Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Project renovation rooms Winiarczykowka, Poland

A few years back, with the Biddles in Ventura
A few weeks ago our American friend Rick Biddle passed away at the blessed age of 88 years. We met Rick back in 1989, during our first trip to Baja California in Mexico. Rick and his wife Helen were our American parents.

In the USA it is customary to make donations in memory of the deceased. Sometimes this money is used to pay for the funeral, sometimes it's for the family left behind and sometimes it is for a good cause. Family and friends of Rick donated over $500 for the benefit of Traveling Light.

Time for prayer and conversation
We want to use this gift as a start-up for a new project in Winiarczykowka, Poland. Yes, again that difficult name :) Early September we were visiting the crisis and rehabilitation home there. A very special home, because they also offer a warm and safe place for elderly people who are left alone in the world.

The residents work in the vegetable garden, are engaged in constructing a chicken coop, cook meals and do the cleaning. Recently the new sewage treatment plant was installed. We were able to help them with a substantial gift for this.

At work in the vegetable garden
Janusz & Bogusia Górnicki, who run this house, have a long list of projects and prospects, including the renovation of a number of bedrooms and expansion with a number of beds (for the cold winter is coming up again). Wouldn't  it be nice if we could double the memorial gift in honor of Rick Biddle?

If you have a heart for the elderly, please send your donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275, BIC: RABONL2U. Make sure to mention ROOMS WINIARCZYKOWKA.

Simple bed rooms
The money will be used to refurbish a number of rooms, to expand the bedroom capacity (more beds) and to buy some furniture. Most rooms have only beds and a cupboard, not much luxury ....

Thank you in advance for your help. We will send all donations straight to this project. No gimmicks, no games, no waste.

What you do for others, you do for God! It's that simple :)

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Visit to Moldova

The Petersen's home
Last January we introduced Johannes & Charlotte Petersen for the first time on this blog. This Danish couple has been living and working among the poorest people in Moldova for over twenty years.

Last week Jan visited them on behalf of Traveling Light. It was our first trip to the poorest country of Europe.

Community living
Over the years Johannes & Charlotte lived in several different places in Moldova. Their home is a colorful trailer which has kept them mobile... fitting the name of their ministry: Pilgrims International!

They have planted several churches, a Teen Challenge rehabilitation home for men and a women's home which will be opened soon. They provide humanitarian aid and organize children's summer camps. On their website you can find more information.

Almost done, girl's room
For the first time in all these years they now, more or less, have a permanent lot where they have put down their mobile home; it is the piece of land where the Shelter is located... a home for girls and young women who haven been rescued from human trafficking.

the Shelter
Johannes & Charlotte truly share the pure Father heart of God with the people they help: the addicts, the poor, the lonely, the young girls (sometimes only twelve years old) that are offered up for sale by their parents, ending up in prostitution and human trafficking.

It is heartbreaking to see how much suffering there is. But it is also great to see that there are people who are not hesitant to obey the call of God's heart and humble themselves to help others.

Teen Challenge men's rehab
The gift we gave last August was used to buy a Frysian milk cow and two calves! That's a good deal :) At the Teen Challenge men's rehabilitation home they are now (if funding comes in) going to build a dairy kitchen which will enable them to process and sell the milk.

We are grateful for the gifts we received from you all for the beautiful but difficult work of Johannes and Charlotte in Moldova.
The new calves

They are letting their light shine in the darkest corner of Europe, and we certainly want to encourage them! It is great to see that much can be done with little money and that our gifts are being used wisely and practically.

Please, let us not forsake to do the will of God ... on earth as it is in heaven ....

Youth room in the church
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear. (Isaiah 58: 6-8).

[PS: Click on the pictures to enlarge!]

Gifts are ALWAYS welcome at IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht.

Monday, October 12, 2015

News and activities

hard working crew in Berdychiv
Recently we were able to donate a good amount for the construction of a barn on the grounds of the Teen Challenge rehabilitation houses in Berdychiv, Ukraine.

Well, they didn't wait a single day to start their building project. Immediately materials were purchased and the men got to work. 

happy pastor Sergey Rmanenko
As in many Eastern European countries, the new barn is being built around the old barn. When all is finished, the old building will be demolished. During this construction time the existing space can still be used.

At Teen Challenge Winiarczykowka, Poland they are working hard as well. After many months of paperwork and bureaucracy finally a beginning has been made with the installation of the new water treatment system.

Arrival of the new tank
In early September we were visiting Janusz & Bogusia Górnicki in Poland and they showed us the piles of paperwork they had to go through before they received the license for the new plant.

The new system is very modern and will save them money on a monthly basis. Money that is now being spent on draining the old system.

residents and staff at Winiarczykowka
This Friday October 16 we will come together again for our monthly Prayer for the Nations. During these evenings we proclaim God's word on the countries of Europe and the Mediterranean. Especially now with the refugee situation is good to come together, listen to God's voice and pray!

Maybe you cannot be with us in person, but we are calling for churches, ministries, organizations and families to do the same. Join us in prayer for the nations as the Spirit leads you!

[Click on the photo's to enlarge!]

Mara Kreukniet from Sliedrecht was one of our first donors. Back in 2011 she came up with a cup cake fundraiser for the benefit of Traveling Light.

Mara in her museum
Recently she opened a small museum in the pantry of her parents' home with the theme "then and now." The entry fee for all friends, family members and neighbors was 50 cents and she decided to give all proceeds to Traveling Light. Well, such lovely people and creative ideas make us very happy! Thanks Mara!

For your agenda: our first winter fair 2015 which we want to organize on Saturday, December 12th. It will be an afternoon for donors and other interested parties with campfire, hot apple pie, coffee, Christmas market with fun stuff, workshops, pea soup ... too much to mention. Keep an eye on this blog and our FB page for more information.

Saturday, October 3, 2015

Runners in action for Sela Home, Belgium

On October 25th the marathon of Etten-Leur will take place. Like last year a number of runners and faithful supporters have indicated that they want to run for a good cause! This time is will be the women's home Sela in Charleroi, Belgium.

Frédérique & Natascha Hensgens
The opening of a shelter for women is an initiative of Frédéric & Natascha Hensgens. They have been facilitating a coffee house for several years in one of the poorer areas in Charlerois. Every Saturday they drive to the streets behind the station to pick up the homeless and drug addicts and bring them to the coffeehouse.

Every week a loyal group of volunteers prepares a good meal in the coffee house for these people. There is also a clothing distribution point and of course there is always time for fellowship, prayer and counseling.

Last year we visited the coffee house and were very impressed by the love this team of volunteers has for people that are in desperate need for help, including (pregnant) girls who are addicted and homeless.

The desire (and need) to open a safe house for women became stronger and stronger. From September 1 this year Frédéric & Natascha Hensgens have the opportunity to use the house that you see in the picture on the left.

There are in urgent need of helping hands and finances to get things off the ground. The house will be opened soon. Traveling Light wants to help. Thomas van Dartel, Erik Slobben, Jan Visser and Jan Verschoor will run to support this work. There are distances of 5, 10, 21 and 42 km.

You can sponsor them by giving a donation per kilometer and/or per person or by donating a certain amount for finishing the race or by giving a general amount. Everything helps!

ALL donations are welcome. Send your gifts to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. Make sure to mention: SELA.
The entire proceeds of this action will go to woma'ns home Sela.