Dear Friends

It’s been a pretty wet Spring in Romania and yet some hot days have also been enjoyed often interrupted by a severe thunder storm. The result has been many rainbows across the sky and tremendous reminders to us that God’s Promises never fail.

Sometimes the circumstances in life cause us to waiver from what we know to be true – but God has great ways of reminding us “Who is really in Control”!  

For the past few months we have shared a lot about our plans
and desire to purchase a Farm. This is designed to help
establish small businesses which in turn can help generate Income, Employment and Hope for the future.

In January, as part of our launch for the Enterprise Initiative, we set a target of raising £550,000 ($880,000) in 6 months to help purchase a Farm that was up for sale and had all the components we were looking for. By March 31^st the amazing sum of £303,025 ($448,472) had been received or pledged. Unfortunately, our first choice of purchase could not be completed due to documentation deficiencies and we had to move on to new options. In April, we found another Farm meeting our criteria and we began the Purchase Process again. This time, all has gone very smoothly and we have secured the Purchase of the Farm in Arpasel. Praise God!    

As a result of the support received, we have been able to pay Cash for the Farm, but now have some renovation and upgrades to plan to the House and Barns. We also hope this site will be the home of the Horticultural Business development, which if possible after further investigations, will need the first Greenhouse to be constructed and then research into the Thermal Water Well that would be a great benefit to the Horticultural Business with the Greenhouse Heating provided from under the Ground!  

As of today – we have received from donations and loans to the Farm Project - £336,367 ($521,369) with additional pledges still to come of £114,516 ($177,500).

This means we still need £99,117 ($153,631).

Thank you for your amazing support thus far and we pray for those still able to help us meet our goal, who are yet to commit, will come forward soon.                                                  
Please do so by contacting directly our Chief Executive: kevin@thesmilesfoundation.org

Meanwhile we are thrilled to have completed the Purchase of Arpasel Farm and look forward to developing the project as funds received allow.

Closely associated with our Enterprise Initiative is the Partnership now agreed with KORE Foundation based in Jacksonville, Florida. With capital support from KORE, Smiles is now developing in Romania, ‘Small Poultry Farms’ managed by families in our Family Care Project. Initially 10 families will be helped with establishing this small family business through a Capital Loan of £1,300 ($2,013).

The Capital will provide for construction of a Chicken Enclosure, set up and operational costs for 300 chickens on a 6-8 week growing cycle. The income from the sale of fully grown chickens will provide over a 6 cycle process – all Capital and Operating Costs to be repaid and provide a monthly income for the family of £170 ($264) – nearly 12% above the national minimum wage for monthly employment.  This is an exciting opportunity for initially 10 families looking for a means to work their way out of Poverty. We are grateful to KORE for Partnering with Smiles on this life-changing adventure for our Romanian families.  

As we publish this month’s update, nine Educationalists are experiencing a Smiles Educational Challenge in Romania - an intensive focus on creating partnerships and better understanding of the Tileagd Community School and Nursery. This is the 4^th annual Educational Challenge and promises to be just as successful as all previous years in developing the work in Tileagd and expanding support for the School and Nursery. A Special Report will be published with next month’s update.

 

Two days after the Educational Challenge finishes, our first major Summer Mission Trip begins. 27 folk will arrive at the Cihei Mission Centre ready for a life-changing experience. If you don’t believe us on the impact a Mission Trip can have – read the Special Report this month from Adrian Pouge of Ballymena about their Mission Trip last month. 

The Mission Trips will as always cover a whole selection of ‘hand’s on ministry’ within our projects. Visitors have made an enormous impact on our projects over the years and enabled amazing things to happen beyond our wildest dreams. To reiterate this fact, read the Special Gepiu Report from their Day Out on May 1^st. 

Mission Trips have without a doubt been the single most significant way of connecting sponsors and supporters across America and United Kingdom with the people we seek to help in Romania. More than 1,000 people have made the trip with Smiles in the past 5 years. Many would testify to the life-changing experience. Three such testimonies are detailed in this month’s UK DA’s Report from David Lee of Region 4.
Don’t miss this Special Report.

Likewise, as many in America prepare to leave for a Smiles Mission Trip this week, don’t miss the US DA’s Webpage Update this month.

Mission Trips are a passionate concern to our Chief Executive Kevin Hoy, who wants as many as possible to experience the power of a Mission Trip is transforming their life and deepening their Spiritual Experience. After more than 20 years of personally undertaking Mission Trips and organising them since 1995, Kevin knows how important the experience has been in his own Christian life and the significance in the life of both the visitor and the visited during a Trip. 

For this reason and especially in these more testing times financially, Kevin has brainstormed and formulated a concept he has called “The Budget Plan for Missions”. He firmly believes this can help more people experience a Mission Trip. So, whether for personal interest, as a family, School or Youth Group or on behalf of your Church, be sure to read Kevin’s Special Report on ‘Budgeting for Missions’.    

With so many Trips this summer and with over 220 people visiting the Cihei Mission Centre – there will be reports every month on the amazing stories from each trip.

Be sure not to miss the Monthly Updates. If you are not automatically registered to receive them, please register on the form at the bottom of our homepage. If you have friends you think would enjoy reading this update – forward this to them.

Also, be sure not to miss Maria’s Desk Report this month or any month. Maria shares once again the reasons her job is never a dull moment! 

We thank you so much for your continued interest and support in the work of Smiles. We need your support today as much as ever before. We have numerous opportunities of making significant impact in people’s lives and we need your help to achieve the maximum potential.

Please continue to pray for all the Work, our Staff and the Projects.

Please continue to support with your financial gifts.

Please COME and join the Experience of serving God on the Frontline of Ministry.

God Bless you all.

The Smiles Foundation