Travel updates and lots of thanksgiving

In June and July, we were not only able to send in donations to various projects, but we also traveled quite a lot.

Visiting, showing your face, listening, praying with people, speaking words of encouragement and prophecy, teaching... you name it. It's all part of the traveling work we do on behalf of our non-profit Traveling Light (hence the name!).

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At the beginning of June, we were guests at the 25th anniversary of the Teen Challenge men's center in Sluknov, Czech Republic. Very nice to be there and even nicer that we were approached by several men from the program about the Bible study sessions we gave there in January. One man came running to tell us that his shattered wrist (which he had been unable to use for years) had been healed after we prayed for it. Praise the Lord!

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When we returned home, Jan got on his motorbike and drove to Teen Challenge Slovenija. The next day they went from there with 2 vans and 12 men from the rehab program to the 'My Brother's Keeper' conference in Montenegro.

Hundreds of men from all the Balkan countries gathered there. Those of you who have ever joined Jan for such a conference know that these are very blessed gatherings with lots of prayer, music, liberation, and healing. This time again dozens of men gave their lives to Jesus. Also a number of men from the TC program in Slovenija. Praise the Lord!

After the conference, Jan stayed an extra day in the TC center in Slovenija to teach the Bible a, pray with the men, and speak into their lives. This picture (click on it to enlarge) says more than a thousand words, right?! 💓

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On the way back home, Jan visited Dirk & Meike Hellmann, they have been directors of the Teen Challenge rehab center Gutes Land in Germany for many years. We have visited them regularly over the years.

Dirk has been struggling with cancer for a long time, he also had a bone marrow transplant and was not doing well. Jan was able to encourage them both, prayed with Dirk, and even went swimming with him (which he really wanted). He visibly improved. Praise the Lord!

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At the beginning of July, we were among the guests of honor at the celebration of 35 years of Teen Challenge in Poland. What a party it was! The celebration took place on the grounds of the men's rehab center in Lekinia, which we have visited several times in the past. There were many visitors, including officials from the city and many former students.

TC Poland has several rehab houses for men and women, a network of 50(!) coffee houses, church plants, and much more. On behalf of Traveling Light we accepted a beautiful glass plaque as an appreciation for the many years of help and support.

Again, it was so encouraging that people came to us who recognized us from previous visits, who remembered what we taught about years ago, or who just wanted to tell us that prayers had been answered. Here too, a lot of gratitude for the work of Traveling Light. Praise the Lord!

On Sunday, 14 men and women were baptized in a nearby lake. What testimonials we have heard!

Only God can restore broken lives, reunite families, save marriages, heal disease, and break addictions.

Among the international guests in Poland were also Stephan & Marianne Barendse from Teen Challenge Netherlands. Good to spend some time together again.

Actually, we visited them in Heerhugowaard at the beginning of June. TC Netherlands is once again going through a difficult time. The Cyan thrift store has closed (they had to leave due to zoning plans in the municipality) and the care department of Life House has also closed (because that was largely paid for by the proceeds of the store).

Prayer is needed on how to proceed.

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Meanwhile, our dear friends, volunteers, and loyal donors Piet & Anneke Stehouwer were vacationing in Croatia and they decided to visit the new Teen Challenge coffee house in Solin, for which we recently collected funds (read here).

They had a blessed meeting with TC director Ico Matulic and the man who runs the coffee house. These kinds of visits and meetings are so important and valuable, believe it or not.

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Both the financial support and the personal visits are the heart of our work. None of this would be possible without your help.

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

Project coffee house Belgrade Teen Challenge Serbia

It is just wonderful to see how coffee houses are springing up in the Balkans. It is still (or again) a great way to reach people who are in need of help and a touch from the Lord.

It is easy for people to come in for a cup of coffee and tell their stories, ask questions about the possibility to enter a rehab program, or to hear more about God. Recently, we were able to help Teen Challenge Croatia with a gift for their coffee house ministry and we also want to send support for the newly opened Teen Challenge Coffee House in Belgrade, Serbia.

Belgrade is the Capitol of the Republic of Serbia. It has approximately 2.5 million inhabitants. There are about 80,000 hard drug addicts officially registered in Serbia. It should be added to all that that 500,000 people in Serbia, which has a population of 7 million, are addicted to alcohol. These are official statistics, the actual figures are much higher.

The team members at Teen Challenge Serbia know from personal experience that a way out of addiction is possible. Actually, the only real way to get out of addiction is to accept Jesus Christ by faith and start a new life as His disciples.

