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I can only imagine..
At
the moment, I can only imagine what it will be like! How it will be,
surrounded by His glory, standing in His presence, walking by Jesus’
side!?
 I love travelling! But in the last year or two, with so much news of
accidents that I’ve heard about, I got scared! The one that
frightened me the most is the plane! Every time that I’m on the
plane for a few seconds I can’t move….soon after that I start
singing this song- I can only imagine! Is the greatest fellowship
moment that I have with my God for the entire journey, even if it’s
2 hour or
10 hour!!!
This past month I’ve done a lot of travelling! It was great to
see God’s presence, power and security with me! (I was asking
every person that I knew to do the same!- so I had extra power!)
 The
day that we travelled across Atlantic Ocean I was sitting near the
window. I was looking out and I saw the most amazing view! That
moment in time I was saying to God that if an accident will happen,
I would not be sad!!! He did not take me!
I guess He still has plans for me on this earth!
What were His plans for me this past month???
The day that the mission trip finished on May 7th,
I left Romania as well. I went to UK and than got ready for a
“flying visit” to USA! For my two days in the office in UK I could
get things that I did not managed to do in the last month while I
was in Romania?
Tuesday our journey to USA started! A
great experience and I could see God at work every single second
right from the beginning!
 On
Wednesday morning we had a meeting at the Regent University.
It was a great time! Last year, during the summer a group of
students from there came to Smiles for two weeks to do Trauma
Counselling and they did a great job! Because I was on the UK
tour I was not that much involved in it, but I thank God for His
favour over me to get me to this place and see the wonderful work
this School is doing and the impact that it has around the World. I
pray for all the professors and students there and I thank them that
they consider Smiles Foundation part of their work!
Later
that morning I went with Mr Hoy to the CBN office to meet one
of our
 friends Efram.
Mr Hoy had
an interview there and I could look around the
place!
It was amazing!!!!
For many
years through Alfa and Omega, the Christian TV channel here
in Romania I saw lots of programs that are made at CBN. This time I
could see it live! I went in the 700 Club Studio and I could not
believe that I’m there!! A dream came true! Another one!
Thanks Efram for this opportunity….and for the pictures.
After the time in Virginia, we had 6 hour drive
to Tennessee! There we meet dear friends of ours that for years have
helped the work of The Smiles Foundation in Romania. It was sooooooo
nice when I heard their plans for the future and when they told us
how many people are booked to come to Romania during the summer of
2012. Thank you Jeremy, Dante, and all the people at Colonial
Heights, Kingsport. Can’t wait to have you all here!!!!!
After our time there we had to fly to Atlanta.
There was a bad storm outside so the plane was late! I was scared
!…..But happy
when I got in the car, in Atlanta!! Then our big drive started!
We stopped in Leesburg for a meeting with
two people that I’m really happy that I know them and they are part
of my life! Many times I’ve heard people saying that “ I’m in their
prayers! “ but when pastor Bobby says: I pray for you all the
time! I really feel encouraged and I know that it is happening!
Thank you for doing that ……and Lanelle, thank you for the
nice dresses that you gave me!! Thank you for trusting me!
 Then
we went to Jacksonville! A place that is like my second home
while I’m in USA. Had a great time! In the morning we went to
Christ’s Church and had fellowship with our brothers and sisters
there. The message about Jonah was a great encouragement for me!
Working with the gypsy community for years now, and asking God to
change them, this message came as a real encouragement to me.
Thank you Pastor Jason for it.
After the 9am service we went to Lakewood United Methodist
Church to meet our friends from there. It was nice to see the
little children worship God
 with
all their hearts! After the service we went to see our container
that is in the parking lot at the Church. It is great to know that
after years of praying this dream is becoming reality!! I encourage
you, all my friends from USA that if you would like to help us to
see this dream real, to get in contact with Jim Blyth and he will
let you know the ways you can do that.
After the church and lunch we had been invited to a graduation
party! It was soooooooo nice to be a part of it! Our second
family in USA, the Watts family had their youngest daughter,
Christian, graduate high school! It is an honour for me to know
them and be a part of their family! I’m very proud of Christian.
Every time she comes to Romania she is an encouragement to the
people here and a great friend to the children. I’m soooo happy that
her future education will be based with children’s education. Well
done Christian!
Then, Monday morning we had another 4 hour drive.
This time to Stuart FL. We met with another great man of God,
Pastor Phillip! After a great lunch I had an even greater
counselling session! I thank God to all the people that are around
me, people from where I can learn and look at them as my model.
Thank you Phillip for everything, especially your wise words and I
can’t wait to have you here in Romania! I pray for that day and
I’m sure that in God’s timing it will happen!! I will make sure you
will go fishing.
Our last meetings were in Lake Wales. Meeting dear friends,
people that have their heart committed to the work we do. Thank you
Terry Turnball and Donna Hills for your time. I can’t
wait for the day we have the container full of party dresses and
wedding dresses. We’ll have a fun
time!!!!!!!!!!Right??? Proud of you two! …..and Emma - it
was nice to see you and I can’t wait for you to come back !
You might think, poor girl did not have any
time for herself!! Well it’s not like that!!
I had time to do lots of shopping! ‘ROSS - dress for less’ is
my best friend in that area and the dresses that I got from there
for my little shop in Salonta are AMAZING!!! I also had a
little time to sun bathe - and guess what, this time I did not get
burned!!!!!!!
Once my “flying visit” finished I came back to UK and then HOME!!!!
Safe and in one piece!! God took care of me! He does it all the
time!!
 The day that I came home was Sunday so my desk was closed, but on
Monday……wow! SOOOOOOOOOOO MANY things on it, I did not know where to
start!! The priority was the Glasshouse! I can tell you, that this
project scared me a lot when we first started talking about it!
BUT with God’s help, with our
 supervisor’s presence in Romania -
Graham Wallace and with the guy from the company that did the
main job, Ad van Bekhoven, this was the easiest task!
Graham, if you have time in Budapest on your way home and read this
line, I just want to tell you that I APPRECIATE all the work you do
for us!!!! I wish I could have you here the entire summer and THANK
YOU SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH for all your hard work!
Now, I’m back at my desk getting ready for the summer mission
trip! Soooo lots of work to do! While I write the report we have
a team here – the Educational Challenge. Cristina and our
educational adviser Stephen Woodward are responsible for that
and I’m so happy that they do a great job!
But you know what? I can’t imagine how the Smiles Foundation will
work without the commitment from people like YOU! People that are
helping us financially, with time and with prayers!!
YOU ALL DO a GREAT JOB!! Thank you for that!!
 I’m very proud of you all! I’ve heard some news
from people in Ireland, about the concert that they had to raise
money
for
Romania! Well done guys!! Well done! People in England , Scotland,
Wales, USA ---- Everyone - WELL DONE!!
I’m proud of you ALL!!! And I can’t wait for the day we ALL meet
in Heaven
and spend eternity with our Farther! At the moment I can only
imagine, how it will be!! But that day will come!!
Lots of love,
Maria
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Previous letters from Maria:
May
2011 Because He lives...
April 2011 Surprise
Surprise!
March 2011
Dreams do come true ...
February 2011 I have a
dream.....
January 2011
Happy New Year...
December 2010
;
November 2010 ;
October 2010
;
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
;
June 2010
May
2010
April 2010
March
2010 ;
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July2009 June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
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