Project Coffeehouse Teen Challenge, Albania

the Hysenaj family

It is a huge encouragement for us each time we meet people who take the call of God's heart seriously by letting their light shine in their street, city, region or country.

Orges & Blerina Hysenaj are such people. They live with their two children in Tirana, Albania. Some time ago they took the initiative to start a Teen Challenge coffeehouse in Tirana. A meeting place of hope and friendship.

Orges (or Gesi as his friends and family like to call him) has a heart for people with addiction and other life threatening issues and he can see how the problems are piling up in his country.

He found a small building where he started a coffeehouse and he now meets with several guests every week for talks and Bible study!

It may sound simple ... start a coffeehouse. But there is much to consider: first of all prayer for wisdom and protection. Furthermore of course financial resources to pay the rent, buy furnishings and materials. We would love to help him be with that!

Albania is a country with a turbulent history: oppression, poverty, communism, atheism, unemployment etc. The country is struggling to break free from all these things. It's awesome to see what happens when people discover that surely there is a God who wants to give them a hopeful future, a God who loves them.

Darkness must give way to joy, just look at those smiling faces!

Do you want to help to reach people in Albania with the good news for a hopeful future? You can do so by making a donation which will help Orges and his team of volunteers to expand their work in the coffeehouse. 

Please make your gift payable to: St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and don't forget to mention: ALBANIA.

Inside Comunita Brezzano, Italy

At work in the kitchen

We are currently raising money for project roof repair Casa Nuova, one of the houses within the Christian residential therapeutic community Comunita Brezzano in Tuscany, Italy.

The community consists of three houses where people with psychological or other life controlling problems are offered a safe place to rest, to come to know God and get a renewed perspective on life.

Casa Nuova

We wholeheartedly support this work because we have personally seen how lives can be transformed in this environment. Yes, such a residential community is a small scale initiative, there are usually only three or four people in therapy, but we believe that every human life counts and is worth the time and effort in order to be restored.

It is this kind of initiatives that we want to support, because they often receive little or no government funding and yet produce beautiful and positive results.

Quite often, people stay in the community for months at the time. Spending time outside, enjoying nature, working in the open air and taking time to talk and pray will bring balance in the lives of the guests.

Bible study

August 22-29, 2016 we want to go back to Comunita Brezzano for another work week and help to chop wood for the winter and do other chores. If you want to come along and help us (or know someone who would want to), send an email to janandmarja@gmail.com. Don't wait too long, because space is limited! Cost: max. 250 euro + travel.

So far, we have received more than 2,500 euro for project repair Casa Nuova and donations are still welcome! Make your gift payable to: St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and don't forget to mention: BREZZANO.

Below is a video of the Passover celebration in Comunita Brezzano, two years ago.

Greetings from Winiarczykowka, Poland

Staff and  residents at Winiarczykowka

One of the nicest things about our small scale projects is perhaps the feedback we are getting. We often receive pictures, emails, Facebook messages and newsletters containing friendly greetings and words of gratitude. It's so good to see that donations are spent well!

Do you remember project renovation rooms Winiarczykowka, Poland? In memory of our American friend Rick Biddle (who passed away in October 2015 at the blessed age of 88) family and friends of Rick donated more than $ 500 for the benefit of Traveling Light.

New furniture arrived!

We were able to double that gift and transferred 1,000 euro for the renovation of bedrooms in the Teen Challenge crisis and rehabilitation home that Janusz & Bogusia Górnicki are running. A very special house, because they offer a warm and safe place to the elderly who have no place to go.

They had some new beds, wardrobes and bedside tables made (visit their website!) by a local carpenter, who has also employed one of the younger men who went through the rehabilitation program.

And look what a beautiful plaques (click on the photos to enlarge) they have made in memory of Rick, who had a warm heart for he work of Teen Challenge. This is also a very nice idea in case you want to make a special donation as a church, school, business or family. They will make such a cool plaque just for you!

Memory and thank you plaques

Janusz & Bogusia Gornicki always have a long list of projects in and around the house (such as expansion vegetable garden, building a shed, shelves and industrial refrigerator in the storage space, wheelchair bus, setting up a charity shop etc. etc.). These projects can only be implemented when donations come in, because they receive no government funding.

As far as we are concerned, money donated to Traveling Light will reach its destination and will be used for the selected project!

General and specified gifts are always welcome at St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. We will do our best to ensure reliable feedback!

Project roof repair Casa Nuova, Italy

Casa Nuova

Several months ago we received a request for financial support from Maria Meier. She is in charge of the daily happenings at Comunita Brezzano, a Christian residential therapeutic community in Tuscany, Italy.

The community consists of three houses and Maria offers people with psychological or other life controlling problems a safe place where they can rest, to come to know God and get a renewed perspective on life.

We have visited the community on several occasions and twice we organized a work week in which we came with a group of strong men to cut wood for the winter. We would like to organize such a week again in August.

Meeting up with Maria last December

The houses are beautiful, classic Tuscan farmhouses, but they also require a lot of maintenance. One of the houses, Casa Nuova, suffers from a leaking roof. It is necessary to replace a portion of the roof.

