Dear Friends
We are reminded constantly of the ‘pace of life’ in the modern world and ‘keeping up with it’ is a constant challenge! So it is in Smiles – every month brings new challenges, opportunities and experiences. It is so important in the busyness of life to regularly stop and look, learn and listen to all that is happening around us and most of all – what God is teaching us through it.
April has been another busy month and as we roll into May we are preparing for an even busier time!!
April 1st started with the disappointment of not completing the Purchase Contract for the Farm we had been expecting to own by now. But the delay in completing legal paperwork has provided an opportunity to view and consider other options. Now we have another Farm that is equally exciting and unless the initial Farm’s Paperwork is complete by May 3rd, we are starting negotiations on a new Farm option with a view to complete as soon as possible.
A further update will be announced as soon as we have progressed. These discussions are taking place right around the beginning of the month, so running at the same time as our desire to publish the monthly Web-Update! We are excited about the opportunity so for the latest news – Watch this Space!
Linked very much with our new ‘Micro Enterprise’ initiative was the approach received this past month from a dear friend in America who has established the CORE Foundation. CORE wishes to Partner with Smiles for providing ‘Micro Enterprise’ Grants to families within our projects to establish small live-stock holdings to help support their income levels. We are excited about this opportunity also and hope to see 10 families initially established on the programme within a couple of months.
April 1st also saw the arrival in Cihei of 20 students and 3 staff from Pate’s Grammar School in Cheltenham for a second visit. The 23 strong team in search of an ‘Educational Experience’ had worked hard to make the trip possible following the success of Pate’s first trip in April 2009. (see report). It proved to be another amazing week for all concerned. Lesley Jeanes – lead teacher for the trip – said this of the experience.
“ Such was the powerful experience of the first Pates school trip to Romania in 2009, that this year I am returning with twice the number of students (just under 40) on two separate trips, all desperately keen to help with the good work that Smiles undertakes and to have the opportunity to make a small difference. With this in mind, and the continued links with a homeless family we are supporting in the centre of Oradea, we have raised another £7000 which I know will be well spent on the projects Smiles supports.
I would like to thank Maria and her team for another perfect week. The organisation was seamless and the itinerary offered to my young people was fantastic. We delivered special Easter food parcels to Salard and an old people’s home, made coloured eggs at a birthday party, worked at the school, had organised a fiercely competed 5 aside football team at Tileagd. Construction days, or ‘Destruction days’ as
they were renamed were very popular and we even had time to give the warehouse a good sort! As always our hearts were touched by the contact we had with the poor, the elderly, the disabled, the homeless and the vulnerable, all of whom your wonderful staff work with so passionately. It gave us all great joy to be able to offer further funds and sponsorship to your charity.
With each trip the links between the Foundation and Pates grow stronger and I am just so grateful to the Foundation for providing an extraordinary educational opportunity of life changing proportions. I know we returned to school humbled and richer for the experience!”
As they left, another team arrived, this time from the Kendal area in the heart of the Lake District, lead by Smiles Ambassador – Vic Brown. A first time experience by all the team except Vic, but their reaction was equally thrilling. (REPORT)
After a busy April of Mission Trips – on May 1st we start it all again! Another team of 30 arrive and this time coordinated to coincide with the arrival of 2 x 40 foot Containers from Ballymena and Richhill in Northern Ireland. After months of hard work, fund-raising and
of course loading them, the two trucks left Northern Ireland on Monday April 26th to make the journey across Europe with plans to arrive in Cihei by Friday night (April 30th). As the sun rises Saturday morning, we expect to have all hands on deck to unload, sort and store the vast amount of supplies and donated goods held in two huge Containers.
Later in May, our Construction Advisor Dave Clark will be joined in Romania by long-time supporter and now retired architect Graham Wallace from Scotland – to design and formulate a ‘Conversion Strategy’ and a ‘How to Do’ Guide Manual for changing a Shipping Container into a Designer Home for the Smiles Homeless Project to use as we begin to get families off the streets and onto the ‘Road of Recovery’ and Rehabilitation to Social Integration and a New Hope for Life.
We will then have a total of 4 x 40 foot Containers for this project. These have come from firstly Ballymoney in Northern Ireland, then from Troon in Scotland and now two more from Northern Ireland.
The first Container from England is now receiving donations and is parked at Junction 28 of the M1 in Derbyshire. Any items detailed on our Wishlist are welcome and details for delivery can be obtained from Sue Allen or Carol Woodward by e-mailing: Region3Container@thesmilesfoundation.org
After two intensive Mission Trips in May, we’ll be preparing for the third Educational Challenge set for May 30th – June 3rd. Details.
A very special opportunity for those working within the Education Profession to link directly with our School in Tileagd for 3 intensive days of interaction, sharing ideas and needs with a view to establishing a lasting relationship between Tileagd Community School and the UK Schools represented by the visiting staff. Our Educational Advisor, Stephen Woodward will be back in Romania for the second consecutive month to lead the Educational Challenge. If you would like to consider attending, contact the office urgently as space is limited and time is running out!
Of course the work of Smiles is continuing and busy around the world, not just in Romania, so be sure to take time to read the regular monthly reports from our team members around the globe. US Development Associate – Greg Willis– has his update published, as do DA’s for Region 2 in England – Derek & Lynda Donaldson.
And don't forget to check the update from Maria's Desk in Romania which is always full of great news. This month, Maria features more Wedding News!
We want to add our Congratulations to Dr Claudia who married in April to Dacian Pele. Dacian is not only the skillful Joiner who has done some lovely work for Smiles, including the beautiful hand-made Cross in the Tileagd Community Church, he is also brother to our Cihei Romanian Book-keeper, Corina. Great to see you keeping things 'in the family' Claudia! After so many years of service to the work of Smiles, we pray God will richly bless your marriage to Dacian and delighted this wedding does not mean loosing another key member of the team!! God Bless you both.
As we draw to a close on another update, we thank you for your tremendous support of the Smiles Foundation
and ask you to continue your prayers for the work during these busy and challenging times.
Keep in touch and we hope to see you in Romania or your home city soon.
The Smiles Foundation
P O Box 35602, Phoenix AZ 85069 Tel: 423 239 9525
