Sweet Sleep Journeys

Guard Our Hearts

2012-01-18T16:29:00.000-06:00

Wedon’t watch a lot of television in our house. Our kids are all under theage of eight, so outside of Dora the Explorer, Chuggington or Animal Planet, wedo a fairly good job of being able to not only limit the time, but also keep atight control on what is being watched. We do watch a good bit of sports,though, to the point that our three year old knows full well that a gamebetween the Cowboys and Eagles is your classic “good versus evil” match up.

Asyou know, sports is great television. No drama and “adult situations orcontent” like you find on most network television shows. Commercials,however, are a different story. We find that some of the commercialsduring games have become fairly deplorable. We seem to constantly eitherturn down the volume or simply turn the channel. If I can’t find theremote, I’ve even resorted to saying “turn your head, please!”

RecentlyI was convicted about this. If my eight year old son shouldn’t willinglysee or hear something raunchy on TV, why is it OK for me to see or hearit? Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whateveris noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever isadmirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about suchthings.”

Thereis so much static in our lives – TV, newspaper, books, billboards, radio – thatwe all have to wade through each day. Reading this verse reminded me,again, that I need to continually ask myself, “Is this pure? Is thislovely? Is this noble and admirable?” We try to guard our kidshearts and minds, but I need to do a better job about guarding my heart andmind, as well, and make a conscious effort to put it away if it’s not.

-Tim Pereira

What a gift we've been given...

2012-01-16T14:56:00.011-06:00

As I reflect on the trip to Moldova in December of 2011 and January 2012, I’m struck with the fact that I have never begun a new year in another country before...at the same time, I’m overwhelmed with the fact that I’ve never started a new year without a warm, safe, comfortable place to sleep. Oh, I’ve gone to bed too late on New Year’s eve before or I’ve probably slept somewhere other than my own bed, but I’ve never been faced with sleeping in a 50+ year old, broken down bed with a urine-stained mattress in a marginally heated institution with others who have no home or no parents. In fact, I can’t remember a single New Year’s where I wasn’t somewhere I chose to be, even if it wasn’t at home or with my own family. I have never before been forced to depend on someone else to care for me because those who God gave me to, decided someone or something else was more important. Am I fortunate? You bet! Am I more blessed than someone else? In some people’s estimation. What about in God’s eyes...Am I more fortunate...not really...I’m doomed to the same fate as every orphan; an eternity of separation from God. It is only because of Jesus that I have been adopted into relationship with God the father. I was fatherless just like many of these orphans, but by His grace I am an orphan no more. Am I more blessed...not hardly...the blessings that have been showered upon me are available to all, it is simply the fact that I have been made aware of those blessings and have received them. Jesus said He came that we would have life and have it to the full. Some of you may say, but Tony you live in America, and you have a job and a family, etc. You are MORE blessed. Those are things God has given me and I am grateful for all of them. But the most important blessing I've been given is the knowledge of who Jesus is. Most of these children do not realize what they don’t have, but they do understand compassion and affection and genuine love. And they do understand when the love of God is shared with them. What an incredible gift has been given to us as followers of Christ to share His love with those who don’t know Him and those who are less fortunate than us. I’m more determined now than ever to share that love and I hope as you read this you’ll make the decision to share the light God has placed in you with a lost and dying world. God Bless you and God Bless the orphans in Moldova and around the world. Let’s make a difference for them through prayer and through action. Let this new year be the year you get involved in the life of “the least of these”. (Matthew 25:40)

A Gift of Wood and Nails...

2012-01-11T16:06:00.004-06:00

2011 was another powerful year of ministry in the life of Sweet Sleep which featured ground-breaking work in South Africa. As has been custom for the team members we've sent out over the last 9 years, each day a person is given a note from a prayer partner back home who is continuing to lift them up during the preparation and execution of their ministry work.

One night during our team's devotional time, team member Ashley Lamb shared this note from her prayer partner, Keely Boggs:

Ashley,

Today marks the first day you will begin building beds. It's easy to assume that this is a task that is simply accomplished by hands, but be reminded, it's so much more---just as much as this is a task of the hands, it's equally a task of the heart.

It may seem strange, but I looked up the term "bed" in Webster's dictionary. Not because I'm unfamiliar with its function or its purpose, but I wanted to be reminded of the meaning of something that we often take for granted. And while I anticipated many of the listed definitions, I came across one that caught my attention: "an area of ground, typically in a garden, where flowers and plants are grown."

When I read this, I couldn't help but be reminded that this is exactly waht you and the team are doing today. Except instead of planting flowers and plants, you are planting spiritual seeds of love and hope. And instead of toiling grounds and gardens, you are ministering to hearts.

