Photo's Balkan conference, Bosnia

Thousands of kilometers on the road

For the fourth year in a row Jan participated, on behalf of Traveling Light, in the My Brother's Keeper conference that was held this past June in Bosnia.

It is an annual inter-denominational conference for men (many spiritual leaders, pastors etc.) from all Balkan nations. It is very useful for us to learn more about the (historical) problems these nations are dealing with. Of course being among so many people from different nations enlarges our network as well.

Camping, Bible studies, prayer...

As in other years a volunteer joined Jan on this trip: Hans Bos, from our Hoeksteen church in Etten-Leur. Together they first drove to Slovenia where we have good contacts and always a place to sleep :)

The next day they left for Bosnia. There where a few hundred men from all former Yugoslavian countries present at the conference

Haha, let's call it the united nations of  the Balkan

Such a conference offers us the opportunity to understand a little bit more about the emotional, spiritual and social problems these men are dealing with and often keep them from being free. Meeting each other, building relationships, listening, talking, asking questions, praying... it all helps to learn to understand each other better, despite the past, and to look forward to a hopeful future.

On their way back to Holland Jan and Hans stopped by at Gutes Land in Germany. Staff and students at the Teen Challenge rehabilitation program there are always eager to hear a positive and encouraging word.

Sharing a meal at Gutes Land

That is the beautiful thing about such a long journey: everywhere we go, we are able to shine our light, to share an encouraging word, to pray with or just simply listen to people. The Traveling Light journeys are life changing, for us and for the people we visit!

We are currently fundraising for two projects: 1) work among Roma children in Macedonia and 2) construction of an animal barn at Teen Challenge Berdychiv, Ukraine.

We would be very happy with your donations, because we are receiving more and more requests for help. Please send your gift to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U.

News and prayer

Catching up at Europe Teen Challenge conference

We are currently taking donations for the work of Teen Challenge in the Republic of Georgia. The beginning of July we hope to visit their rehab center. This past April we met Kuanysh & Madina who are part of the Teen Challenge team in Georgia. 

What always touches us about the passionate people of Teen Challenge is that, despite the problems they encounter in their own center, they often go out to help others. Currently the Georgia team is visiting Teen Challenge in their neighboring country Armenia, where the work among the destitute and addicted is still fairly new. Prayer point: expansion of Christian rehabilitation work in this beautiful region!

From June 18-21 the 'My Brother's Keeper Conference' in Bosnia is being held. Jan Verschoor and faithful supporter Hans Bos are attending on behalf of Traveling Light. The conference is being organized each year for men from all nations that used to be Yugoslavia. Reconciliation, forgiveness and unity are key words. Prayer point: that God's Spirit will work powerfully in the lives of the men attending. Watch this presentation from last year:

This coming week our female board members Cora Donk and Marja Verschoor-Meijers will attend an international conference in Skopje, Macedonia on behalf of Traveling Light. This conference is about the work and service among Roma people. See older blog posts (by clicking HERE) about our support of this work. Prayer point: laborers in the harvest in the Balkan nations!

Lena Apostolovski at work  in Skopje

We also received news from Moldova. If all keeps going according to plan the girls will move into the new house in August. Photo's will follow soon...

The next project will also be in Moldova. The Teen Challenge rehab center there has a need for a new... cow! More about that later :) Prayer point: that this poorest nation of Europe will get to know the rich love of God in ever increasing measure!

My Brother's Keeper conference in Bosnia

Camping with 250 men in Bosnia

As in previous years, Jan went to the My Brother's Keeper conference a few weeks ago, on behalf of Traveling Light.  Last year it was held in Serbia, this time in Bosnia. It is an annual inter-denominational conference for men (spiritual leaders, pastors etc.) from all Balkan nations.

Traveling Light has good contacts in many of these countries and through pastor Steve Telzerow from ICF in Ljubljana we again received an invitation to come. Such a conference is a great opportunity to learn more about the (historical) problems these nations are dealing with. Emotional, spiritual and social problems, often the result of a period of bloody war.

Sharing meals

Meeting people, building relationships, listening, talking, asking questions, praying... it all helps to learn to understand each other better. And that helps us to choose projects wisely. It is also very encouraging to see that various churches in that area are working on reconciliation through forgiveness and healing.

As in previous years a Traveling Light supporter and volunteer went with Jan: Henk Swijnenburg (yes, the one from the Weissensee skating event).

Building friendships between the nations

They first drove all the way to Slovenia where they spent the night at the Teen Challenge men's center. The next day they drove on to Bosnia. About 250 men came to the conference, men from former Yugoslavian countries.

They camped out in small tents for four days and nights. The days and evenings were filled with music, prayer, Biblestudies, teachings, sport, games and of course food and drinks. After the conference Jan and Henk spent some more time with the team from Teen Challenge in Slovenia and gave several Bible studies.

Always an encouraging word...

On their way back they stopped at the Teen Challenge men's home Gutes Land in Vilsbiburg, Germany. They were just in time for a huge BBQ. Jan shared the Word in the evening and the next morning.

After driving 4,500 km and meeting many people, we can say that this was yet another typical encouragement trip that we believe Traveling Light has a calling for!

We always travel at our own expense and so do the volunteers that come along. So, all donations that come in will go towards the projects. Currently we are fundraising for Teen Challenge in Georgia. If you like what we do and you have a heart for the kind of projects we support, please make your gift payable to:

When in Europe: St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U

When in the USA: You can send your donation for Teen Challenge Georgia directly HERE.