Visit to Teen Challenge, Lithuania

The summer vacation has started for most people. Whether you are staying at home or traveling, we wish you a good, relaxing time.

We (Jan and Marja) also went on a trip at the end of June, and well to Lithuania. We were invited by Teen Challenge to give a seminar on the 'Meaning of Life' at the women's and men's rehabilitation centers, and also to speak at the church in Kaunas (the second largest city after Vilnius, the capital) on Sunday.

It is approximately a 1,600 km drive to Kaunas, and we divided it into two days, with an overnight stay in Poland. It was incredibly hot everywhere in Europe at the time, so it was very pleasant to be in the car's air conditioning 😀

On Friday morning, we visited the women's center in Slienava. In a morning and afternoon session, we reflected on the theme using various Bible verses. We asked the ladies to write down their thoughts on the meaning of life. It turned out to be very good and useful to seriously reflect on this, as you can see in the photo.

We came to the conclusion that there is no meaning to life outside of God. It is He who gives us life and also a purpose to live for. Fortunately, there was also time reserved to talk and pray with all the women and girls individually.

At the end of the afternoon, together with our hosts and directors of Teen Challenge, Edvardas and Rasa Kleinas, we sought the shade to cool off a bit in a very beautiful castle park just outside Kaunas.

The next day, we were expected at the men's center in Pikeliai, an hour's drive from Kaunas. Just like last year, a tent had been set up for the meetings.

We continued with the theme. First, Pastor Rytis Berūkštis gave a Bible study on the search for meaning. He used several texts from the book of Ecclesiastes, which we were able to connect with beautifully!

We always find the personal conversations with the students, who are in rehab, to be the most precious time. Together with an interpreter, we listen to their stories, ask the Holy Spirit to speak, and pray very specifically for deliverance, healing, and revelation. 

They often have so many sincere questions. It is just wonderful when we can shed light on the matter together, guided by the Bible.

On Sunday, we spoke at the church in Kaunas, Kauno Krikščionių Bažnyčia. Yeah, try pronouncing that. The church, led by Pastor Rytis Berūkštis, has a big heart for the work of Teen Challenge! Unfortunately, something went wrong with the live stream technology, so the sermon is not online.

After the service, we had time to minister to people individually, with the help of our interpreters. Our Dutch friend Willem Jan van Dijk (from Vilties Inkaras) was also in the church with his Lithuanian wife and sons, so we were able to speak with them as well. Willem Jan has already hosted a mission evening at Twinkeltje twice.

It is wonderful that we, as Traveling Light, have good contact with Teen Challenge as well as the evangelical church in many countries, and that we, as AG pastors/ministers, are welcome in many places and are invited to preach together.

It got quite hot, so after lunch, we drove with Edvardas and Rasa towards Trakai, a beautiful nature reserve with about 200 lakes. Lake Galvė is world-famous because of the medieval Trakai Island Castle located in the middle of it. We took time to swim and relax, we went for a walk, had dinner, and enjoyed ice cream.

Running two (full) rehab centers and a re-entry house is costly. The work of Teen Challenge in Lithuania depends largely on donations.

If you would like to invest in changing people's lives in Lithuania, you will be sowing a seed in the discipling of the nations! You can send a donation in different ways:

💛Send your financial gift to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. Make sure to mention: TC LITHUANIA.

💳 Give by card

👉You can also donate directly via our website!

🔔When in the USA, make your tax-deductible gift payable to EEO Inc. Make sure to mention TC LITHUANIA.

Project updates

It is time to report once again on where your donations have gone and how they were (are being) spent.

Some time ago, we were able to donate 2,000 euros to the Restart Foundation in Serbia for the purchase of a professional coffee machine for the coffee house in Novi Sad.

The machine has since been purchased and installed. They are very happy with it. The coffee house is very busy. Initiator Boris Štrbac sent a number of photos earlier this week.

We hope to visit Serbia later this year and will certainly be visiting the coffee house as well.

