At the start of each
year we tend to look back over the previous year and make plans for
the year to come. As a
mum of 4, life always seems busy, so when I was asked to work for
Smiles 4 years ago, I knew I could only do it part time and with the
support of my family to fit in my already busy life. I am pleased to
say that my family are brilliant at not only supporting me with my
work but, also with their support and dedication to Smiles themselves.
I knew last year was going to be difficult for Smiles, as it was
throughout Europe and it did have it’s ups and downs. Yet looking back
it is amazing to see God’s goodness and love throughout.
Starting in
January 2009 with the second
Family Ceilidh held in Troon
raising £800 for Smiles. Great support from everyone and fun for all
ages.
The Tileagd Children’s
Choir School Tour in February
proved to be very difficult for me to arrange as most of the schools
were on half term holiday on the dates available. But I am pleased to
say that we not only managed to find some schools which were open, but
5 new schools that had no previous contact with Smiles. The choir are
like extended family to my family and it was great as always to have
them visit in Scotland again.
Hosting the third Scottish
Smiles Conference in March
was another highlight of the year. It was a time for anyone interested
in the work of Smiles to come and find out more about the needs and
plans for Smiles. Although we had it on a Monday night, and the time
was restricted, we managed to pack in loads of information, ideas and
encouragement into the time we had. It was lovely to meet Marian &
Dana Zaharia, who were new members of the Smile team in Romania and
came to speak as special guests.
Our Fun Day in
May was a bit different
last year with a large number of young people, children and a few
adults taking on the challenge to Walk on Water for Smiles. Hot, fun
and absolutely exhausting it was a great success raising just under
£500.
However, it never ceases to amaze me how God
takes situations and turns things around, and he did this in
September.
Jean Barclay
had been working very hard with me to arrange a container for a
Container Challenge.
Again things did not quite go to plan, as a donation of a container
which we hoped for did not come about. We decided to bite the bullet
and buy a used container in the summer and eventually after all our
work it arrived on the 1st September while the choir were with us.
Throughout
September, October and November we collected everything from everyone
and anyone. From doors and windows, to medical supplies and loads of
clothes, including wedding dresses. People and businesses were so
generous it was truly amazing. As I packed items I often got very
emotional at the thought at how these donations would make such a
difference in so many people’s lives. Often things which we no longer
wanted or needed.
Money we had raised bought the container and continued fundraising
meant we had some money to put towards transportation of the container
to Romania. Unfortunately as time marched on and the container became
full our funds would not quite cover the cost. Yet again
things did not happen as we planned and God amazed us. I sent out an
email to everyone I could, telling them of our need to raise just a
bit more to allow us to send the container before Christmas.
One of the replies I got was from
a good friend and Smiles supporter Dave Tudor who works for Glaxo
Smith Kline Pharmaceutical Company. He told me that Glaxo Smith
Kline would cover the total cost for the transportation of the
container to Romania. Hallelujah. Isn’t God Great!
How I ever thought I would be able to cope with all this and a Ball at
the same time I don’t know. Just as well God knew better and had
things under His control. His plans are meant for our good, but we
can’t always see it at the time.
The container left
Dundonald in Ayrshire on Wednesday December 2nd and arrived in Cihei
on Monday December 14th.
A huge thanks to all those who helped with the container, especially
Graham Wallace
who I named as my Container Coordinator (without even asking him).
Graham and his wife
Margaret are great
Ambassadors for Smiles along with
Jean Barclay, Jillian Powell,
Andi and Liz Houston.
I hope to be able to go to Romania on a trip this year to see the
container transformed and used as a home.
2009
was a great year for the work of Smiles in Scotland.
And so to 2010
Already we got off to a flying start with the third
Charity Family Ceilidh in January
which was fantastic fun and raised £1002. It was really well supported
by the families and young people of Troon and has become quite a
community event which people look forward to each year.
The Scottish Conference
2010 is planned for
Sunday
21st March in Troon,
at Seagate Church 2-6pm.
I would like to welcome everyone in Scotland who can travel to Troon
to come and join me with the Smiles Team who always have so much to
share about the work in Romania.
I have also been involved in many talks and presentations sharing the
work of Smiles in Schools, Churches, Women’s Groups, Children’s Groups
and Youth Groups. I would be happy for my name to be passed on to
groups who would like to hear more about the work of Smiles, so feel
free to give out my name and contact email address. I hope to do many
more talks this year also.
I know there are so many people doing so many things to help support
Smiles. I would like to thank you all and encourage everyone to
continue supporting the work.
If you have never been over to
Romania, maybe 2010 could be the year for you?
Many mission trips are being planned and you could join with another
group or take your own. Visiting Romania had a huge affect on me and
my family’s life. So why not go and see the work of Smiles firsthand
and see how it might change your life?
The Tileagd Community
Choir UK Tour is
planned for later in the year and I am planning to host a concert here
in Ayrshire. If you or your Church would also like to host a concert
please get in touch. Look out for a concert near you and come along
for a great evening of entertainment and fun in support of the work of
Smiles.
During my time working
for Smiles I have felt truly blessed.
Seeing needs met and working with generous giving people, happy to
help however they can, is inspiring. It spurs me on to continue to do
what I can to help, knowing that God can do mighty things with what we
give to Him. I pray that the work of Smiles continues to grow in
strength and blesses many more people in Romania who need to see God’s
love in action. I am very honoured to be part of this work.
So much to do and say …
so little time. That seems to be the story of my life, and this year
will probably be no different. But would I change it? – I wouldn’t
know how to even if I wanted to.
Starting in
January 2009 with the second
Family Ceilidh held in Troon
raising £800 for Smiles. Great support from everyone and fun for all
ages.
However, it never ceases to amaze me how God
takes situations and turns things around, and he did this in
September.
Jean Barclay
had been working very hard with me to arrange a container for a
Container Challenge.
Again things did not quite go to plan, as a donation of a container
which we hoped for did not come about. We decided to bite the bullet
and buy a used container in the summer and eventually after all our
work it arrived on the 1st September while the choir were with us.
And so to 2010
