Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Project green houses, Serbia

Green houses at Teen Challenge, Serbia
Some time ago we received a request from Sasa and Svetlana Ivanovic, the directors of Teen Challenge in Serbia... whether we wanted to raise some funds for the purchase of new plastic for the tomato green houses at the drugs- and alcohol rehabilitation center in Novi Sad.

The work of Teen Challenge in Novi Sad depends in part on donations, but also in part on the profits made of their tomato growing business.

Men's home in Novi Sad
Behind the men's center you can find several huge green houses that are covered with plastic. Every so many years the plastic has to be replaced. They are planning to do so (for at least four green houses) this coming January/February. After several years the plastic gets darker which prevents sunlight to come in and of course weather circumstances cause damage. In March 2015 thousands of tomato plants will begin to grow in these green houses.

The work in the green houses is therapy for the men in the program. They learn to work structurally and to take responsibility for the plants, the watering, the feeding, the picking etc. The fact that the tomato business brings in money to run the center, is often an extra drive to work hard and diligently.

Replacement of plastic is necessary
Of course we would like to help them with this practical investment. It takes about 600 euro for one green house to change the plastic covering. We would like to support Teen Challenge Serbia with this project by raising 2,400 euro, so they can totally renew four green houses.

If you love tomatoes ;) and the work of Teen Challenge, please help us out and make your gift payable to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and make sure to mention GREEN HOUSES.

On behalf of the staff and students in Serbia, thank you very much for your help!

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
[Galatians 6:2]

Saturday, December 27, 2014

December projects

Rehab home Berdychiv
Thanks to your fantastic response and generous gifts we were able to bless many people this December month. Read along:

The offering during the Christmas Eve service in our Church De Hoeksteen was held for our project Coffee house and Rehab homes Berdychiv in the Ukraine. We are happy to announce that we have been able to give a total donation of 3,000 euro towards the work among the addicts, homeless, prostitutes, lonely and elderly in Berdychiv.

Months away from home
We were able to sponsor Guus and Annemiek Peters with a gift for 70 Christmas goodie bags for the sailors in the ports of Belgium. Guus writes: "I had many good talks with the sailors during the distribution of the Christmas goodie bags. One in particular was with Sujith, a Hindu from india. he told me that he became a father 4 months ago and that he had not seen his daughter yet, because he has been on board of his ship for six months...
I told him dat I know someone Who did send His Son to us and then did not see Him for 33 years. The only contact between tehm was through prayer. Sujith asked me to explain more and I could share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with him. I always find it so precious that I can do this, making use of a sailor's story. There is always something in the Bible to connect his story with. Sujith was very happy with the New Testament in his own Hindi language. Thank you very much for your help!"

Beit Hallel
We also received a thank you note of Voice of Judah Ministries in Ashdod, Israel. We were able to sponsor the work of Messianic congregation Beit Hallel with a gift. "Shalom!!! Confirming we have received your wire for 1,000 EUR. Thank you for your generous gift! Many Blessings." 

What a great way to end another blessed year! Thank you so much for your faithful, surprising, periodic, one-time, general, specific, small, large, lovely and special donations.

As we are meditating on Gods blessings in this previous year, we are at the same time looking forward to a new year. We already have several practical new projects lined up:

  • Plastic for green houses Teen Challenge, Serbia
  • Tractor parts for Communita Brezzano, Italy
  • Repairs Coffee House Teen Challenge, Belgium
  • Shelter for young girls in Moldava

We are looking forward to co-laboring with you all again. Please tell others about Traveling Light.

PS: click on the pictures for enlargement

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Project Coffee house & Rehab homes, Berdychiv

Pastor Sergey Romanenko in coffee house Berdychiv
It is already a year ago that we introduced pastor Sergey Romanenko and his work in Berdychiv, Ukraine on this blog. We raised 5,000 euro towards the purchase of a house for women and children. That was such a blessing for them!

Women's home Simcha is running fine, many women and children have found this place of refuge. Pastor Sergey is also running a coffee house in Berdychiv. For many poor, homeless and addicted people a visit to a coffee house is often the first step towards seeking help. Volunteer workers of the coffee house go out into the streets to seek people who need help and invite them to come over for a visit.

Women's home Simcha, Berdychiv
Such a visit is a big step towards recovery. For many it is the first time to come in contact with believers and to experience God's love for them. They have a chance to meet people who have been set free from addictions and destructing lifestyles and who have started a new life. In the coffee house visitors get food and drinks, there is time to talk, to make music and to listen to people giving a testimony about what God has done in their lives.

After several visits (sometimes even after only one!) some people make the decision to turn around and to enter a rehabilitation home where they often stay a year or even longer.

Coffee house in Berdychiv
Pastor Sergey and his team are doing a marvelous work in Berdychiv. They really take care of the down and out and lonely... they are letting their light shine in dark corners of the Ukraine.

There are several needs at the moment: renovation work in the rehab homes, car repairs and expansion of the coffeehouse work.

We like to share good news from Ukraine! Human lives being changed, for eternity! There is no better investment to make.

You can send your donation towards the work in Berdychiv to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. Make sure to mention: COFFEE HOUSE

PS: See sidebar on the right for an overview of our December projects.

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Project Voice of Judah, Israel

Toys for children in hospital
For many people December is the month of giving (well, we think that's every month!) We remember how God gave His Son Jesus Christ to mankind... and more and more people realize that, in response to that great gift of love, it is so much better to give than to receive.

Each year we have seen an increase in donations during the month of December. And to keep the generosity ball rolling, the organizations, churches, ministries and projects we give to are being generous wherever they are. That is awesome!

Visiting the elderly
We would like to give a special love gift of 1,000 euro to the Voice of Judah in Ashdod, Israel. This organization proclaims the Good News to the people of Israel, reaches out a helping hand to feed and clothe the poor, plants and cultivates congregations, and raises up a generation of servant leaders. Pastor Israel Pochtar started the Messianic congregation Beit Hallel in 2005.

They are very active in their city and surrounding area. Their activities include: street outreach, humanitarian aid, gospel outreach tours, pro-life ministry, visiting hospitals and the elderly. They also organize Alpha courses and conferences for Hebrew, Russian and Arab speaking people. The voice of Judah is active in many spiritual and social areas of life.

The Voice of Judah is a group of believers that shines her light in Israel. We want to encourage them to keep doing so, despite the political unrest and ongoing violence.

If you have a heart for Israel, please send your gift to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275, BIC: RABONL2U. Make sure to mention ISRAEL.

Pastor Israel Pochtar will be coming to the Hoeksteen Church in Etten-Leur this January 2015. If you want to hear more about the work and life in Israel, please come.

Monday, December 1, 2014

Christmas gifts for sailors

Guus with his sailors
As we did last year, we want to help seafarer's evangelist Guus Peters with his Christmas gifts project again. For many years Guus has been working among sailors in the ports of Terneuzen, Gent and Antwerp, sharing with them the good news about Jesus Christ. 

Each year Guus and Annemiek Peters head down to the cold and windy ports on December 25th and 26th to hand out Christmas goody bags to the sailors. A small token of love, but with a huge impact in the hearts of these men, who are often far from home for months at the time and feel lonely... missing their families.

Each year this project is made possible because of gifts from people like you! For 8,50 euro you can sponsor a Christmas gift. This year the men will receive a warm sweater, a hand knitted beanie, a booklet (in their own language) and some sweets.

If you would like to bless the sailors this Christmas, send your donation of 8,50 euro (or a multiple) to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275, BIC: RABONL2U. Make sure to mention SAILORS as we have several projects come up in December.

Let your light shine light in a dark world!