Comunita Brezzano is a non-profit organization that exists largely thanks to donations. There is also income from the sale of jam, olives and fruit and they receive some compensation from the government for taking in guests.

The upper layer of the roof needs to be replaced

We love the work Maria Meier and her team are doing in Tuscany. They takes care of the needs of other people and invite those who are weary and burdened to seek peace with Jesus.

Living and working in the countryside is a welcome and healthy break from the hectic life in a city many people are used to. Maria receives people from Germany, Israel, Italy, Austria and Switzerland.

If you have a heart for this kind of work, please make your gift payable to: St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and don't forget to mention: BREZZANO.

Report Weissensee 2016 for Kazakhstan

"Well done skaters!"  Thanksgiving from Kazakhstan

We can look back on a very successful Weissensee event. Despite the moderate temperatures (which made the ice really soft) and lots of water on the natural ice (which made the cracks invisible), our skaters have performed very well during the Alternative Elfsteden race in Austria.

Krijn Donk finished the 200 km in a spectacular time of 7:43 hours. Henk Swijnenburg made excellent time as well, 9:33 hours. Unfortunately, they were not able to set new personal records.

Henk Vlot arrived at the finish line after a grueling 10:57 hours. For him it was a new personal record, because last time he had to quit the race after 140 km.

Henk S., Krijn and Henk V. on the Weissensee

With their athletic activities these men brought in 4,500 euro. All proceeds will benefit the renovation and installation of a kitchen in the Teen Challenge juvenile home in Kazakhstan.

Of course they were thrilled in Almaty with the outcome of this fundraiser and on their behalf we want to say thank you to the skaters, supporters and members of our local press for their efforts. Great to see how many enthusiastic and heart-warming responses came in.

We (Jan and Marja) hope to schedule a visit to Kazakhstan soon. It is still pretty much winter over there, a good time for them to make plans for the upcoming renovations!

Happy faces thanks to your efforts and donations

We have mentioned it before on this blog: the giving of a donation is not the end of a project, it is the beginning of a new or the continuation of an existing relationship.

Further news:

• The amount for project teacher Teen Challenge in Slovakia came in. Thank you very much.
• Our 2015 year report will be posted on our website soon.
• The next project on this blog: Project Repairs Casa Nuova, Italy

Treasures in heaven...

This coming April Traveling Light will celebrate her 5th anniversary. A relatively short period in which a lot has happened. Praise the Lord!

What started as a simple initiative of two people has become

• a vibrant network covering over twenty countries,
• hundreds of projects supported,
• a wonderful team of volunteers and
• a group of faithful supporters

Treasurer Martin DeHaas writes in the financial year report over 2015:

"We can look back at 2015 as a year of growth. The income rose by over 13% compared to 2014 as more than 59,000 euro in donations came in. With all that money we were able to support 29 projects for a total of more than 58,000 euro, an increase of almost 10% compared to 2014.

All the gifts that came in have found a good destination. I find it remarkable that we can do all that at minimal costs. Only the bank charges are being paid out of the gifts coming in. This year that was less than 0.5% of revenues. All other costs are being paid out of pocket.

For the coming year it is my prayer that we can again support a large number of projects and that we will see a continuation of the upward trend of income and expenditure."

We would like to thank everyone who has worked in any way to facilitate this growth. Without your time, attention, prayers, gifts and enthusiasm we would not exist. We certainly speak these words on behalf of the hundreds, if not thousands, of people we have helped on their way to a better life.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

[Matthew 6: 19-21]

We certainly don't mind if you share this positive news with as many people as you can :)

Project persecuted church Eurasia

Last year we visited Georgia republic and we came in contact with the young Iranian pastor R.

He is the founder of a non profit organization with the mission to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all Iranians and Azerbaijanis and to see churches established among them.

With a small team of volunteers he spreads the Good News in and around Georgia.

In 2015 Traveling Light was able to give him a little helping hand in expanding his team. Thanks to a number of specified gifts we received we were able to send a donation for the rent of an apartment in Georgia for a young Iranian family, family A.

They work together with Pastor R. to reach their countrymen with the love of God. They are starting house churches, offer Bible studies and encourage persecuted believers. We would like to assist Pastor R. again to help this family started in their new homeland. They now have no income.

If you have a heart for spreading the Gospel in that region and to support persecuted Christians, send a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. make sure to mention CICMISSION.

Our idea is to call families, churches, home groups or businesses to adopt family A. for a month by collecting and giving 500 euro. We'll then send you more info + the explicit request to pray for them each day during a particular month. In this way we will help them get started in their new home country in 2016. No doubt, they will be greatly encouraged!

Project news and thanksgiving

Traveling Light ice skating team

Tuesday, January 26, 2016 will be the big day, ice skating team Traveling Light will start in the early morning for the 200 km long race on the Weissensee in Austria.

Donations are pouring in, more than 3,500 euro has been pledged if the men finish the trip! That amount will be much higher if personal records are broken. So it will be a very exciting day!

The entire proceeds of this action will benefit the construction and installation of a kitchen in the boys home of Teen Challenge juvenile program in Kazakhstan.

