Monday, September 24, 2012

On the road again...


Awesome worship team from our hometown Papendrecht
It was in early spring that pastor Gerhard Lewerenz invited us to come and speak at a weekend conference in his church Fels in der Brandung, in Ludwigslust, Germany. We were free to choose a theme. It was not the first time we received such a request from him :)

As a Non-profit organisation we have a three-fold mission: to offer financial support, practical help and/or spiritual encouragement. Organizing Bible based workshops and seminars is definitely part of 'spiritual encouragement'. This time we left with a team of seven enthousiastic people from our home town Papendrecht for the 8-hour trip to Ludwigslust, in North Eastern Germany.  We choose FREEDOM as the theme for this conference. The scripture we used throughout the weekend was Galatians 5:1, It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Sharing meals in the tent
'Standing firm' is not always as easy as it sounds. Not for new Believers (and there are always many in Ludwigslust) nor for mature Christians. Receiving freedom through faith in Jesus Christ is a promise, but maintaining that freedom is our responsibility. We had the opportunity to pray with many people, young and old, and many were healed from diseases and afflictions, but also delivered from negative thoughts, fear and worries. This was so awesome! And yes, the group of men from Afghanistan and Iran were there again. It was so wonderful to see them listen intensively to our Bible teaching.

Tyler (USA) was a great help with the sound system
Our worship team turned out to be such a blessing! Wow, we laughed, we danced, we sang until our throats were dry. It was a wonderful uplifting weekend, not just for all the visitors, but for us as well. We were encouraged and inspired... happy and thankful to see so many people hungry for God. What a blessing to be able to travel to the far corners of Europe and share the good news. Thank you for all your faithful prayers, because of that this trip went very well and the response of the people was great!

Monday, September 17, 2012

Update project coffee bus


The No-Bucks bus in Ireland
A few weeks ago we announced our new project: the purchase of a second hand city bus in good condition that will be used by Teen Challenge Czech Republic. For starters we are raising 5,000 euro towards this project.

The bus will be converted into a mobile coffee house. It is a great need they have at the moment, as they have lost their place for a coffee house in Prague. The director Petr Ministr wrote us:

"We would be very happy to have a moving coffee house, something like the "No Bucks coffee" TC Ireland uses. Our goal is to reach lost people in other parts of Czech republic. At the moment we have a stable team that works on the streets and is composed of workers, students from TC and volunteers from  churches. They do outreach ministry 3-4 times a week... We would like them to bring hope to those that are lost, by going and doing outreach ministry 2 days a week in various cities...."

sad situations
So far, about 2,100 euro came in. Thank you everyone, who gave towards this project. We have many people on the look out for a reliable bus, WE NEED A GOOD DEAL! This is for a very special work; the bus will provide a safe place for poor and homeless people, drugs- and alcohol addicts and prostitutes to go to and have some coffee, to have someone to talk to, to warm up and get clothed.

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
[Matthew 25:34-36]

Monday, September 10, 2012

Open House Teen Challenge Netherlands

Cora Donk behind the book stand
We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day to attend an open house. Last Saturday we left early for the three hour drive to the Spetse Hoeve, Groningen, the men's home of Teen Challenge Netherlands. Some of Traveling Light's faithful supporters came along for this special day.

Teen Challenge graduates
It gave them, and many other visitors and supporters, a chance to see the men's home and it's surroundings. We enjoyed fresh coffee and homemade pies and a fantastic BBQ. It is not everyday that we have lamb sausage with couscous!

In the afternoon there was a church service in the barn where a band played on a wagon and we were seated among the tractors and hay stacks. There was time for testimonies from former students, some of them went through the program more than 10 years ago and are still clean today! Also a group of graduates received their diploma this Saturday. How awesome to hear their stories, from a life of destruction to a life with God!

Beautiful day at the men's center
We just love the work of Teen Challenge worldwide. Broken lives are being restored, wounds are being healed and new hope for the future is being ignited.

If you know of someone who desperately needs help with life controlling issues (such as addictions) and is WILLING to get help, please make sure to check if there is a Teen Challenge center in your country or area and let that person make the phone call that can save his or her life!

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Special gift for Izhod Teen Challenge, Slovenia

Matjaz & Magdalena Horjak, directors of TC Slovenia
We love it when gifts keep coming in for our current project coffee bus Czech Republic AND also for other projects and people we love. This week we received a 500 euro gift for Izhod Teen Challenge, Slovenia.

We have transferred the money towards the work with the down and out, addicted and homeless people in Slovenia. As you all may know we have visited the men's home in Nova Vas on several occasions and we just LOVE what is happening there. A small group of men is able to live and work in the Dennis Griffith home. And while in the program they get introduced to the love of God the Father, the grace of Jesus Christ and the friendship with the Holy Spirit. That turns out to be life changing... for most of them that is the beginning of new life and new hope.

What a blessing to be able to bless them :)
Thank you.