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Furthermore, we also donated 2,000 euros to the aid organization Vilties Inkaras in Lithuania to support a family that had become homeless due to a fire. It concerns a Roma family with eight children.

The initial idea was to place a sea container as a temporary home, but fortunately, a prefab house could be placed at short notice. Willem Jan van Dijk of Vilties Inkaras was, in turn, able to provide items such as mattresses, clothing, and household goods.

The family has a roof over their heads again, thanks in part to your donations. Thank you very much.

Just last weekend, we spoke to Willem Jan and his family in Kaunas! In addition to the humanitarian aid they provide in the countryside, they have also started a house church.

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The proceeds from Twinkeltje and the Schor, plus a number of specified donations, in June, amounted to 2,600 euros. That will be going towards the work of Teen Challenge in Berdychiv, Ukraine. Sergey Romanenko and his team operate rehab centers for men, women, and children there, as well as a coffee house.

The money is needed to renovate a house where a woman from Zaporozhye has been living for some time. She fled from the bombs and drones that keep hitting that area. Fortunately, she found shelter at Teen Challenge. She now helps out at the centers and is also part of the Messianic congregation.

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We can also donate 3,000 euros to the Teen Challenge juvenle home in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Maxim and Jenja Buzinovskiyi are in charge there and provide daily care for young people who, for whatever reason, do not receive that at home.

They will use the money to renovate the kitchen and set up an outdoor space where they can hang out as a family with the young people.

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And finally: the project in Twinkeltje and De Schor for July and August is the work of Radko & Nevin Kratsov in Bulgaria. In collaboration with YWAM Sliven, they are active on many fronts within the Roma community, which extends across all of Southeast Europe.

Radko provides education and leadership training in Bulgaria and surrounding countries and helps Roma develop a Biblical vision in every area of ​​life: relationships, work, health, finances, etc. They are currently preparing a ministry trip to Azerbaijan!

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Isn't it beautiful that together we can be a blessing to the countries of Europe? It is all possible thanks to your donations, support, and purchases in our shops.

If you have a heart for the projects we support, you can send a donation in different ways:

💛Send your financial gift to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U.

💳 Give by card

👉You can also donate directly via our website!

🔔When in the USA, make your tax-deductible gift payable to EEO Inc. Make sure to mention TRAVELING LIGHT.

Around Europe!

Before you go on vacation (perhaps), here is an update on the recent and upcoming encouragement visits that form the heart of Traveling Light.

Early June, we visited Teen Challenge Belgium in Charleroi. Frédéric and Natacha Hensgens (the directors) organized a brocante market to raise funds for their streetwork and their residential program at Maison Betser, where five guests are currently staying.

Three of them have served prison sentences and can reintegrate here. Frédéric is involved with Belgian prisons as a chaplain and thus comes into contact with men and women who need a place to rebuild their lives.

Two other guests have addiction issues and can also work on those at Maison Betser.

We were able to help by welcoming visitors. It was very good and encouraging to see each other again, and to stay the night and enjoy a delicious breakfast together!

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On Tuesday, June 9, Jan set off on his motorcycle towards Teen Challenge Slovenia. Together with staff and students from the drug and alcohol rehab center there, they traveled by van to Croatia for Čuvar Brata Svoga, also known as the 'My Brother's Keeper' conference.

It was already the twelfth time that Jan participated, on behalf of  Traveling Light. It is a four-day outdoors conference for men from all Balkan countries where reconciliation, forgiveness, unity, and spiritual growth are key topics.

For Jan (and therefore Traveling Light), it is also always a wonderful opportunity to meet friends from all Balkan countries, catch up, and maintain and strengthen contacts.

After the four-day conference, Jan stayed an extra day at the TC center in Slovenia to teach during chapel services and spend time with the men.

👉Watch the fun short video of the conference HERE.

On the way back, Jan visited Dirk and Meike Hellmann, former directors of Teen Challenge Gutes Land in Germany. Dirk has been ill for years and is mostly housebound. They are always thrilled to receive visitors.

