|
Dear
Friends
The quieter winter months in Romania, with less Mission Trip Visitors,
has allowed us to concentrate on other crucially important issues over
recent weeks. February has proved a very busy month on Construction matters
at the
Tileagd Complex as the pressures of being ready for the
Grand Opening truly ‘heat up’.
It was the tasks to manage and organise this past
month that led to postponing the Choir’s Tour of America that was due to
start on February 1st. It was decided mid-January that Kevin and
Maria could not be away for nearly 5 weeks at such a crucial time, so the
tour was postponed and instead, Kevin faced a month of shuttling back and
forth between England and Romania. Every February week-end Kevin had flights
booked allowing Monday-Friday in the office, first England, then Romania,
back to England and then back to Romania. This is his final week-end of
travel as he departs March 2nd but only for 2 days as he will fly
back on March 4th and then be settled in the UK (we hope)
preparing for the
Smiles Conferences in Scotland, N. Ireland and England during
March.
Smiles Construction Advisor, Dave Clark spent another week in Romania
with Kevin and the feeling at the end of the month is that great progress
has been made at the Complex. Check out the website
Photo Gallery to see the exciting progress.We
have also prepared a
Special Report detailing the needs we face in the challenge of
completing the Construction process by the June Grand Opening. Please pray
for these needs and continue supporting the construction costs at this
critical time.
February was also exciting for our Nursery Director, Delia Bideran
and our longest serving Teacher, Lidia Chis. Following the
2007 Educational Challenge, Delia and Lidia were invited to
spend a week in England – shadowing the Director and staff of Hilltop
Infant and Nursery School in Derbyshire. Read
Delia and Lidia’s report of the
week.
Don’t forget the
2008 Educational Challenge is set for May 25th-29th.
Just a couple more places are available
for those in the teaching profession interested in a challenge and
experience of ‘life in the classroom’ within Eastern Europe. A considerably
subsidised 5 day challenge brings it within your budget or your school as we
seek to create ‘partners’ for our Twinning programme with the
Tileagd Community School.
Following our Medical
Advisor’s visit to Romania in January, Drs Ema and Claudia got down
to investigating key items of equipment needed for the new Medical
facility in Tileagd. Some of the important items needed are preferably
to be purchased in Romania for documentation and approval purposes, so we
need help with meeting the cost of purchasing. These special items have been
added to our
Wish List
and if you can help, we thank
you in advance for the difference you are making to the people of Tileagd.
Our UK Missionary,
Sarah Urwin has been away from Romania for 6 months as she
started a Theological degree at a college in South Wales last September. The
course requires two semesters a year on campus and the rest by
correspondence and internet. March 1st, Sarah heads back to
Romania and begins picking up from where she left on the Smiles Club and HBC/VBS
Outreach programme. Whilst back in the UK, Sarah has been dreaming of some
new equipment as well. So also on the
Wish-List page are new needs for
Outreach in Romania.
Another
great piece of news for February was
Ovidiu Butnaru agreeing to God’s
Call on his life to full-time ministry in Tileagd. Ovidiu has been working
with us part-time since September and was often preaching at Tileagd even
during his final year at Theological College in Oradea. A graduate from
Emmanuel Baptist College, Pastor Ovidiu will begin his full-time ministry
on May 1st and his official Induction Service will be on June
8th – part of the
Grand Opening Celebration
of Tileagd Community Church – along with more Baptisms from folk within the
Gypsy Community.
What an amazing
week-end the Grand Opening will be. If you can be with us, please check
with the office for current availability. Numbers are crucial for us to know
for all the transport and catering logistics of the week-end. Attendance is
by ‘invitation only’ available to all who book for the Special Week-end or
the first of our summer Mission trips.
Pastor Ovidiu will be making his first trip to the UK in March,
joined by Dr Ema and Gypsy Community leaders Guiry & Meda Rostas.
They are all special guests to the
2008 Smiles Conferences
being held in Scotland (March 8th) Northern Ireland (March 9th)
England & Wales (March 15th). A great time to hear all the news
and plans for the Tileagd Community Complex – School, Medical and Church –
for the years ahead.
If you are not registered to attend one of the Conferences, give us a call
now so we have numbers for catering. There is no charge to attend the
conferences.
Looking further ahead this year, the
postponed
US Tour
of the Tileagd Choir has been rescheduled for August 29th arrival
and depart back to Romania September 30th. The week-end anchor
Churches are as follows, but we would like to visit as many of our
American friends as possible. Please contact us if we can consider a visit
to your Church during the Tour.
info@thesmilesfoundation.org
August 31st
Leesburg GA
September 7th
Charlotte NC
September 14th
Frederick MD
September 21st
Baton Rouge LA
September 28th
Lake Wales FL
So if you are in or close to these States, please contact us with thoughts
and options for the Choir visiting.
With so much news to
share each month, it seems even the quiet months are very busy and
productive. God’s blessing on all we do is so comforting and reassuring when
we are faced with such big responsibilities to share the Good News of a God
who cares and opportunities to touch so many lives with His Love.
We praise God that you also care for the people and children of Romania.
Please continue to partner with us as we reach out in love to all.
Finally, March 1st is the publication date of the new UK
Smiles Report. For those on our mailing list, your copy should be
arriving this coming week. The US version we hope to publish during April.
Anyone wanting additional copies of the
Smiles Report for distribution in their Church, School or at
Presentations can order them through the Smiles office. If you are not on
the mailing list to receive a copy but would like one, just call or e-mail
us and we’ll have a copy on its way to you immediately.
Thank you for all your support of this work.
Keep in touch and don’t forget to keep an eye on the
Web-site
updates. |