Traveling... where to and why

A non-profit called Traveling Light is on the road, a lot 😀. In recent weeks we have been to Italy and Poland.

👉Our mission is threefold, namely to provide practical help, financial support, and spiritual encouragement to ministries in need all over Europe.

We travel (always at our own expense, of course, your donations go entirely to the intended projects) to visit and encourage people, to participate in theme conferences, and to roll up our sleeves when needed.

Last week we (Jan, Marja, Krijn and Cora) visited the Europe Teen Challenge conference in Warsaw, Poland. About 250 people from more than 30 countries were present.

Participants are all involved, in some way or another, in running a faith-based drug and alcohol rehab center, a coffee house, a shelter, or some other program that helps people to find Christ. They can be a leader, volunteer, supporter, or former student (ex-addict).

For us it is always a wonderful opportunity to meet so many people, the Traveling Light network is enormous. That is also the special thing behind all the projects we support... we know the people personally!

At some point, the participants were asked who had been blessed by the help of Traveling Light and more than half of all hands went up. Amazing, right?!

During the many trips we make, we can always provide spiritual encouragement, also at an international conference like this.

Marja was asked to open the board meeting with a devotional time on Thursday and on Saturday Jan and Marja gave a presentation in the large conference hall.

We also took a lot of time to pray with people,  think together, and brainstorm about ideas and initiatives.

The first photo is from an encouraging session with our friends Sergey and Irina Romanenko from Ukraine with translation assistance from our friend Jenja Buzinovskaya from Kazakhstan.

Of course, we were also present with our book table, special this time because a Polish translation was available of Marja's book 'Spirit of Truth.' A meeting with the translator and editor was also arranged.

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The week before the trip to Poland we were in Italy for a work week in Comunita Brezzano in Tuscany. For more than 10 years we have been there every year to chop wood for the winter.

This time we helped with cleaning out existing ditches and digging new ditches for better water drainage. The six of us stayed in Casa Shalom and the Swiss team stayed in Casa Nuova.

It was hard work, but we really enjoyed this time together as a team. It is wonderful to give others a helping hand.

After the death of our friend Maria Meier (who ran this Christian therapeutic residential community for many years), it has been quite difficult to pick up the thread again.

The community is no longer a rehab, but more of a place where people can relax and find peace, a retreat center. Due to the good connections with Messianic congregations in Israel, the community has already been able to provide retreat time to various congregation leaders and their families.

In addition to the hard work, we enjoyed peace, beautiful scenery, good food, playing games, many conversations, and relaxing reading time. Worth repeating as far as we are concerned.

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Speaking of Israel, the project of the month in our shop/coffee house Twinkeltje and Atelier de Schor in April was the work of Brian Slater and Abundant Bread of Salvation. We were able to donate 1,800 euro! Thank you all. We were also able to transfer 4,000 euro for support of the work of Teen Challenge in Slovenija. The next project is the work of Teen Challenge in Georgia, more about that soon.

We can always use your donations to support all these wonderful projects and programs. You can send a donation in different ways:

• 💛Send a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and make sure to mention which project or country
• 💳 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 which Teen Challenge center you want to support.

Travel and project updates

About a month ago, we wrote on this news blog that we had plans to go to Comunita Brezzano in Italy for a work week in April.

Well, we will go this week with a group of volunteers and help to level the path to Casa Shalom (which is located on top of a mountain).

In 2013 we stayed at Casa Shalom for the first time, with a group, and since then we have returned almost every year.

Casa Shalom is a family home that lives up to its name. A wonderful place for a retreat, group meeting, or prayer week. We will definitely enjoy it and report back soon!

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After that week in Italy, we will go to the Europe Teen Challenge conference in the first week of May, this time being held in Warsaw, Poland.

This annual conference is always a great opportunity for us to meet staff, students, and volunteers from the various Teen Challenge rehab programs all over Europe.

Ron Brown will be the main speaker in Warsaw. We know him from California! We also saw Marja's name on the program 😀

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We are currently raising funds for the Teen Challenge rehabilitation center in Slovenija. We wrote about this in our previous post. We will undoubtedly meet in Warsaw. The photo is from a recent graduation ceremony, showing guys who have beaten their addictions and successfully finished the program.

Earlier this month the men went to a conference in Sarajevo, they made a video of it which is fun to watch!

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The project of the month in Twinkeltje and Atelier de Schor is the work of Brian Slater and Abundant Bread of Salvation in Israel. So, that's where the total revenue from the stores will go at the end of the month.

