch friend Willem Jan van Dijk (from Vilties Inkaras) was also in the church with his Lithuanian wife and sons, so we were able to speak with them as well. Willem Jan has already hosted a mission evening at Twinkeltje twice.

It is wonderful that we, as Traveling Light, have good contact with Teen Challenge as well as the evangelical church in many countries, and that we, as AG pastors/ministers, are welcome in many places and are invited to preach together.

It got quite hot, so after lunch, we drove with Edvardas and Rasa towards Trakai, a beautiful nature reserve with about 200 lakes. Lake Galvė is world-famous because of the medieval Trakai Island Castle located in the middle of it. We took time to swim and relax, we went for a walk, had dinner, and enjoyed ice cream.

Running two (full) rehab centers and a re-entry house is costly. The work of Teen Challenge in Lithuania depends largely on donations.

If you would like to invest in changing people's lives in Lithuania, you will be sowing a seed in the discipling of the nations! You can send a donation in different ways:

💛Send your financial gift to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. Make sure to mention: TC LITHUANIA.

💳 Give by card

👉You can also donate directly via our website!

🔔When in the USA, make your tax-deductible gift payable to EEO Inc. Make sure to mention TC LITHUANIA.

Project updates

It is time to report once again on where your donations have gone and how they were (are being) spent.

Some time ago, we were able to donate 2,000 euros to the Restart Foundation in Serbia for the purchase of a professional coffee machine for the coffee house in Novi Sad.

The machine has since been purchased and installed. They are very happy with it. The coffee house is very busy. Initiator Boris Štrbac sent a number of photos earlier this week.

We hope to visit Serbia later this year and will certainly be visiting the coffee house as well.

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Furthermore, we also donated 2,000 euros to the aid organization Vilties Inkaras in Lithuania to support a family that had become homeless due to a fire. It concerns a Roma family with eight children.

The initial idea was to place a sea container as a temporary home, but fortunately, a prefab house could be placed at short notice. Willem Jan van Dijk of Vilties Inkaras was, in turn, able to provide items such as mattresses, clothing, and household goods.

The family has a roof over their heads again, thanks in part to your donations. Thank you very much.

Just last weekend, we spoke to Willem Jan and his family in Kaunas! In addition to the humanitarian aid they provide in the countryside, they have also started a house church.

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The proceeds from Twinkeltje and the Schor, plus a number of specified donations, in June, amounted to 2,600 euros. That will be going towards the work of Teen Challenge in Berdychiv, Ukraine. Sergey Romanenko and his team operate rehab centers for men, women, and children there, as well as a coffee house.

The money is needed to renovate a house where a woman from Zaporozhye has been living for some time. She fled from the bombs and drones that keep hitting that area. Fortunately, she found shelter at Teen Challenge. She now helps out at the centers and is also part of the Messianic congregation.

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We can also donate 3,000 euros to the Teen Challenge juvenle home in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Maxim and Jenja Buzinovskiyi are in charge there and provide daily care for young people who, for whatever reason, do not receive that at home.

They will use the money to renovate the kitchen and set up an outdoor space where they can hang out as a family with the young people.

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And finally: the project in Twinkeltje and De Schor for July and August is the work of Radko & Nevin Kratsov in Bulgaria. In collaboration with YWAM Sliven, they are active on many fronts within the Roma community, which extends across all of Southeast Europe.

Radko provides education and leadership training in Bulgaria and surrounding countries and helps Roma develop a Biblical vision in every area of ​​life: relationships, work, health, finances, etc. They are currently preparing a ministry trip to Azerbaijan!

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Isn't it beautiful that together we can be a blessing to the countries of Europe? It is all possible thanks to your donations, support, and purchases in our shops.

If you have a heart for the projects we support, you can send a donation in different ways:

💛Send your financial gift to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U.

💳 Give by card

👉You can also donate directly via our website!

🔔When in the USA, make your tax-deductible gift payable to EEO Inc. Make sure to mention TRAVELING LIGHT.

Around Europe!

Before you go on vacation (perhaps), here is an update on the recent and upcoming encouragement visits that form the heart of Traveling Light.

Early June, we visited Teen Challenge Belgium in Charleroi. Frédéric and Natacha Hensgens (the directors) organized a brocante market to raise funds for their streetwork and their residential program at Maison Betser, where five guests are currently staying.

Three of them have served prison sentences and can reintegrate here. Frédéric is involved with Belgian prisons as a chaplain and thus comes into contact with men and women who need a place to rebuild their lives.

Two other guests have addiction issues and can also work on those at Maison Betser.

We were able to help by welcoming visitors. It was very good and encouraging to see each other again, and to stay the night and enjoy a delicious breakfast together!

