Another Distribution, Another Perspective

When Sweet Sleep began work in Uganda, we prayed dilegently for God to bring us a staff member there whose integrity and passion for our ministry would shine through in everything we did. God answered that prayer in the form of a woman named Josephine. Words cannot define how much she loves Jesus, her country, the children of her country and also, Sweet Sleep. We are as blessed as we are thankful.

Today, as I share about the next distribution with you, I thought I would do so in Josephine's words...

"Today marked another day of Sweet Sleep's continued work of ministering love to the children of Northern Uganda particularly those in Anaka sub-county (Nwoya district). Sweet Sleep’s staff together with those of our partners ARC travelled to Anaka sub-county with a purpose of blessing children with beddings. By 9.00am the sun was very bright in the sky and the engine of the fully loaded truck was already warming up to head for Anaka sub-county where the bed distribution was to take place.




It took us about one and half hours drive on murrum road to reach Anaka sub-county where we found excited and anxious beneficiaries sitted under a big tree waiting for Sweet Sleep to arrive.



Children together with their care takers seated under a big tree while the beddings are piled at the side.

On behalf of the community, Anaka sub-county local leaders thanked Sweet Sleep for coming back again and again in their village to give out more beddings. To them this was a wonderful Christmas gift for their children. He said, “ This village was so much affected by the 20 years civil war leaving us with so many orphans” hence exposed to very poor sleeping conditions where Children share polythene bags, papers and rugs that serve as mattresses/blankets for these helpless children but now that Sweet Sleep has heard our cry for help, we are very grateful for the timely support of providing beddings to our children” said the local leader.

Extreme left is the ARC staff, middle is the Local council III chairman and at the right is the woman councilor for Anaka sub-county appreciating Sweet Sleep’s work.

One could easily feel God’s glory hovering around the shade of the peaceful tree especially when the children started writing their letters of appreciation to the Sweet Sleep ministry for enabling them afford to sleep comfortably on a mattress and under a mosquito net for the very first time in their lives. Some of the children testified that they have never owned a Bible before and that now they have got one they are going to use it to pray to God so as to enable Sweet Sleep to provide beddings to more children.




After the letter writing, the names of the direct beneficiaries were read, accredited and the distribution of items started with a lot of excitement. The care takers/guardians who had accompanied their children helped them wrap up the mattresses and started trekking back to their respective homes some miles away from the distribution points.

Taking thumb prints

Direct beneficiary with items

Care taker wrapping a mattress.

It was a very joyful moment for the children of Anaka sub-county as Sweet Sleep continued to make them feel loved and cared for. Though they had to travel long distances back to their homes, with hope that they were no longer going to sleep on the floor, polythene bags and rugs, they were determined to make it home faster than before after all they were going to have a Sweet Sleep for the nights to come.



Beneficiaries hurrying home"


See friends, isn't Josephine such a blessing? This is probably one of my most favorite blog posts. Thanks for letting me share about our ministry through the eyes of another who truly knows and feels the impact Sweet Sleep is making in the lives of those in northern Uganda.

I know, if you're reading this blog, you likely have a good understanding of the importance of our work. You probably also know about the great need that more than 400 children still have for beds before the end of THIS year.

I'm urging you to make a year end donation, designated for "GULU" to help provide beds, nets and Bibles to all the children who are in need right now. You've seen what your help is doing. One person really does make an impact. Will that person be you?

Thanks friends. I'm blessed to serve along side you.

Sweetly,
Jen
PS Gifts for these children's beds, nets and Bibles can be made online at www.sweetsleep.org . Please be sure to write "Gulu" in the special comments box. If you're mailing a gift, please send it to Sweet Sleep, PO Box 40486, Nashville, TN 37204 and write "Gulu" in the memo line. Thank you so much!