Saturday, July 25, 2015

Project summer activities Saraj, Macedonia

Great group of brothers & sisters
A few weeks ago we (Cora Donk and Marja Verschoor-Meijers) were in Skopje, Macedonia to attend a conference on ministry among Roma people. There were Roma people present from Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Romania and Serbia.

Summer camp last year
It was of course a great honor for Traveling Light to be invited for this event. The teaching and preaching of pastor Radko Kratsov was very useful and inspiring. it turns out that many Roma's are coming to faith in Jesus Christ in these nations and churches and home groups are being established everywhere. The problem is that quite often they do not know this is happening on such a scale and they often feel isolated and alone. 

For that reason it is great to come together regularly for fellowship, exchanging news, praying for each other, making new friends and building a network.  

Games during the picnic
The conference was being organized by our dear friends Sokrat & Lena Apostolovski from Skopje. They have been working among the Roma children for years and years and they are the pastors of the Saraj Church in that area. 

During this summer vacation they are organizing several events, such as a 3-day summer camp for the children, a grand picnic for the children and their parents and a project called 'I want to know how to read and write'.

Very proud of their work!
It is fantastic to see how more and more children, as a result of the work of Sokrat & Lena, are deciding to go to school. Children that also realize that God loves them and wants to reach Roma society through them with a message of hope for the future.

If you want to support and bless the work of Sokrat & Lena among the Roma children, please send a gift so they can continue to organize summer activities such as these.

Make your gift payable to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275, BIC: RABONL2U and make sure to mention: ROMA CHILDREN.

Sokrat & Lena are always looking for volunteers. So, if you are seriously looking for mission work in Macedonia, please email us for details. Together we can let our light shine in all corners of Europe and the Mediterranean area. THANK YOU!


Saturday, July 18, 2015

Project children's work materials

We are currently raising funds for a new Frysian cow for the Teen Challenge rehabiliatation center in Moldova

But that is of course not the only thing going on; the summer vacation is actually pretty busy at Traveling Light :) We are receiving many new project requests, we are traveling and we also make plans for the coming months.

From July 28 - August 2nd, 2015 222 Ministries and Pearl of Persia will be hosting a conference again for Iranian people in Holland. From time to time they come together to catch up, to network and to encourage one another. Through these conferences 222 Ministries is able to strengthen and equip the Iranian believers in this difficult time.

They make use of volunteers, also for the children's program that will be held during this week. Some of the sweet ladies were also the initiators behind Operation Love Splash.

We would love to help them with the purchase of materials, such as the book Children can you hear me? which will be given to all kids and workers. We need about 400 euro (asap) to cover the cost. Who wants to help?

Please, send your donation  to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. Make sure to mention 222 Children's work.

Thursday, July 9, 2015

Project COW for Teen Challenge, Moldova

Teen Challenge rehab in Falesti
Earlier this year we were able to donate a good sum to wards the work of Johannes and Charlotte Petersen in Moldova and well specifically for the construction of the Shelter, a home for girls and women who have been rescued from human trafficking (update will follow).

Johannes and Charlotte have been living and working among the poorest in Moldova for over twenty years. They have started up children and youth educational programs, a church, humanitarian aid and also a Teen Challenge drugs- and alcohol rehabilitation center located in Falesti.
Jura with the Frysian cow

The daily leader of the center is Jura (see the photo on the right). Running a faith-based program means they depend partly on donations and partly on business opportunities. The goal is to become largely independent, for example by growing their own vegetables and fruits and by keeping animals.

Mini zoo :)
The Teen Challenge farm in Falesti currently has two milk cows (one Frysian), one young bull and two calves, the oldest milk cow being at retirement age. They furthermore have pigs, geese, ducks and chickens. Around the center lies approximately three hectares of land on which they have planted nut trees, berry trees, beans, tomatoes and alfalfa.

With the purchase of 1 or 2 new Frysian milk cows it will be possible to generate income (by selling the milk) which will help to run the center on a day to day basis. A good milk cow gives about forty liters of milk a day.

Home of restoration
Being a Holland-based organization, Traveling Light of course LOVES Frysian cows :) and we would love to help them buy at least 1 cow. The price for a Frysian is about 2,300 euro. Well, that should not be a problem, right?!

This is, yet again, another practical, small scale project that has a direct impact on the guys in the program.The work with animals and the keeping of a vegetable garden is part of the therapy and it prepares the guys for a healthy and productive life in society. God loves these men and so do we. Each life counts!

Please, send your donation  to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. Make sure to mention TC MOLDOVA COW. 

When in the USA, send your tax-deductible gift to Eastern Europe Outreach, make sure to mention TC MOLDOVA COW.

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

New Bertine House, Ukraine

The new Bertine House
We have good news from the Ukraine and we would love to share it of course!

Do you remember that some of our guys ran the Etten-Leur half marathon last October to raise funds for the women and children from Bertine House, who had to flee Donetsk?

Magne & Olga Gulbrandsen
Bertine House was founded by Magne & Olga Gulbrandsen. It is a christian rehabilitation home (part of Teen Challenge Ukraine) for women coming out of addiction, abuse and prostitution. Together with their children they find there a safe place where they receive true love and often for the first time hear about Jesus. Last year September the war made an end to the work in Donetsk and they all had to leave everything behind to go to a safer place.

Large yard and play ground
Since then the women, children and workers have lived in a rented flat in the city of Poltava. But of course they kept looking for a big house with an even bigger yard and we all kept praying for the funds to come in to purchase such a house.  

A few months ago a substantial donation came in from the USA... and yes! This past week we received the news that a house has been bought.

A huge house with many rooms and a very large yard and play ground. Everyone is very happy and thankful. It is expected that the women and children will move to the new house in September.

Some ladies are inspecting the rooms
We will probably start a new fundraiser campaign during the upcoming marathon in Etten-Leur (October 25th 2015). Funds are (obviously) needed to fix up the house, to buy furniture, to beautify the yard etc. etc. so the house will become a real cozy HOME for the women and children.

If you have it on your heart to give a donation NOW you can certainly do so by sending your love gift for the women and children to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. Make sure to mention BERTINE. We will collect all donations and make one transaction towards the new Bertine House.

When in the USA, send your tax-deductible gift to Eastern Europe Outreach, make sure to mention TC UKRAINE BERTINE.