Dear Friends April 2nd 2009
If someone had told us yesterday was to be "a 36 hour day” we’d have assumed it to be an April Fool’s Joke. As it turned out, 36 hours was what was needed to achieve all that was on the agenda! As a result, we’ve had to borrow an extra 12 hours from today to complete the website update but we believe it’s worth the wait.
We do not recall having so much to report and update. This is the clearest indication of just how much is happening every day in Smiles and why so many people are trusting this Charity with their support, both financial and practical, because Smiles is a Charity that ‘Always has things Happening’ and ‘Always Gets things Done’!
God's Blessings and supporters on the ground is what enables us to achieve so much. Your financial support is outstanding. Your practical support priceless. Your prayers are the cornerstone of our successful Ministry to those living in poverty in Romania. As we report here on so many issues, please don't think we've got it all taken care of. We NEED you! In every way you can be involved to achieve our objectives and fulfil our dreams. Enjoy the Update and please stay with us. This is an amazing Charity to be part of.
The highlight this past month has been the Smiles Conferences in Ireland, Scotland and England. A fantastic time of fellowship and so uplifting to hear the numerous testimonies and stories of how the work of Smiles and our Mission Trips have impacted the lives of so many across the world. Beneficiaries in Romania as well as Donors across the UK and America. It was wonderful to have guests from Romania at all 3 Conferences. Joining Maria Cimpoca (Director of Operations in Romania) for her 4th Annual Conference were Marian and Dana Zaharia for their first! Having joined Smiles in December ’08 it was a great opportunity to introduce them to supporters and hear of their work for Smiles 200 Hope Club. Marian manages the 6 projects of the 200 Hope Club which includes Medical which Dana serves as Practitioning Nurse as well as on the Homeless project.
At the time of finalising guests for Conference, Marian and Dana were the latest members to join the Romanian team. However, on March 3rd, Adi Matis joined as Project Manager for 100 Love Club and for sharing the Team Ministry in Tileagd.These new appointments are proving very successful and we praise God for his provision of great men of integrity, experience and commitment. Next month we’ll have a special report on Adi in full swing with his projects.
Whilst in the UK, Maria had chance to put ‘pen to paper’ so she finally got her desire of a page on the website. We’re sure you’ll enjoy the new feature ‘from Maria’s Desk’.
Conference also provided a great platform for more news and many other promotional opportunities and for ease of following they are listed here with links where appropriate to the website for your information.
Ann Cowan, DA for Scotland
- It was exciting to hear about and see pictures of the progress with the Container Challenge in Northern Ireland.
Read the Story to date – and if you can be involved with the new challenge in England, Scotland or Wales – let us know.
Container ready to unload
- We had several reports of the wonderful impact in Schools and Churches following the Tileagd Choir’s Tour in February. So successful were the visits to schools that a further 2 weeks have been agreed for the Choir to tour the UK in 2009. August 28th to September 12th. See the site for Details of the Tour. We may be able to fit some Church presentations in also. If your School or Church is interested in a visit from the Choir, contact us as soon as possible as details are being worked on now.
Also - advance information for America, the Choir will hopefully be touring again in February 2010. Less than a year away... now is the time to start planning!
The Choir on Tour
- Some fantastic fund-raising news was reported:
March 7th in Belfast NI – Peter Little organised the Dream Auction once again which raised nearly £12,000 ($18,000) for The Smiles Foundation. Thank you Peter!
On March 8th in Chesterfield, England – St John’s Church Walton held a Gift Day towards their second phase of their Church Building. They committed 10% of the Gift Day to Smiles and we
Praise God for the £103,000 ($154,500) they raised
and the £10,300 ($15,450) Smiles will receive.
Thank you St John’s.
We also heard from Paul Swithenbank who is running the Blackpool half marathon on April 5th. Paul has almost reached his target of raising £2,000 ($3000) so add your support through www.justgiving.com/paulswithenbank or Ingrid Peters who runs in the Reading half marathon www.justgiving.com/ingridpeters or indeed Stephen Lawton who is walking the Great Wall of China in October. He aims to raise £5000 ($7,500) for the Nursing Home and Centre for Children with Disabilities in Cihei. www.justgiving.com/stephenlawton
We are also thankful to www.gr8powerswitch.com for including The Smiles Foundation as an optional beneficiary Charity when you switch your power supply company. We've checked it out and this company is offering very competitive deals for your electric and gas supply - UK Nationwide. Switch through www.gr8powerswitch.com and you can select Smiles to receive £10 donation from the company for every switch made. Check it out!
We were also moved by the amazing dedication and commitment of Adam's fundraising efforts. Read the Special Report and give thank to God for such special people.
These stories will encourage us all to raise more support for Smiles to allow them to continue the incredible work done every day in Romania.
- Great News at the Conference in England was hearing from Michael Falconer - a long time supporter of Smiles - how he had won 1st Prize in a Photographic Competition with a shot taken on the recent Smiles Tour. See the Winning Shot for yourself.
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Several people have been asking us recently about Legacy Support to The Smiles Foundation. We have now produced a helpful explanatory leaflet which you can view/print from the site or request a copy from the office.
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Conference also announced the new initiative Smiles is undertaking with a Charity Ebay page. Full details are on the site, Smiles E-bay, but basically if you are selling on Ebay you can share a portion of your proceeds with Smiles through MissionFish. If however, you don't want to bother with all the technicalities of Ebay, allow Smiles to sell you item through our new Charity Page and donated the proceeds to your chosen project within Smiles. We can do this for any support - UK or America - so contact us to see how much we can raise together!
As we draw to a close, we do thank those who are supporting the new Smiles Clubs. That is 100 Love Club, 200 Hope Club, 400 Faith Club and of course Hi5. All are receiving new sponsors and full details of the Clubs are on teh site. Supporters get a Newsletter mailed twice a year and they are also available on the website in PDF format if you want to view and print further copies.
It is wonderful to see how many things there are to report and what incredible support you give and amazing things God is doing. Keep supporting, keep praying and keep in touch.
Our sincere thanks to you all.
The Smiles Foundation
USA: P O Box 35602, Phoenix AZ 85069 Tel: 423 239 9525