Project women's home Teen Challenge Georgia

We have supported the work of Teen Challenge in Georgia throughout the years with various donations and visits. Directors Kuanysh and Madina Akkuzova visited us in Twinkeltje back in 2019.

Teen Challenge Georgia staff and volunteers run a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center for men in Tbilisi, a women's home and training center in Batumi, and an active and vibrant church and Sunday school in Tbilisi.

They also do street work and are involved in activities for children from refugee camps.

Not so long ago, thanks to donations, they were able to buy a house in Tbilisi that already functions as rehabilitation and shelter for women who, for whatever reason, are not safe elsewhere.

However, there is still a lot of renovation work to be done to make the house habitable according to the rules for a larger group of women and their children.

Think of insulation, expansion of sanitary facilities (there is now only 1 toilet and shower), good heating, upgrade kitchen and equipment, furniture, painting, and wallpapering. They also depend on donations for such a project!

We are of course happy to help make that possible. Every human life counts and it is precisely these kinds of small-scale projects that have a major impact on families and their environment.

It is very encouraging for us to read the newsletters and to see that the work is expanding, yes despite the difficult circumstances (lockdowns, political conditions, economic malaise etc.) everyone is dealing with at the moment.

The message is always: Don't give up, there is a lot of work to do!

If you want to help, please choose one of the following ways:

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

Project Teen Challenge Georgia

We are currently raising money for the expansion of the CIC Mission Training Center in Georgia.

The proceeds from our shop Twinkeltje over the month of June were also for a project in Georgia, namely the work of Teen Challenge among the homeless and addicted. The total was 1,400 euro (yeah!).

Of course, that amount will go entirely to the intended goal, but we would like to double it (at least). Teen Challenge in Tbilisi has a number of projects that we could help with.

For example finances for the further construction of the international training center, the conversion of a van into a coffee bus, and the start-up of a production line for making plastic and aluminum windows and doors.

Yes yes, they are always full of good ideas. Physical work is also a daytime activity for the men in the program, while street work is the way to get in touch with other needy people, and setting up businesses helps to generate income so that a higher degree of self-sufficiency can be achieved.

We have visited Teen Challenge in Georgia a number of times and have seen for ourselves the impact of the program, the Bible studies, the activities, and the fellowship among the men. They know they are loved and forgiven!

Livan (see photo), for example, got a new life and a shirt from Traveling Light 😁

If you want to participate in doubling the 1,400 euro from Twinkeltje, please send your gift to St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and do not forget to mention: TC Georgia.

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

Why we're special

Charlotte Petersen and her girls in Moldova

Traveling Light is not your every day non-profit, we're special in many ways. It won't hurt to say that once again :)

We are special because, unlike most other organizations, we support small-scale projects and we personally know the initiators behind the projects.

Summer activities Roma childeren, Macedonia

The trips we make, the cards we send, the events we organize .... it's all volunteer work from a growing team of sweet and active people.

The gifts that come in are used for NOTHING else but the projects.

We are special because we also try, as much and often as possible, to share what happens with the donations we send out.

In order to keep building on the relationships with our contacts in over 20 countries (!) we regularly present new or follow-up projects for so-called 'old' friends. This allows our sponsors to see the developments in a particular country, which makes praying and thanksgiving very practical.

Animal barn Berdichyv, Ukraine

As a result of this personal approach we receive a constant stream of photos, news-letters, mails, cards, messages and invitations from all corners of Europe. Too much to share on this blog really, but feel free to send us an email if you want to know something about a particular project.

A selection of recent project reports:

November 14, 2015 Pilgrim House, the girls home in Moldova will be opened!

The cross and the switchblade in Georgia

The past summer activities for the Roma children in Skopje, Macedonia, were a huge success. The group of teenagers was bigger than ever.

The animal barn in Berdychiv, Ukraine, is almost ready! A beautiful roof, windows, doors, even a wood stove inside, everything is there. What a great job these men have done.

In Georgia everyone can now read The cross and the switchblade, a book that sold more than 16 million copies, in their own language .... thanks to your donations!

Kitchen appliances shelter Belarus

In Belarus they started the modelling and furnishing of the kitchen in the shelter and rehabilitation home in Baranovichi. The building materials and kitchen appliances are all purchased domestically. This is good for the economy!

