Cross and the switchblade in Albania

Coffee house Tirana, Albania

The work of Teen Challenge among the homeless and drug addicts often begins in so-called coffee houses. Coffee houses are meeting places where once a week or several times a week the door opens for people who need a chat, prayer and coffee, of course :)

How do people know where to find a coffee house? Well, simply because Teen Challenge teams hand out flyers and invitations on the street and at methadone clinics for example. Starting a coffee house is like planting a seed that will bring change to a nation ...

Blerina & Orges Hysenaj

Orges & Blerina Hysenaj live in Tirana and last year they started a coffee house in Albania. We were able to be of service with a financial gift for the start-up, a visit and through maintaining regular contact.

Orges now has quite a group of interested men who visit his coffee house, most of them are in serious addictions. Yet, Orges gives Bible studies and has conversations with the men about Jesus and His love for mankind. One day he expects to open up a Teen Challenge rehab center in his country!

One way to get in touch and seriously talk with addicts is still the book 'The Cross and the switchblade' by David Wilkerson (the founder of Teen Challenge). The book has been translated into more than 30 languages ​​and millions of copies have been sold.

The books are distributed throughout the world and used to reach the homeless and drug addicts with the good news that another life is possible if you choose to live with Jesus Christ!

The book is currently being translated into the Albanian language and Orges wants to print 2,500 copies for distribution. We want to help him to pay for the costs of translation and printing of the book. We know that the message will bring hope and a chance for a new life will to many Albanians.

Do you believe in changed lives? Do you have a heart for the nations of Europe? Then send your donation to  St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275, BIC: RABONL2U. and do not forget to mention ALBANIA.

Project news and activities

Teen Challenge women's home Kazakhstan

At the end of yet another great year, we can do nothing else but thank you all very much!

We were able to support a wide variety of small-scale projects. In recent months for example we donated to several Teen Challenge drugs and alcohol rehabilitation centers in countries such as Kazakhstan, Poland and Ukraine. We will share some photo's of the work in these centers soon!

Girl's home in Moldova

We are also very pleased with your enthusiastic response to our new store Twinkeltje. We receive a lot of donations, we are selling well and the workshops we have organized so far are quite popular. Come visit us on a Saturday afternoon in the Korenbloemstraat 20 Papendrecht.

Each month the proceeds from the sales are for a specific project. In December is is the girl 's home in Moldova. A safe and loving place for girls who have been victims of human trafficking.

new Teen Challenge women's home in Batumi, Georgia

It's coming up again... Early January we will start with the PR for the Weissensee 2017 event. The ice skaters have been in training for months. The project for which our volunteers will skate the grueling 200 km in Austria is the new Teen Challenge women's home in Batumi, Georgia (still under construction). They will be needing about 4,000 euro for the purchase of windows and doors.

Project Christmas gifts for sailors taken on by seafarer's evangelist Guus Peters is up and running. We have already received sponsoring for forty goody bags. For eight euro you can bless a sailor with a warm sweater, some sweets and a DVD.

ALL donations, big and small are welcome at St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275, BIC: RABONL2U. Make sure to mention which project your gift is for.

Winter Fair for a good cause

Coziest store in town

This past September we opened up Twinkeltje (Dutch for 'shop'), a unique store in Papendrecht where we sell nice 2nd hand stuff. Board member Cora Donk is the owner of the place.

Together with a group of faithful volunteers she has very creatively decorated Twinkeltje. It is cozy, hip and happening! Everyone is welcome, not just to shop, but also for a cup of coffee and something sweet from the oven.

Every Saturday afternoon during the month of December we are holding a warm and welcoming winter fair. The store is beautifully decorated, there are lots of Christmas goodies for sale.

You can come in for soup, cookies, coffee, tea and hot chocolate. Or maybe you want to play a game, read a book, do some coloring or simply have fellowship with others. Everything is possible!

Especially in this dark winter month, people need comfort and warmth. The beauty is that we also can share the warmth with people who need it even more. 

You are welcome

Every month a specific project of Traveling Light will be highlighted. The total sales proceeds during December will be for the girl's shelter in Moldova.

We invite you to come and look around and shop for a good cause!

KORENBLOEMSTRAAT 20 PAPENDRECHT

See you soon!