Project Teen Challenge men's center Berdychiv, Ukraine

Halfway 2022, we posted project maintenance Teen Challenge men's home Berdychiv  on this blog. It is the Christian drug and alcohol rehab center that our dear friend Sergey Romanenko runs in Ukraine. We visited the center on several occasions.

Sergey is a man of faith and such a great example to many. He never gives up, he keeps the faith, and he runs the race. But that doesn't mean it is easy 💗

He always has plans for expansion while at the same time, the men's and women's centers are in constant need of regular repairs and maintenance, which is understandable when you live with so many people in one house.

They have finally finished the repairs on the outside of the men's center, a great job as you can see in the pictures. At the moment they are working on the interior of the men’s and women’s centers.

They also started building an extra room on the side of the house where the men can put their shoes and jackets, kind of a front porch. Again, it will certainly add to the value of the house.

The past one and a half years haven't been easy for anyone in Ukraine (or Russia for that matter). Sergey wrote:

"People from our rehab teams went to live abroad for the time of war and we also sent many sisters with kids abroad for the same reason. Now God is growing a new team and we didn’t close our centers, even more, we opened one more women’s rehab!

We had people who were in combat and they started using drugs, we are helping them. To our deepest sorrow, we understand that there will be many people coming back from this war with damaged lives and mental health, and also with addictions.

But God is saving people in these horrible times, He is the living God!"

They have many people to take care of, many children, and so things get broken and worn out fast, walls need to be repainted, some furniture replaced, and bathrooms redone, etc. 

We would love to encourage Sergey and his current team and send them a generous donation for all the work that needs to be done to keep these houses up and running.

If you would like to make a donation, you can do so in different ways:

• Send a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and don't forget to mention TC Ukraine Berdychiv
• 💳 Give by card
• 👉When in the USA, make your tax-deductible gift payable to EEO Inc. Make sure to mention TC Ukraine - Berdychiv

Thank you, on behalf of Sergey, for your generosity!

Shalom Maria and Ian! Greetings to you on the soon-coming Jewish Biblical Feasts! We miss our fellowship with you! So I decided to write a few words about our life here. Everything’s going well in our family, the kids keep growing, our eldest, Bella, just started her second year at the university, training to be an English teacher, Alice started her first year in college, to be a kindergarten teacher and Sonia is in year 9 at school. Ira is working, she has 2 years left before retirement. I went through and I am still going through some difficult times in life and ministry. People from the rehab teams went to live abroad for the time of war, and I also sent many sisters with kids abroad for the same reason. Now God is growing a new team and we didn’t close our centers, even more, we opened one more women’s rehab! There are many people at all centers. We had people who were in combat and started using drugs, and we are helping them. To our deepest sorrow we understand that there will be many people coming back from this war with damaged lives, mental health and with addictions. But God is saving people in these horrible times for Ukraine, He is living God! We have finally finished the house repairing the men’s rehab house! Now we need to work on the interior of men’s and women’s centers. We have many people there, many children, so things get broken and worn out fast, walls need to be repainted, etc. We are also building the front porch for them. We kindly ask you for help if it is possible, with the funds for all those repairs, kitchen furniture, bathroom facilities replacement, buying some new wardrobes for clothes. All of that is estimated at around 5000€. Could you please post about it in your blog? Tell us how are you doing? How are you feeling? Are you working on your new book? Sending great blessings and our love to you!

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Sergey

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Sergey

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Sergey

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Sergey

We are building a veranda to the house so that we can put shoes and hang clothes.

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Sep 8, 2023, 8:32 PM

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dear friends, thank you so much for your message and pictures. I will write back later this weekend, becasue we are out of the house most of tomorrow, we have a baptism in the river and service.

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Sergey

We also have our two daughters make a covenant with God!

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Sergey

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Sep 10, 2023, 5:10 PM

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Sep 13, 2023, 3:42 PM

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Dear Sergey and friends, thank you for the pictures, wow, such nice work. We are so proud of you! Everyone can say he has faith, but show us one who really has. You are such a man! God is happy, we are happy. Despite difficulties, despite trouble, never stop, keep going. This is the key! Of course, we can put this on our blog and raise some funds for your work, please give us some time, because we have several projects waiting. We surely miss the fellowship we always had in Ukraine. We travel to several countries (Poland, Czech, Germany, Slovenija, Italy, Moldova) and we love the fellowship. It must be difficult for you to stay where you are with so many people leaving. But we believe your endurance and faithfulness will be rewarded. And your joy cannot and should not be stolen. Look at your daughters!!! Hallelujah!

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Sep 13, 2023, 9:22 PM

Sergey

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Sep 14, 2023, 7:30 PM

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Dear friends, we watched the video message together and I read your message to Jan. We hear you, and we understand that it would be good to meet and ecnourage one another. We will pray about it and see how or what we can arrange to meet you!

