2021 was a blessed year!

Just before Christmas, we would like to give you some project updates. Always nice to see how gifts are spent! 😀

We received photos from our Teen Challenge friends in Berdychiv, Ukraine.

Thanks to the help of Traveling Light, they were able to have the Volkswagen van repaired.

Can you tell they are happy?

We also got pictures from our Teen Challenge friends in Winiarczykowka, Poland. They have used our latest donation to buy a number of beehives, among other things.

A competition was organized in collaboration with several schools to see who could paint the boxes the most beautiful. They turned out very colorful.

The project where the proceeds of Twinkeltje en de Schor will go this month is Pilgrims / Teen Challenge Moldova.

They will, as every year, deliver food and coal parcels to widows, the elderly, and the poor.

We can look back at a blessed year and we are very grateful for that. Just to name a few things:

• Thanks to your donations we have been able to support many projects
• We have been able to receive many guests in Twinkeltje on a weekly basis
• We gave an Alpha course for the first time in Twinkeltje and recently started a new group
• The baptism service at the end of September was one of the highlights of the year!
• We have received several international guests during a number of mission evenings

And so we could go on and on. Of course, this will all be specified in the 2021 annual report. If you want to send a year-end donation, please do so! You can:

• Send a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U, or
• 💳 Give by card

Project women's home Teen Challenge Georgia

We have supported the work of Teen Challenge in Georgia throughout the years with various donations and visits. Directors Kuanysh and Madina Akkuzova visited us in Twinkeltje back in 2019.

Teen Challenge Georgia staff and volunteers run a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center for men in Tbilisi, a women's home and training center in Batumi, and an active and vibrant church and Sunday school in Tbilisi.

They also do street work and are involved in activities for children from refugee camps.

Not so long ago, thanks to donations, they were able to buy a house in Tbilisi that already functions as rehabilitation and shelter for women who, for whatever reason, are not safe elsewhere.

However, there is still a lot of renovation work to be done to make the house habitable according to the rules for a larger group of women and their children.

Think of insulation, expansion of sanitary facilities (there is now only 1 toilet and shower), good heating, upgrade kitchen and equipment, furniture, painting, and wallpapering. They also depend on donations for such a project!

We are of course happy to help make that possible. Every human life counts and it is precisely these kinds of small-scale projects that have a major impact on families and their environment.

It is very encouraging for us to read the newsletters and to see that the work is expanding, yes despite the difficult circumstances (lockdowns, political conditions, economic malaise etc.) everyone is dealing with at the moment.

The message is always: Don't give up, there is a lot of work to do!

If you want to help, please choose one of the following ways:

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

Christmas packages for sailors and refugee children

As we do every year, Traveling Light wants to support several Christmas packages campaigns, namely those of harbor evangelist Alexander Eberson and that of 222 Ministries.

Alexander writes in his latest newsletter:

"Christmas is the time for me to show the sailors in word and deed that God loves them too. I want to give a Christmas gift to every sailor I visit. Will you help me with this?

What's in it? A turtleneck scarf or hat, a pair of socks, a bottle of shower gel, a notepad with pen, a roll of Mentos fruit, a Mars, a Christmas card, and a Christmas tract. Each package costs about 6.00 euro. Will you also help me with this this year?"

And then 222 Ministries, they are organizing Operation Christmas Joy (OCJ) again this year. 222 Ministries is convinced that they must invest in children, that they must give them good education and good influences as they develop. As the next generation, they are the carriers of change for the future.

An important way in which they serve children is through OCJ. 222 now has many Afghan children in need as a result of the recent crisis. OCJ's goal for 2021 is to deliver packages to at least 1,000 children, 500 each of Iranian and Afghan descent.

OCJ needs to expand to reach refugees not only in Turkey, but also in Pakistan, Greece and the Balkan countries. Until now, the focus has been on Christian refugees, but 222 wants to take advantage of the opportunities for the families to share with other Farsi-speaking friends and neighbors. This proves to be a fruitful way to expand the Church's mission.