All of the team members belong to Lifegate Belgrade church led by Djordje and Dragana Todorović - Gvozdenović, they were among the first students to graduate from the Teen Challenge Serbia program at the time, many years ago. 

In a coffee house setting, addicts will be able to hear the Gospel in an informal atmosphere, be motivated to go to the Teen Challenge residential programs, or accept a Living Free program in the Coffee House.

Although the church provides the space for the coffee house meetings, they still need some finances for furniture, refreshments (tea, coffee, biscuits) study materials, etc.

If you have a heart for the broken and hurting people and a heart for the nations of Europe, sow a seed into the work of Teen Challenge in Serbia. You can give in several ways. Please direct your gift at:

• St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and don't forget to mention: TC SERBIA
• 💳 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 SERBIA.

Project 2nd coffee house Teen Challenge Croatia

Back in 2021 Teen Challenge Croatia opened their first Coffee House in Split.

Split is the second largest city in Croatia with a large number of young people who have addiction problems and other life-controlling problems. We were able to help them get started by sending finances.

All over Europe (and the world) Coffee House ministry is still a great way to reach people who are in need of help and a touch from the Lord. It is easy for people to come in for a cup of coffee and tell their stories, ask questions about the possibility to enter a rehab program, or to hear more about God.

For some time the team in Split has seen the need to open a second Coffee House, in the city of Solin. Solin is a town with 30,000 inhabitants near Split. Solin is inhabited mostly by young people and many of them are drug addicts.

A large number of military veterans live in the city as well, some of whom have become alcoholics. The social image of the city is quite bad; there are a lot of poor and homeless people and there is also a lot of domestic violence and other types of crime.

Anyway, they found a suitable space in the city center, close to all city services. The owner agreed to charge Teen Challenge only half of the usual rent (250 Euro per month) which was really an answer to prayers.

The space was empty and in need of renovation, electrical, plumbing, and other works. It needed painting, cleaning, a kitchen, equipment, furnishing etc. etc. All this was done by volunteers and made possible because of donations.

As soon as it looked presentable, they opened the doors and people started coming! The concept is simple: during their outreach activities in the streets, they invite people to the Coffee House.

We would like to support Ico Matulic (director TC Croatia) and his team in their efforts to reach people for Jesus! If you have a heart for the broken and hurting people and a heart for the nations of Europe, sow a seed into the work of Teen Challenge in Croatia. You can give in several ways. Please direct your gift at:

• St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and don't forget to mention: TC CROATIA
• 💳 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 CROATIA

Traveling Light, what we do!

As Traveling Light, we support projects of various Christian organizations in more than 32(!) countries in Europe. Most of you know that by now 😁. Topics are faith-based rehabilitation, care for the poor and displaced, evangelism, etc. etc.

We encourage the workers in such organizations in three ways, namely: financially by fundraising, practically by visiting, and spiritually by teaching.

👉But we do so much more! Whether you have been a donor for years or have just joined, it doesn't matter... it's good to realize that through your generosity, presence, availability and/or prayers you are part of a large (net)work! Let's take a look at some of the other recent activities.

🠊From May 4-7, we visited the Europe Teen Challenge conference in Rimini, Italy. There were more than 270 participants (many of whom we know personally) from 23 countries,

🠊On May 19 and 20, we participated in the AG (Assemblies of God) leadership conference in Ede. We were very encouraged while there, something we need just as well!

🠊On May 25, we participated in a business (sponsorship) event of Alpha Nederland. Very encouraging again to see and hear what the impact of Alpha is.

🠊 We are currently giving an Alpha course in Twinkeltje for the 5th time. We are also involved in giving Alpha Prison in various detention centers and prisons in the region as well as in organizing church services in prison.

🠊 Then of course there is our shop/coffee house Twinkeltje. On Saturday and Monday afternoons, people come and go for a cup of coffee, talk, or prayer.

🠊 We organize various Bible study meetings in small groups.

🠊Monday May 29th, we are involved in an open-air service of the Hoeksteen and the Street church of Jim & Lynda Hayes in Etten-Leur.

🠊On June 10th we will be in Zurich for the annual meeting of Comunita Brezzano. We have again been asked to provide the afternoon program (theme: Sabbath).

🠊From June 15-18, Jan will participate for the 10th time (!) in the Balkan conference My Brother's Keeper, which will be held in Montenegro this time.

🠊 In between all of this, we pay many personal visits to people who need prayer and encouragement.

🠊 We receive, read and respond to newsletters from all those organizations and ministries in over 32 countries. That alone is a ministry in itself!

🠊 We will keep you informed via the news items on this blog.