They need our support now more than ever. You can also transfer a specified donation, but make sure to include ISRAEL.

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We can always use your donations to support all these wonderful projects and programs. You can send a donation in different ways:

• 💛Send a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and make sure to mention which project or country
• 💳 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 SLOVENIJA.

Visit to TC Winiarczykowka, Poland

Last month we visited Teen Challenge Winiarczykowka in Poland. Janusz and Bogusia Gornicki run a home for the elderly, for broken people, and for those who cannot take care of themselves. The location is a former border patrol post.

Janusz came into Teen Challenge as an addict many years ago and went through the recovery program in Lekini. We were there in July of this year! He met his wife Bogusia and together with their two sons (Simeon and Jacob) they moved south. Little Jacob was just one week (!) old when they started this adventure.

An average of about twenty men live in Winiarczykowka. Some have a history of addiction, others have psychological problems and still others are at a loss.

It is moving to see how Janusz and Bogusia extend love to people who came to them completely devastated, lost, and often lonely. That is following in Jesus' footsteps!

It was great fun to be there again. We were received enthusiastically and spent the first hours catching up on everything. Fortunately, we had excellent help from our interpreter again: Monika Skowron.

We received an extensive tour in and around the center. The vegetable garden has grown enormously in recent years. A beautiful chicken coop has been built, a goat farm, beehives, and much more. Everything was made possible thanks to donations from friends and organizations such as Traveling Light. How wonderful is that?!

Maintaining the buildings and working on the land and with the animals is therapeutic for the men and a big part of their daytime activities.

On Sunday morning there was a church service where we could share an encouraging message from God's Word. Many men were prayed for, we all had a wonderful time!

The days flew by and we really enjoyed the conversations, praying together, hiking, and eating delicious food. Our visit was very encouraging for the men, the staff, Monika, and for ourselves!

The men had prepared a huge BBQ in honor of our visit. They couldn't wait to light the fire on Saturday 😁. We enjoyed their good care and felt truly appreciated.

This is exactly the kind of 'small-scale' (we think it is huge!) work with great social, emotional, and spiritual impact that Traveling Light is happy to support.

It is direct and loving assistance to hopeless, helpless, and lonely people. 👉We have great admiration for this program.

This beautiful work is largely made possible by donations. We have been supporting them regularly (also through the monthly projects in Twinkeltje) since 2014.

This kind of support goes way beyond just sending a one-time donation for a good cause. Friendships develop and we try to maintain those friendships as best as possible by keeping in regular contact and visiting them if possible.

We want to make them happy again with a donation for their daily needs, will you help us?

You can give in several ways. Please direct your gift to:

• St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U, and don't forget to mention: TC POLAND WINIARCZYKOWKA
• 💳 Give by card
• 👉When in the USA it is also possible to make a tax-deductible gift payable to EEO Inc. Make sure to mention: TC POLAND WINIARCZYKOWKA.

PS: Click on the photos to enlarge!

Travel updates and lots of thanksgiving

In June and July, we were not only able to send in donations to various projects, but we also traveled quite a lot.

Visiting, showing your face, listening, praying with people, speaking words of encouragement and prophecy, teaching... you name it. It's all part of the traveling work we do on behalf of our non-profit Traveling Light (hence the name!).

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At the beginning of June, we were guests at the 25th anniversary of the Teen Challenge men's center in Sluknov, Czech Republic. Very nice to be there and even nicer that we were approached by several men from the program about the Bible study sessions we gave there in January. One man came running to tell us that his shattered wrist (which he had been unable to use for years) had been healed after we prayed for it. Praise the Lord!

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When we returned home, Jan got on his motorbike and drove to Teen Challenge Slovenija. The next day they went from there with 2 vans and 12 men from the rehab program to the 'My Brother's Keeper' conference in Montenegro.

Hundreds of men from all the Balkan countries gathered there. Those of you who have ever joined Jan for such a conference know that these are very blessed gatherings with lots of prayer, music, liberation, and healing. This time again dozens of men gave their lives to Jesus. Also a number of men from the TC program in Slovenija. Praise the Lord!

After the conference, Jan stayed an extra day in the TC center in Slovenija to teach the Bible a, pray with the men, and speak into their lives. This picture (click on it to enlarge) says more than a thousand words, right?! 💓

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On the way back home, Jan visited Dirk & Meike Hellmann, they have been directors of the Teen Challenge rehab center Gutes Land in Germany for many years. We have visited them regularly over the years.