With each piece of wood, each nail that is sued and each strike of the hammer, you are not only building beds, but you are changing live. With the provision of a physical gift, you are opening people's heart to a much bigger, a much greater spiritual gift.

Because of you, because of your obedience, people will not only receive sweet, peaceful rest, but they will have the opportunity to have their souls forever at rest because they encountered the love of Jesus through you.

So, as you bullied, remember what it is you and the team are really building: opportunities for Jesus to reveal Himself to the hearts of each and every person who will rest their head on a bed--some maybe even for the first time in their lives. Today, people will know love because of the works of your hands and heart.

I am mindful that the gift you are giving is much like the gift that you were given. Each gift uses wood, nails, and a level of compassion that can never be matched. And each is a symbol of love that echoes long after the task at hand has been accomplished.

"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." Colossians 2:13-15

As Ashley read her friend's words of affirmation, love and encouragement, I couldn't help but cry. Keely's words were a powerful reminder that we HAVE been given a gift that used wood and nails and incomprehensible love and compassion. It was also a reminder that this gift is not for us to keep to ourselves. It's a gift for all. A reminder that once we have received this gift, we have the responsibility to make sure others can receive this boundless love and compassion.

My prayer for 2012 is that all that Sweet Sleep does points the lost in the right direction and provides hope for those who are without hope and love for those who have never known it. My prayer is for God to use Sweet Sleep in a way that is eternal. My prayer for you is that you would reach out to find your place in the abundant opportunities, here and abroad.

Sweetly,

Jen

My Journey

2012-01-11T09:50:00.002-06:00

Jeremiah 29:11, says "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future".

Our God of this universe, maker of all heaven and earth, has a plan for each one of us. HE is concerned about you and me. HE knows each of us and still loves us without condition. To prove this HE sent HIS only son JESUS to die on the cross for each one of us. So we could spend eternity with HIM. This gift of Christmas is for each one of us to just ... Believe this promise.

This is the experience we wanted the least of these (orphans) to feel. How very great God is. The same God that called a team together to travel thousands of miles just to see them. To tell and show them how much God loves us all!

Spending Christmas in Moldova with the orphans was incredible. Late one night we were asked to tell one thing that stood out to each of us. As your mind races to try and settle on just one experience. You realize there are so many. The sparkle in the eyes of the children as they receive their own bed. The smiles on their faces as they are running to see you as the van drives up. The joy of hugging them, playing games with them and telling them about the Christmas Story. Giving them a banana. A banana! But not the least of these also is the team God brought together of individuals from different walks of life for this journey together. So many images run thru my mind. Memories of a life time. A bond of laughing, crying and working side by side to make life for these orphans a little better with a bed of their very own. Letting them know ..."How much God loves us all!" The true CHRISTMAS STORY. The story of Unending Love for others. May we all remember and share that same love God shares with us daily.

Buna! Amen!

Debra Thedford

Words are not adequate

2011-12-31T17:35:00.000-06:00

Spending Christmas in Moldova has been incredible! I am at the point in the trip where I am processing all that I have experienced and can find few words that are adequate. I will do my best share a few thoughts.

I am learning that one of the things I will never regret is loving people well. Loving people well is what Scripture demands that we do. It is what sets us apart as followers of Christ. Loving people well is fulfilling. Being with the orphans in Moldova this week has reminded me of this in incredible ways. We connected quickly and it will be sad to leave them tomorrow. It has been incredible to give them a bed and teach them the significance of the bed. I love that there are 50 orphans sleeping sweetly in their new beds! I love that they will be reminded each day of God's love! I'm thankful that I got to be apart of this!

I wish you could be here with us. Check out this video of an orphan named Maxim receiving his bed. Maxim showed us joy today! It was simply incredible.

On this trip I have laughed so much! I have been reflective. I have seen hard things. I have seen joy in the eyes of orphans. I have been reminded why I believe so strongly in the ministry of Sweet Sleep. I look forward to the Lord showing me more about Himself as I continue to reflect.

My first Sweet Sleep bed in Moldova

Maxim

What A Blessing It Is...

2011-12-30T16:13:00.002-06:00

Oh, where to start? I keep looking at my watch to remind myself that today is Friday. I could tell you that two days ago we were visiting a special needs orphanage in Transnistria (a scouting trip for us to see the shape of the beds in this orphanage).

Transnistria is a portion of Moldova that still wants to live with Russian ties and Russian ways. They actually have the Russian military guarding the “border”. There were 260 children at the orphanage / boarding school. The beds there were in bad shape and now I know why we were to go see this.

