Project Ljubljana, Slovenia

As we are nearing the end of 2011, we would like to introduce you to Steve and Barbara Telzerow, the people behind our next project. They are the pastors of the International Christian Fellowship (ICF) in Ljubljana, Slovenia and faithful supporters of Teen Challenge Izhod, Slovenia.

We have met them on several occasions over the past few years and visited their church. The International Christian Fellowship or Mednarodna krščanska skupnost (hey, try to pronounce that without hesitating) was born about 13 years ago in a prayer meeting and currently meets in a rental building in Ljubljana. Although the church is small, they have a great vision for the future of Slovenia. Last year they organized a nationwide outreach with evangelist Nick Vujicic. Nearly 17.000 people attended the events in that week. Many churches came together and worked in unity. Our friends Matjaz & Magdalena Horjak were hosts of the event in the city of Koper and we were just thrilled to hear their stories and we agreed with them that this had to be the first of many events to come. Slovenia 4 Jesus, yes! We just love it when people have a heart for evangelism. Together we can reach a person, a street, a town, a country... yes, the whole world, with the Good News.

The idea began to grow to sow our seeds into the ministry of ICF. When we e-mailed pastor Steve to ask if he had any needs we could help him with, he was greatly surprised. He wrote: “Thank you so much for your letter. It was extremely encouraging to receive. I deeply appreciate you asking about our needs. It has come as a great surprise. I am very rarely asked that question. Thank You.”

Well, being an encouragement to believers; that is certainly our goal! To make a long story short; we desire to raise € 2,500 for Steve and Barbara and ICF. The money will be used to purchase heating fuel for their house, to pay the expenses of a women’s conference they recently helped organize and to support a children’s bible club among gypsy children, which is really exciting. Hey, wouldn’t it be great to be a part of revival in Slovenia? Let’s sow our seed in fertile soil. Let's encourage one another.

For more on the event with Nick,see also: http://nickvujicic.si/odmevi.html

2,500 euro for The Spetse Hoeve, Holland!

Hooray, we're celebrating again here at Traveling Light. We have reached another goal: 2,500 euro's for Teen Challenge The Spetse Hoeve in Groningen came in, thanks to the faithful and often surprising donations from our supporters.

Thank you very much; we are very grateful for all of you who helped us to reach this goal, one way or another... whether through your prayers, your encouraging words or your donations. The money will be used to bring the fire safety system in the old farm up to code. We are happy to help 'm pay the bill :)

Things are going very well at Teen Challenge, the Spetse Hoeve. Seven men graduated last summer and there are currently 13 men in the program, all being set free from addictions and becoming disciples of Jesus Christ!

New website Ark in the Negev

One of the projects in Israel we have sponsored and will continue to sponsor and pray for is the recently opened women's home, Ark in the Negev, in Arad. It operates under the flag of Teen Challenge and we are so honored to be able to introduce this ministry to our supporters in Holland and beyond.

When Polly Sigulim told us a few years ago about her dream to open a center for abused and addicted women (and their children) in Israel, we were thrilled. It took her a lot of work and patience before the center became a reality. We here at Traveling Light are excited that we were able to sow our seed into this ministry and we can only hope and pray we will have many more opportunities to give and so be part of this wonderful work in Israel. We can only do this with the help of your faithful donations, for which we are truly grateful.

You know what is so cool about being part of the Teen Challenge family? We can help each other, worldwide. One of these weeks a team from Teen Challenge Czech Republic will go to the center in Israel for some maintenance and repairs. Is that a blessing for the ladies or what?!

The center has now a web site too, please feel free to check it out at Ark in the Negev.

PS: The gifts thermometer for our project The Spetse Hoeve, Teen Challenge Netherlands has risen to 2,400 euros, only 100 more to go and together we have reached another goal! Our heartfelt thanks to all of you who gave.

Greetings from Slovenia

Staff member Dejan & a student happy with the saw!

About a month ago Traveling Light donated 2,250 euro's (about 3,000 dollars) to Teen Challenge Izhod, Slovenia. The money was needed to purchase firewood and a chainsaw in preparation for the coming winter.

Last week we received a thank you note from Matjaz and Magdalena Horjak as well as some photo's. We just LOVE to share it on this blog, so you all know where the money goes. And besides that... who doesn't want to see such happy faces?

Dear friends,

You, who have donated your financial gifts to TC ministry in Slovenia through Travelling Light thank you sooo much! We really appreciate your help, which enabled us to get wood for the whole winter and a chainsaw to cut it. Thank you for being a part of a ministry which helps to restore broken lifes. Thanks to you we will enjoy a warm winter. :-) We are truly overwhelmed by your compassion and a heart to give. 

Truck load of firewood

May God bless you abundantly in all areas of your life!

In His love 

Matjaž & Magdalena Horjak + TC team

Update project Spetse Hoeve

We barely announced our new project The Spetse Hoeve, Groningen, or donations started rolling in :) Wow, the gifts thermometer rose to 2,050 euro's in just a few days, that is so awesome.

Our goal is to raise 2,500 euro's needed to pay the recent fire safety bill that was presented after inspection. They will need to purchase new fire extinguishers, fire alarms, camera's and cables, an AID and some other emergency equipment.

Together with Stephan Barendse, the director of the Spetse Hoeve and Teen Challenge Holland, we also came up with a way to bless the guys in the program personally. Each time a student enters the program they receive a pocket New Testament. For many that is the first time they read the good news. After a few months in the program the men receive their own Bible. A good quality Bible costs around 50 euro's. If the Lord puts it on your heart to purchase a Bible for one of the students in the program, you can do so by sending a special gift of 50 euro's to Traveling Light. Make sure you mention 'Spetse Hoeve Bible'.