DavidBuckleyMusic – God Music Passion
June 08
Apologies, it’s been a while since my last update. So much has happened since February, God has graciously put many opportunities in my path the last few months. The majority of my copies of released 6 have been sold (thanks to all those who brought a copy and for your messages of support), we had the Mission and Worship evening at my church which raised a lot of money for smiles foundation and I led worship at Methodist synod which is a meeting of 250 ministers. All of these things were very exciting and I could tell you lots about them but I don’t want this update to be a trumpet call of my accomplishments. Instead I want to use this update as an opportunity to tell you a little about my recent trip to Romania and up the profile of the work of the Smiles Foundation (www.thesmilesfoundation.org). My wife Lucy and I have just had the privilege of spending a week with the Smiles Foundation in Romania. Smiles are a Christian charity who concentrate their work in Bihor which is a large “county size” area in the North West of Romania near the Border between Hungary and Romania. To those who know the area, the city of Oradea is the nearest big city to the area in which they are based. We witnessed the opening of the Tileagd community complex and spent time visiting the numerous projects that Smiles are involved in. The community complex is an amazing gift from God to the Roma (gypsy) community in Tileagd.
The gypsy community living in Tileagd have nothing. They live in houses that look like sheds with tin roofs, no sanitation, no clean running water, no gas. Large families commonly up to 8 people live together in a single room the size of an average family living room.
Smiles have been working closely with this community for 7 years now and are transforming their lives. Smiles have the strategy by which immediate needs are met through sponsorship (Family Care Project) and their future is secured by the education and welfare of their children. This is the reason the Tileagd Community Complex has been built, to provide a school, gym, doctors, dentist, opticians and church. These people now have something they can call their own, and more importantly have hope for their future. The Tileagd Community complex was completed in 3 years and paid for entirely from donations. It is a reason for great celebration and proof that God still works miracles today. It was a great privilege to be there for the opening of this building and to play guitar with Nia during the 1st song at the 1st service conducted on Sunday morning. After witnessing the opening of this great blessing we then spent the next 5 days visiting and helping in the numerous other projects that Smiles are involved in, not just in Tileagd.
Following the trip my mind is still processing what I have seen and been part of but what struck me most of all is the overwhelming need. Even though so much has already been accomplished and is currently being done in this area, there is still so much need for these people. Every day we would hear of families and circumstances that required urgent attention. Every day I would commit in my mind to another “project” that I could give or raise money for. But I have come to realise it is way beyond my own resources to provide for all the needs of these people. God has the abundant resources to provide for these people, but I am very aware of the abundant resources that God gives to us every day, which we so often squander. So I have decided to do use this update to cry out to all who read it. These people need us. Please, pray for them and please, please, please give if you can. To sponsor a family is only £20 a month, you can change someone’s life today. I know of at least 12 families in Salard who are crying out for sponsorship, just so they can eat. Please look at your finances and see if you can spare any amount of money to give to these people.
Smiles is the only charity I know where every single penny goes straight to the point of need. Nothing is taken to pay the salaries of missionaries or administration. For further information on any of Smiles projects have a look at their website (www.thesmilesfoundation.org) or drop me a line and I’ll tell you anything I can.
Thanks for your continued interest and support. God Bless Dave For questions, information, or a general chat, e-mail info@davidbuckleymusic.com I don’t like charities asking for money, it makes me uncomfortable, but it’s only when we feel uncomfortable that we move. Please, if you can, sponsor a family using the following link http://www.thesmilesfoundation.org/projects/FamilyCareProject.html | 