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Sep 15, 2023, 5:50 PM

Sergey

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Sep 15, 2023, 7:33 PM

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Shana tova!!!

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Sep 15, 2023, 9:44 PM

Sergey

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Sep 17, 2023, 3:15 PM

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Sep 17, 2023, 6:38 PM

Sergey

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Sep 17, 2023, 8:50 PM

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Hallelujha!

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Oct 9, 2023, 9:36 PM

Sergey

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Sergey

Молитва за Израиль

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Oct 10, 2023, 7:31 PM

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Hallelujah, crying out for victory for Israel! Praying that God will move His mighty arm!!

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Sergey

Amen !

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Project support for Israel

Many people ask how they can support Israel in its battle against Hamas.

Obviously prayer is a very important point. Prayer for a quick end to this terrible situation. Furthermore, it is very important that as Christians we do not get our information from secular news sources, but from reliable sources.

We recommend viewing and reading news and background information via, for example:

• Israel Today
• AllIsrael.com
• Trinity Broadcasting News You can also download the app, TBN has several interesting programs about Israel.

And there are many more news sources that bring the news from a Biblical perspective.

We are in contact with our friend Brian Slater in Israel. He continues his work in the food bank in Netanya through his organization Abundant Bread of Salvation. He could use extra help, because a lot of food parcels are being distributed.

We are also in contact with friends who are distributing food parcels to civilians in bomb shelters in the south, including many Ukrainians who fled the war in their own country a year ago. They do what they can and they too can surely use prayer and financial help.

You can give in several ways. Please direct your gift to:

• St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U, and don't forget to mention ISRAEL.
• 💳 Give by card

Project Teen Challenge Groups studies for the Netherlands

As most of you know by now, a large part of the projects we support have to do with the faith-based recovery programs of Teen Challenge.

The various rehabilitation centers that we visit throughout Europe are home to men and women who have indicated that they want to turn their backs on their life-threatening problems.

Of course, you cannot force anyone to become a Christian, but over time most come to see that the world has no lasting solution and that Jesus Christ does indeed offer the hope and new life they so long for.

Through personal and group studies the students in the programs learn what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. The studies have been translated into several languages, now also in Dutch.

We have said so many times: "Everyone should follow these studies, they are so practical!" The lessons are really interesting, not just for ex-addicts, but also for new believers, church groups, or groups in prisons.

The Group Studies for New Life parts 1 to 7 have now been printed and are currently being used in two churches in Zaandam and Heerhugowaard. As Traveling Light, we would also like to offer the group studies this coming winter, especially to those who have taken the Alpha course.

👉However, lessons 8 to 14 have yet to be printed. We would like to help Teen Challenge Netherlands with this by making a donation for (part of) the costs. Will you help?

You can give in several ways. Please direct your gift to:

• St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U, and don't forget to mention: TC NETHERLANDS
• 💳 Give by card
• 👉When in the USA it is also possible to make a tax-deductible gift payable to EEO Inc. Make sure to mention: TC NETHERLANDS GROUPS STUDIES

Project and activity news

On Saturday, September 9th we had another baptism party! What a beautiful day to baptize six people in the river. There was great joy and awe and that can be seen in this beautiful photo from joylephotography.nl

Whether people participated in the Alpha course, are family members or friends... everyone testified about what God had done in their lives for them to take this step. We are very grateful for that.

Together with a large group of family and friends we celebrated their steps in faith. Be sure to watch the video impression that Pieter Meijers made for us. You really get an idea of the special atmosphere.

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Last May we wrote about the follow-up project of Christian Evangelical Community Issacar in Rivoli, Italy. At the beginning of September, we received the message that the roof of the future multifunctional center collapsed during the pouring of the concrete.

It is a miracle of God that no one was seriously injured. Even the newspaper said that it was clearly a miracle and that the workers were protected by the hand of God.

No one knows yet how this could have happened. The building is being built with the latest anti-seismic technology and has an iron beam every 30 cm, making it practically impossible to collapse, but it did. Inspections are currently taking place. The good news is that almost all of the iron used in the construction can be reused and the concrete can be used in the parking lot paving.

Would you please pray that the permit will be released quickly to clear the area and continue construction? And also that money will flow from the community to cover all unexpected expenses, such as a lawyer and an inspection engineer.

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This month, the proceeds from our secondhand shops Twinkeltje and De Schor will go to the work of Radko & Nevin Kratsov in Bulgaria. In collaboration with Youth with a Mission (YWAM Sliven), they are active on many fronts within the Roma community, which extends throughout southeastern Europe.

Radko provides education and leadership training in Bulgaria and surrounding countries and helps Roma people develop a Biblical vision in every area of life: relationships, work, health, finances, etc.

