Prison ministry

Cora Donk

Traveling Light visits and supports (small scale) projects throughout Europe. We are also very active in our home town, particularly since the opening of our secondhand shop Twinkeltje in September 2016.

Twinkeltje is so much more than a coffee house, we use the facility to organize workshops, prayer evenings, mission events, bicycle lessons for new immigrants and discipleship trainings.

👉 But did you know that we are involved in prison ministry as well?

Board member Cora Donk is the owner of Twinkeltje and takes care of daily business there, but she is also involved in prison ministry in the penitentiary prison in Dordrecht. She serves as a volunteer in the interdenominational team that organizes the church services and since last year she is involved in giving the Alpha course.

Alpha is a series of sessions exploring the Christian faith. Each talk looks at a different question around faith and is designed to create conversation. Alpha is run all around the globe, and everyone's welcome. It runs in cafés, churches, universities, homes and prisons. More than 24 million people worldwide have done Alpha. In the Netherlands there were more than 265,000.

The current course is coming to an end and Cora has bought a nice present for all participants. The prisoners may choose an inspiring book, such as 'The Cross and the switchblade', 'Run baby run' and 'Knock-out'. All of them stories from people who have personally experienced that God can and wants to give everyone a new beginning!

Changed lives! It keeps us going because we believe it is always possible.

Gifts (large & small) for the various projects are always welcome! Make your gifts payable to IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht.

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.

Investing in human lives

New life, new beginning, new chance

The best and most trusted financial advice ever given to mankind, came from Jesus Himself. In Matthew 6:19-20 He says:

Do not store up riches for yourselves here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and robbers break in and steal. Instead, store up riches for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and robbers cannot break in and steal. For your heart will always be where your riches are.

The heaters are HUGE

These words may be more than 2000 years old, but they are still very accurate and up-to-date. One look at news papers and television will confirm His words: our possesions and money are not safe on this earth. There is financial crisis, corruption, theft and inflation. Is that sad? Yes, of course! Is there a solution? Yes, of course! When we start to invest in eternal treasures, nothing or no one will be able to rob us. That is why Traveling Light loves to invest in human lives and we have so much fun doing that.

Janusz Górnicki, son of the colonel

Let's take a look at our current Project Heater Teen Challenge Poland. A new wood burner does not sound very spiritual or heavenly ;) but this heater warms the buildings where 52 Polish men are currently living. Men that have decided to start a new live, without addictions and destructive behavior.

Just try to imagine what that means for their parents, wives and children, for their families and co-workers, for the people in their street. A heater is just an iron object and it will eventually wear out and disappear. But the men in the program are fathers, sons, brothers and husbands... they are living there in a safe environment where they can begin a new life and they will get to know God. That is really the most important thing.

Dinig room at the Lekini center

There are many rehabs and programs that can help people off of drugs and alcohol. But what then? At Teen Challenge they teach their students that God has a plan and a purpose for their lives, a reason for living. Understanding and dis-covering THIS is what really changes a person's life. Janusz came in years ago as an addict and now he runs a rehab center in the south of Poland. That is possible, that is how things often develop. That is investing in human lives.

We still need 5,400 euro for this project, because winter is coming soon. Who wants to help us?

When in Europe: send your gift to RABO bank number 1185 82 275, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 and BIC: RABONL2U

When in USA: send your gift to Eastern Europe Outreach and make sure to mention TC Poland, HEATER

Don't forget to share this blog post through your social media. THANKS!

PS: Click on the pics to enlarge them.

Project Study Grant Teen Challenge, Slovenia

Magdalena Horjak

The 5,000 euro for project casa Shalom in Italy came in, thank you all very much for your generosity. If you read any German, HERE is more information about the therapeutic community that we are sponsoring with this money.

Alright, time for a new project. The beautiful lady in this picture is Magdalena Horjak. A few years back she and her husband Matjaz started the Izhod Teen Challenge men's home in Nova Vas, Slovenia. As in many European countries the requirements and regulations to run a rehabilitation home are getting more and more complicated. It is now necessary for one of the staff members to have a degree in health & social studies.

