Project farm rehab 'Centar Duga', Serbia

It has already been a year since we were able to send a donation to the food parcel project 'Ruka za Druga' (which means 'Hand for a Friend'), part of the Protestant Christian Fellowship in Novi Sad, Serbia.

Pastor Dusan Beredji (known to us as Bera) regularly sends news items about his church's homeless project and also about the drug and alcohol rehab center 'Centar Duga'.

What started 15 years ago as a small shelter to help addicts, has over the years expanded to a center with 30 beds!

Men with life-threatening problems can go there for a long-term rehabilitation program.

The rehab center is largely self-sufficient thanks to a moving van service, a chicken farm, and vegetable greenhouses. They also gladly receive donations.

Bera would like to see the farm expanded with more greenhouses and chicken coops and a pigsty.

The farm has multiple objectives:

• It enables a reduction in food costs for the beneficiaries - by improving their nutrition and through the sale of surplus products.
• It contributes to the path of self-sustainability, which is the goal, by reducing overall costs.
• It serves as a therapeutic work component for the center's beneficiaries.
• It provides beneficiaries with a sense of self-worth, as their work contributes to the center's operations.
• Beneficiaries acquire new skills that can benefit them in their future lives.

We would like to help them with a donation to expand the farm, to build new greenhouses, buy seeds and plants, etc. etc. If you also want to help....

Your donations for the work in Novi Sad 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 CENTAR DUGA.

💳 Give by card

👉You can also donate directly through our website!

We really like these kinds of practical projects. Jan has visited the center and has seen with his own eyes how they run the center on a daily basis, and how lives are being changed there, every day.

Project 2nd coffee house Teen Challenge Croatia

Back in 2021 Teen Challenge Croatia opened their first Coffee House in Split.

Split is the second largest city in Croatia with a large number of young people who have addiction problems and other life-controlling problems. We were able to help them get started by sending finances.

All over Europe (and the world) Coffee House ministry is still a great way to reach people who are in need of help and a touch from the Lord. It is easy for people to come in for a cup of coffee and tell their stories, ask questions about the possibility to enter a rehab program, or to hear more about God.

For some time the team in Split has seen the need to open a second Coffee House, in the city of Solin. Solin is a town with 30,000 inhabitants near Split. Solin is inhabited mostly by young people and many of them are drug addicts.

A large number of military veterans live in the city as well, some of whom have become alcoholics. The social image of the city is quite bad; there are a lot of poor and homeless people and there is also a lot of domestic violence and other types of crime.

Anyway, they found a suitable space in the city center, close to all city services. The owner agreed to charge Teen Challenge only half of the usual rent (250 Euro per month) which was really an answer to prayers.

The space was empty and in need of renovation, electrical, plumbing, and other works. It needed painting, cleaning, a kitchen, equipment, furnishing etc. etc. All this was done by volunteers and made possible because of donations.

As soon as it looked presentable, they opened the doors and people started coming! The concept is simple: during their outreach activities in the streets, they invite people to the Coffee House.

We would like to support Ico Matulic (director TC Croatia) and his team in their efforts to reach people for Jesus! If you have a heart for the broken and hurting people and a heart for the nations of Europe, sow a seed into the work of Teen Challenge in Croatia. You can give in several ways. Please direct your gift at:

• St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and don't forget to mention: TC CROATIA
• 💳 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 CROATIA

Project Restart Detox Clinic

From September 29th to October 3rd, Jan visited Serbia. He attended a Teen Challenge and Living Free training seminar that covered topics such as rehabilitation, relapse, and addiction.

The training was given in Novi Sad in the church of Pastor Dusan Beredji Bera who runs a men's rehab center, where Jan also received great hospitality and a bed to sleep in! He visited New Life women's rehab home and the coffee house of Restart, an organization that we have been supporting for a long time.

With a team of volunteers, founder Boris Štrbac is committed to helping people start a new life, free of addictions and other life-controlling problems.

