In the Smiles
Foundation I have lots of things too that makes me happy!
A smile from a
child in my Tileagd Nursery or a hug with their little arms just
melts my heart! When Natasha says ‘HI’ to me I’m over the
moon because I know that she is afraid to talk. In the school when
I walk on the corridor and the kids are shouting Miss Maria,
Miss Maria and run to me just for a hug, all my stress and
frustrations are gone! When Sergiu comes to me ‘for a chat’
because he knows that he is listened to, I’m really happy! When my
ladies in the Crafts Project come to church and say thank
you to God for all the goods they receive from Him. When the
staff, people I work with do what they do because they want to be
God’s hands and feet everywhere they go!
It makes me happy
when I go to the homeless village and Florentina and Vio
are happy to see and call me "their sister". I’m happy when
lady Coman comes to church and prays to God in public for her
family and friends in the Homeless Container Village!
It makes me happy
when I go to visit ECO and JFL and the elderly are
telling me that "they pray for me!"
I am a blessed
person and YES I have a lot of things that makes me happy! What
about you my dear friend? What makes you happy?
This past month,
it made me happy to see the progress we made in Rapa! The
hygiene unit is coming along and the foundations for 2 houses are
already done! I’m thankful to God for all the people across UK and
America that raise money for this to be possible.
JFL is also
coming along too! This REALLY makes me happy as I can’t wait
for the day when this project will be finished!! With all the
problems and frustrations we had from bad neighbours, the Romanian
Authorities and so on, I’m really happy when positive things come
from difficulties!
Another thing that
made me happy this past month was the thought that Boga
will begin to be used to the potential that this place has, during
this summer. We have 2 camps planned and for me to know that this
is happening is a miracle!! I can’t wait to see the children smile
and to hear their stories! I loved it when I was a kid spending my
time at camp!
In closing I would
like to share with you one of the most important things that made
me happy this past month. Many of you know that one of my
favourite projects in Smiles is Tileagd. Well this past month, on
29th May, the first ever person from Tileagd Gypsy
community graduated high school!
Yes,
you heard right! Cornel Rostas, son of Ghiuri and Meda, graduated
12th grade!!
Mr Hoy, his
parents, me – we are very happy and proud of what he has achieved
over the years. Cornel is a great encouragement for the boys in
Tileagd. I was soooo overwhelmed when he called me to say :
"Mari, today was my last day as a high school kid!!".
I could not stop
crying! I feel amazing. All the stress, the arguments, hard work
has really paid off. I’m looking forward to hear the same from my
3 girls in Tileagd. I told them that that day I will really get
wild!!! With Coke of course. But dear friend, your hard work,
prayers, time and money has been invested in the best place that
it could have been.
I’m sure that
Cornel had people that sponsored him since he started at the
Smiles School in 2003. People that did not give up even if it was
hard at times. People that are praying for him daily! People that
shared lots of what they had with him!
Well YOU ALL,
whoever you are, wherever you are, BE PROUD of what he achieved.
From this autumn, Cornel wants to go to college. And I
can’t believe a Gypsy kid is saying that! Please continue to pray
for Cornel.
So, I’m really
emotional this month! I have lots of reasons to be!! And THOSE are
the reasons that make me happy!
Be blessed my
friends