Happy New Year!

We would like to thank you all very much for the gifts, the love, the support, the prayers and the ideas you shared with us during this first year. We wish you all a happy, healthy, wholesome and most of all blessed 2012!

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

[Matthew 5:14-16]

Photo's De Spetse Hoeve, Groningen, Holland

Fire alarm installation

Last month we were able to donate 2,500 euro's to Teen Challenge De Spetse Hoeve, Groningen, in Holland. The money was desperately needed because they had to bring the fire safety system on the old farm up to code; orders of the fire department.

Because we are currently not in Holland we asked the directors Stephan & Marianne Barendse to send us some pictures of the work that is being done. We are happy to share 'm with you. Isn't it fun to see your donations at work?

Installation of lightning protection system

The checking of the excisitng fire alarm installation alone costs 750 euro's. They also had a lightning protection system installed on the roof, quite a job as you can see on the photo's.

Teen Challenge De Spetse Hoeve offers 24-hour help for men with all kind of addictions, there are currently 13 men in the residential program. You can check their website HERE and use Google translate if needed. Haha, let us know how that turned out for you.

If you have a friend or family member that is fighting addiction and wants to be free, please contact a Teen Challenge near you! It is often a matter of life and death.

As for us, we are happy that we were able to help them with this financial need and we sure hope we can be of service again in 2012!

PS: The gifts thermometer for Steve & Barbara (ICF), Ljubljana, Slovenia has risen to 2,100 euro's... almost there!

Update & notes

We are in Tonopah, Arizona, USA at the moment, quite a remote area... but wifi nonetheless :) So, here's a few updates on current projects:

• Since we announced our latest project, the support of pastor Steve and Barbara in Ljubljana, Slovenia, the gifts kept coming in. So far we have received 1,800 euro's for them, which is super! What a great response. It makes the goal of 2,500 euro's suddenly less difficult. What do you think, will we reach our goal before the end of this year?
• We have removed some sensitive information about the Arad project in Israel, for security reasons. We hope you understand this. There have been some threats from ultra orthodox, so please pray for the safety of Polly and the women involved in the program.
• As far as the Onyfrievka project in Ukraine is concerned, negotiations to buy the property are still continuing. Please pray with us for a breakthrough in this, so that a new Teen Challenge men's house can be opened asap!

The work we do as Traveling Light is slowly being noticed in Europa and the USA. In recent weeks we have received some very kind and encouraging reports. So, thank you to our supporters, it is only because of your generosity that we can do what we do! Who knows, one day we will incorporate as a non profit in the USA too.

Greetings from Jan and Marja.