They do this through outreach, drug prevention lessons at schools, and a mentoring program for ex-prisoners.

During the visit to the coffee house, Jan spoke with visitors and also had the opportunity to pray with people for restoration and healing and the courage to take steps toward recovery. The photo on the right shows the new expansion that Restart was able to build in 2021 thanks to a gift from Traveling Light.

There are currently plans to open a Restart Detox Clinic and support center. Boris is in contact with the city council about this, in particular about finding a suitable location.

Many addicts are hesitant to sign up for a long-term rehab program, often because they are still working and have a family and can therefore continue to function more or less. Detoxing, a discipleship program and therapy can help this group.

Most of the work Restart is doing can be carried out thanks to donations. Boris asks for prayers and funds to open a detox clinic. As Traveling Light, we would like to contribute to the lives that are about to change in Novi Sad!

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 RESTART
• 💳 Give by card

Project coffee house Radovish, Macedonia

We are always happy with new initiatives from people who not only hear God's voice, but also obey and take action. Worldwide, there is an enormous call for connection, for people to come together and to look after each other. This is also the case in Macedonia.

Robert and Krasimira Salamanov had the idea of ​​starting a congregation in Radovish. Robert is an ex-addict who came to faith in prison because someone shared the gospel with him. Together with his wife Krasimira, he decided to rent a property in the city to start meetings there.

Nice plan of course, but in the meantime they found themselves surrounded by drug addicts asking for help. So they decided to open a coffee house as well as a church. Always a good combination!

The request to help with the start-up reached Traveling Light through Teen Challenge Macedonia. Funds are needed to furnish the property (it is completely empty) and to pay the rent.

About that prison story ...

Robert was in the same cell as Jordan Stoilov. We know Jordan from coffee house The Bridge in Tetovo. He was the one who shared the good news about Jesus and His Kingdom with Robert. Jordan spoke from his own experience, because God had also radically changed his life.

That's how fire spreads and that's how we keep it going!

We would like to help them with the establishing of a coffee house/church in Radovish and encourage them to keep spreading the good news that lives can be changed!

If you want to help, gifts (large and small) are very welcome! St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. Do not forget to mention: MACEDONIA.

Photo's women's home Berdychiv, Ukraine

The three Sergey's in front of the new home

As promised some news and pictures regarding our Project Women's Home Berdychiv, Ukraine. It is absolutely wonderful to see how the money Traveling Light donated this last December, is being used and put into practice.

In the photo on the left you can see the three Sergey's involved :) And well (from left to right) pastor Sergey Romanenko of the Jewish Messianic congregation in Berdychiv, Sergey Glushko (director of Teen Challenge Ukraine) and Sergey (director of the rehab homes in Berdychiv).

The first inhabitants of the home

It has been pastor Sergey's dream for quite some time to open a rehabilitation home for women and their children. Saturday December 14th, 2013 was the big day.

Pastor Sergey Romanenko and his team celebrated the tenth anniversary of the rehab program they started from within the congregation. They have been able to help many people to start a new life and they currently operate three men's homes and a re-entry home.

New sinks and plumbing

And now finally, as a result of your donations, also a women's home. A home where mothers, who want to end their addiction, can live with their children. We hope and pray this house will be the first of many women's/children's homes.

We are happy to announce that knowledgeable staff is in place and that several women and children are already living in the house. In the picture above you can see two of the women with their children. We are so thankful that they have been offered a safe place to live and recover.

Sabbath celebration

Christian rehabilitation means so much more than taking people off of drugs and alcohol. It means that they will also encounter the love and grace of Jesus Christ. That they come to know Him for who He is: the Son of God, who came to the earth to set people free from sin, darkness and death.

The ex-addicts learn more about the Judeo-Christian faith. In the picture you can see a Sabbath meeting at pastor Sergey's congregation.

