Project shelter/rehab Baranovichi

Crowded celebration service

Recently we were in Belarus for the celebration of the 20th anniversary of Teen Challenge in that country. Миссия "Возвращение" is the name used for the rehabilitation work there, or 'Mission Return'.

A beautiful name that reminds us of the story of the prodigal son who returns to the father. There are currently nine men's and women's centers in Belarus, two of which we have visited while there.

We want to tell you more about one of these centers; it is an old nursery school that was vacant for seventeen years. Mission Return has very good contacts with the city of Baranovichi and the building was given to them for free a few years ago. It currently houses a shelter for homeless men and a men's rehabilitation center.

The renovated men's center to the right, the kitchen will be in the middle, the women's center on the left is being renovated

Homeless people can get a bed, clothes and food for up to four months. During that time they are encouraged to make the decision to enter the rehabilitation program, where they will live, work and study for at least eight months. We are happy to hear that many of these men have decided to begin a new life!

Inspection of the rooms :)

At the moment hard work is going on, at the request of the city council, in order to open a crisis center for abused women. The rooms are almost finished! The work is mainly done by men who are in rehab and with a lot of help from churches in the area. All in all, the former school houses a few dozen people already and they are in urgent need for a professional kitchen.

Traveling Light has received a specified gift for the purchase of the necessary kitchen appliances, which we have forwarded to Mission Return. Well, we do not have to explain how happy the Belarus team is with this gift :) Once the kitchen is placed, we will share more photos.

To the left the renovated part of the building

We are very happy and thankful that we can contribute a bit to this beautiful work by donating and by visiting this beautiful home. We are very impressed with the work among the addicts, poor, homeless and abused in Belarus.

Dining hall at the shelter

It is great to see how strong God's light can shine in the darkness and how God's love changes people's lives, one by one!

Do you have a heart for people in need and do you want to support these kind of projects?

Then please send your gift to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U.

Hungary update

Michel plays his guitar for the young refugees

We are currently raising funds for the work of Michel & Janet van Boxtel of non-profit organization Embrace who have swapped the luxury of a life in the Netherlands for working among the poorest in Hungary.

They had no idea that, so soon after their move to Hungary, they would come face to face with the 'refugee situation' if we may call it so for now. Fortunately, they are able to offer a helping hand and shine their light!

Michel & Janet write:

"The refugee issue is immense and yet we can be of significance in this. We personally help at the tent sites in collaboration with the Baptist Aid.

At the Hungarian border

This help consists of assisting nurses, helping parents with their children, handing out appropriate clothing etc. But also chatting with the people, playing a game of soccer and of course Michel plays his guitar and we sing! The camp residents are, as always, attracted to the music and that opens the door to communicate!

From the Baptist Aid the question came to us if we could help to collect relief supplies. After a lot of hassle, many emails and calls a truck load arrived from the Netherlands. The largest part was collected and loaded by the Reformed Church in Sliedrecht (part of their cargo is also destined for eastern Hungary and the Ukraine) and Blankenburgh. They provided also sixty mattresses.

At one of the food distribution sites (Maglódi Ut) the desire rose to establish a church for all these homeless people. The team leader of this location has asked us if we could please come to help. Of course we will do so! "

Well, offering a helping hand wherever you are! That is simple and effective. Donations for the work of Michel & Janet are very welcome! Please send your gift to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. Make sure to mention EMBRACE HUNGARY.

THANKS!

Opening chapel Teen Challenge, Slovakia

Guests are arriving

Do you remember it? On December 6th, 2012, we announced project chapel Sered, Slovakia.

It started with a drawing of a small chapel that was going to be constructed on the premises of ​​the Teen Challenge rehabilitation home.

We were able to bless them with a generous gift in three phases for the construction of this house of prayer.

On September 5th and 6th we were in Slovakia for the official opening of the David Wilkerson Memorial Chapel, which is the full name of the chapel. They also celebrated the 20th anniversary of Teen Challenge in Slovakia.

The chapel fills up!

It is great to see how beautiful the building has become. It already serves as a church to the neighborhood! The men in the rehabilitation program have co-labored with the construction workers to build this beautiful chapel and they're proud of the work of their hands.