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On Tuesday, June 9, Jan set off on his motorcycle towards Teen Challenge Slovenia. Together with staff and students from the drug and alcohol rehab center there, they traveled by van to Croatia for Čuvar Brata Svoga, also known as the 'My Brother's Keeper' conference.

It was already the twelfth time that Jan participated, on behalf of  Traveling Light. It is a four-day outdoors conference for men from all Balkan countries where reconciliation, forgiveness, unity, and spiritual growth are key topics.

For Jan (and therefore Traveling Light), it is also always a wonderful opportunity to meet friends from all Balkan countries, catch up, and maintain and strengthen contacts.

After the four-day conference, Jan stayed an extra day at the TC center in Slovenia to teach during chapel services and spend time with the men.

👉Watch the fun short video of the conference HERE.

On the way back, Jan visited Dirk and Meike Hellmann, former directors of Teen Challenge Gutes Land in Germany. Dirk has been ill for years and is mostly housebound. They are always thrilled to receive visitors.

Upon arriving home, it turned out Jan had lost his passport, wallet, and phone, so (among other things) we don't have many photos 😢

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This week we will be driving to Teen Challenge in Lithuania. See the photo of last year's tent meeting. We have been invited again this year to give a seminar in the rehab centers there, as well as to speak at the church in Kaunas on Sunday. The theme for all sessions this weekend is 'The meaning and purpose of life.'

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As you can read, it is a busy month in terms of travel and visits. In Papendrecht, you are of course always very welcome at our shops Twinkeltje or De Schor. This month's project is the work of Teen Challenge in Berdichev, Ukraine.

We take care of all travel expenses, but... if you have a heart for the projects we support, you can send a donation in different ways:

💛Send your financial gift to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U.

💳 Give by card

👉You can also donate directly via our website!

🔔When in the USA, make your tax-deductible gift payable to EEO Inc. Make sure to mention TRAVELING LIGHT.

Project Teen Challenge juvenile home, Kazakhstan

We have been long-time friends with Maxim and Jenja Buzinovskiyi from the Teen Challenge juvenile home in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

There is an adult drug and alcohol rehab for men as well as a women's rehab in Almaty, but the juvenile home is a place specifically for teenagers who are going through difficult situations and life challenges.

Maxim and Jenja work to support, encourage, and guide young people, giving them hope, care, and a safe place where they can grow spiritually and emotionally.

The juvenile home is based in an old house that continually needs repairs and improvement work.  It has been 10 years ago already, that Krijn Donk did his ice skating fundraiser for kitchen equipment, furniture, and cabinets. Last year, he raised funds for them for the purchase of a passenger van.

Currently, the kitchen area is in need of some renovation work. Which is understandable after many years of heavy use. The kitchen is an important area for the teenagers, a place where they gather, cook meals together, communicate, and spend time as one family.

They would like to remodel because some walls and the ceiling are damaged due to a leak. The door is not safe because it is old and does not have a lock, so it needs to be replaced.

Inside, they need a bigger dining table with more chairs so as to be able to seat everyone.

Besides the work on the kitchen area, they would like to make a gazebo on the back side of the house and put furniture there. It would be a great gathering place where they can all eat outside, because in summer it gets very hot inside the house.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a comfortable outdoor space for the summer seasons where teenagers can gather together? A place with outdoor furniture and some special equipment to prepare food. A place to hang out and fellowship.

Young people are coming to Maksim and Jenja, who also have a home church there. Well, I think their needs are clear and practical. Hopefully, we can raise some of the needed funds for all this to become a reality!

If you have a heart for the work among teenagers, you can send a donation in different ways:

💛Send your financial gift to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U, and make sure to mention TC KAZAKHSTAN YOUTH

💳 Give by card

👉You can also donate directly via our website!

🔔When in the USA, make your tax-deductible gift payable to EEO Inc. Make sure to mention TC KAZAKLHSTAN YOUTH

Meetings at the Europe Teen Challenge Conference in Albania

In our previous news post, we already mentioned the meetings we had during the Europe Teen Challenge conference in Albania earlier this month. We would like to go back to that, briefly. Especially because those meetings are so important in the support and encouragement we provide.

On behalf of Traveling Light, we maintain international contacts in more than thirty countries in Europe. We do this via email, social media, and (preferably) in person.

Meetings are precious, like with Orges & Blerina Hysenaj, the directors of the Teen Challenge program in Albania. We have known them for years and have a good relationship.

They now run two rehab centers, a church, and a coffee house. Furthermore, they also organize special evenings for family members of the men who are in rehab.

