Dear Friends August 2009
We continue to work through the hot Romanian summer with temperatures daily of 32C - 37C (90-105F). We are so thankful to God for air-conditioning in the office which we allow ourselves the comfort of when it reaches 30C (90F). We have so much happening in Smiles we can't allow the hot temperatures to slow our minds or bodies which working in such office heat can do - there is just too much to get done. We really thank God for His wonderful provision of such a beautiful working environment.
Another packed month of excitement, achievement and opportunity. More Special Reports for your enjoyment and we ask you to read them all, thank God for His Goodness and pray for all that is
needed to continue this great work.
We are of course now in the latter stages of the summer Mission Trips. Although less people this year due to the high numbers of visitors last year for the Opening of the Tileagd Complex - we nevertheless have had powerful trips where many have been moved and stretched physically, emotionally and spiritually. Derek Donaldson made his first full Mission Trip this summer and his ‘diary' is a challenging read. Don't miss it.
As people left one trip to return home and others started a new mission experience, August 1st was a busy day with comings and goings in Budapest. But in Oradea, it was busy too with
Delia Bideran's marriage to Ciprian. A wonderful wedding for sure, saddened only by the fact that it means Delia is leaving Smiles as she moves to start married life in Geneva, Switzerland. We are so thankful to Delia's service and commitment to The Smiles Foundation as Director of the Tileagd Nursery for the past 5 years, but we pray God's rich blessing on her new life in Switzerland.Of course, in a large and growing organisation like Smiles, people move and change quite often. This past week we have been interviewing for 5 new positions, not including Delia's replacement. Some for our current needs and others for plans in the future for developing projects but we will report each month the exciting developments as they happen and new team members are confirmed.
One new team member we are very excited to announce, who joined The Smiles Foundation on August 1st is our new Development Associate (DA) for America. Greg Willis has accepted the role and is excited with the opportunity to serve God in developing the work and support of Smiles in the United States. Thank you to all who prayed for this decision from last month's report. Greg will be getting to grips with the challenge and many of our American friends will be hearing from him over the next few months.
Greg will also be attending our first DA Conference in England on October 17th where he will join our 10 DA's in the United Kingdom for a day together assessing how we can serve Smiles Supporters better and develop the work of Smiles in the future. Then Greg will travel to Romania for a full Mission Trip before returning to America in early November - fully charged and raring to go in his new role of ‘US DA'.
To be in touch with Greg, check the contact page.
It's been such a surprisingly busy month in many areas of Smiles work. As was reported recently, we believe 2009 will be GEPIU'S YEAR.
This month, we have a picture gallery showing many of God's wonderful blessings He has granted us on the Gepiu Farm, Horticultural Gardens and Agricultural Fields. Enjoy the pictures - but also give thanks for the results reported by Paul Jeanes, our specialist advisor to the horticultural project, after returning home from a week in Gepiu.
"Conclusion: When everyone told us that the Gepiu farming project had improved this year we were pleased, but we were not prepared for the dramatic improvement in not only the quantity but also the quality. Dedication of the staff (Danut, Olivia and Georgi) is fantastic and they should be so proud of their achievements!
To see the faces of Olivia and Danut when the irrigation sprinklers were switched on for the first time was a picture and they have embraced the changes to the point that we were meant to be going back on the Friday to install the last 2 lines and Danut had installed it all on his own and was so proud. This now shows that they have the confidence to take the initiative and also to try new ideas.The atmosphere is so good now with both Danut and Olivia seeming much more settled and also supported by Violeta and Vandana. A truly great team. We were in our evening meetings upstairs with Kevin and one of the mission trippers, with out prompting said, she was : ‘Amazed by the Gepiu Farming project' and went on to say it was one of the most fulfilling things she had done and had inspired her to go back to start her own vegetable garden.....'
This made us feel that what is being done is so worthwhile and inspires us to keep coming back to support where we can."
Gepiu's young people also enjoyed a Camp this past month and we encourage you to read the Special Report from Adi Matis who was brave enough to venture to the mountains with the team.
In Tileagd - the Craft Project with the women in the Gypsy Community continues to meet tremendous needs under the coordination of our UK Missionary, Margaret Biddulph.
The quality and variety of products is increasing all the time and we hope to continue supporting the women through selling as much as possible through our outlets. Tours, DA's and Ambassadors all have or can access supplies - so please contact us to support through purchasing what you can. Specific orders, interest or questions to: crafts@thesmilesfoundation.org
The Mission Trips have also allowed us to organise some wonderful day trips this month. Our Homeless project arranged a Day Out with several teenagers from the project with mission trip guests. The teenagers came to our centre, enjoyed showers and received new clothes. Went for lunch at a Pizza restaurant - enjoyed a video at the Centre
and a swim in the pool before finishing with a Mission Trip BBQ with all our guests. A truly wonderful experience for all involved. Also the children at our Family Centre in Cihei were taken on a special Day Out to the Zoo, then to the park and back to the Mission Centre to enjoy trampoline and the swimming pool.
The work in Mirlou through our Emergency Housing Unit has been spotlighted this past month and subject of several positive news reports in the Press. Read the full report and praise God for the wonderful work he is enabling us to do through supporting domestic abuse victims.
These things are possible due to the generosity of our Mission Trippers and we thank you for all you do.
Our supporters around the world enable the work to continue month by month. Reading the Special Reports will encourage you to know your support is well invested and the fruitful return will be for all to see for years to come.
Finally, we must recognise the incredible work our Director of Operations undertakes each and every day in Romania and increasingly around the world as Maria Cimpoca supports the efforts of our Chief Executive. (A hard man to keep up with!) Maria's Report ‘From Maria's Desk' is always important to read and take a note of the issues to pray for this month ahead. Enjoy!
Thank you again for your interest and support of the work. We need you as much as ever as we see the projects grow and sense the tremendous opportunities God is sending our way to respond to and be instrumental in fulfilling His Will.
It is a great responsibility but we trust together as a committed and passionate team - we can do it.
Please be an active member of the team.
Keep at it. Keep in touch. Keep praying.
God Bless you all.
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