Upon arriving home, it turned out Jan had lost his passport, wallet, and phone, so (among other things) we don't have many photos 😢

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This week we will be driving to Teen Challenge in Lithuania. See the photo of last year's tent meeting. We have been invited again this year to give a seminar in the rehab centers there, as well as to speak at the church in Kaunas on Sunday. The theme for all sessions this weekend is 'The meaning and purpose of life.'

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As you can read, it is a busy month in terms of travel and visits. In Papendrecht, you are of course always very welcome at our shops Twinkeltje or De Schor. This month's project is the work of Teen Challenge in Berdichev, Ukraine.

We take care of all travel expenses, but... if you have a heart for the projects we support, you can send a donation in different ways:

💛Send your financial gift to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U.

💳 Give by card

👉You can also donate directly via our website!

🔔When in the USA, make your tax-deductible gift payable to EEO Inc. Make sure to mention TRAVELING LIGHT.

Requests for help from Lithuania, Lebanon, and Serbia

The proceeds from our stores, Twinkeltje and de Schor, in February amounted to €2,000, which went to Bertine House, the rehab home for women and their children in Poltava, Ukraine.

The new project for March is "Alabaster Jar" in Germany. On Wednesday, March 11th, Sandor Hofäcker will be at our mission evening in Twinkeltje to talk more about this outreach among prostitutes in Berlin. We look forward to seeing you at that special evening!

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And now, a quick note about three different requests for help that reached us in recent days. First: an appeal from Willem Jan van Dijk of the aid organization Vilties Inkaras in Lithuania for help to a family who is currently homeless because their house burned down. This is a Roma family with eight children.

The plan is to build a new house. In the meantime, Willem Jan hopes to arrange a 20ft container, which will provide a temporary roof over their heads. Next week, he will be in the Netherlands to collect items (clothing, household goods, blankets, etc.). We would like to help him with a donation.

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Secondly, we received a call for financial support from our friend and director of Teen Challenge in Lebanon, Garo Margossian. As a result of the war Israel and the USA are fighting to destroy the Islamic regime and associated terrorist organizations (including Hezbollah), many residents of southern Lebanon and Beirut have been displaced.

In addition to spiritual support (prayers), humanitarian aid is much needed: clothing, food, blankets, water, medicine, etc. Garo can provide assistance through his organization, NFD. We would like to help him with a donation.

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And thirdly: Boris Štrbac, founder of Restart  in Serbia, asked us to help with a financial donation towards the purchase of a new (used) professional coffee machine for the coffeehouse in Novi Sad. The old machine is really in need of replacement.

At the coffeehouse, people struggling with addiction can get information and discuss support options. Over the years, Boris referred many people to various Christian rehab centers in the Balkans. A visit to the coffeehouse is often the first step in seeking help towards a changed life! We would also like to help him with a donation.

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We are happy with your donations. Make them payable to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. You can also give by card or donate directly via our website! You can indicate the specific country you'd like to support. We will distribute unspecified donations among these three projects.

Visit to Teen Challenge Lithuania

We promised a report on our visit to Teen Challenge in Lithuania, which took place at the end of June.

As a non-profit organization, we provide not only financial support but also spiritual encouragement. We do this by visiting, leading Bible studies, listening, and praying with people. Intensive, but so important!

We (Jan and Marja) drove to Lithuania, which was a relaxing way to go. Friday morning, we were expected at the women's center in Slienava.

👉The theme we would be teaching on all weekend was "Staying free" based on Galatians 5:1.

In a morning and afternoon session, we reflected on this important topic. Jesus offers true freedom, but safeguarding that freedom is our responsibility. It's crucial to prevent relapse.

The first step towards freedom is, of course, the decision to turn your back on addiction and seek help. The next important step is inviting Jesus into your life.

Many people responded to our invitation to do so. It was overwhelming; we forgot to count, but there were a total of 12 or 13!

