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December
2016
 Dear Friends
‘Punching holes in the
darkness’
The recent Smiles Newsletters have been both
thrilling and challenging. The pace of life in Smiles is frantic and
the amount of work done in a month is almost unbelievable.
If you agree with me, then please know that
our part in the ministry is absolutely vital. Daily, Smiles continue
to ‘punch holes in the darkness’, and bring light and life to
hundreds of people living in darkness, in the depths of despair and
poverty. Will you commit to continue with us into 2017; see more
miracles, see projects grow, see lives changed for eternity?
Will you commit to being a part of this
great work?
Together we can make a difference.
These great Fundraising results
should encourage you, and may give you some ideas. I want to thank
everyone involved in every way, we truly appreciate everything you do;
-
The Model Farm Event organised by
Peter Niblock has raised an amazing £2900.00
-
Sam & Lynda Thompson’s Moygannon
Garden Centre Coffee Day raised £2500.00
-
Carol Woodward organised a
Christmas Market, raising over £2,100 and still growing.
-
A Concert by Ballymoney and
District Male Voice Choir organised by John Campbell
raised £1245.00
-
John and Joan Mayo’s Smiles Coffee
Morning raised £365.00
-
Smiles Praise Service with Coleraine
Community Choir hosted by Rev John Stanbridge raised
£808.20
-
Cloughwater Church Craft Fare raised
£901.52
-
An Afternoon Tea Party organised by
Wilma Harkness raised £556.00
-
Joye Carson has produced a Cook
Book .... available for a £5 minimum donation and has already
raised more than £2,000
 
 May
I take this opportunity to remind you of our 2017 SMILES DAY on
Saturday 4th February 2017. Please consider an event
on or around that date, OR later in the year if it suits you better,
but still as part of our SMILES DAY focus. Some suggestions for
the day have been a Coffee Morning or Afternoon Tea, a Film Afternoon
or Evening, a Sponsored Walk or Cycle, a Fireside Quiz or filling
Smartie Tubes. Please let me know the details of your event.
Many of you have met Luke Wathen in the
Mission Centre who is spending a year with Smiles. He has written an
update for us;
 My
time with Smiles:
Proverbs 16:9 "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord
establishes his steps."
A word I would use to sum up my time in Romania, working with
everyone here and visiting the places could be ‘incredible’.
Although this barely does it justice as all my expectations have
been exceeded. I have so many positive stories I would like to tell
you, but I will focus on a couple that are most personally
challenging and inspiring.
Rapa is where
Smiles have now built 11 houses and a church in the last 12 months.
But I would like to mention the people who live there and their
enthusiasm for their new homes and place of worship. Once the
building of the Church became a reality, their desire for it grew
deeper and deeper until the opening service, when the Church was
overflowing onto the street and now we have witnessed 18 baptisms
this year. Rapa is a fantastic example of God working through
people; mission teams, staff, everyone who did any amount of
fund-raising, building, digging, painting, visiting or playing with
kids. Without committed prayer and keeping God at the centre, the
spiritual life in Rapa would not have come alive. Only God can
improve the condition of the spirit!
Just being involved
is an amazing feeling. Plus in Rapa I am not "Luke" anymore, I am "Luka",
as the kids call me. When I visit, immediately we start a game of
something involving running as fast as possible. The whole community
are special to me and I can’t imagine having never met them now!
In Cihei, the
Smiles Staff are some of the best people I have ever met,
continually doing exceptional work in their projects whilst putting
up with me! Actually they do far more than that; they include me and
find tasks I can help with. This has been amazing ,
if unnerving at times,
because I am often pushed out of my comfort zone. For example a few
weeks ago I helped to take some of the residents from the Oradea
Elderly Care Home to Baile Felix for a walk followed by coffee and
cake. For me, that was difficult, having never worked with elderly
before. My nervousness evaporated as all of the residents are so
open and kind. It was a wonderful day sharing their joy and wishing
one lady a happy birthday too!
When I arrived ,
one of my main concerns was whether I could be useful every day.
There are undoubtedly multiple tasks to do! I had never built a
house, chopped wood or re-roofed
a shed, but I have now! I have learned not to worry about what I can
or cannot do, I realise just being here is appreciated by all the
people I meet.
Currently I am
working in Cihei preparing for Winter Mission Trips when we will
distribute hundreds of Shoe Boxes in partnership with Teams4U and
share festive smiles and God’s love with people who will not receive
any other gift.
I can’t believe that
7 months have gone by. But I have 5 months to go. I am praying about
my future, that God will guide me into His will and help me every
day to work as well as I possibly can for Him with Smiles.
I hope to meet you
here at some point in the future on a Mission Trip!
May God bless you
Luke Wathen.
Isn’t that a fantastic testimony? Have a
wonderfully Blessed Christmas. I want to thank you for all your hard
work. Keep Smiles in your prayers and plans for 2017. Be a part of
this special work for the Lord, He has work for us all to do.
Blessings
Barbara
Barbara Morrison
Development Ambassador &
Volunteer Coordinator
The Smiles Foundation
E-mail:
barbaramorrison@thesmilesfoundation.org
Telephone: 0788 087 5845
Previous Reports
November
2016 - Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today
October
2016 - Serve on another in Love
September 2016 - Preparation
August 2016 - and what does the Lord require of you?
July 2016 - and whatever you do...
June
2016 - A calling
May 2016 -
The Small Things
April 2016
- ' ...you did for me'
March 2016
- Smiles Day
February
2016 - We love because He first loved us
January
2016 - Sharing Smiles Day
December
2015 - Something to share
November 2015 - Many hands and faithful hearts
October 2015 - With God all things are possible!
September 2015 - Real people make a Real
Difference
August
2015 - GO andGrow!
July 2015 - Being prayerful
June 2015 - Be glad you are not a cow!
May
2015 - Sharing Something Special
March 2015
- Welcome back
2015 - Welcome back
February 2015 - Introduction
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