Showing posts with label coffee house. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coffee house. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

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 websiteYou can indicate the specific country you'd like to support. We will distribute unspecified donations among these three projects.

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Activities and travels

A few weeks ago we announced the visit of members of the city council (Christian political party) to our store/coffeehouse On Saturday March 29th, we had a pleasant meeting in Twinkeltje.

We were able to share a lot about the ins and outs of running the coffeehouse, impact in the area and the town, activities, collaboration with other organisations, and the proceeds for projects throughout Europe.

We are very grateful for the sincere interest they showed in our work in Papendrecht and beyond. If you like it, you can watch the video that the SGP has posted on their channel HERE (Use the settings button to generate subtitles in your language).

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This Saturday is Kingsday in the Netherlands. We will be present again with a booth at the flea market in Papendrecht. That is always a very pleasant event, and not only for Papendrecht residents. Visitors from all over the area come to the flea market!

We will provide coffee, so come by and let's have a nice chat. The proceeds from the sales will go to Teen Challenge Lebanon.

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Next week we (Jan, Marja, Krijn, Cora) will attend the annual Europe Teen Challenge conference, which will be held in Albania this year. We always look forward to meeting everyone again and catching up.

We have been able to support so many Teen Challenge programs with a visits or donations this past year, so we are curious about the stories and progress in the various rehab centers and coffee houses.

When we return, Brian Slater from Abundant Bread of Salvation in Israel will visit us. More about that later.

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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

👉You can also donate directly via our website!

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

Project coffee house work Teen Challenge Albania

👉First of all, we would like to wish you all a blessed 2024. Hopefully, it will be another year in which we can support many projects together that change people's lives.

Thank you very much for the recent gifts we received. We were able to transfer 5,000 euros to Teen Challenge Ukraine for the purchase of a house near the women's home in Berdychiv!

We also mentioned the work of Teen Challenge in Albania in the previous news blog. We stay informed about life in the rehabilitation center in Albania through newsletters and social media messages.

Director Gesi Hysenaj writes; 'The center is full and we are grateful for the men. Our coffee house in Tirana is also busy.' A coffee house is often the first place where addicts hear that help is available, that addiction does not have the last word.

By having conversations, sharing testimonies, and offering a listening ear, it is possible to reach men who are seeking true freedom from their life-controlling problems. This is true for anyone seeking help, whether they have a Muslim, Atheist, or Orthodox background.

The point is that they are coming into contact with the love and grace of Jesus Christ, often for the first time.

Addicts and the homeless are also reached through street evangelism. It is also nice to hear that many people have now found Teen Challenge and are asking for help.

This year, Gesi would like to see the men in the program become more involved in the coffee house work. They can address those still stuck in addiction like no other.

We would like to support them at the beginning of this new year with a donation for the coffee house work (rental building, coffee/tea, books, Bibles, and other materials). In any case, support is always needed to run the center, because almost everything is paid for by donations.

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 and don't forget to mention TC ALBANIA
  • 💳 Give by card
  • 👉When in the USA, make your tax-deductible gift payable to EEO Inc. Make sure to mention TC ALBANIA.

Thank you again for your help!

Wednesday, July 5, 2023

Project coffee house Belgrade Teen Challenge Serbia

It is just wonderful to see how coffee houses are springing up in the Balkans. It is still (or again) 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. Recently, we were able to help Teen Challenge Croatia with a gift for their coffee house ministry and we also want to send support for the newly opened Teen Challenge Coffee House in Belgrade, Serbia.

Belgrade is the Capitol of the Republic of Serbia. It has approximately 2.5 million inhabitants. There are about 80,000 hard drug addicts officially registered in Serbia. It should be added to all that that 500,000 people in Serbia, which has a population of 7 million, are addicted to alcohol. These are official statistics, the actual figures are much higher.

The team members at Teen Challenge Serbia know from personal experience that a way out of addiction is possible. Actually, the only real way to get out of addiction is to accept Jesus Christ by faith and start a new life as His disciples.

All of the team members belong to Lifegate Belgrade church led by Djordje and Dragana Todorović - Gvozdenović, they were among the first students to graduate from the Teen Challenge Serbia program at the time, many years ago. 

In a coffee house setting, addicts will be able to hear the Gospel in an informal atmosphere, be motivated to go to the Teen Challenge residential programs, or accept a Living Free program in the Coffee House.

