Dear Friends
This month we are a little late (well, 5 days!) in publishing our Monthly Update but good things are worth waiting for and reports from recent weeks in Smiles are Great News and we thank God for His Blessings and You for your continued support.
On March 2nd the recent UK Tour of the Tileagd Children’s Choir came to an end. Four weeks of extensive touring throughout the entire United Kingdom. What an amazing time we had in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. 17 full scale Concerts, 15 School Presentations plus a Church service or two made the month one not to forget, both for the Choir and thousands of people who supported so wonderfully everywhere we went. More than £41,000 ($60,000) has been raised from the Tour and further support is being received every day as people sign up to one of the new Smiles Clubs to support the work done in Romania. 
Thank you to everyone who worked to make the Tour so successful. The hosting Churches, the Organisers, the nightly Cooks and Hosts who cared for the children so well, the Drivers, the Office, the Staff travelling on the road and of course – all who came out and supported.
We trust you found the evening a Challenge, an Inspiration and an Encouragement to get more involved to ‘Change the World’ for those living in Romania in need of a little help from a friend.
Such was the response, beyond our wildest dreams, we are already considering a Special Schools Tour in September this year. If you are interested in the Choir visiting your School and want to know ‘What’s involved?’ and ‘How can we do it?’ just write to the office at Smiles to lodge your interest in partnering with Tileagd Community School.
E-mail: education@thesmilesfoundation.org or call 0113-276-5060
As mentioned in our February mailing, we also hoped to make some exciting announcement of further developments and new additions to the Romanian team. Well – God never lets us down.
We are thrilled to announce the appointment this month of Adi Matis to the Romanian team as Project Manager of Smiles 100 Love Club and to also join the Ministry teams established in Gepiu and Tileagd.
We are so excited how God has provided Adi who joins our December appointment – Marian Zaharia bringing the maturity, experience and commitment we were looking for in the important projects of Gepiu and Tileagd, following recent disappointments with staff that didn’t work out.
When it was decided the Gepiu leader and Tileagd Pastor needed to leave last year, the Management team in Romania met to pray and consider the way forward. It was strongly felt we should not just go out and seek replacements or advertise the vacancies. We strongly felt we should ask God to ‘Send us’ the right people to fulfil the needs of these projects and continue the Work God had started in Gepiu and Tileagd. To be honest, it was a nervous moment, as we couldn’t see how God would do this if we didn’t make announcements or advertisements.
Completely out of the blue, our Chief Executive receives an e-mail from Marian introducing himself, detailing his 10 years experience in Charity work in Bucharest, now living in Oradea and if we could use him, he would welcome the opportunity.
In December, Marian joined the team. The same month, out of the blue and another unknown person to Smiles, Adi wrote to the Chief Executive saying after 10 years experience with a Christian Charity in Oradea, he was looking for a new opportunity – if we had any vacancy, he would be most interested.
We met Adi and on March 3rd he joined the team.
Two great guys, tremendously experienced, mature and committed and we didn’t advertise or announce anything. God provided once again.
Thank you for your prayers and Praise God for His faithfulness. Be sure to pray for Marian and Adi in their news roles.
Marian and his wife Dana are special guests at this month’s Smiles Conferences:
Coleraine NI – March 21st 11am – 5pm
Troon, Scotland – March 23rd 6pm – 10pm
Leeds, England – March 28th 11am – 5pm
Please try to attend. Call the office for further details and to ensure we have you covered for refreshments. Tel: 0113-276-5060 / E-mail: info@thsmilesfoundation.org
Further details.... .
Marian and Dana look forward to meeting you at Conference.
As does Adi if you get to Romania soon!
Mission Trip Opportunities....
It is thrilling to see bookings coming in for Mission Trips this year. It’s a great experience that could change your life, so just get in touch with the office and start making plans. Further details......
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| Don’t forget the Educational Challenge coming up in May. More details.... If you are in the teaching profession, come for the Challenge and establish a link with the Tileagd Community School that can really make a difference to your School and ours in Romania. May 24th – 28th 2009 Contact the Office for full details or e-mail: education@thesmilesfoundation.org
So much can come from experiencing a Challenge. |
| Also, Victoria College in Belfast has The Smiles Foundation as its International Charity of the Year and recently presented to Chief Executive, Kevin Hoy the first part of their fund-raising totalling £1,720 ($2,580)
Next month, 23 from Pate’s Grammar School in Cheltenham are coming to Romania on an Educational Experience. Whispers are reporting they’ll have raised over £5,000 ($7,500) for Smiles projects by the time they come. |
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Our two vans returned to Romania after the Tour full to the brim with Aid, including 10,000 tubes of toothpaste donated by AMS International of Newark, Notts. UK. Many other great items were on board, donated by so many wonderful people across Britain. Thank you all. |
Keep supporting. Keep praying and Keep in touch.
God Bless you all.
The Smiles Foundation
USA: P O Box 35602, Phoenix AZ 85069 Tel: 423 239 9525