We not only look back at great projects, we also have a very long waiting list of projects we really need your help with. We can only continue to do our work if donations keep coming in.

Would you be so kind as to tell someone about the work of Traveling Light? Maybe you know a colleague, family member, friend, home group, business or church that is looking for a practical project to sponsor ....

THANK YOU!

Within Europe donations can be send to: St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U.


PS: Can you tell we just LOVE the work of TEEN CHALLENGE ?

Greetings from Tbilisi, Georgia

Group lessons

A few weeks ago we announced project Teen Challenge Tbilisi, Georgia. We want to encourage and help the directors Blair & Althea Greive to continue and expand their work among the addicted and homeless. We want to do so (for now) by offering financial support.

We already received most of the 2,200 euro chunk that we promised them. For one thing, they will be able to employ an extra worker with that gift: Giorgi.

The work of Teen Challenge in Georgia has been established by Doug and Anna Boyle. They were also the ones that pioneered the work of Teen Challenge in Kazakhstan. It is wonderful to hear (and we have heard many exciting stories firsthand from Doug!) and see how they set up a center and program with such enthusiasm, energy and love. And sometimes (after several years) they hand it over to a next generation.

In the meantime in Georgia... Blair and Althea are running the home with that same enthusiasm, they have many plans for the future. One of the men that graduated the program last winter is Giorgi. He started to work at the center and helps guys that are in the same situation he was in, when he entered the program. Here is part of his testimony:

Giorgi

'My name is Giorgi, I am 34 years old. I was addicted to drugs and alcohol at age 14, my life had been completely destroyed and no one could help me. Then at age 32, I came into the program in despair and hopelessness. In the program I met Jesus and He helped me to be free from my addictions. With God's help, I finished the program and now I serve in this program as a worker. I have joy in my heart and hope for the best in each day.'

Well, that makes us really happy! Rescuing people out of darkness and bringing them into the light, so they can live the life that God had planned for them. There are thousands of men like Giorgi, who desperately need help and salvation. There are currently big plans to start a women's home as well. YES!

If you desire to support their work, please make your gift payable:

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.

We are looking forward to receive your gifts. We still need 400 euro!

Project Teen Challenge Tbilisi, Georgia

Over the past few years Traveling Light has established contacts, built friendships and supported projects in fifteen (!) nations. This fantastic growth and expansion has been made possible through your prayers and donations. Today we want to invite you to a new country on our list: Georgia.

Blair & Althea Greive

Georgia is situated at the frontier between Eastern Europe and Western Asia. So, whom have we connected with in that area? We are pleased to introduce Blair & Althea Greive. This dear couple has international roots: Blair was born in Australia and Althea in South Africa. We met Blair at a conference in Prague in 2013 and with Althea we had a great time at a conference in Italy, last April.

Together with their two sons they moved to Kazakhstan in 2003 where they worked at a Teen Challenge center home for years. After going back to Australia for a while they moved to Tbilisi, Georgia in 2013 where a new adventure started. They are running a rehab home for men with addictions and other life controlling problems.

It is always inspiring and encouraging to meet young people who are willing to settle in a country that is 'unknown' to them, and to offer a helping hand, to be a shining light...

Teen Challenge center Tbilisi, Georgia

Blair and Althea are already feeling at home in Tbilisi. They are thankful for the men they were able to help last year. It is very encouraging to see how men, through the love of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, receive new life after many years of addiction, crime and homelessness. When they are reunited with their families it brings even more joy.

Blair and Althea recognize there is a huge need in this nation and they have a desire to expand their work. Giorgi, one of the guys that has graduated their program, wants to stay on as a worker. An extra helping hand means that more men can be welcomed in the rehab home.

The men's center

The work in Tbilisi is small scale and very direct: getting people off of the streets, sharing God's love with them, taking time to talk and pray, feeding and sheltering them. Helping people to be healed and restored. Such great work!

Traveling Light wants to encourage Blair & Althea to expand their work. A worker receives 300 Lari per month (124 euro). There are currently no funds to pay someone. We would love to help them and raise 2,200 euro which will make it possible to hire Giorgi for at least the next one and a half year. In this way we are investing in human lives, yes, even in the far corners of Europe. Will you join our effort?

PS: In a next blog post we will share Giorgi's story.