Dirk has been struggling with cancer for a long time, he also had a bone marrow transplant and was not doing well. Jan was able to encourage them both, prayed with Dirk, and even went swimming with him (which he really wanted). He visibly improved. Praise the Lord!

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At the beginning of July, we were among the guests of honor at the celebration of 35 years of Teen Challenge in Poland. What a party it was! The celebration took place on the grounds of the men's rehab center in Lekinia, which we have visited several times in the past. There were many visitors, including officials from the city and many former students.

TC Poland has several rehab houses for men and women, a network of 50(!) coffee houses, church plants, and much more. On behalf of Traveling Light we accepted a beautiful glass plaque as an appreciation for the many years of help and support.

Again, it was so encouraging that people came to us who recognized us from previous visits, who remembered what we taught about years ago, or who just wanted to tell us that prayers had been answered. Here too, a lot of gratitude for the work of Traveling Light. Praise the Lord!

On Sunday, 14 men and women were baptized in a nearby lake. What testimonials we have heard!

Only God can restore broken lives, reunite families, save marriages, heal disease, and break addictions.

Among the international guests in Poland were also Stephan & Marianne Barendse from Teen Challenge Netherlands. Good to spend some time together again.

Actually, we visited them in Heerhugowaard at the beginning of June. TC Netherlands is once again going through a difficult time. The Cyan thrift store has closed (they had to leave due to zoning plans in the municipality) and the care department of Life House has also closed (because that was largely paid for by the proceeds of the store).

Prayer is needed on how to proceed.

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Meanwhile, our dear friends, volunteers, and loyal donors Piet & Anneke Stehouwer were vacationing in Croatia and they decided to visit the new Teen Challenge coffee house in Solin, for which we recently collected funds (read here).

They had a blessed meeting with TC director Ico Matulic and the man who runs the coffee house. These kinds of visits and meetings are so important and valuable, believe it or not.

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Both the financial support and the personal visits are the heart of our work. None of this would be possible without your help.

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 and activity news

King's Day in The Netherlands, a festive day! We stood at the free market with 2nd hand stuff and talked with a lot of people, drank coffee, and even prayed with some. Despite the festivities, many people walk around with pain and sadness.

The beautiful spring weather was a bonus. The day brought in 450 euro for the monthly project: the men's rehab center of Teen Challenge Czech Republic in Sluknov. We were eventually able to transfer the nice amount of 4,000 euro for this purpose.

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Last Friday we organized another Israel evening in Twinkeltje, which also attracted a lot of interest. Always good to talk about that special country and its inhabitants.

We showed beautiful pictures on the big screen, had many conversations, and enjoyed tasty snacks. Israel products consultant Liesbeth Kortleve, who herself just came back from Israel, had many products on display for sale! By buying products, we support the country.

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Later this week we (Krijn, Cora, Jan and Marja) will attend the annual Europe Teen Challenge conference, which will be held in Rimini, Italy. (PS: of course, we travel at our own expense, your donations always go toward the projects).

We will be there with a large book table and hope for many good conversations and a strengthening of existing contacts. Carter Conlon of Time Square Church is the keynote speaker at the conference, so we expect to come back edified and encouraged as well!

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In the meantime, the monthly project for May in Twinkeltje and the Schor is Teen Challenge Winiarczykowka in Poland, they take care of displaced elderly people. This coming Saturday our shop is closed, but next week you are welcome again! Of course, you can always transfer a donation! 😉

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

Year report, project of the month, and emergency fund

We have shared it on social media recently: 2021 was an excellent year for  Traveling Light. Significantly more (50%!) donations were received than in 2020, so we were able to support a large number of projects.

A short (financial) annual report can be found on our website. More than 119,000 euro in donations came in, compared to 77,800 the year before! A result for which we are extremely grateful. Without your help, supporting dozens of projects across Europe would not have been possible.

We are confident that you will continue to support us in 2022, no matter what happens in the world. Giving is a blessing. Giving makes rich!

The monthly project in Twinkeltje and De Schor is Teen Challenge Winiarczykowka in Poland. All proceeds from sales this month will go to this loving home for displaced and troubled people.

A number of people have asked whether we are raising funds for emergency aid for people in Ukraine.

Europe Teen Challenge (most of the rehab centers and shelters that we support are part of ETC) has opened an emergency fund. It is our prayer that all centers will be able to operate, such as Bertine House in Poltava (see photo, shelter mothers and children).