On behalf of pastor Sergey and the women in the new home, we want to thank you all very much for your gifts that enabled them to purchase this house.

new windows installed

It is definitely a confirmation and encouragement for them, and us, to experience how we can make such projects happen in a relatively short time when we unite in generosity! We hope to visit the home later this year.

Photo's new heater Teen Challenge Poland

The new wood heater

We at Traveling Light purposely choose to sponsor small scale, local projects. What are the advantages of working like that?

Well, the amount of money we collect for such projects is managable. The money will go directly to the projects and the money will be used for the projects as soon as possible. This gives clarity to the recipients as well as to the givers.

This past November we raised 7,000 euro for the purchase and installation of a new wood heater at the men's rehabilitation home of Teen Challenge in Lekini, Poland.

The men's home is located in a former military base and offers room to about fifty men who are willing to get rid of their addictions and start a new life. Their rehab is based on the love and grace of Jesus Christ and on biblical principles.

On their way to recovery

Together we made it possible for the men in Lekini to stay warm this winter and during many more winters to come; it can get really cold in Poland. The huge wood heater is connected to an extensive system of pipes through which warm water is being transported to the various buildings. Think of it as a form of city-heating.

Chopping wood and keeping the heater burning are some of the daily chores the men will be assigned to, as soon as they enter the program.

The nice thing about this project was that our supporter Meindert van der Wal put his own fundraiser idea into action. We received many individual gifts through his church Jong & Vrij in Hellevoetsluis. Thank you all so much for helping us out with this project.

The guys at work

It is fantastic to see and experience how much we can do if we put our hands together. We have really encouraged the men at Teen Challenge, Lekini. They are sending their warm greetings. Our positive response to their need means a lot to them, their families and friends.

We hope you will help us again in 2014 to support more of these small scale, practical projects. Together we can shine our light in all corners of Europe!

Project Outreach Athens

Praying with guys from the street

We wish you all a happy and healthy New Year! We are excited to start off 2014 with a project in a country where we haven't planted the Traveling Light flag yet: Greece.

The last few years nothing but negative news about Greece has been spewed by the media. But that is a one-sided view. Of course positive and inspiring things are happening in Greece and Traveling Light wants to shine light on the good news. Two years ago we met Elias Armenis at a Teen Challenge conference. He is the founder of Passage to Life, a interdenominational ministry in Athens that seeks to help the poor, homeless and addicted and share with them the love, grace and hope that only Jesus can give.

Mercy Center

They have a shelter, the Mercy Center, where they receive the poor and addicted people. They offer warm meals and give out clothes, also to the many refugees from Afghanistan and surrounding countries. We might not realize this, but Greece also struggles with a big amount of refugees and illegals flocking the country.

Besides Bible studies, they offer counseling, advice and prayer. This past summer Passage to Life celebrated 30 years of ministry. 30 years in which they have reached out to many addicted and hopeless people who are today truly free, having their own families, living a drug free life, and serving others.

30-year celebration

In June they organized a huge rally that ended with an evangelistic gathering in the center of Athens, many people came to this event. Jesus said two thousand years ago:  Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. And this is what is happening in Greece!

The beautiful thing about the work of Passage to Life is that it is often done by former addicts who volunteer now to help and reach out to others. Yes, also in Greece light is shining in dark places. We would love to support the good work they are doing with a gift of 2,000 euro. At the beginning of yet another new year we want to encourage them to keep up the good work. The darker it gets in the world, the brighter our light will shine!

You can encourage the street outreach in Athens by sending your gift to

NL91RABO0118582275  BIC: RABONL2U Traveling Light, Papendrecht, The Netherlands

Project women's home Berdychiv, Ukraine

HOORAY! We have reached our goal of 7,000 euro for project heater Teen Challenge Poland. Fantastic! Thank you very much everyone who gave and prayed. This past weekend we met with Tim Urbaniak from Poland, at the Europe Teen Challenge Fall meeting in the UK. He told us that the new heater will be installed in the first week of December. Photo's will follow soon.

