Project Teen Challenge Macedonia

Jonathan & Valentina (in blue)

If you have been reading our blog posts for some time, you will know that we have various contacts and support various projects in Macedonia.

Teen Challenge also has activities there. Unfortunately there is no residential rehabilitation center, but Jonathan & Valentina Vlaisavljevic help people with life-threatening problems and sometimes send them to TC centers in the surrounding countries.

Last June, Traveling Light participated for the eighth time in the Balkan conference My Brother's Keeper. The conference was held in Macedonia, and Jan had the opportunity to catch up with Jonathan.

Living Free training

He still gives Living Free training in the various Balkan countries. The group training and discipleship courses are faith based and aim to help people prevent and/or overcome challenging issues.

The goal is to equip participants so that they can give the training themselves in their church or organization. Traveling Light has previously helped with funds for translating Living Free material for Croatia and Albania.

We sincerely hope that TC rehab centers will be opened in Macedonia as well as in Albania and other Balkan countries in the near future. There is a huge need and your prayers will be appreciated.

Training in session

Jonathan also said that there is a possibility to do prison work in Serbia. Think about it, 'Living Free' is quite a special topic when you are in jail, literally. But it will certainly prepare people for a healthy return into society and that is what "rehabilitation" actually means.

In October Europe Teen Challenge will be organizing a 'rehabilitation training' in Portugal. Topics such as core values in a rehab setting, borderlines between care, counselling and authoritarian control, medical issues in rehab, principles of rehab and discipleship will be discussed.

Various people from the Balkans will participate in this training. Cora will attend on behalf of Traveling Light. It is an investment for the future.

TC Macedonia asks for financial support for 1) further translation of Living Free training material, 2) for travel costs to the training in Portugal and 3) for renovation costs for their office (due to water damage after a flood).

When in Europe, donations are welcome to IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht. Make sure to mention: MACEDONIA.

When in the USA, you can make your tax-deductible gift payable to EEO Inc. Make sure to mention: TC MACEDONIA.