Finally, it's there....

There is a webcam and on www.weissensee.nl you can follow the skaters. Their registration numbers are as follows: 5005 Henk Swijnenburg Henk, 5369 Henk Vlot and 5393 Krijn Donk.

Last week Sasa Ivanovic, the director of the Teen Challenge rehabilitation centers in Serbia, sent us pictures of the new tractor lawnmower that they were able to buy, thanks to your donations.

Thank you all on behalf of TC Serbia

Sasa writes: "It's finally here!!! We are so exited and happy, as you can see on the pictures, it looks really amazing! Real, good stuff. I want to thank you and Jan, Traveling Light, as well as all people who supported this project, on behalf of our students, staff and our personal name!"

In December's seafarer's evangelist Guus Peters visited the ports of Gent, Antwerp and Terneuzen. He gave away 188 Christmas goody bags. We were able to sponsor sixty (!) bags thanks to your donations.

Guus with the sailors

Guus writes: "I visited a ship with Filipino, some Romanian and Ukrainian sailors and  the captain called the whole crew together so that I could explain the Gospel. I then handed out the Christmas gifts and the men were so happy.

The sweaters are really a hit and of course the woolen hats are also very much appreciated. Thank you very much for your great contribution."

Isn't it great to make so many people happy? Currently we also raise funds for the rehabilitation program of Teen Challenge in Sered, Slovakia. They want to employ their current teacher also in 2016. They will need about 2,400 euro for this.

GIFTS are always welcome at IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht.

Thank you very much for your comments, emails, pledges, donations and prayers!

Greetings from Kazakhstan

Teen Challenge juvenile program Kazakhstan

The Weissensee sponsoring event for the benefit of the Teen Challenge juvenile home in Kazakhstan is in full swing, and how!

We have already received so many pledges and heartwarming comments, it's kind of overwhelming. More than 2700 euro has been pledged if our team finishes the grueling 200 km ice skating race on the Weissensee, next week (January 26th).

Cooking corner in need of shelves and storage space

Much more has been promised if they brake personal records :) (We will keep this amount a secret until the big day). There were a few nice articles about the Traveling Light ice skating team in our local news papers.

Current cooking space

The entire proceeds of this sponsoring event will go to the Teen Challenge juvenile home in Almate and it will be used to build and install a kitchen. The cooking now happens in a space with barely any facilities.  The roof leaks, there is no refrigerator or storage space and the windows and doors close badly. There really is a big need for a serious renovation.

The staff and the guys at the home are very happy with the attention they are getting. They still can not believe that there are people in the Netherlands who will do their very best to help them.

You have a little less than a week left to sponsor the skaters as a team or individually, and well as follows:

• pledge a certain amount for finishing the race
• pledge a certain amount per kilometer accomplished
•  pledge a certain amount no matter what the result will be
•  pledge a certain amount for breaking personal records
• with whatever idea you have! We just LOVE to hear from you!

Traveling Light ice skating team

You can send your pledges by email to (krijncora@kpnmail.nl) or Facebook. You can also donate right now by sending your gift to IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht. Make sure to mention WEISSENSEE.

Below a short video about the boys' home (it's in low resolution, hopefully it is okay to watch).

Project Teacher Teen Challenge Slovakia

Teen Challenge Slovakia

The Weissensee fundraiser is up and running (keep an eye on the thermometer!) and the donation for Teen Challenge Georgia has been transferred. That means there is room to announce a next project ... because we never stand still.

As most of you know by now, a large part of our projects involve support for Teen Challenge programs in every corner of Europe.

These Christian rehabilitation centers for people with life controlling problems offer the Teen Challenge curriculum which consists of group and individual lessons.

It is not sufficient that someone is simply 'clean'. An empty and tidy house must be filled with truth! [Herein Christian and secular rehab programs often differ in their approach.]

Group and individual studies

Sometimes the curriculum is being taught by people who have gone through the program themselves (graduates) and now have become staff members in a center. Sometimes however, as with Teen Challenge Slovakia, there is a need for an  external teacher.

Good education is of course an essential part of the program. The men and women often used to live many years without structure, morals or principles and do not know much about Biblical truths and guidelines.

Vladimir Príbelsky

Since last year, Vladimir Príbelsky has been teaching in the rehab program in Sered. He receives a compensation for his services. Most Teen Challenge programs receive no (or little) government funding and depend on donations. If possible they will also use it to pay their employees a salary.

On this blog we wrote about the construction of the prayer chapel in Sered. Currently they are working on a much needed replacement of the roof of the rehabilitation home. Fortunately they received funding for it. Hallelujah!

Teen Challenge Sered, Slovakia

As much as we possibly can we offer the Teen Challenge programs prayer and encouragement (by visiting or writing emails and letters) but also some financial help to overcome the many daily challenges.

At the beginning of 2016 we want to help Teen Challenge Slovakia to continue the use of the services of Vladimir Pribelsky for at least another year. They need about 2400 euro.

If you have a heart for EDUCATION, please send your donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. Please make sure to mention EDUCATION SLOVAKIA.

Thank you, also on behalf of the men in the program!