Pastor Sergey Romanenko and his family

Now, we would like to introduce you to pastor Sergey Romanenko and his family. He is the pastor of a Jewish Messianic congregation in Berdychiv, Ukraine. He is very much involved in the work among the addicted, homeless and poor in the Ukraine.

It is his dream to open up a rehabilitation home where women and their children can live and grow towards wholeness. Many addicted women in Ukraine refuse to enter a rehabilitation program because they cannot take their kids with them. Their children will have to stay with family or in orphanages.

This will be a safe home for women and children

This is really sad, because the separation of mother and child is a hindrance to (emotional) healing. Quite often the addicted women have lived in the streets, have been abused and prostituted. Their child is often the only valuable thing they have and cling to.

This past August we talked about the need for family rehab homes, when we were visiting Ukraine. It turned out pastor Sergey already had a house in mind that he wanted to purchase... They already had some money saved towards the purchase of property or at least towards the making of a down payment.

The kitchen needs renovation

It just broke his heart to see all these women walk away from the change to start a new life, out of fear of losing their child. It is therefore his dream to open many homes for women and children. In faith he went to the local bank for a loan... he did not want to miss out on this house. We believe with him that this will be the first of many homes to be opened throughout Ukraine.

It was his wish to start with the renovating of the house as quick as possible, so women will be able to move in soon. Well, together with a team of volunteers he has started to work in and around the house. We do not doubt for a moment that this will become a safe and warm place where women and their children can live and encounter the love of Jesus Christ on their way to restoration and well being.

Pastor Sergey needs 5,000 euro to officially purchase this house. Traveling Light would love to help him with this. We cannot think of a better and more joyful investment.

Will you help us?

All donations (large or small) are welcome.

Europe supporters, you can send your gifts to Rabo bank nr. NL91RABO0118582275 t.n.v. Traveling Light. BIC: RABONL2U

USA supporters, you can send your tax-deductible gift to Eastern Europe Outreach, make sure to mention BERDYCHIV, UKRAINE

For God so loved...

Sharing the good news with  the poor and helpless

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son... An offer beyond our understanding, especially because we (now that it is our turn) don't always love the people in the world. Often we speak (or think) words of judgement and critique: it's their own fault, wrong choices, bunch of criminals etc. etc. But God... how does He look at people?

Mobile contact center Teen Challenge Czech

It is not always easy to look at people through the eyes of God, and yet... this is what we need and want to learn. That is why at Traveling Light we support the work among the last, least and lost in society: the addicts, the alcoholics, the homeless and prostitutes. Humans beings like this man you see on the picture above, which was taken in Czech Republic.

Do you remember we helped Teen Challenge Czech Republic to purchase a coffee bus? Last week we received a news letter from our friends in Czech Republic with some photo's. The coffee bus (now called: the mobile contact center) regularly visits (once a week) the second largest city in Czech, Brno and newly, also Teplice, known for it's red-light district.

God knows him by name

The outreach team of Teen Challenge Czech is determined to find the least, the lost and the broken... they do find them in the strangest places. Like Petr, they found him during their street outreach in the underground channels of Brno. They would never have thought that in a distant corner there lies a man, who is ready to die in hopelessness. Through the Holy Spirit, they were able to find Petr and share the good news about Jesus with him. The following week he visited the mobile contact center and decided to come to the rehab program that night.

Sharing soup and the good news in the bus

Through this coffee bus ministry a number of people have already decided to enter the Teen Challenge program. So, you see that the gifts we donate reach people beyond our imagination. Every person that comes to the mobile contact center and receives soup, coffee, attention and love, is a person that God knows by name. A person He loves with a desperate and passionate love. Who knows, they are the future preachers, pastors, business men and artists of their nation! When they make the choice to go into one of the rehab centers, we celebrate! Petr has made that choice. That is the fruit of your generosity and prayers. 