The next day, we were welcomed at the men's center in Pikeliai, where a tent had been set up for the meetings. We enjoyed delicious food, listened to testimonies, shared important teachings, and once again, we were able to pray with many people!

The conversations, prayers, fellowship, music, food... everything together created a wonderful atmosphere that we all found encouraging. God is at work in people's lives, everywhere!

On Sunday, we spoke at the church in Kaunas, Kauno Krikščionių Bažnyčia. A church led by Pastor Rytis Berūkštis, who has a great heart for the work of Teen Challenge!

After the service, we spoke and prayed with people for a long time, thanks to our interpreters. Afterwards, we enjoyed a delicious, traditional lunch together.

A lovely woman from the congregation hosted the book table and made sure that many took home English and Russian editions of Marja's books.

The sermon can be viewed HERE (starts around 1:13).

Fortunately, there was also time to go out with directors Edvardas and Rasa Kleinas and visit some beautiful areas in the country. We look back on several wonderful days during which we were able to inspire and build each other up.

On the way back, we also visited fellow Dutchman Willem van Dijk from Vilties Inkaras (Anchor of Hope), who has visited Twinkeltje twice for a mission night.

Running the two (full to capacity) rehab centers and a re-entry house involves significant costs. Teen Challenge's work in Lithuania relies partly on donations.

Would you also like to invest in transforming lives? Then please send a financial gift. You can do so in various ways:

• St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and make sure to mention TC LITHUANIA.
• Give by card
• You can also donate directly via our website!
• When in the USA, make your tax-deductible gift payable to EEO Inc. Make sure to mention TC LITHUANIA

Go, and make disciples of ALL nations!

Project updates

With the summer vacation just around the corner, it's good to recap what we've been up to lately. It's so encouraging!

The proceeds for June in Twinkeltje and de Schor (plus specified donations, internet sales, and PIP25) totaled €2,600, which went entirely to the work of Teen Challenge in Slovenija.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped raise such a wonderful amount. At the end of this month, Jan will be going to Slovenija for a hiking trip in the Slovenian Alps with the men from the rehab program.

We'll write a report later on and give you an update on everything happening at TC Slovenija.

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We were also able to donate a generous €5,000 to the kitchen project at the Teen Challenge women's home in Armenia.

At TC in Armenia, there is always a constant stream of children, women, and men in need of help. We'll let you know as soon as we receive an update from Gagik and Lusine Mkrtchyan.

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Donations have been coming in for the Teen Challenge street outreach project in Sweden. How wonderful! We will soon be able to offer them a substantial donation for the coming fall and winter season, during which they will visit various cities with a traveling evangelism team.

Please pray for this plan as well, as the larger cities in Sweden are facing many challenges.

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We (Jan and Marja) visited Teen Challenge in Lithuania last month. We were invited to give a seminar on "Freedom and standing firm in freedom" for the students at the various rehab centers.

It was a very special time, and we will share a report on it soon.

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The project for the months of July/August in our secondhand stores Twinkeltje and De Schor is the work of Teen Challenge in Moldova. De Schor is closed during the school vacation period, while Twinkeltje is open as usual, so come visit us on Saturday or Monday afternoon.

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Donations are always welcome. You can send a gift in different ways. Please take note:

When in Europe, you can send a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and make sure to mention 'general' or otherwise which country or project.

💳 Give by card

👉You can also donate directly via our website!

Project updates and activities

Kind regards from our Teen Challenge friends in Berdychiv, Ukraine.

On November 3rd, we wrote a message about the daily happenings in the various rehab centers there (you can read that message HERE).

We were able to send them a nice gift of 5,000 euros that will be used, among other things, for repairs and maintenance of the houses. Something that had been planned for some time, was repairs and renovation of the boiler room.

Thanks to your generous donations, they have been able to purchase materials and work can resume (always a useful part of the rehabilitation process, by the way).