It was a great honor for us to be allowed to give a speech on behalf of Traveling Light and to bring greetings from all of you.

The chapel is located right next to the rehab home

Finally, the men in the program have a quiet place, a place for prayer and reflection and that surely is a blessing when you share a room with several other guys on a daily basis.

With the help of your generous gifts this project has been realized.

THANK YOU on behalf of the staff and students of Teen Challenge Slovakia.

Project heart for Hungary

The VanBoxtel family

We were able to give a nice donation towards the summer activities among the Roma children in Macedonia and the required amount for the barn in Berdychiv in Ukraine has almost come in, we're still a few hundred euro's short. So, we feel free to present a new project.

Let's introduce Michel & Janet van Boxtel with their children Jonathan and Elisa. Michel & Janet are the founders of the non-profit organization Embrace. Their mission is to help the poorest people of Hungary. They work from a Christian perspective and the conviction that every human being should feel loved and accepted.

Michel attracts young audiences with his guitar

We have been in contact with them for a while through email and last year Michel & Janet came to visit us to share their plans. We saw passion in this young couple and a desire to share God's love to people who live in the poorest areas of Europe. We promised to help them, first with encouragement, later with finances.

Embrace center

After several visits to this eastern European country during previous years, the family decided this past July to leave the luxury and comfort of a life in the Netherlands behind and to live in Hungary. They are thankful to have their home church in Goes standing behind them. Michel & Janet now rent a house, which will also serve as a multi-functional center.

They will open a distribution point for clothing and supplies, a guest room, a classroom for English lessons and Bible study, a soup kitchen / coffee house and much more :)

It is obvious that funds are needed in order to realize these plans. We have seen a passion in Michel & Janet to be active and creative for God and a willingness to reach people who would otherwise remain in a desperate situation. They are not afraid to take on the adventure with God... and such people make us happy :)

Funds are needed for furnishing and decorating the home, for kitchen equipment, for rent, for study materials etc. etc. Michel & Janet have a heart for Hungary. We hope that you have a heart for people like them and that you want to help us in giving them a good start.

Please, send your donation  to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. Make sure to mention EMBRACE HUNGARY

Visiting Teen Challenge Georgia

Changed lives change lives!

Last month, we traveled to the republic of Georgia. We were there to visit the team of Teen Challenge  and they gave us a very warm welcome!

Georgia is a beautiful country with a rich history, culture and breathtaking scenery! Together with neighboring country Armenia they are the only Orthodox Christian country among islamic countries like Iran, Iraq, Syria, Kazakhstan, Turkey and Azerbaijan.

The Teen Challenge men's home

A few years ago a Teen Challenge rehabilitation center for men was established. Men with addiction problems are coming from all neighboring countries to Teen Challenge for help.

Meanwhile Teen Challenge also purchased a property where a women's house will be opened! There's still a lot of money needed for this ...

Open air church 

TC workers Kuanysh and Madina showed us around and took us to some beautiful spots near the capital Tbilisi. We have talked a lot about God's work in this country and the opportunities to be a blessing to the neighboring countries where the love of Jesus is not so well known.

The church service was held in the open air in a beautiful place in the mountains. Giorgi had brought his guitar, we shared a message and then there was a delicious picnic.

Church picnic with lots of new believers

We met so many kind and loving people, we heard stories, we prayed together and were able to encourage many people. It's so wonderful to see that family members of the guys in the Teen Challenge program now also get curious about the love of God: they see the change in their son, brother, husband ...

We came also in contact with the young Iranian pastor R. He now lives in Georgia and has set up CIC Mission there.

Jan gives Bible study at the men's center

CIC Mission is a non-profit that aims to share the love of God with the people from Iran and Azerbaijan. With a small team of volunteers pastor R. starts house churches all over the region! More on that in one of our upcoming blogs.

Also with Teen Challenge directors Blair & Althea we had a good time, useful discussions, powerful prayers and they showed us beautiful spots in the area as well. It was a great encouragement for us to see how a LIVING community of believers is growing in Georgia!