And so we move on with our small scale, local projects. Jesus once said: I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent... We rejoice with heaven, because it is clear that every human life counts!

PS: the teller for the heater in the rehabilitation center at Teen Challenge Poland stands at 5,100 5,400 euro. We still need 1,600 euro.

New chances

At Traveling Light we often talk about 'projects', but seriously... it is always about people! It is always about changed lives by the power of God! Please take some minutes to watch the video below, it shows the story of human lives that were changed in the program of Teen Challenge in Poland. You can see the guys, the husbands and fathers that started a new life. This is so touching. You can see views of the women's home and the men's center (where the new heater is needed), but what really makes this video so special are the faces of people who are thankful for the new life they received. Isn't it wonderful to know that your donations towards these men will have eternal impact?

We have received more than 3,300 euro so far for project heater Teen Challenge Poland, we are almost halfway! We still need 3,700 euro. We are very happy with all gifts, whether big or small, one-time or monthly. You can send your gift to RABO bank number 1185 82 275, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 and BIC: RABONL2. When in USA: send your gift to Eastern Europe Outreach and make sure to mention TC Poland, HEATER.
THANKS!

Background information project Casa Shalom, Italy

Communal kitchen in Maria's house

As promised some photo's and a bit of background information about the people behind project casa Shalom in Italy. We are currently raising 5,000 euro for this Christian Therapeutic Community in the hills of Tuscany. The money will be used for the renovation and upgrading of several buildings. The community can only exist thanks to donations and the sale of produce.

This past February we visited Comunita Brezzano (as it is officially named) upon request of Maria Meier. She is the director of the work and the people. Her long time staff member and helper is Boris, a Jewish tailor from Odessa.

Staff member Boris

Boris grew up in the Ukraine, became addicted to heroine en finally decided to make aliyah to Israel. But his problems came along, it didn't take him long to find heroin in Israel. He ended up in deep trouble and asked for asylum in Canada. Again, he tried to escape his problems.

Canada did send him back to Israel and there he came in contact with messianic believers and he got to know the Jewish Messiah. Through a pastor he ended up at Maria's place in Italy where he slowly received healing of his addiction, hurts and wounds.

Living room in casa Nuova

He has been living and working there for ten years now. He works the land, prunes the trees, sheers the sheep and lives in Casa Nuova where he is like a father to the new guys that come in.

Angelo was such a guy coming in. He was totally strung out on drugs and alcohol. His addiction was not only destroying him, but also his young family. He came to Maria through the mission-work of Cristo é la Risposta. Angelo grew up in Southern Italy, in Naples, and later moved to Tuscany.

Angelo

Thank God for a place like Comunita Brezzano, where he felt welcome. Through many trials and errors he is finally walking the road with God and he made a new start with his wife and children. He works part time for Maria in the community and he is an expert woodworker and carpenter.

At this moment Maria houses an abused woman from Macedonia and, again, a man from Israel. We mention this, just to show you that everyone with life controlling problems who is willing to change is welcome in Comunita Brezzano. A place where they will encounter the love of the heavenly Father.

Casa Shalom

Such small scale work often seems a drop in the ocean, yet... we met with the mother of Andrea (her only child) and to her Comunita Brezzano was an answered prayer. She got her son, who was lost, back! And that touches our heart deeply. 

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in...

[Mattew 25:35]

Investing in human lives

Maksim, Sergey and Gena, set free by Jesus

Once addicted, always addicted. Once a thief, always a thief. That's right, or isn't it?

Thank God, at Traveling Light we know this is NOT true. Every year we encounter tens, if not, hundreds, of people who have received a new life against all odds. Men like Maksim (do you recognize him?), Sergey and Gena from Kiev. (Please check our projects tab to see how you were able to help them in 2011 and 2012) 

They can tell you bizarre stories of their lives on the street, in prison, on drugs and alcohol. Horrible stories of a life in hell on earth. Condemned or ignored by society because of their wrong choices. If we wouldn't know any better, hopeless cases...