Last week, they held a baptism celebration. What a wonderful fruit of their work. Yes, it is God who changes people's lives, but that does not happen automatically. He makes use of believers who share the gospel with those who have never heard it! We are grateful for what God is doing in Albania!

Furthermore, we had time to catch up with Sergey & Irina Romanenko from Ukraine. They are the directors of the rehab centers in Berdychiv.

Together with one of their daughters and their daughter-in-law, they spent twenty (!) hours on a Flixbus to Warsaw to catch a plane to Tirana from there.

Despite the tragedy of the ongoing war, they remain in high spirits and trust that better times will come. The rehab centers are full, and there is an enormous amount of work to be done, especially among soldiers returning from the front traumatized (and addicted).

They have made a beautiful promotional video about their work. Watch it via this LINK. We have been supporting that work for years. 👉The work in Berdychiv will be the project of the month for June in our secondhand stores Twinkeltje and de Schor.

It was also nice to catch up with Niklas & Heidi Furu, the directors of Teen Challenge Finland. A visit to them has been on our to-do list for a while! It is amazing what they are doing in terms of street and coffee house work and evangelism to reach people with the gospel.

And of course, we spent time with Kuanish & Mada Akkuzova, the directors of Teen Challenge Georgia. It is always good to hear what is going on there. We were there for a week, last September.

And furthermore:

• Teen Challenge Iceland will soon open its first women's house.
• Teen Challenge Romania recently opened a new rehab center in Baia Mare.
• Teen Challenge Sweden has a chance to open a rehab in northern Sweden.
• Teen Challenge Denmark is going to open a location in Roskilde.

We hope to visit the Teen Challenge programs in Belgium, Slovenia, and Lithuania in June. As you can see... there is a lot going on! That requires prayer, work, finances, and good relationships.

How wonderful that we can continue to support the life-changing ministries in so many countries, thanks to your generous donations.

If you have a heart for the supporting work we do, you can send a donation in different ways:

💛Send your financial gift to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U.

💳 Give by card

👉You can also donate directly via our website!

🔔When in the USA, make your tax-deductible gift payable to EEO Inc. Make sure to mention TRAVELING LIGHT.

Project community center Teen Challenge Neubruch, Germany

Earlier this month, we participated in the Europe Teen Challenge conference in Albania. We spoke with many people there once again and also received updates on various current projects.

For instance, Teen Challenge Germany had the opportunity in the director's meeting (and later during the main program) to present their plans for the expansion of the Neubruch center in Sonneborn.

Teen Challenge Germany operates drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers in various locations throughout the country, and is also active in prevention and street outreach work, with the help of volunteers.

Teen Challenge Neubruch is such a residential center where people find new perspectives, experience community, and where staff feel supported and appreciated.

Every day, workers dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to people struggling—youth, families, and people dealing with addiction, crises, and hopelessness. Staff and volunteers listen, support, encourage, and take responsibility. This work deserves not only gratitude but also supportive spaces where training, rest, and community are possible.

To this end, TC Germany intends to convert an existing barn (see photo) on the Neubruch grounds, currently used as storage space, into a training and meeting center. It will be a beautiful place where Teen Challenge workers and volunteers from Germany and other European countries can attend training sessions, but also unwind for a few days. The intention is to also create apartments within the barn for this purpose.

It is a substantial renovation project, but the demand for such a meeting and community place is high. During this latest international conference, we noticed once again how great the need is for fellowship, catching up, attending training and topical studies, praying together, and listening to each other's stories, etc.

Teen Challenge Germany is largely dependent on donations. We are incredibly grateful for the work they do and would like to support them in this construction project.

If you have a heart for this work, you can send a donation in different ways:

💛Send your financial gift to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and make sure to mention TC GERMANY

💳 Give by card

👉You can also donate directly via our website!

🔔When in the USA, make your tax-deductible gift payable to EEO Inc. Make sure to mention TC GERMANY NEUBRUCH

Activities and updates

The month is flying by; time for a few updates!

This coming Monday, we hope to be present with a booth at the King's Day flea market in Papendrecht again. It is always a really fun event, and not just for Papendrecht residents, mind you. Visitors from the entire surrounding area come to the flea market!

We will be providing coffee and tea again, so come and join us. The proceeds from the sales go to humanitarian aid in Beirut, Lebanon.

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Next week, we (Jan, Marja, Krijn, Cora) are going to the annual Europe Teen Challenge conference, which is being held in Albania again, like last year. We always look forward to meeting everyone again and catching up. We are curious to hear the stories of hope and progress in the various rehab centers and coffee houses.

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The proceeds from Twinkeltje and De Schor for April will go to Brian Slater's work with Abundant Bread of Salvation in Israel. We will let you know the total amount later. Of course, we will add specified donations to this total as well.

