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.

New Bertine House, Ukraine

The new Bertine House

We have good news from the Ukraine and we would love to share it of course!

Do you remember that some of our guys ran the Etten-Leur half marathon last October to raise funds for the women and children from Bertine House, who had to flee Donetsk?

Magne & Olga Gulbrandsen

Bertine House was founded by Magne & Olga Gulbrandsen. It is a christian rehabilitation home (part of Teen Challenge Ukraine) for women coming out of addiction, abuse and prostitution. Together with their children they find there a safe place where they receive true love and often for the first time hear about Jesus. Last year September the war made an end to the work in Donetsk and they all had to leave everything behind to go to a safer place.

Large yard and play ground

Since then the women, children and workers have lived in a rented flat in the city of Poltava. But of course they kept looking for a big house with an even bigger yard and we all kept praying for the funds to come in to purchase such a house.  

A few months ago a substantial donation came in from the USA... and yes! This past week we received the news that a house has been bought.

A huge house with many rooms and a very large yard and play ground. Everyone is very happy and thankful. It is expected that the women and children will move to the new house in September.

Some ladies are inspecting the rooms

We will probably start a new fundraiser campaign during the upcoming marathon in Etten-Leur (October 25th 2015). Funds are (obviously) needed to fix up the house, to buy furniture, to beautify the yard etc. etc. so the house will become a real cozy HOME for the women and children.

If you have it on your heart to give a donation NOW you can certainly do so by sending your love gift for the women and children to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. Make sure to mention BERTINE. We will collect all donations and make one transaction towards the new Bertine House.

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

News and prayer

Catching up at Europe Teen Challenge conference

We are currently taking donations for the work of Teen Challenge in the Republic of Georgia. The beginning of July we hope to visit their rehab center. This past April we met Kuanysh & Madina who are part of the Teen Challenge team in Georgia. 

What always touches us about the passionate people of Teen Challenge is that, despite the problems they encounter in their own center, they often go out to help others. Currently the Georgia team is visiting Teen Challenge in their neighboring country Armenia, where the work among the destitute and addicted is still fairly new. Prayer point: expansion of Christian rehabilitation work in this beautiful region!

From June 18-21 the 'My Brother's Keeper Conference' in Bosnia is being held. Jan Verschoor and faithful supporter Hans Bos are attending on behalf of Traveling Light. The conference is being organized each year for men from all nations that used to be Yugoslavia. Reconciliation, forgiveness and unity are key words. Prayer point: that God's Spirit will work powerfully in the lives of the men attending. Watch this presentation from last year:

This coming week our female board members Cora Donk and Marja Verschoor-Meijers will attend an international conference in Skopje, Macedonia on behalf of Traveling Light. This conference is about the work and service among Roma people. See older blog posts (by clicking HERE) about our support of this work. Prayer point: laborers in the harvest in the Balkan nations!

Lena Apostolovski at work  in Skopje

We also received news from Moldova. If all keeps going according to plan the girls will move into the new house in August. Photo's will follow soon...

The next project will also be in Moldova. The Teen Challenge rehab center there has a need for a new... cow! More about that later :) Prayer point: that this poorest nation of Europe will get to know the rich love of God in ever increasing measure!

Project study materials Teen Challenge Georgia

The cross and the switchblade

Most of you have probably heard of the book/the movie The cross and the switchblade by David Wilkerson (the founder of Teen Challenge). The book became a best seller, with more than 16 million copies distributed in over 30 languages.

The book is also being used all over the world to reach homeless and addicted people with the good news that a new and different life is possible when we choose to live with Jesus Christ!

Recently the book has been translated from Russian into the Georgian language and 1,000 copies have been printed for distribution.

Last year we supported the work of Teen Challenge in Georgia with a financial gift and we would like to follow up by helping them to pay for the cost of translation and printing of this book.

Georgia situated on the Europe map

Besides The cross and the switchblade they also had the Teen Challenge curriculum translated; the personal and group studies that are being used in Teen Challenge rehabilitation centers all over the world in order to help students (ex-addicts) to get back on their feet.

They have printed 300 curriculum sets in expectation of new students coming in! Of course these translation and printing services come with a cost.

Playing soccer at the Teen Challenge center

We are so happy to see the vision for discipleship in Georgia developing. We wholeheartedly support the work of Teen Challenge. Next month we (Jan and Marja) will bring a visit to Teen Challenge in Georgia.

Jesus commissioned us all: Go into the world and make disciples of all nations... Well, maybe the homeless, addicted, poor, criminal, destitute and lonely do not immediately come to mind, but they also have a right to hear the GOOD NEWS and to live a changed life!

You can help us by sending a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. Thank you!

Preparing for work week Italy 2015

Boris with the new grader

At the beginning of this year we gave a donation to therapeutic community Comunita Brezzano in Tuscany for the purchase of tractor parts.

In the picture on the left you can see Boris with the new grader. There is always lots of work to do! To support him and Maria Meier (who leads the community) we did organize work weeks in Italy in 2013 and 2014.

What do we do during a work week?

With a small group of volunteers we are staying in Casa Shalom, that is one of the houses within the community. During this week we all work hard... we cut and stack the wood supply for the winter, we help with other chores, we clean and repair where needed.

Awesome evenings

So, we expect that you know how to use your hands and strength. In the evenings we have Bible studies, we make music, we sit around a camp fire and enjoy the peace We also take time to go to the beach!

Are you ready to leave your daily routine behind and would you love to help the people in Comunita Brezzano? Please, contact us by sending an email to janandmarja@gmail.com.

And yes, being tourists as well!

Cost for the week is 250 euro per person + travel (you either drive, or fly to Pisa where we will pick you up).

This year we have planned the work week from Wednesday August 26 to Wednesday September 2nd.

Don't wait too long to sign up, we have limited space available.

Photo's Operation Love Splash

Music parade in the camp

A few weeks ago a team of volunteers from 222Ministries, Pearl of Persia and Traveling Light visited the Syrian-Kurdish refugee camp in Suruc, Turkey.

The goal of Operation Love Splash was to share Gods love with people in need! We will show some photo's on this blog [click on the pictures to enlarge] as well as some comments made by team members and people in the camp...

Attentive listeners...

"... the great music parade throughout the camp. This was to invite people for the meeting, it was fantastic... all men, women and children came out of their tents and followed us and the music. I saw it as an immense army of peace... "

Sharing the joy

The team had all kinds of fun, creative activities prepared in the smaller tent where the women and children could join in. In the big tent there was music, story telling and showing of Bible movies... which everyone loved!

"It was so awesome to see that also the men rejoiced and clapped their hands and walked with us..."

Making jewelry

During a cross stitch project many women made emblems for the freedom fighters in Kobani. The teenage girls loved to make their own jewelry. At the end of the week everyone in that particular camp was invited to write their experiences on a piece of paper.

Sharing the pain

"Many people told us about trauma's and endless family tragedies because of IS... some could even come to forgiveness. We also prayed for people with diabetes, deaf- and muteness, handicaps and all kind of diseases."

Thanks to your donations we were able to purchase a beamer, sound system, speakers, microphones and arts & crafts materials. We left everything in the camp in the hope and trust that more volunteer teams will come and go.

So many children

There is so much more to share, but this blog is not the best place to do so. One thing is very clear though: our light shines brightest in the deepest darkness!

Maybe it is best to capture the whole operation in the words of one of the mothers in the camp (translated):

"This was the most beautiful week in my entire life.

Thank you for coming!"