Maksim in New Dehli, India

Maksim used injection drugs for sixteen years and has been in prison twice (five years). Gena lived on the streets and was involved in criminal activity for thirty years. He also used injection drugs for twenty years and was in prison. twice. Sergey used drugs as well. Hopeless cases? That's what most people would think.

Somehow they came in contact with Teen Challenge. During their time in the rehabilitation program they encountered the love of God. A God who showed them unlimited grace and picked them up from the deepest pit of darkness. 

Gena has many reasons to smile again

Maksim has been clean for more than three years, Gena more than four years and Sergey even longer. Last week Maksim returned from a mission trip to India with YWAM as part of the DTS (Discipleship Training School) he attended. Gena travels all over Ukraine and gives drugs prevention classes. And, oh yes, Sergey is the National director of Teen Challenge Ukraine.

Hopeless cases? God has a different opinion and so do we at Traveling Light. Please, never forget that your gifts are so much more than just funds to support a program or project. Humans lives are being changed, forever, for eternity! There is no better investment... this is literally storing up treasures in heaven. (And by doing so you will never be in a financial crisis).

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. [John 8:36]

Update project coffee bus

The No-Bucks bus in Ireland

A few weeks ago we announced our new project: the purchase of a second hand city bus in good condition that will be used by Teen Challenge Czech Republic. For starters we are raising 5,000 euro towards this project.

The bus will be converted into a mobile coffee house. It is a great need they have at the moment, as they have lost their place for a coffee house in Prague. The director Petr Ministr wrote us:

"We would be very happy to have a moving coffee house, something like the "No Bucks coffee" TC Ireland uses. Our goal is to reach lost people in other parts of Czech republic. At the moment we have a stable team that works on the streets and is composed of workers, students from TC and volunteers from  churches. They do outreach ministry 3-4 times a week... We would like them to bring hope to those that are lost, by going and doing outreach ministry 2 days a week in various cities...."

sad situations

So far, about 2,100 euro came in. Thank you everyone, who gave towards this project. We have many people on the look out for a reliable bus, WE NEED A GOOD DEAL! This is for a very special work; the bus will provide a safe place for poor and homeless people, drugs- and alcohol addicts and prostitutes to go to and have some coffee, to have someone to talk to, to warm up and get clothed.

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

[Matthew 25:34-36]

Open House Teen Challenge Netherlands

Cora Donk behind the book stand

We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day to attend an open house. Last Saturday we left early for the three hour drive to the Spetse Hoeve, Groningen, the men's home of Teen Challenge Netherlands. Some of Traveling Light's faithful supporters came along for this special day.

Teen Challenge graduates

It gave them, and many other visitors and supporters, a chance to see the men's home and it's surroundings. We enjoyed fresh coffee and homemade pies and a fantastic BBQ. It is not everyday that we have lamb sausage with couscous!

In the afternoon there was a church service in the barn where a band played on a wagon and we were seated among the tractors and hay stacks. There was time for testimonies from former students, some of them went through the program more than 10 years ago and are still clean today! Also a group of graduates received their diploma this Saturday. How awesome to hear their stories, from a life of destruction to a life with God!

Beautiful day at the men's center

We just love the work of Teen Challenge worldwide. Broken lives are being restored, wounds are being healed and new hope for the future is being ignited.

If you know of someone who desperately needs help with life controlling issues (such as addictions) and is WILLING to get help, please make sure to check if there is a Teen Challenge center in your country or area and let that person make the phone call that can save his or her life!

Special gift for Izhod Teen Challenge, Slovenia

Matjaz & Magdalena Horjak, directors of TC Slovenia

We love it when gifts keep coming in for our current project coffee bus Czech Republic AND also for other projects and people we love. This week we received a 500 euro gift for Izhod Teen Challenge, Slovenia.