Magdalena is currently studying to get her degree. Quite an undertaking, since she is also the mother of three young daughters. Even more so, such a study is a financial burden. The Horjaks have borrowed the money for this study and are making payments of 750 euro. Traveling Light wants to help them by taking care of (at least) one of these payments.

Horjak family

Many of our projects involve the sponsoring of Christian / Bible based rehabilitation work. We figure it is no more than logical that you want to see the fruit of that work as well. 'Are people staying clean?' is a question we often hear. That is why, every now and then, we like to zoom in on people whose lives have been transformed in an amazing way. Believe it or not, but Magdalena used to be a heroin addict at some point in her younger life.

We are very proud of her now, she is a good wife and mother and an excellent student!

We want the work among the homeless and addicts in Slovenia to continue, and we are grateful that Magdalena is doing the necessary studies.

Will you help us help her?

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]

Photo's Coffee bus Teen Challenge Czech

TC Director Petr Ministr and Jan: very happy with the bus

Well, here it is.... the mobile coffee bus of Teen Challenge Czech Republic. Your gifts made it possible to purchase and upgrade this camper. The outreach team of Teen Challenge Czech will go into the streets of Prague to connect and share the good news with the homeless, the addicts and the prostitutes.

Last week we visited the Teen Challenge center in Czech Republic. The men's rehabilitation home is just outside the city of Prague in a beautiful 12th century, former monastery. One of the buildings on the premises has recently been converted into a women's home. About eight women live there now in safety. Thank God! We were also pleasantly surprised to finally see the new coffee bus. Wow, what an eye catcher. This will certainly attract the attention of many people.

praying for the outreach work

Inside the coffee bus are two seating areas, a kitchen and bathroom and outside, under the awning, two tables and chairs will be placed as well. Enough room to invite people for coffee, a copy of the book The Cross and the Switchblade and counseling. By the way, we were visiting Prague to attend the annual Europe Teen Challenge Conference. Staff members, volunteers, students and graduates from more than thirty countries came together to connect and to be encouraged.

Curious crowd around the coffee bus

With a big, international group we walked around the coffee bus and prayed: that many people will be reached with the good news that a new life is possible in Jesus Christ. Such powerful and effective prayers. We were also happy to see our donations so effectively put to work. If you're ever in Prague, look for this bus!

The coffee bus project is a good example of a practical, small scale project that will have great impact. Who knows how many people in need will be reached this way. It is our desire to continue to sponsor these kind of projects and in this way to shine our light in dark corners all over Europe. More supporters means: more projects, more countries, more people.... Not necessarily bigger projects, but certainly more projects.

We were able to donate 6.500 euro towards this project

Thank you very much for your support. Please, tell your family, friends and co-workers about the work of Traveling Light. Show them our website or Facebook page. We would love to welcome new sponsors and good ideas. 

Within Europe make gifts payable to:
Rabo bank nr. 1185 82 275
IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275
BIC: RABONL2U

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]

Birth announcement and Israel update

Last week we received news from Dejan & Renata Berginc (Slovenia) that they are the proud parents now of a brand new, healthy and pretty baby girl: Bianca. Dejan is a staff member with Teen Challenge Slovenia. Together with Matjaz Horjak he runs the new men's home in Nova Vas. Dejan used to be a drugs addict himself, he went through the program in Czech Republic, because at that time there was no facility in Slovenia. After finishing the program he had the growing desire to help others as he had been helped. He works in the men's home now and is happily married to Renata. If you want to surprise them by sending them a card or present, please e-mail us for their address at janandmarja@gmail.com 

As far as the Onyfrievka project is concerned; we are just waiting for all paperwork to be filed. As soon as we receive green light form the Ukraine, we will transfer the money. Please pray that all paperwork will be filed properly and in short time!

Last week we announced the new project we would like to sponsor in Netanya, Israel: equipment for the new to open soup kitchen where Brian Slater will feed the hungry, poor and lonely people of Israel. The first need for this set up is about 3,000 euro's. We are so happy to see that the gifts thermometer here in Holland is rising steadily. As of today we have already received more than 2,200 euro's and we are well on our way to present Brian with this love gift!

"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive'."

[Book of Acts 20:35]