Within Ukraine, temporary shelter is also provided for refugees from Kiev and a number of other large cities.

Financial support will also go to the bordering countries where Teen Challenge centers offer refugees temporary shelter. So you can donate via ETC or via Traveling Light, clearly mention Ukraine.

If you would like to make a donation, you can do so in different ways:

• Send a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U
• 💳 Give by card
• 👉When in the USA, make your tax-deductible gift payable to EEO Inc. Make sure to mention which Teen Challenge center the gift is for.

2021 was a blessed year!

Just before Christmas, we would like to give you some project updates. Always nice to see how gifts are spent! 😀

We received photos from our Teen Challenge friends in Berdychiv, Ukraine.

Thanks to the help of Traveling Light, they were able to have the Volkswagen van repaired.

Can you tell they are happy?

We also got pictures from our Teen Challenge friends in Winiarczykowka, Poland. They have used our latest donation to buy a number of beehives, among other things.

A competition was organized in collaboration with several schools to see who could paint the boxes the most beautiful. They turned out very colorful.

The project where the proceeds of Twinkeltje en de Schor will go this month is Pilgrims / Teen Challenge Moldova.

They will, as every year, deliver food and coal parcels to widows, the elderly, and the poor.

We can look back at a blessed year and we are very grateful for that. Just to name a few things:

• Thanks to your donations we have been able to support many projects
• We have been able to receive many guests in Twinkeltje on a weekly basis
• We gave an Alpha course for the first time in Twinkeltje and recently started a new group
• The baptism service at the end of September was one of the highlights of the year!
• We have received several international guests during a number of mission evenings

And so we could go on and on. Of course, this will all be specified in the 2021 annual report. If you want to send a year-end donation, please do so! You can:

• Send a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U, or
• 💳 Give by card

Project updates en lots of creativity

It's time to share some news about the use of your donations! Always nice of course 😁 First of all, we'll go to Belgium.

Last summer we sent a donation to the Teen Challenge rehab center in Charlerois, Maison Betser.

They used the money, among other things, to place a roof on the side of the center where all kinds of tools, firewood, and building materials can be stored. In the photo, you can see the first setup.

The proceeds from Twinkeltje and Atelier De Schor from September went to Teen Challenge Winiarczykowka in Poland. They used the gift to purchase beehives and a honey centrifuge/extractor.

The beehives will be decorated in collaboration with school children, a nice way to interact with the local community, and also a piece of education about the importance of balance in nature.

The project is called "Life Challenge" and our logo can also be found on the posters distributed locally to draw attention to this bee project.

The project for the month of October in Twinkeltje en de Schor is Bertine House in Poltava, Ukraine. A Teen Challenge shelter and rehab home for mothers and children.

Earlier this month one of our donors gave a workshop at her home where a group of ladies made beautiful autumn wreaths. The proceeds were for this project! And this week we organized a macramé workshop in Twinkeltje, the proceeds also benefit this project.

These creative meetings are not just a nice way to get together for a great evening and fellowship, but they also bring fun back in fundraising.

Donations for all our beautiful projects are always welcome. You can make us happy with your prayers and a financial gift anytime!

• Send a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U, or 
• 💳 Give by card

Project updates

It's always nice to get enthusiastic messages and photos about the projects we have recently supported. Good to see how donations are spent!

We are happy to share it with you ... and please, do spread the word 😀

In October last year, the proceeds from Twinkeltje went to Teen Challenge Winiarczykowka in Poland.

Janusz and Bogusia Gornicki run a home for the elderly, for broken people, and for those that cannot take care of themselves. They were looking for a project this winter that the men (as far as their health allows) could work on.

Our donation was used to build a goat stable. It is great to see the enthusiasm that they have shown in the work. They now have six goats in the stable and there will undoubtedly be little ones this spring!

Warm greetings from the residents and staff and a huge thank you for the beautiful gift.

In December, we also made a donation to Pilgrims International for food and fuel packages that they distributed among the poor in Moldova.

Our friends from Teen Challenge and Pilgrims delivered the packages with their 51 year old Steyer truck. They have visited about 500 homes and made people happy!

Thank you for your contributions.

In December we also gave a donation to Passage to Life in Greece for their street work in Athens. The money has been used to build a large tent on the roof of their building so that they can continue with meetings despite all the restrictions.

Very nice that we were able to help there as well with part of the necessary funds! Again, thank you all!

👉 In the meantime, we have also been able to donate 7,000 euro for the women's home in Ukraine and 2,500 euro for the opening of a coffee house in Radovish, Macedonia.