Just before the end of the year, we were able to transfer another gift of 5,000 euros (THANK YOU!!!). This time for the purchase of a house that will serve as a home for staff, visitors, and volunteers. More news about that soon!

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Also warm greetings from Moldova. Our friends from Pilgrims and Teen Challenge organized their winter aid campaign for the 19th time.

The fuel and food packages meet a huge need, each package contains approximately 12 to 13 kilos of food!

The men set off again with the Steyer truck to distribute the packages. Thanks to your donations, we were able to bless them with a gift of 3,000 euros for this project. Thank you.

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We also received a newsletter and photos from Port Evangelist Alexander Eberson. We were also able to transfer a nice gift of 2,000 euros to his organization Living Water.

Especially during December, he visited many sailors on seafaring vessels in the ports of Ghent and Terneuzen... the men are often away from home for a long time. He handed out Christmas packages, was allowed to pray with crew members, read the Bible, and had many conversations.

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On Wednesday, January 24th, we will organize another mission evening in Twinkeltje. We are looking forward to have a visitor from Lithuania... a Dutchman, that will be. Willem Vandijk will tell his story of how he ended up from Holland in Ireland and later on in Lithuania, where he founded the Vilties Inkaras (Anchor of Hope) non-profit foundation.

It promises to be an inspiring evening. We look forward to your arrival. Entry from 7:30 PM. WELCOME!

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Project coffeehouse work Teen Challenge Albania is still a current project for fundraising and of course the Weissensee fundraiser for the women's house in Romania is up and running. So, you see, plenty to do and give away 😁.

PS: Click on the photos if you want to see larger ones!

Your donations are always welcome. You can send a gift in different ways, please take note:

• Send a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and make sure to mention 'general' or otherwise which country or project.
• 💳 Give by card

Travel report Lithuania

"It's for a good cause," people often say, especially in December. But what is that good cause? As far as we at Traveling Light are concerned, it is clear: we invest in human lives!

👉Thanks to your support, we can support Christian organizations and initiatives in more than thirty countries in Europe that provide help to people in need. These could be addicts, homeless people, the poor, displaced, widows, and orphans. The support we offer consists of financial help but also of encouragement on a relational and spiritual level through visiting.

For example, we (Jan and Marja) were in Lithuania last October. We were invited to speak at the annual Teen Challenge conference in Kaunas. Prior to the conference, we visited the women's and men's rehabilitation centers. We also visited there in 2018 and 2019. It's nice to see what has changed in the meantime.

The second floor of the women's center is now completely finished from the inside. What beautiful spaces they have become: bedrooms, sitting room, sanitary facilities, and a beautiful classroom!

There was time to share God's Word and to personally pray with all the women currently going through the rehab program. These are always very special moments and it is an enormous encouragement for the women that 'foreigners' come along to share a word of knowledge, wisdom, or prophecy with them. The tears flowed frequently.

The Friday before the Teen Challenge conference was a special day for the staff and volunteers. We stayed in a farmhouse in the woods and had plenty of time for conversations, prayer, music and singing, and sharing meals together. We had the opportunity to share an encouraging word and personally pray with many for healing, recovery, strength, and vision.

On Saturday we spoke at the Teen Challenge conference in Kaunas. Several former addicts shared their testimonies. 😁Ah, that's why we do what we do: to see lives cahnged for eternity!

On Sunday we spoke in the church in Kaunas, Kauno Krikščionių Bažnyčia. A church led by pastor Rytis Berūkštis with a big heart for the work of Teen Challenge! After the service, we talked and prayed with people for hours, thanks to our interpreters.

Every donation that goes to Traveling Light, whether it is 5 or 500 euros, benefits the projects we support. We call them 'projects' for convenience's sake, but ultimately it is about people stepping out of darkness into the light.

Edvardas and Rasa Kleinas are the directors of Teen Challenge Lithuania. Edvardas knows what it is like to be addicted and in prison. He also found his true freedom in Jesus Christ and has been committed for years to helping others find that path, that truth.