We are happy to be able to help them. On behalf of staff and students of Teen Challenge Georgia, THANK YOU for your donations for project study materials.

Photo's Balkan conference, Bosnia

Thousands of kilometers on the road

For the fourth year in a row Jan participated, on behalf of Traveling Light, in the My Brother's Keeper conference that was held this past June in Bosnia.

It is an annual inter-denominational conference for men (many spiritual leaders, pastors etc.) from all Balkan nations. It is very useful for us to learn more about the (historical) problems these nations are dealing with. Of course being among so many people from different nations enlarges our network as well.

Camping, Bible studies, prayer...

As in other years a volunteer joined Jan on this trip: Hans Bos, from our Hoeksteen church in Etten-Leur. Together they first drove to Slovenia where we have good contacts and always a place to sleep :)

The next day they left for Bosnia. There where a few hundred men from all former Yugoslavian countries present at the conference

Haha, let's call it the united nations of  the Balkan

Such a conference offers us the opportunity to understand a little bit more about the emotional, spiritual and social problems these men are dealing with and often keep them from being free. Meeting each other, building relationships, listening, talking, asking questions, praying... it all helps to learn to understand each other better, despite the past, and to look forward to a hopeful future.

On their way back to Holland Jan and Hans stopped by at Gutes Land in Germany. Staff and students at the Teen Challenge rehabilitation program there are always eager to hear a positive and encouraging word.

Sharing a meal at Gutes Land

That is the beautiful thing about such a long journey: everywhere we go, we are able to shine our light, to share an encouraging word, to pray with or just simply listen to people. The Traveling Light journeys are life changing, for us and for the people we visit!

We are currently fundraising for two projects: 1) work among Roma children in Macedonia and 2) construction of an animal barn at Teen Challenge Berdychiv, Ukraine.

We would be very happy with your donations, because we are receiving more and more requests for help. Please send your gift to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U.

Project animal barn Berdychiv

Beginning of the new barn

As we wrote earlier: summer is pretty busy at Traveling Light, we have many awesome summer projects!

Donations for Teen Challenge Moldova came in, which will enable them to purchase a good Frysian milk cow. Thank you all! The money for project children's work materials during the Iranian conference in Holland is almost in, so that is running good as well.

Working together as one

At the beginning of this year we gave a donation towards the work of pastor Sergey & Irina Romanenko in Berdychiv, Ukraine (see this blog post). We then showed a picture where a new barn was planned. The barn will house all the animals in winter and it will be located at the property of the Teen Challenge rehabilitation centers, men's home and women's home.

Meanwhile they have started with the foundation, but because of lack of funds the work has been slow. 'We really want to continue the work', pastor Sergey writes. 'We now have all these guys available that know how to do construction.'

The men that are currently in the Teen Challenge rehab program enjoy doing work projects. It is very encouraging and motivating for them to work on something useful with their hands. They also participate in Bible studies and group/personal counseling sessions on their way to a better life.

The barn will be finished!

They still need about 2,000 euro for materials to finish the barn before winter. It is going to be a pretty big barn as you can see in the picture on the left. Money is needed for bricks, mortar, wooden beams, roof construction, doors, windows etc.

Pastor Sergey and the guys would be forever grateful for your help. Each donation supports the work of pastor Sergey among the homeless, poor and addicted. Of course by giving you encourage the guys as well!

Please, send your donation  to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. Make sure to mention BARN BERDYCHIV.

When in the USA, send your tax-deductible gift to Eastern Europe Outreach, make sure to mention TC UKRAINE, BERDYCHIV.

Project summer activities Saraj, Macedonia

Great group of brothers & sisters

A few weeks ago we (Cora Donk and Marja Verschoor-Meijers) were in Skopje, Macedonia to attend a conference on ministry among Roma people. There were Roma people present from Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Romania and Serbia.

Summer camp last year

It was of course a great honor for Traveling Light to be invited for this event. The teaching and preaching of pastor Radko Kratsov was very useful and inspiring. it turns out that many Roma's are coming to faith in Jesus Christ in these nations and churches and home groups are being established everywhere. The problem is that quite often they do not know this is happening on such a scale and they often feel isolated and alone. 