The project in both shops for the month of May is the work of Jordan & Vesna Stoilovi at The Bridge coffee house in Tetovo, Macedonia.

The community center is a beautiful meeting place where people come together for coffee, Bible study, Alpha, church services, etc. Meaningful conversations take place between people with different backgrounds and cultures.

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We have updated the Traveling Light website again, now including an 'Academy' tab. We have been teaching and preaching in the Netherlands as well as in Europe, for years, but never mentioned it on our website. In recent weeks, we have shared lessons from God's Word in various churches and group settings.

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We are thankful for 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! When in the USA, make your tax-deductible gift payable to EEO Inc. Make sure to mention Traveling Light or which Teen Challenge center you want to support.

15 Years Traveling Light

This month, we at Traveling Light will be celebrating our 15th anniversary! So much has happened in those years. We have visited 30 countries in Europe (at our own expense), supported hundreds of small-scale projects, preached the gospel, baptized people, given Alpha courses, done prison work, organized prayer and mission evenings, and so on.

More than a million euros in donations came in. Donations that all went to wonderful projects in more than 30 countries in Europe. Projects that are often, but certainly not always, related to the work of Teen Challenge among the addicted and homeless. Click HERE for an overview.

In September of this year, it will also be 10 years since we opened our coffeehouse / 2ndhand store, Twinkeltje in Papendrecht. A colorful spot in the neighborhood where we get to welcome many visitors from home and abroad. We are currently hosting our friend Reza Nadirashvili (founder of CIC Mission) from Georgia.

For several years now, non-profit organisation De Schor in Papendrecht has joined as a partner. The proceeds from their vintage shop consistently go to Traveling Light's projects. We are so grateful to the volunteers and supporters who make all this work possible 💙💙💙💙

The proceeds from Twinkeltje and De Schor in March amounted to over 3,500 euros! This time, it will be going to Alabaster Jar's work among prostitutes in Berlin. Recently, we had Sandor Hofäcker from Samaritan's Purse in Germany visit Twinkeltje, who shared about the outreach among the women and girls in and around the brothels in Berlin.

The project for the month of April in both shops is Abundant Bread of Salvation by Brian Slater in Israel!

This coming Thursday, April 2, it is possible to watch The Passion together on a big screen in Twinkeltje. Walk-in with coffee and tea from 8:00 PM. Feel free to bring someone along who does not yet know the Easter story!

Furthermore, we were able to donate 2,000 euros to the aid organization Vilties Inkaras in Lithuania to support a family that is currently homeless because their house burned down. This concerns a Roma family with eight children. We also donated 2,000 euros to Restart in Serbia for the purchase of a new (second-hand) professional coffee machine for the coffee house in Novi Sad. 👉We are continuing to raise funds for humanitarian aid in Lebanon!

It is wonderful to live out the Gospel together, in this way. It makes everyone happy 😁 We are thankful for 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! When in the USA, make your tax-deductible gift payable to EEO Inc. Make sure to mention which Teen Challenge center you want to support.

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.

Ice skating fundraiser brings in €9,600 for Teen Challenge Moldova

Our ice skating fundraiser on Lake Weissensee in Austria on Friday, January 23rd, brought in a fantastic €9,600. This will be donated entirely to the Teen Challenge drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Falesti, Moldova.

On that day, Krijn Donk skated 200km in nine hours. A remarkable achievement, especially considering that two weeks earlier, he had fallen at an ice rink in the Netherlands and sustained a knee injury. Krijn reflects:

"It was a tough day with beautiful weather and fairly good ice. The temperature was -11C at the start. What I was most afraid of was that my knee wouldn't hold up to the 200km. But it didn't bother me; it didn't even swell! Praise the Lord, because prayers were made for that. Thank you all."

Two years ago, Krijn visited the Teen Challenge men's center in Moldova, having skated for them before. "The directors found such a skating event unimaginable, skating 200km in one day!" said Krijn.

"I was able to explain that God gives me the strength to do this and that He blesses each giver. And also that the amount of money they receive is a gift from God. They could confirm that and understood why I do such things."

Worldwide, there are approximately 1,400 Teen Challenge centers in 140 countries. Men and women with all kinds of life-threatening problems can go there and (often) get to know the Bible and the love and grace of Jesus Christ for the first time. The students often stay in the program for a year or longer. They cook, take care of vegetable gardens and animals, and study according to a curriculum.

Traveling Light supports dozens of these centers in Europe... with prayer, finances, and visits. We'd like to sincerely thank everyone for their contributions to this fundraising campaign. Without your support, it wouldn't have been possible. You've invested in transformed lives; never forget that.

We are always 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!