Although the church provides the space for the coffee house meetings, they still need some finances for furniture, refreshments (tea, coffee, biscuits) study materials, etc.

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 Serbia. 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 SERBIA
  • 💳 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 SERBIA.

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

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

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

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

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Project support coffeehouse The Bridge, Macedonia

Last year March we were able to support the work of Jordan & Vesna Stoilovi in ​​Macedonia with the proceeds from Twinkeltje. They run a coffeehouse in Tetovo.

It's been a while since we visited coffeehouse The Bridge, but that doesn't mean we've forgotten them!

We regularly receive newsletters and stay well informed about what is going on in Tetovo, a city in the north western corner of the country where mainly people of Albanian descent live. The vast majority of the population is Muslim. Others belong to the Greek orthodox religion.

Jordan wants to reach the people in his city who do not know the love of God. He is present in coffeehouse The Bridge a few days a week, where he talks with visitors.

He also studies the Bible together with those interested and last month, in collaboration with friends from the USA, a street outreach campaign was organized which attracted many people.

They handed out more than 200 water bottles labeled with a Bible verse and The Bridge's phone number. The evenings were very encouraging for the team and for Jordan himself, who sometimes feels frustrated that he only reaches a handful of people, while in reality he could reach many more.

That is understandable, yet every person is important in the eyes of God. It is not always about large numbers, but about the love that is distributed to individual people who do not (yet) know Him.

We certainly want to encourage Jordan and Vesna to keep going and continue to invest time and kindness in people's lives in order to reach the farthest corners of Macedonia with the good news that there is a faithful God who loves all people.

Do you also want to contribute to spreading the good news in Macedonia?

Then send your gift (large & small) to Traveling Light, IBAN account number NL91RABO0118582275, BIC: RABONL2U and mention TH|E BRIDGE. You can also

Saturday, January 22, 2022

Visit to Teen Challenge Albania

Earlier this month Jan and Merijn (from Atelier De Schor) visited Gesi & Blerina Hysenaj from Teen Challenge in Albania.

It was wonderful to spend a few days together and to catch up, listen, pray, and get around in Tirana.

Of course, they visited the rehabilitation center where men with addiction problems can live and follow the Teen Challenge program. A touch from God is something most of these men have never experienced before.

Running such a rehab center demands a lot. Sometimes men come in totally devastated and without hope and after a few days decide that they can handle life again and they leave... back into the city, back to their addictions. Some have been staying in the house for months and suddenly run away.

And fortunately, there are also men who do complete the program, they are baptized, join a church, and are often reunited with their families. We must always keep in mind: every life counts!

During Prayer for the Nations last Friday evening, Jan and Merijn showed photos and shared more about their visit. The proceeds from Twinkeltje and Atelier De Schor this month will go to the work of Teen Challenge in Albania.

Gesi would like to see an extension of the coffeehouse work, which is often the first place where addicts and homeless people come into contact with the gospel. There are churches that have indicated that they want to start a coffee house.

The photo shows Gesi talking through the bars to drug addicts in the basement of a hospital where there is a detox center. A special form of street evangelism!

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

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

At the beginning of Febrary we hope to meet Gesi & Blerina during a training/symposium "Best Practices for Running a Day and Evangelism Program" at Europe Teen Challenge in Portugal!

Sunday, November 7, 2021

Project coffee house Teen Challenge Croatia

It's been a while since we got news from the Teen Challenge team in Split, Croatia. For several years they have been running a coffee house ministry there on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The team does street outreach and this is how most of the first contacts with the homeless and addicted are being established. There is now need for a location that they can rent for the whole week, and not just on those two days.

Coffee House is a support group for people who struggle with life-controlling problems, it also ministers to their friends and family. Dozens of addicts have received help, advice, and encouragement to change their lives. Some even went to rehabilitation centers and successfully completed their programs.

The demand for help is increasing, which is nice on the one hand... people know where to find Teen Challenge. On the other hand, it is also sad to see that addiction and hopelessness are on the rise.

Anyway, they have now found a nice rental space that is not too expensive (300 euros per month).

We would like to help them with a donation, so that they can at least pay the rent for the time being. Let's hope that many find their way to freedom!

If you want to help, please

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

THANK YOU SO MUCH ALREADY!

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Visit to Teen Challenge Belgium

In September it will be two years since Teen Challenge Belgium was able to buy a beautiful building in Charleroi. Frédéric and Natacha Hensgens opened Betser House, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center for men with life-controlling problems.