🠊 We maintain good contacts with various non-profit organizations and churches in our area.

🠊 And perhaps one more time: all donations will go towards the projects we support, and not to us. We are all volunteers and work to make a living.

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

Follow-up project Issacar Rivoli, Italy

In October 2021 we posted a message about the construction project of Christian Evangelical Community Issacar (just outside Torino in Northern Italy) on our blog.

This church has been providing shelter and assistance to the homeless and displaced for quite some years. Various rooms in the church are being used for preparing meals, food distribution, and for emergency shelter.

Last November we were at a conference in Northern Italy, which was a great opportunity to visit Pastor Filippo Felice as well as the construction site, so we could see the work in progress.

The current church is located in a rented industrial building. The municipality of Rivoli has donated a piece of land where, with the help of volunteers and donations, a beautiful facility of their own is being built.

Construction is progressing steadily. Every time funds come in, materials can be purchased (which, by the way, are getting more and more expensive, just like everywhere else).

In addition to a meeting hall, there will be small apartments for the homeless, a community kitchen, a room for childcare, vegetable gardens, and rooms for various activities and creative projects. Truly, it will be a multi-functional building!

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 and mention ISSACAR, or
• 💳 Give by card

Project and activity news

King's Day in The Netherlands, a festive day! We stood at the free market with 2nd hand stuff and talked with a lot of people, drank coffee, and even prayed with some. Despite the festivities, many people walk around with pain and sadness.

The beautiful spring weather was a bonus. The day brought in 450 euro for the monthly project: the men's rehab center of Teen Challenge Czech Republic in Sluknov. We were eventually able to transfer the nice amount of 4,000 euro for this purpose.

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Last Friday we organized another Israel evening in Twinkeltje, which also attracted a lot of interest. Always good to talk about that special country and its inhabitants.

We showed beautiful pictures on the big screen, had many conversations, and enjoyed tasty snacks. Israel products consultant Liesbeth Kortleve, who herself just came back from Israel, had many products on display for sale! By buying products, we support the country.

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Later this week we (Krijn, Cora, Jan and Marja) will attend the annual Europe Teen Challenge conference, which will be held in Rimini, Italy. (PS: of course, we travel at our own expense, your donations always go toward the projects).

We will be there with a large book table and hope for many good conversations and a strengthening of existing contacts. Carter Conlon of Time Square Church is the keynote speaker at the conference, so we expect to come back edified and encouraged as well!

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In the meantime, the monthly project for May in Twinkeltje and the Schor is Teen Challenge Winiarczykowka in Poland, they take care of displaced elderly people. This coming Saturday our shop is closed, but next week you are welcome again! Of course, you can always transfer a donation! 😉

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

Project Teen Challenge men's rehab Sluknov, Czech Republic

It's been a while, but at the beginning of January, we (Jan and Marja) visited the Teen Challenge men's center in Sluknov, Czech Republic.

The center offers space to about 12-15 men who are struggling with addictions. It is a beautiful old country house on a large property. The house has a community kitchen, study room, staff housing, and a vegetable garden.

For the expansion (dormitories, toilets, showers, etc.), the rear part of the house had to be renovated. Traveling Light helped with an amount for this in the summer of 2021.

👉 This time we were able to see the result of that renovation with our own eyes. It all turned out very beautiful! How cool to see how well the donations have been spent.

During our visit, we extensively discussed the theme of  'New Beginnings' with the men during a number of Bible study sessions and of course there was also time and opportunity for personal prayer. And all this with the patient help of an interpreter.

We also explored the area and spent time with Petr & Mira Kral (the directors of TC Czech Republic) whom we know personally from the many conferences we attended in recent years.

We also took a look at the old factory hall (purchased a few years ago) that is increasingly taking shape as a multifunctional center.

A large wood workshop has now been set up and a space has been determined for a coffee house. The remodeling of the factory provides employment for the men in the rehab program.

Oh yes, we also went to see the renovation of a shop in the village where a coffee house is going to be established, geared towards the youth in town.

Such great initiatives. The idea behind a Teen Challenge rehabilitation center goes much further than just getting men off of their addiction.

Vision for the future and for the surrounding communities are also being developed. We love that.

If you have a heart for offering new beginnings to men who thought there was no hope for them  and if you want to invest in their lives, please direct your gift at:

• St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and don't forget to mention: TC CZECH SLUKNOV
• 💳 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 CZECH SLUKNOV

Project Roma Ministry International, Bulgaria

We have been following the work of Radko and Nevin Kratsov from Bulgaria for years and support them regularly.