We have transferred the money towards the work with the down and out, addicted and homeless people in Slovenia. As you all may know we have visited the men's home in Nova Vas on several occasions and we just LOVE what is happening there. A small group of men is able to live and work in the Dennis Griffith home. And while in the program they get introduced to the love of God the Father, the grace of Jesus Christ and the friendship with the Holy Spirit. That turns out to be life changing... for most of them that is the beginning of new life and new hope.

What a blessing to be able to bless them :)

Thank you.

TC Netherlands, De Spetse Hoeve

Information stand Teen Challenge Netherlands

Traveling Light offers more than financial support to ministries in need. We will also try to offer practical help, but most of all spiritual encouragement. 

A few weeks back we celebrated Pentecost, which is a public holiday in Holland, with more than 50.000 people during a four day festival. We took turns volunteering at the Teen Challenge stand, which could be found in the world expo tent where hundreds of non-profits and organisations presented their work. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people came by to ask information, to pick up the news letter from Teen Challenge Netherlands or just to share their testimony. Many young people asked interesting questions, like: 'can I get addicted to my phone or the internet?' and 'How do I know when I am addicted?' etc.

Jan talks with a young boy about the danger of addiction

The questions were not only about alcohol and drugs, but often about gaming, chatting and messaging. We had many good conversations, sometimes quite moving... as with the little boy you see in the picture.

Saturday September 8th, 2012 the Spetse Hoeve is organizing an open house. Everyone is welcome. From 11 am until 5 pm you will be able to see the property, to enjoy a good bbq, to browse our info stand and sales stands and talk with many friends and supporters. There will be games for kids as well, so bring the family!

It would be great if we were able to hand them a cheque for 3,500 euro for the purchase of a new (second hand) passenger van. We still need about 2,000 euro to reach that goal. We have received the question why De Spetse Hoeve doesn't get more financial support from the government. Well, the answer is simple: because evangelism & dicipleship is part of their program, the government cannot support it. They do get a subsidized amount per student, but that is not enough to keep the program running., so please help!

New beds for Teen Challenge Slovenia

Dejan & Renata

This past April we visited Teen Challenge Slovenia, we went to see the Dennis Griffith House in Nova Vas, a residential program for men with life controlling issues. When the house opened in October 2010 they received some military cots along with blankets from the Red Cross, which was great. But as time passed, some of the cots fell apart and the guys were in need of new beds. Staff member Dejan, who used to struggle with addiction himself, contacted his family. His father and brother own and operate a small wood work shop in the Slovenian Alps.

By the way, if you take a look at the picture of Dejan and his wife Renata and daughter Bianca, it is hard to believe that at some point he had lost hope. It is hard to believe that most people did not believe he had a future. He is living proof that with God all things are possible! His life is one of the many reasons why we sponsor Teen Challenge programs. Each human life is precious and it gives us great joy to see lives restored.

Jan & Dejan at the wood workshop

Anyway, Dejan's dad and brother made new beds for the Dennis Griffith House. We drove up to the mountain village where they live to visit them and to see the work shop. The beds are custom made, beautiful old fashioned quality that is hard to find nowadays. They will last a long time, no doubt. We decided to help Teen Challenge Slovenia to pay the bill for the new beds. They were 650 euro short of the total bill. We have donated that amount last week. Thank you everyone for your faithful gifts. By the way, Jan is planning to go to Slovenia again later this month.

Dorm room with the new beds!

We just LOVE practical projects such as this one. It is even better when local businesses can benefit as well. The men in the program (who sometimes slept on the streets for years) are happy with the new beds and Dejan's family did a great job.

Don't forget our current projects:
* We need 3,500 euro for the purchase of a passenger van for Teen Challenge Netherlands
* For 20 euro (25 dollar) you can send someone in Ukraine to summer camp