Welcome to our new page on the Smiles Website, The Volunteer’s
Corner!
So - Who is reading our New Volunteer’s
Corner? Well, you are for sure right now! But who is this new, regular
feature really for?
You may be someone who is already very
actively involved in Smiles. You may be someone who supports us
monthly, perhaps you pray for the work daily or at your church prayer
meeting. You may be someone interested in the work and are having your
first look at the website, or maybe someone who supported a recent
Smiles event and you are interested in finding out more.
So, whichever category you may be - thank
you for reading. I trust you will enjoy this feature and come back
each month, to be a part of it and contribute to it with your news and
activity!
We are all ‘volunteers’ serving our God
together in whatever capacity He needs us. The Kingdom of God is made
up of willing volunteers who believe passionately in something real
and are committed to invest their time, energy and resources to it.
For me, I believe God has asked me to be a
part of Smiles. It is not a difficult commitment for me to make,
because I truly see the hands and feet of Jesus at work throughout the
work of Smiles, so therefore it is a privilege to be a part of it,
serving with people equally committed to their God and to their
people.
I have a few simple questions for you to
ponder over this month, please reflect upon them and respond
accordingly...
-
Have you seen the desperation on
people’s faces in the villages we visit in Romania?
-
Have you seen the tears of joy on
the faces of the elderly in our Care Homes?
-
Have you heard the screams of delight
at a children’s party or Holiday Bible Club (VBS)?
-
Have you watched the elderly enjoy a
hearty lunch in Gepiu?
-
Have you heard the children pray
before their lunch in Tileagd?
-
Have you seen the rat bites on the
children’s faces in Rapa or Salard?
-
Have you listened to a mother’s story
of fear for herself and for her children?
-
Are you seriously challenged by the
plight of our brothers and sisters in Romania?
-
Are you willing to be a volunteer, and
commit to being a part of the work The Smiles Foundation undertakes
in Romania?
The need is so great; there
is so much to be done in Romania. Together we can make
a difference, but we have to commit to getting out of our armchairs
and doing something about it.
There are many, many ways to raise
awareness and increase support for Smiles. We have great material
available to help you with ideas, by using power point
presentations, videos and literature. We can provide quantities of
literature for you to use locally. Your own story could be the most
powerful and effective tool available, I encourage you to start
talking!
Please do not miss the opportunity to
serve God together through Smiles. I often hear it said ‘there is
nothing I can do to help, what use would I be or I am too old’. God
did not create us to do nothing; he has a purpose for us all. We are
not here to watch other people doing some great job at helping
people in need. Please take up a new challenge this year to be a
willing volunteer to help Smiles.
To encourage you, I have a selection of
photographs of Fundraising Fun in NI during 2014.
Reflect on the challenging words of
James 2 v15-17 where we are called to put our ‘faith into
action’...
"Suppose a brother or sister is without
clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you
well; keep warm and well fed’, but does nothing about the physical
needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is
not accompanied by action, is dead."
Contact me with your thoughts and comments
on Smiles, maybe something you would like to share about a
Mission Trip, maybe to consider going on a Mission Trip. Tell me
of something that has challenged you or impressed you. Send me
details on a Fundraising Event you have organised or
attended, even a thank you for a generous donation made by a friend,
business or church. I would love to hear from anyone interested
enough in the work to do something, or maybe even - do something
MORE!
The Volunteer Corner is exactly what is
says on the tin, it’s about ‘Volunteers’, so that could be you! Please
pray that we can increase our committed Volunteers in 2015 to help
support the tremendous and much needed work the Smiles Foundation is
doing each day in Romania.
Thank you and God Bless you.