In collaboration with YWAM Sliven they are active on many fronts within the Roma community, which extends across the whole of 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.

From April 13 to 17, they will be in Germany, near Frankfurt, for a conference aimed at the Roma population there. A number of churches are committed to bringing together about two hundred Roma migrants and refugees.

The topic Radko will talk about is victim mentality (the orphan spirit) which is a major problem among many groups and societies in Europe and has a very toxic influence among the Roma.

Often, he travels alone (or with other leaders from the Roma community) and visits many countries in Europe. However, the plan is to visit this conference with the whole family. They haven't been out of the country for ministry since 2019, so they're pretty excited!

Several more meetings and conferences are planned in the coming months, including a trip to Hungary (early June). An international meeting of Youth with a Mission will be organized.

A great opportunity to meet workers and staff from other countries, spend time together seeking God, and reflect on the next common goals.

We would like to support them in their important spiritual work within the Roma community and also help to fund these trips. Sometimes there is a speaking allowance, but travel and accommodation costs are increasingly expensive (we know that from our own experience!).

If you would like to support the work of Radko, please make your gift payable to: St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and make sure to mention: ROMA BULGARIA.

👉You can give by card as well.

Prayer is needed for the impact of the gospel and the transformation it will bring to the Roma community.

Project news

Thanks to your response, we were able to send donations in order to support a variety of projects. Thank you very much for that.

The suffering as a result of the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria is indescribable. It is beyond comprehension when you see the images. Emergency aid efforts are being offered everywhere, but are also rather difficult due to the aftershocks and, well... where and how do you start clearing the rubble?

We transferred 5,000 euro to Samaritan's Purse. This Christian organization has set up a field hospital in the earthquake area. Their stories are heartbreaking, yet hopeful at the same time! Check out this VIDEO.

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The Weissensee fundraiser brought in 7,500 euro. We have been able to donate that amount to Teen Challenge in Armenia. A huge blessing for the work among the homeless and addicted there.

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The proceeds in Twinkeltje and de Schor over the month of February were more than 1,800 euro. That amount goes to Teen Challenge in Belgium for their work among homeless people and the addicted in Charleroi.

We visited Frédéric & Natacha Hensgens from Teen Challenge Belgium at the end of January. They currently have the opportunity to rent a property in one of the main shopping streets in the city where they could move their shop with second-hand clothing and perhaps also start a kind of coffee / community center.

It is an area where many drugs are trafficked and used... we will keep you informed of the developments.

That Sunday we were in the Christian Center in Brussels, an international church that is home to many nationalities.

The congregation prayed for Teen Challenge and Traveling Light and Jan had the opportunity to share a short word. It turned out to be exactly the word the pastor was going to speak about, always great when that happens of course 😁

If you have a heart for street evangelism and work among addicts in Charleroi, you can still transfer a donation, we will ensure that everything ends up at Teen Challenge.

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As far as the month of March is concerned, all proceeds in Twinkeltje and de Schor will be donated to the Teen Challenge rehabs in Berdichyv, Ukraine. Great to see and hear how the work there continues unabated, despite the war.

We would like to continue to encourage them and also help them to cover their daily costs. The hopelessness resulting from the ongoing war situation has prompted many women to start drinking and/or using drugs.

How nice when, despite difficult circumstances, they manage to find their way to one of the rehabs in Berdichev, where they often (if not always) have an encounter with Jesus Christ.

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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

Project Living Free materials for Slovenija and Sweden

As most of you know by now, a large portion of the projects we support has to do with faith-based drugs and alcohol recovery programs. In rehab centers across Europe, the addicted find new life and freedom in Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, only a very small percentage of people struggling with addiction issues actually enroll in a residential program. After all, you will be away from home/work for months.

Fortunately, there are also other possibilities to lead people to true freedom, for example, the Living Free group lessons that are offered in churches.

We have been able to donate several times in the past for the translation of those lessons into various languages. Jonatan & Valentina Vlaisavljevic from Teen Challenge Macedonia are the representatives of Living Free in the Balkans. The intention is to train participants so that they can give the training themselves in their church or organization.

We would like to contribute to a healthy spiritual climate in all countries of Europe! 👉 We believe that is part of the great commission to go into the world and make all nations disciples of Jesus Christ.

Funds are currently being collected for Teen Challenge in Slovenia and Sweden to enable the translation of the video subtitles and the translation and printing of the workbook, and personal and group lessons. Once that job is done, they can start offering the lessons!

If you have a heart for practical Biblical education and freedom for people who struggle with all kinds of problems, send your donation to IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht. Make sure to mention: LIVING FREE.