Be an answer to prayer. Be a part of history.

Hello friends!

Many of you came to the screening of the new Invisible Children documentary Wednesday night and many others sent notes to us telling about their desire to be a part of this. SO, let me help you with that.

Below are 23 ways to DO SOMETHING. If you're reading this, there's no reason you can't be involved in helping to save these children. There's a part of the IC documentary that says if you read about these children or see the movie and DON'T do something, you are part of the problem. That's pretty convicting....

In short, there are TWO IMMEDIATE things happening and all sorts of ways to help these children. 1) Sweet Sleep is providing mattresses, blankets and mosquito netting for children who are former child soldiers and have escaped Kony's child army (see the bottom of the previous post for how little it takes to give these children a place to be comforted). 2) NEXT SATURDAY, April 25th, you can be a part of history in the making by joining Sweet Sleep and countless others who will walk from Centennial Park to Bicentennial Mall for something called "The Rescue of Joseph Kony's child soldiers". See #23 for info and message us at Sweet Sleep.

And now.....options for you to DO SOMETHING and SAVE A CHILD:

What can I do??

I’m so, so very glad you have asked.

Here are some ways.

1) Forward this blog to everyone you’d forward emails to.

2) Tell others. Educate everyone you know about the orphaned and abandoned children in the world and encourage them to partner with Sweet Sleep to help.

3) Join Sweet Sleep’s Facebook Cause.

4) Once you’ve joined the Cause, invite your friends to join and tell them why.

5) If you’re in Nashville, come to our screening of the Invisible Children’s newest 30 minute documentary, the Rescue of Joseph Kony’s Child Soldiers, on April 15th at 7 pm.

6) If you’d like to travel to southern Uganda this July to build beds for two orphanages, come to an information meeting on April 15th at 6 pm or email Stuart at stuart@sweetsleep.org

7) Commit to pray. Visit Sweet Sleep’s website (www.sweetsleep.org) and sign up to receive our monthly prayer email.

8) Visit the “Orphanage Profiles” on Sweet Sleep’s website http://www.sweetsleep.org/getinvolved/profiles.html to see if you might be able to commit to giving or raising funding for one of orphanage projects listed there.

9) If you keep a blog, share the information you’re learning as well as the opportunities for action with those who read your thoughts.

10) Give financially in order to provide beds, bedding and mosquito nets for orphaned children.

11) Once you figure out what you can give, ask yourself what you can live without to give hope and life to those who have never, never experienced it. Then, give again.

12) Plan to give. Whether it’s through simple planned giving, donating a car or recurring monthly support, contact Sweet Sleep to talk about which level fits best for you. Do so and make change happen.

13) Know an artist or speaker who would want to advocate for orphans? Sweet Sleep has a program unique for them. Contact our office for more information.

14) Sign up. Go to www.sweetsleep.org and sign up for our monthly email newsletter so you can continue to stay informed.

15) Volunteer. http://www.sweetsleep.org/getinvolved/volunteer.html

16) Check Sweet Sleep’s website or your company’s HR department to find out if your company is among the thousands who match their employee’s charitable giving. If so, your giving to orphans could easily be doubled! http://www.sweetsleep.org/getinvolved/individual.html

17) Work in your church’s VBS? Use Sweet Sleep’s Build-a-Bed program as your mission moments of VBS week to educate children in America about millions of boys and girls like them all over the world. http://www.sweetsleep.org/getinvolved/buildabed.html

18) Advocate for change. Call or write your elected officials. Tell them that you care about the issue of child soldiers. Keep telling them. Get information from www.invisiblechildren.com on how to engage in political action and advocacy.

19) Become a bedhead. http://www.sweetsleep.org/getinvolved/bedhead.html

20) Orphan Powered Campuses. Start a group at your school or university, and make sure your campus flexes their voice for these forgotten children and youth.

21) Got INSOMNIA? Plan an overnight INSOMNIA lock in where you and your friends will learn about what it’s like to be one of the 210 million children in the world who are orphaned or abandoned. http://www.sweetsleep.org/getinvolved/insomnia.html

22) Do what you love. Use your talents to help orphans. Do an art project and display it in a public place. Use a sports event to raise awareness and funds for the issue. Talk about the issue at a concert, or make it a benefit for orphans. Film a movie on the state of today’s orphaned, abandoned and vulnerable children. Write about the issue and post it on your social networks.

23) Take a Stand for These Children. Sweet Sleep is partnering with Invisible Children, eXile International and Paulos to spread the word about and help these children in Northern Uganda. Attend "The Rescue" - An evening event held April 25th in cities around the world where we will "abduct" ourselves to raise the banner for the child soldiers taken by Joseph Kony - the leader of the LRA and cause of so much pain and heartache for the children of Uganda. Stop by our table tonight or visit therescue.invisiblechildren.com to sign up. If you're in Nashville, you can join Sweet Sleep President and Founder, Jennifer Gash, at our local event. For more information, contact us.

Have other ideas to share? Great! As you’ve read or seen…one person really does make a difference. Share them with us and help us encourage and equip others! Send them to info@sweetsleep.org. Also, be sure to email us and let us know which you are deciding to do. Remember, a child's life depends on whether you take the time to care.

See you in the next blog,
Jen