A few weeks ago we visited them again, after a long time. Of course, it was great to see and encourage each other, we had a lot to talk about, pray about, and think about!

Unfortunately, the coffee house had to close during the past year due to government regulations.

Fortunately, outreach among the homeless and addicted always continues. There are teams of volunteers doing street work in Charleroi and Namur, talking to the homeless and addicted.

Their secondhand store, aptly called Graine de Moutarde, provides some income for the running of the program. Of course, we went to see it! A very nice shop in a good location.

Business is up and the store certainly has a social function in the neighborhood as well. They are already looking for a bigger location :)

We had brought several packages with vegetable seeds, which we always get donated and hand out to the various rehab centers. One of the men started working on the garden the next day! Great 😁 Betser House is getting a very nice vegetable garden this year.

We watched a church service online on Sunday morning and then had a special worship time together in which God was really present and also spoke through us.

If you want to give a gift for the work of Teen Challenge in Belgium, you can always do that. There are ideas to build a kind of workshop where the men can work on their technical skills. There is plenty of room behind the house for expansion.

GIFTS (large and small) are always welcome and can be directed at St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. Make sure to mention: TC Belgium.

💳 You can also Give by card

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Saturday, April 3, 2021

Project expansion Restart coffeehouse, Serbia

Last month we received an email from Udruženje Restart in Serbia. A Christian organization that works among homeless people and (former) addicts and supports them in their return to society.

With a team of volunteers initiator Boris Štrbac is committed to helping people on their way to start a new life. They do this through outreach, drugs prevention lessons at schools and prison work.

During the European Teen Challenge conference in Zeewolde (2019) we were finally able to catch up with Boris in person and following that meeting Traveling Light helped him with a donation for the opening of the coffee house in a new location in Novi Sad.

In the meantime, the coffee house is in full use, with weekly meetings that are well attended, as you can see in the photos. It's time for expansion :)

The back part of the building is currently not being used. They now have a plan to make the back of the building suitable for office space and rooms for individual counseling.

It will be quite a job, but they have a permit to start. They need funds for the following: knocking down the current wall, the building of a new wall, the purchase of windows and a door, wall and floor work, furniture, airco, and electrical work.

The main work will be done by a professional worker who is willing to do it as a donation, all other works will be done by members of Restart and the Church.  

So, Restart needs about 2,500 euro for materials, furniture, flooring etc. We hope you want to help with a donation, so they can begin this work soon!

GIFTS (large and small) are awelcome and can be directed at St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. Make sure to mention RESTART.

Wednesday, February 3, 2021

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.

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Project Streha home Teen Challenge Albania

About a year ago, we wrote about the Teen Challenge drug and alcohol rehabilitation center that was due to open its doors in Albania. The center has now been running for several months and the first students are living there.

The house has been thoroughly renovated and refurbished and in the picture you can see how beautiful it has become.

Two weeks after the official opening of the house back in March, Albania faced a lockdown (as did many other countries) and no students could be admitted. In June the first guest was allowed to finally enter. Blessings!


Orges Hysenaj
, the director and founder of Teen Challenge Albania, oversees four coffee houses in the country, where homeless and addicted people are welcome and often have a first encounter with the Bible and God's love.

If they desire so, they can sign up for the residential program (which consists of individual and group lessons, Bible studies, and practical work in and around the house). They must make the decision to really want a new beginning in  life.

Teen Challenge's work in Albania can continue thanks to donations. Traveling Light would like to bless them this autumn with a donation for running this center (think of food, gas, light, rent, materials, transportation, etc.).

Will you help us again? If you have a heart for Albania and want to bring hope to the hopeless...  you can send a gift to IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht and make sure to mention ALBANIA.

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

THANK YOU for your gifts and prayers!

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Project Teen Challenge Austria


It is always a special moment when we can announce a project in a 'new' country. Up until now, we have not supported a project in Austria, although we have been in contact with Mirko and Maria Mitrovic for years. They are the directors of Teen Challenge (Reset) in Austria.

Mirko is originally from Serbia, where he went through the Teen Challenge program to deal with his addictions. A program where he also first experienced the love and grace of God.

He now lives with Maria and their two children in Vienna. Teen Challenge does not have a residential rehab center in Austria, so Mirko sends addicts and/or homeless people who agree to get help, to programs in neighboring countries.