The packages contain clothes and shoes, especially for winter, multivitamins. baby milk, toys, and educational materials. Whenever possible, 222 children will gather for celebrations, but in smaller numbers. Celebrations are really important because most children had to stay isolated due to the Covid crisis.

If you would like to sponsor a package, you can

• send a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U, or 
• 💳 Give by card 

Don't forget to mention whether it is for SAILORS or for 222.

Projects of the month in our stores

As most of you know, in addition to the projects we announce on this blog, we have a specific project each month that we support with the proceeds from our 2ndhand shop Twinkeltje and vintage store De Schor.

In October it was Bertine House in Poltava, Ukraine. Thanks to you, we were able to transfer a wonderful gift of 2,100 euro to them.

Bertine House operates under the Teen Challenge flag and offers a safe place to mothers (and their children) who want to kick destructive habits and start a new life.

On behalf of all of them, many thanks for your contributions, in whatever form!

As a project for the month of November, we have chosen the Teen Challenge juvenile home in Kazakhstan.

Maxim and Evgenia Buzinovskiyi are no strangers to us. They take care of children who, for whatever reason, cannot live at home.

They are currently raising money to renovate the common room. It has to be painted, electricity replaced, moldy walls repaired, new tables purchased (the children have been homeschooled for a year and a half) etc. etc.

By the way, congratulations are in place, because recently Maxim and Evgenia were delighted with the birth of a daughter: Victoria.

So come and visit us in De Schor (on Friday) and/or Twinkeltje (on Saturday afternoon). We have a lot of nice Christmas stuff and, as always, the coffee is ready.

Donations are always welcome. You can make us happy with your prayers and a financial gift anytime!

• Send a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U, or 
• 💳 Give by card

PS: next week you can read more about the annual Christmas packages on this blog!

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!

Project updates en lots of creativity

It's time to share some news about the use of your donations! Always nice of course 😁 First of all, we'll go to Belgium.

Last summer we sent a donation to the Teen Challenge rehab center in Charlerois, Maison Betser.

They used the money, among other things, to place a roof on the side of the center where all kinds of tools, firewood, and building materials can be stored. In the photo, you can see the first setup.

The proceeds from Twinkeltje and Atelier De Schor from September went to Teen Challenge Winiarczykowka in Poland. They used the gift to purchase beehives and a honey centrifuge/extractor.

The beehives will be decorated in collaboration with school children, a nice way to interact with the local community, and also a piece of education about the importance of balance in nature.

The project is called "Life Challenge" and our logo can also be found on the posters distributed locally to draw attention to this bee project.

The project for the month of October in Twinkeltje en de Schor is Bertine House in Poltava, Ukraine. A Teen Challenge shelter and rehab home for mothers and children.

Earlier this month one of our donors gave a workshop at her home where a group of ladies made beautiful autumn wreaths. The proceeds were for this project! And this week we organized a macramé workshop in Twinkeltje, the proceeds also benefit this project.

These creative meetings are not just a nice way to get together for a great evening and fellowship, but they also bring fun back in fundraising.

Donations for all our beautiful projects are always welcome. You can make us happy with your prayers and a financial gift anytime!

• Send a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U, or 
• 💳 Give by card

Project Issacar in Rivoli (TO) Italy

Last month we visited the Italian translator of Marja's books. The congregation of which she is an active member, the Christian Evangelical Community Issacar just outside Torino in Northern Italy, has been providing shelter to the homeless and displaced for many years. Pastor Filippo & Emma Felice founded the church in 2003.

In 2009 they set up the non-profit organization Città delle Palme as a base for the practical and humanitarian aid they offer on a daily basis. Various rooms in the church are being used for preparing and distributing meals and shelter.

Besides beds and meals, pastoral help and support are being offered. At the moment the church houses around twenty people. Some of them have come to faith and have recently been baptized because of the love and practical help they received.

Because the current space became too small and impractical (and the number of people in need is increasing), they decided to build a separate facility next to the church. The land for this project was donated by the municipality of Rivoli!