💓Jesus gave the command to disciple all nations and in this way, we all help. So do not see your gift as money that you 'give away' but as seed that you sow in God's Kingdom. The changed lives are the result!

Your donations are always welcome. You can send a gift in different ways, please take note:

• Send a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and make sure to mention 'general' or otherwise which country or project.
• 💳 Give by card

THANK YOU!

Travels and fun sponsoring activities

In October we (Jan and Marja) visited Comunita Brezzano in Tuscany, Italy.

Until the beginning of last year, the Christian therapeutic community was run by our friend Maria Meier. After her sudden death in February 2022, we had not been there anymore.

The board of her (Swiss) foundation invited us to spend a few days with them in Casa Shalom, the beautiful house where we stayed for years with groups during the woodcutting work weeks.

It was nice to be there again. We listened a lot, talked, prayed, sang, and brainstormed about how to go on with the Comunita. Casa Shalom remains available as a home for prayer groups, retreats and theme meetings.

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From Tuscany we drove to Lithuania, where we were invited to attend and speak at the annual Teen Challenge conference.

Of course we visited the men's and women's rehab center and also spoke in the church in Kaunas on Sunday. We will share a more detailed report soon.

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This weekend we are back in Italy to participate in the annual Europe Teen Challenge Fall conference. Always a great opportunity for us to meet leaders of the various rehabilitation centers and programs from all over Europe.

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We furthermore like to highlight two fun sponsoring events close to home! On Friday, November 17, our friend Margot will once again organize a bingo evening for the benefit of Traveling Light. You can win nice Oriflame prizes, Marja will be there with a book table and Cora with nice things from Twinkeltje. Register via Margot, Cora or Marja.

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On Tuesday, November 21, our friend Chantal will organize a workshop crocheting Christmas ornaments in Atelier de Schor for the benefit of Traveling Light. Cost: 15 euros. Entry from 7:30 PM.

We just love these events that raise money for all the wonderful projects we support.

Your donations are always welcome. You can send a gift in different ways, please take note:

• Send a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and make sure to mention 'general' or otherwise which country or project.
• 💳 Give by card

Project news

New addition (kitchen area) men's rehab

We have supported many projects in recent months, so here are a few updates, in order to show you where your donations were put to work 😁

The proceeds from our shop Twinkeltje over the month of September were 1,000 euro's and we donated that to Teen Challenge Ukraine as an addition to the kitchen extension project in Berdychiv, (we went there for a visit early July).

A lot of work has been done there on the new kitchen, an extension to the existing house, as you can see in the photo. This gift will hopefully help to finish the project as much as possible before winter sets in.

Visit to women's home in Slienava

We have also been able to transfer a donation of 4,000 euro to Teen Challenge Lithuania for the completion of the women's home in Slienava. With those funds they can continue with the construction work on the inside: floors, walls, rooms, electricity, plumbing etc. (we were there for a visit end of July).

It is still a huge job, but we are confident that it will all work out before the winter, and that more funds will come in at Teen Challenge Lithuania through various channels.

Traveling Light was one of the first organizations to send a gift (10,000 euro!) to Teen Challenge Belgium for the purchase of a building that they are already using (since September 1st) as a residential rehab center. We are happy, thankful and excited to announce that Teen Challenge will be buying the building!

With their campaign, they raised 150,000 euro up to and including September 30th. So, not yet the entire amount required, but apparently enough to close the deal. Thank you very much everyone who contributed to this and please consider giving a donation if you haven't done so already.

And, yes there is more, we have also been able to donate 3,000 euro to the phase 2 Teen Challenge men's home project in Falesti, Moldova. A team from the Czech Republic arrived there last week to further help with the construction of the second floor.

Construction 2nd floor men's home Falesti

The men send their greetings.

The support of all these great and practical projects is only possible thanks to your donations, which are always welcome by the way, at St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U.

Let us never give up encouraging one another.

And as we often say: keep the giving going!