For that reason it is great to come together regularly for fellowship, exchanging news, praying for each other, making new friends and building a network.  

Games during the picnic

The conference was being organized by our dear friends Sokrat & Lena Apostolovski from Skopje. They have been working among the Roma children for years and years and they are the pastors of the Saraj Church in that area. 

During this summer vacation they are organizing several events, such as a 3-day summer camp for the children, a grand picnic for the children and their parents and a project called 'I want to know how to read and write'.

Very proud of their work!

It is fantastic to see how more and more children, as a result of the work of Sokrat & Lena, are deciding to go to school. Children that also realize that God loves them and wants to reach Roma society through them with a message of hope for the future.

If you want to support and bless the work of Sokrat & Lena among the Roma children, please send a gift so they can continue to organize summer activities such as these.

Make your gift payable to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275, BIC: RABONL2U and make sure to mention: ROMA CHILDREN.

Sokrat & Lena are always looking for volunteers. So, if you are seriously looking for mission work in Macedonia, please email us for details. Together we can let our light shine in all corners of Europe and the Mediterranean area. THANK YOU!

Project children's work materials

We are currently raising funds for a new Frysian cow for the Teen Challenge rehabiliatation center in Moldova. 

But that is of course not the only thing going on; the summer vacation is actually pretty busy at Traveling Light :) We are receiving many new project requests, we are traveling and we also make plans for the coming months.

From July 28 - August 2nd, 2015 222 Ministries and Pearl of Persia will be hosting a conference again for Iranian people in Holland. From time to time they come together to catch up, to network and to encourage one another. Through these conferences 222 Ministries is able to strengthen and equip the Iranian believers in this difficult time.

They make use of volunteers, also for the children's program that will be held during this week. Some of the sweet ladies were also the initiators behind Operation Love Splash.

We would love to help them with the purchase of materials, such as the book Children can you hear me? which will be given to all kids and workers. We need about 400 euro (asap) to cover the cost. Who wants to help?

Please, send your donation  to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. Make sure to mention 222 Children's work.

Project COW for Teen Challenge, Moldova

Teen Challenge rehab in Falesti

Earlier this year we were able to donate a good sum to wards the work of Johannes and Charlotte Petersen in Moldova and well specifically for the construction of the Shelter, a home for girls and women who have been rescued from human trafficking (update will follow).

Johannes and Charlotte have been living and working among the poorest in Moldova for over twenty years. They have started up children and youth educational programs, a church, humanitarian aid and also a Teen Challenge drugs- and alcohol rehabilitation center located in Falesti.

Jura with the Frysian cow

The daily leader of the center is Jura (see the photo on the right). Running a faith-based program means they depend partly on donations and partly on business opportunities. The goal is to become largely independent, for example by growing their own vegetables and fruits and by keeping animals.

Mini zoo :)

The Teen Challenge farm in Falesti currently has two milk cows (one Frysian), one young bull and two calves, the oldest milk cow being at retirement age. They furthermore have pigs, geese, ducks and chickens. Around the center lies approximately three hectares of land on which they have planted nut trees, berry trees, beans, tomatoes and alfalfa.

With the purchase of 1 or 2 new Frysian milk cows it will be possible to generate income (by selling the milk) which will help to run the center on a day to day basis. A good milk cow gives about forty liters of milk a day.

Home of restoration

Being a Holland-based organization, Traveling Light of course LOVES Frysian cows :) and we would love to help them buy at least 1 cow. The price for a Frysian is about 2,300 euro. Well, that should not be a problem, right?!

This is, yet again, another practical, small scale project that has a direct impact on the guys in the program.The work with animals and the keeping of a vegetable garden is part of the therapy and it prepares the guys for a healthy and productive life in society. God loves these men and so do we. Each life counts!

Please, send your donation  to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. Make sure to mention TC MOLDOVA COW. 

When in the USA, send your tax-deductible gift to Eastern Europe Outreach, make sure to mention TC MOLDOVA COW.