They do have a weekly coffee house breakfast meeting in Vienna where people can come for fellowship and wholesome talk and where they sometimes hear words from the Bible for the very first time in their lives.

In addition to the meetings in the coffee house, they have street outreach. There are more people with life controlling issues in Vienna than we can imagine. Mirko brings hope by sharing his own testimony.

Furthermore, drug and alcohol prevention classes are given in schools and by invitation, they present the work of Teen Challenge in various churches. There are also 'Reset' outreach teams in the cities of Amstetten and Graz.

Mirko is currently looking for a facility for Teen Challenge, where a coffee house can be opened, counseling sessions can be given and other meetings will be organized.

We wholeheartedly support the work of the 'Reset' team and would also like to do our bit to bring HOPE to the homeless and addicts in Austria.

Jesus said: Go into the world and make disciples of all nations. This can be done by reaching people, one by one, with a message of hope, forgiveness, and life!

If you have a heart for this work, you can send your gift to St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and do not forget to mention: TC AUSTRIA

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

Sunday, March 8, 2020

Year report 2019

We are thankful for the opportunity to present an infographic (click on the picture for a better view) of our activities and finances in 2019. We can report a record in donations for 2019 💗

Together we have raised more than 89,000 euro for the various projects and that amount has almost entirely gone towards the intended projects. Only the bank charges have been paid from the donations. If you give to Traveling Light, you really give towards a project! (As board members and volunteers we pay all travel, process and overhead expenses out of our own pockets)

We have visited fifteen (!) countries, conducted Bible studies, preached in churches and supported more than 25 different projects. In doing so, we have responded to the great commission Jesus gave us: Go into the world and disciple the nations!

Our light shines closer to home as well. Our secondhand shop/coffee house Twinkeltje has become a household name in Papendrecht and the surrounding area. Every month, the proceeds (on average 1,000 euro per month) go towards one of the projects Traveling Light supports. On Saturday afternoons it has really become a living room for the neighborhood, while Tea & Talk on Monday afternoons is also very well visited, especially by immigrant women.

We are very grateful for loyal volunteers who help on Saturdays and offer creative workshops each month. We have also received visitors from abroad, from Georgia, Sweden and the USA. The mission nights we organize, give a platform to our visitors to present their work. We also celebrated the Seder meal in Twinkeltje and held a special Israel night.

And then there is prison work, Alpha prison, discipleship evenings, regional prayer meetings, Re-Store (healing room) and Prayer for the Nations. too much to mention really. We would like to thank everyone who made 2019 a good and fruitful year. It would not be possible without your help.

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.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Project Restart Coffee house, Serbia

Boris gives drugs prevention lessons
It has been a while, but early September we received a message from Udruženje (foundation) Restart in Serbia. A Christian organization that works among homeless people and (former) addicts and supports them in their return to society.

With a team of volunteers, initiator Boris Štrbac is committed to helping people on their way to start a new life. They do this through outreach, drugs prevention lessons at schools and prison work.

They recently received from the City of Novi Sad the acknowledgment that Restart is an organization of public and social value, which is great.

Discussion with municipality officials
They have also been chosen to be partners in a European project which revolves around post-penalty support, reintegration into society and employment of teenagers leaving correctional educational center Kruševac (prison for youngsters). The team had to do a training for this.

About a year ago the team started a social enterprise "Restart Home Service" for cleaning, washing furniture and moving. It would be nice if some of these young people could actually come and be employed there.

Reintegration of young people
For long, Boris had the desire to move to a larger location. The office of Restart is very small. His prayer has been answered! The municipality pointed him to a beautiful location where there is enough space to also start a coffee house.

Renovation of the space is now in full swing. A lot has already been done, but funds are still urgently needed for electrical installations, kitchen, flooring, paint, furniture, new doors, etc. Volunteers from the church are helping to get everything in order, it is truly a joint effort. About 2500 euro is needed to make the building ready for use.

At work in the new location
👉We have noticed that the opening of coffee houses is on the rise. We see that in various countries and also in our own Twinkeltje. It is a nice way of getting in touch with people and having conversations. The coffee houses are also used for all kinds of activities, from Bible studies to workshops to film events and common meals.

Traveling Light wants to help realize the coffee house in Novi Sad. We have an invitation to attend the opening when the time comes 😁

GIFTS (large and small) are always welcome and can be directed at St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. Make sure to mention RESTART.