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| Visiting the recently opened rehab home |
Last week we (Jan and Marja) had the privilege of visiting the country of Moldova. We were staying in the town of Riscani with Johannes and Charlotte Petersen. They are a Danish couple and the founders of Pilgrims International.
This extraordinary couple has been living in Moldova for more than 22 years ... in a trailer!
They provide humanitarian aid, planted various churches and helped with setting up Teen Challenge drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers. In 2015, the girls' home Pilgrim House was opened.
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| In front of the new dairy kitchen in Falesti |
Immediately after our arrival at the airport, we visited the recently opened rehab home for men in Soceleni, just outside the capital Chisinau. It is a very old country house, which has served as a decor in several movies. The house was donated by a mother of one of the boys who went through the existing Teen Challenge program and got a new life!
There is room for a few bunk beds, a small kitchen and the toilet is outside. Yes, it's pretty primitive, but what a great safe place for men who want to change their lives. It made us so happy to see the work of Teen Challenge expand. The guys live mostly from what the land and animals yield. We tasted fresh goat milk!
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| Filling the store rooms with produce |
The next day we visited the Teen Challenge men's and women's home in Falesti. In the past we have given them a gift for the purchase of dairy cows, we counted four cows now! They have also built a small dairy kitchen where they make cheese.
We prayed with the women who were there. One girl was only nineteen and very worried about her court case coming up. Another woman had worked temporarily in the Netherlands, but her drugs and alcohol abuse had almost destroyed her.
"Fortunately, I had a good employer," she said. "He paid for my trip back home."
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| Church in Falesti |
We prayed that the time at Teen Challenge will bring her healing and hope for the future.
On Sunday we spoke in the charismatic church in Falesti. It was a wonderful, enthusiastic service in which there was plenty of time to pray with and for each other.
We enjoyed a scrumptious lunch at the home of Ivan & Ilona Velinchuk (Teen Challenge director). What a warm welcome and what a delicious food, everything tasted so good!
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| Sharing a meal with the Teen Challenge family |
We then went back to Riscani, where we spoke in the church that was also founded by Johannes & Charlotte. Many young people here, beautiful music and (again) great food.
In the same building where the church is located, they are currently working hard on a new to open center for girls. It will be a place where they can live in safety and learn some useful skills.
Charlotte, who is always full of ideas, recently opened a little shop with secondhand clothes in Riscani. She was inspired by our pictures of Twinkeltje on Facebook and our enthusiastic stories 😉She showed us around. How nice to inspire and encourage each other this way.
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| Church in Riscani |
We could tell you a lot more, but let's keep some stories for our Prayer for the Nations on October 19th. It was certainly a very interesting visit and we had such great conversations with Johannes and Charlotte about their work in Moldova and the future of the country.
Everyone showed a lot of gratitude for the support they receive from Traveling Light for various projects. We extend that thanksgiving to you all.
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| In the secondhand shop |
There is so much more to supporting good causes than just giving money. We want to build sustainable relationships, we pray for one another and we bring hope for the future of each country.
Donations and prayers for all those beautiful, special projects are always welcome. Please, send your donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U.