Dear Friends

Apologies again for being a little late with this months Update. Some of you keep checking the website to find – Not Yet! Not Yet!!

The best way is to be signed up for our E-Mailing Database. Then, as soon as all the update is published on the site, we e-mail you so you’re the first to know. Sign up now on the Home Page (at the bottom of that page) It’s Simple!

As you might have guessed, it’s been another incredibly busy month and especially around the end of May, beginning of June – even my 16 hour days didn’t allow time for the Website Update. But, my mother says “All things come to those who wait … Patience is a virtue”  So, for all you patient people – Here is the June Update! 

We started the month with a full Mission Trip of 30 people and the day it finished, Maria and I left for America via England for 2 days. Maria’s Report this month shares all about the American trip, so I encourage you to take a look. I’ll just say it was a tremendously successful visit and I appreciate the support of all those we visited with. Sorry I haven’t yet been able to be back in touch, but I will soon!  

It’s great to have so many American visitors on Mission Trips this year. Eighteen are actually here with us this week, including 12 from Madison Church in Ohio, a long time supporter of Smiles so we are thrilled some of their congregation are coming to see us. Madison Christian Church also kindly supported the cost of a booth at the NACC (North American Christian Convention) in Cincinnati July 5^th – 8^th.

We are at BOOTH 4, so if you are attending the convention, please come and see us. Thank you Donna and Matt Archibald for ‘making it happen’ and for representing Smiles on the Booth. 

The team from Bethany Christian School in Louisiana have a report on the site this month about their trip in April, so be sure to check that out too!

May has been an exciting month with the Enterprise Initiatives.

Retail continues to exceed all expectations – long may it continue!  The Farm has had tremendous results this past month with 4 deliveries of piglets, providing around 45 little screamers and one of the Holstein Friesian Cows gave birth to a healthy Calf. The Hens are doing good as well, producing up to 180 eggs a day. Long may that continue also!                                              

The Glasshouse, talked about and in the planning stages for so many months finally started Construction in May. So exciting with experts from Holland and Poland who are constructing the Glass monster!   4,310 square metre (approx 50,000 square ft.) We are already planning our first crop to be cucumbers. We plan 10,000 plants next month within days of the scheduled construction completion on July 9^th.

We trust for an anticipated harvest of 20 tonnes between end of August and October. We are already negotiating with a local company who are pickling cucumbers and are interested in our entire crop!!

Please continue to pray for the Enterprise Initiatives – all designed to both support local communities through employment and create critical funds to support the Smiles Projects.
 

So many people continue to raise funds and I’m so encouraged to hear of the many events happening all over in support of Smiles.
Penny Kennedy and a great team of supporters held another evening Concert at the Royal Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland. CONCENTIO performed for the fund-raising event and an original painting from Hillsborough was auctioned. In total £3,688 / $5,716 was raised towards the Joint Facility of Love.  

I was also humbled last week to receive a donation from a personal Smiles supporter in North East England for £15,000 / $23,250 making another Platinum Donor for the Joint Facility of Love support team.

The Kilimanjaro Adventure is in final stages of training this month as they leave early July for the Challenge of raising lots of funds for the Joint Facility of Love by climbing the great mountain. Sadly, Ian Caddle, Smiles supporter and Kilimanjaro team member has had to withdraw pending urgent surgery. We assure you Ian of our prayers believing God will be with you and the surgeons during the difficult time. Don’t worry Ian – you’ll be on the next climbing adventure.  

The work of Smiles continues to need all the support you can give as the projects grow in number and more people seek our help. Helping us on the ground with all the challenges are some new appointments.
In April, Simona Tosity joined as Management Assistant to the Executive Management Team in Romania.  Simona is also working directly with me as Project Manager for the Enterprise Initiatives and is doing a wonderful job.

In the UK, Paul Swithenbank from Lancashire has accepted the voluntary role of Special Advisor to Elderly Care, with a particular focus on the developments at the Joint Facility of Love. Paul hopes to visit Romania again this month to see the JFL plans on site.                                                                                                  

Our special advisors are so important and as projects grow and face the inevitable challenges  - the Special Advisors become all the more important.

This past month, Dave Clark (Construction Advisor) and Graham Wallace (Architectural Advisor) were both in Romania for work on the Glasshouse site in communication regularly with Paul Jeanes (Horticultural Advisor) who will be out next month when the Glasshouse construction is complete.

Stephen Woodward (Education Advisor) was here for the Educational Challenge which had 14 delegates this year and was another hugely successful week. This week, Chris Calow (Vision Project Advisor) arrives for further work amongst those needing eye care.

Amazing to have all these voluntary supporters who work so hard at great personal cost. Thank you to all our Special Advisors.

We are also delighted this week to be appointing a Project Manager for Construction work. Samuiel Silaghi will join Smiles this week in a full-time position of Construction Project Manager.

Even with these additions of Simona and Samuiel – we are still interviewing for new positions to cope better with the growing demands of our projects. This can only be achieved with your continued support. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do. I pray you will also help us share the work with others so that more can Pray for the work and Support the work financially and practically through a multitude of ways. If you want to know ‘How you can best help’ – contact me today or anyone you know associated with The Smiles Foundation. kevin@thesmilesfoundation.org 

Our staff profile from our Romanian Team this month is Dan Iancu, our Romanian Web designer.

I need to draw to a close or the June Update will be published in July!

This is a very busy time of year, not only because of the projects, but also with so many Mission Trip Guests.
This month alone – 84 people are staying at the Mission Centre. Wish you were one of them?
Contact us to check availability and then come join us as we serve God and the people of Romania through a Mission that can ‘Change the World’.

God Bless you all and thank you for your support.
Keep in touch. 


 

Kevin Hoy
Chief Executive to  
The Smiles Foundation