Isn't it encouraging that our support continues as usual ?!

All donations, large and small, for all our projects are always welcome and can be directed at St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U, stating the country or project you want to support.

Proceeds of secondhand shop go all over Europe

Last week we received a message from Poland and well from Teen Challenge Winiarczykowka. Janusz and Bogusia Gornicki are the directors of a home for the elderly which is located in a former border patrol post. 'We're painting the whole house,' Bogusia messaged.

👉The proceeds of our secondhand shop/coffee house Twinkeltje over the month of January went to the work of Teen Challenge in Winiarczykowka. They wanted to paint the house on the inside, which is the first time since they came to live there, 10 years ago.

'We are so happy with your gift,' Bogusia wrote, 'we were able to buy a lot of paint and now we can give the men a nice job. At the moment we are more or less confined to the house with these elderly people, so it is great to have such a beautiful project that we can all work on. They love it!'

Well, back in January we had no idea how our donation fro them would be put to use. But we are very glad to hear that the timing was perfect. For sure, the home will look wonderful when all the work is done.

👉The proceeds of Twinkeltje over February went to the work of Brian Slater and Abundant Bread of Salvation in Israel. Thank you all, on behalf of Brian.

Brian also works a lot with the elderly in his food bank and soup kitchen and he has to take the necessary measures nowadays. But the work in Netanya continues. Watch the video of his adopt-a-holocaust-survivor program HERE.

👉The proceeds of Twinkeltje over March went to the work of Teen Challenge among the homeless and addicted in Slovakia.

We (Jan and Marja) were scheduled to visit there last week, among other things for the presentation of the Slovak edition of Marja's book 'My Neighbor's House' which is now available on Kindle. All events and meetings have been postponed.

Twinkeltje (like other shops) is open on Saturday afternoon, albeit under the currently applicable rules. There is no coffee table, but shopping is always possible, we have good stuff!

👉The project in Twinkeltje for April is the Teen Challenge juvenile home in Kazakhstan.

GIFTS (large and small) for all our projects are always welcome and can be directed at St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U.

Looking back at a great year

Abundant Bread of Salvation

Dear ones, we can look back at a great year thanks to your help and prayers. We visited many countries and supported even more projects. At the beginning of next year we will present you with a financial report from our treasurer and a brief overview of all activities. Be patient!

We were able to donate 1,500 euro this month to the work of Brian Slater in Israel. With his organization Abundant Bread of Salvation he runs a food bank in Netanya, he visits orphanages and organizes trips and meetings for Holocaust survivors. Thank you for your gifts.

We also donated 1,500 euro towards the work of Teen Challenge The Gate among students in Wroclaw, Poland.

During the coffee house conference this December

We furthermore donated 1,500 euro for the coffee house work in Ukraine. It is our prayer that they will reach many people again in the coming year with the message of hope and life!

The proceeds in our secondhand store over the month of December were over 900 euro, all of which goes to the work of Radko Kratsov (Roma Ministry International) in Bulgaria.

We are very grateful looking back at 2018 and we will enter the new year full of courage and hope. We are looking forward to your support and prayers again.

Happy New Year, may 2019 be filled with His goodness and grace!

Follow-up project The Gate, Poland

As promised an update on the youth work of The Gate in the student city of Wroclaw, Poland.

Wroclaw is one of the largest academic cities in Poland with over 120,000 students attending the thirteen largest schools in the city. The technical university alone has about 33,000 students!

The Gate is the local Teen Challenge youth work and is run by young people from local churches. Among the students, The Gate is known as an 'alternative club' because no alcohol is being served and there is room for personal attention and conversations.

We visited The Gate a number of times. It is a nice club location where workshops, open stage evenings and mini concerts are organized. Every week a growing group of students comes together. For some, a visit to The Gate is the first introduction to the Christian faith.

The young people from The Gate organize meetings on the campus of the universities as well and are active during festivals and large events. Several times a year they organize a so called 'Movement', especially around Christmas and Easter.

In such a week there are all kinds of activities such as outreaches, concerts and workshops. The goal is always to meet and interact with students about God and the Bible.

This autumn they also started drugs- and alcohol prevention at highschools. We would like to encourage them with a gift for planned activities in 2019. There is a whole generation that is particularly open to an encounter with God.

If you have a heart 💖for young people in Europe, this is your chance to invest in the future of our continent. Poland needs our prayer, not our criticism! Please, send your gift to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. Make sure to mention: THE GATE.