With the help of volunteers and donations, a beautiful building is being built. Everything has been paid for so far, there are no debts. That in itself is commendable.

However, as a result of the current crisis, construction has been halted somewhat. Many people lost their jobs and income and no longer have the necessary finances available to complete this project. The church is now diligently looking for sponsors, because it would be nice if the roof could be in place before the winter!

In addition to the homeless, Città delle Palme also offers accommodation to students from Africa who often have no money to rent a room in Torino. Many of them study at one of the city's universities and because they are taken care of in the church, they become involved in everything that happens there.

Traveling Light would like to support this practical project. We have seen and heard how hard many in Northern Italy have been hit financially, economically, and physically and applaud Issacar's outreach to the lost, lonely, and homeless. The great thing is that they also have the support of a number of other churches in the area.

If you want to help,

• Send a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U
• 💳 Give by card

The video below shows the construction project, so far.

Baptisms

Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

[Matthew 28:19-20]

All nations... that's quite a bit. It seems an impossible task, but if everyone does their part, it will be done 😁

We are very happy and grateful that we can obey the command of the Lord Jesus. On Saturday September 25th we baptized 6 people in the river near Langerak. It was a big celebration!

Two people who were baptized, have followed the Alpha course that we host in our coffeehouse/shop Twinkeltje. We want to start a new session soon for the autumn season, so please contact us if you are interested.

The theme of the baptism celebration was 'making choices'. We make choices every day to do or not to do things, to be for or against something, to belong or to walk away.

The people who were baptized on Saturday already made the most important decision in a human life: they decided to follow Jesus Christ and therefore not the things of this world. Their baptism was a public testimony of that choice.

As a non-profit organization, we do so much more than just fundraise for projects in more than 30 countries. We are also visible locally and active in helping people to make life-changing decisions.

Pieter Meijers filmed the baptism celebration and made a fantastic trailer!

You can make us happy with your prayers and a financial gift anytime!

• Send a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U
• 💳 Give by card

Project solar heating Comunita Brezzano, Italy

Recently, we visited our friend Maria Meier in Italy. Maria runs Comunita Brezzano, a Christian therapeutic community in the interior of Tuscany. People with all kinds of problems (psychological, addiction etc.) can stay there for an extended time, rest, and get to know God better.

Comunita Brezzano exist thanks to donations, partial government support for each guest, and the sale of local produce.

They also receive people doing community service, they are put to work in the surrounding villages maintaining flower beds and painting village benches, nice work!

We (Jan and Marja) rented guest house Casa Shalom for a week and enjoyed a wonderful vacation. It was also a great opportunity to catch up and gather some information to support a new project.

On the roof of the men's house Casa Nuova they want to place two (used) solar collectors for hot water supply. This will make a significant difference in the electricity bill.

In addition, they want to connect the existing hot water boiler (which is also heated by solar energy) to the central heating and radiators in Casa Shalom.

So no more wood-burning stove to heat the radiators, but solar energy. In this way, the house can also remain better heated in the winter months.

Traveling Light would like to help with funds. If you want to join us, please

• Send a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and make sure to mention BREZZANO, or you can
• 💳 Give by card

Update Teen Challenge Albania

In April of this year, we wrote about the expansion of the Teen Challenge rehabilitation center for drug and alcohol addicts in Albania.

Orges Hysenaj, the director and founder of Teen Challenge Albania, keeps us regularly informed about the ins and outs of the 'Streha' center.

If you are interested and want to stay informed you can follow TC Albania on Instagram

Through the coffeehouse work, more and more addicts come into contact with the work of Teen Challenge. It is there that they often hear for the first time that there is HOPE and that they do not have to struggle with addiction all their lives.

It does mean, however, that they have to take the step to turn their backs on the old life, someone else cannot do that for them! Every human life is precious and we are pleased to see that human lives are changing, one by one… also in Albania.

The work in 'Streha' house depends on donations. More men in the program also means more funds are needed for the day-to-day business (food, drink, gas, light, salary of staff, etc.).

If you have a heart for Albania and want to indirectly help to bring hope to the hopeless ...

• 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