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Your donations are always welcome. You can send a gift in different ways, please take note:

• Send a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and make sure to mention 'general' or otherwise which country or project.
• 💳 Give by card

Visit to TC Winiarczykowka, Poland

Last month we visited Teen Challenge Winiarczykowka in Poland. Janusz and Bogusia Gornicki run a home for the elderly, for broken people, and for those who cannot take care of themselves. The location is a former border patrol post.

Janusz came into Teen Challenge as an addict many years ago and went through the recovery program in Lekini. We were there in July of this year! He met his wife Bogusia and together with their two sons (Simeon and Jacob) they moved south. Little Jacob was just one week (!) old when they started this adventure.

An average of about twenty men live in Winiarczykowka. Some have a history of addiction, others have psychological problems and still others are at a loss.

It is moving to see how Janusz and Bogusia extend love to people who came to them completely devastated, lost, and often lonely. That is following in Jesus' footsteps!

It was great fun to be there again. We were received enthusiastically and spent the first hours catching up on everything. Fortunately, we had excellent help from our interpreter again: Monika Skowron.

We received an extensive tour in and around the center. The vegetable garden has grown enormously in recent years. A beautiful chicken coop has been built, a goat farm, beehives, and much more. Everything was made possible thanks to donations from friends and organizations such as Traveling Light. How wonderful is that?!

Maintaining the buildings and working on the land and with the animals is therapeutic for the men and a big part of their daytime activities.

On Sunday morning there was a church service where we could share an encouraging message from God's Word. Many men were prayed for, we all had a wonderful time!

The days flew by and we really enjoyed the conversations, praying together, hiking, and eating delicious food. Our visit was very encouraging for the men, the staff, Monika, and for ourselves!

The men had prepared a huge BBQ in honor of our visit. They couldn't wait to light the fire on Saturday 😁. We enjoyed their good care and felt truly appreciated.

This is exactly the kind of 'small-scale' (we think it is huge!) work with great social, emotional, and spiritual impact that Traveling Light is happy to support.

It is direct and loving assistance to hopeless, helpless, and lonely people. 👉We have great admiration for this program.

This beautiful work is largely made possible by donations. We have been supporting them regularly (also through the monthly projects in Twinkeltje) since 2014.

This kind of support goes way beyond just sending a one-time donation for a good cause. Friendships develop and we try to maintain those friendships as best as possible by keeping in regular contact and visiting them if possible.

We want to make them happy again with a donation for their daily needs, will you help us?

You can give in several ways. Please direct your gift to:

• St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U, and don't forget to mention: TC POLAND WINIARCZYKOWKA
• 💳 Give by card
• 👉When in the USA it is also possible to make a tax-deductible gift payable to EEO Inc. Make sure to mention: TC POLAND WINIARCZYKOWKA.

PS: Click on the photos to enlarge!

Project updates and activity news

It's time again for an update on projects and activities. We will write a separate post about our trip to Winiarczykowka, Poland, soon.

In May, we reported on Issacar's follow-up project in Rivoli, Italy. The Christian Evangelical Community is building a multi-functional facility where weekly services, food distribution, soup kitchen, homeless shelter, and other activities will all take place.

We sent them a donation (4,000 euro) to stimulate the progress of the construction. We received some photos showing that a lot of building materials have been purchased again. The walls and roof are almost done.

Thank you very much on behalf of pastor Filippo Felice and the congregation for the encouragement. We hope to visit again later this year!

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We were also able to give a donation (1,500 euro) for the Vacation Bible School activities in our town.

In August they celebrated their 45th anniversary in a playground in Papendrecht. What a party that was. Many children (and their parents) came to see it. We enjoyed coffee and talked to a number of people from the organizing committee.

They were very happy with all the support they received from churches, organizations, businesses, and volunteers. They are now looking forward to the activities that will take place during the autumn holidays.

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On Thursday, September 7, we will partake in the 'Lukassen & Boer sponsor run' again (as we do each year) with an enthusiastic group of hikers and runners. This event will bring in cash for Traveling Light.

During the event you run a maximum of two (if you are younger than 15 years old) or a maximum of four (if you are 15 years old or older) rounds through sports park Oostpolder. |One round is about 2.5 kilometers long. You can run or walk. Each round you run is good for 2 euro.

The youth will start at 6:30 PM and the adults at 7:30 PM. Start at AV Passaat's athletics track, Andoornlaan 38. Hopefully, we'll see you there. We have entrance cards!

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Saturday September 9th, we will organize another baptism party at river the Lek. This time we have six people (including those from the Alpha course) who want to be baptized.

Yes, obeying the command to go out into the world, share the gospel AND baptize people! We all enjoy doing it.

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Your donations are always welcome. You can send a gift in different ways, please take note:

• Send a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and make sure to mention 'general' or otherwise which country or project.
• 💳 Give by card