Happy New Year!!!
To all my dear friends, from my desk that
seems bigger, messier and busier now than ever!! I pray for God’s
protection over you and your families in 2011! I pray that He will
guide you, protect you, bless you and be there with you, through the
valley of the shadow and up on the mountain… joy and happiness and
through the sorrow…I pray ”HE will be with you till the end of the
days!”
Usually at this time of the year people make “new resolutions”, new
plans of how their new year should look like, or what they would
like to achieve. I did the same many times, and for many years….but
never managed to keep it till December.
This year I decided that I won’t do it, and I am happy I did not put
on the paper all my plans and wishes for 2011!
Instead I wrote a
prayer, and gave it to God! I’m sure He won’t let me down and He
will keep His promise to me!….because in 2010 He did, even though I
did not always understand at the time - why?
If you read all my reports from last year you will see His
faithfulness to me and to the work we do here in Romania. The great
thing about God is that He never changes; He is the same yesterday,
today and forever! The sad thing is that we, His people, change our
mood like the weather.
But, how did my year end up? Well … Great!
Christmas is my favourite time of the year!!
Is the time when I do not understand why for a few days or perhaps
weeks, people are different! They are kinder, talk nicer to you,
their goodness is shown more than usual to each other!! I did not
find a clear answer yet, but I’m happy that many people that we work
with, many of our beneficiaries benefit more from this during the
month of December.
For nearly 3 weeks in December we delivered
to the children SOS BAGS!! Indeed, for the parents it was
truly an S.O.S - because of the hard times - financially, that was
the only gift their children received! The two mission trip groups
we had during this time did a great job! They brought lots of smiles
to the children’s faces and changed their world – even if for a day!
I tell you, a small cookie, chocolate,
biscuits and wafers can go a long long way!!
I would like to say THANK YOU, very much to ALL of you that made
donations in order for this program to be done!
THANK YOU very much
for giving us your money, for trusting us that together we can make
a difference!
There is a poem that we often say in the church on Christmas day
that talks about a poor man that would like to buy some clothes for
his poor friends in his community for Christmas but he does not have
any money to do so! So he remembers that in the church there are
lots of people that are dressed nice, pray nice and he thinks that
if he goes to them and asks them for money they will give it to him.
So he goes to a man that in this poor persons eye was thought the
best. He heard his prayers and words so he was sure that he will
receive some money….But he did not!! The poor men, decided to not
ask in the church, but to go to his work place….maybe there he will
be different! So he did – but still did not receive anything!
The poor man did not give up, so he thought that maybe this rich man
when he is at home with his family will be better- because it’s
impossible for him not to have a heart- all his prayers and words
would be in vain???!!!….So he went to his house, knocked at the door
but instead of money he got bitten and thrown out of the house!! The
story continues and in the end the rich man realises what he did
wrong and apologises to God and to the poor man and asks for
forgiveness! And the desire of “buying clothes for his poor friends”
was done! The poor people had something new to wear. Something warm!
Why do I tell this story?
Because I realise that month-by-month people like you, give from
their little money in order for us to “take care of the most needy
people” in Romania. It’s not easy for you or for us, but with God
everything is possible and can be taken care of! So thank you for
doing that! Thank you for every pound or dollar that you are sending
to us!
On December 23rd I
finished my work in the office for 2010 year!…well as much as I
could finish!
On December 24th I
went home, to my village to spend Christmas with my family! I had a
great time! It was nice to be around, especially that they do not
see much of me during the year! I had plenty of time to rest….and
surprisingly I did not get bored sleeping, reading or watching TV
for nearly 2 weeks.
Now, I’m back in the office! Back at my
desk….. and looking around it and thinking where to start!
The first meeting that we had this morning – the staff prayer
meeting - we asked for God’s protection over us this year! Please do
the same! Daily we receive phone calls from people in need! Even
during our time off, the phones could not be ignored!
I know it is hard all over the World, and looking at Romania as a
part of the EU, in 2011, we might say: “people in Romania do not
need our help, because they can take care of themselves”.
Well, I live here and I do not have as many responsibilities as
other families have…..not yet, right? …..but when you look at the
money you have in hand and at the costs that are needed in order to
live month by month many people are wondering “how can we do it??”
because it’s impossible!
When you look at a salary that is around
£137/ $205 a month income and the cost is 3 times higher than that,
you do not have many options! This month, the Romanian Government
increased the minimum salary and this puts extra pressure on the
employer! Smile’s employs over 60 staff so that is a lot of
pressure!
The fuel also increased to £1/$1.50 per litre
from January the 1st (That’s $5.40 a US Gallon)….a
proportionally bigger increase than any other country in the EU or
entire World……and the list can continue!!
So, if you wonder if Romania still needs help?? YES it does, from
people like you and me! People that have a heart for their
neighbours! So thank you for everything that you are doing for us
all year round and thank you for being there….not running from all
the pressure this World throws at us!!!
Thank you for considering the Smiles
Foundation part of your commitment and I pray God will reward you
each day!!
I encourage you to keep in touch with us. Even if it is just a
simple hi - that means a lot to us! Your prayers are needed more
than money so please continue to do that for us! Your time here with
us on the field is important too….when people come here we feel we
are not alone! And then, when you have money spare or you can share
your money with us, thank you for doing so!!! We appreciate you very
much and our prayer is that God will help us to be good
administrators of His provision.
Thank you my friends and ……..I’m glad to be
back at my desk!!
I’m sure we will have lots of fun in 2011!!
Sincerely,
Maria