Or I could tell you how beautiful that Chisinau is at night as we went down town to see the Christmas lights (most people here don’t celebrate Christmas until Jan 07) and that out team ended up getting multiple Christmas pictures made. Many may say, “I thought you were going to work in an orphanage building beds and sharing God’s love.”

Well, we arrived at the orphanage in Visoca Moldova yesterday afternoon (we are 150 km from Chisinau (the capital) and our base house). We visited the orphanage, viewed the rooms that we would be placing beds in, practiced putting a bed together and then spent some time with the kids and passed out bananas.

It amazes me how grateful they were with being given a single piece of fruit. I think about the reaction that children back home would have had if you said here, enjoy this banana.

After leaving the orphanage yesterday evening, we were treated to a guided tour of a fortress that was built in the 1530’s. It was amazing.

Today we were able to bless 24 children with new beds. Oh, the look on their faces when they received them and were told that God loves them. It seems that one little boy continued to try and tell people how beautiful the beds were (and he didn’t get one today; however, I believe that he will get his tomorrow).

After lunch we sang with the children and then divided up into three groups and we did crafts, had a Bible story and did recreation. I spent my time in crafts and was in awe of the artistic ability of some of these kids.

I started out with the goal of teaching the chicken dance but felt led to play something different. There faces lit up when I played Christmas music by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (and it didn’t matter whether it was a fast or slow song). We concluded our time with the children by singing to them,them singing to us and the then us passing out three bananas to each kid (I think I need to apologize to the produce guy at Metro for over selling bananas to us. It turns out that we had the right amount for what God wanted us to do with them and that was give them fruit two days in a row. It’s amazing how things can work when we get out of God’s way and stop questioning why things are happening). Before we left the orphanage, the director told us that she was amazed at how the children have accepted us, become attached to us and look forward to our returning visits (she just doesn’t know how much we look forward to our time with them as well). Before we could leave Joe just had to hug her (the orphanage director). This was followed by Tony hugging her and before I knew it, she pointed at me saying she wanted to hug or be hugged by me. Needless to say, that hug led to a second hug and then a picture of the two of us.

So far it’s been an awesome experience being used by God to share HIS love and to meet the needs of others. I can’t wait to see what He has in store for me / us tomorrow.

Dan McBride

Prayers for you to meet your Maxim..

2011-12-30T14:50:00.000-06:00

We went to the orphanage today and began building beds. Our goals for the day were to build half the beds and have story time, craft time and recreation with the children. I'm happy to report that all goals were accomplished with the amazing team that God placed here this week! It is hard to describe the amount of teamwork that happened in that orphanage in Visoca today. My team began putting all the mattresses in plastic covers. We were able to complete all 50. Then we began covering pillows got all those completed also. Meanwhile the other 2 teams were building the frames for the beds. We then completed each bed with new sheets, pillow cases and comforters . Next we had the privilege of showing the children their new beds and explaining that they were receiving them because of Gods love for them. Beaming smiles and hope filled eyes said it all. They were very pleased and so grateful! Lunchtime was fun and interesting as always! This team is full of comedians! We laughed alot and Joe had another run in with a dog! Moldovan dogs just don't like him! Back to the orphanage to play games, do crafts and have story time. I'm in the recreation group- honestly when the first group arrived I'm was a little intimidated by the language barrier. But as we begin and as always God has provided the perfect translators!! We play a game with the hula hoops and a game with soccer balls, kickball and with the younger group instead of kickball we do a Moldovan game named hunt the duck. Children stand in the middle and we roll a ball thru them trying to hit them. Sarah J and I were the hunters- they were fast!! Fun fun times. Then by a divine appointment a little boy named Maxim entered my life. During all the games, fun and excitement he pulls me to the side to simply tell me the beds in the rooms were beautiful! And he wants to know if he will get a new bed. For all the doubting Thomases who asked if ALL we would be doing was building beds--- I pray God sends a Maxim into your life just one time- so that you can see the hope that I saw in his precious little eyes and face-the hope that he might get a new beautiful bed tomorrow! Then picture time began. They love to have their picture made with us! Maybe it's just to be touched or hugged- we were happy to oblige. Each child was able to get 3 bananas today- the director and children were very thankful! They just don't have the funds for fruit. They sang for us and we sang for them. One of their songs was asking God to bless their country and send awakening and blessings upon them. Our time seemed short but as we were saying our goodbyes-my little friend Maxim told the director to tell us that if we built him a new bed he would be good and he promised he would not wet the bed!! My feelings on this were overwhelming to say the least. Absolutely brought tears of happiness, sadness, distress, sympathy and empathy. Wow! Never knew how many emotions that God gave us! We should use them for others more often.

On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

Psalm 63:6-7

"Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep"

2011-12-30T14:47:00.008-06:00

"Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep..." Did you ever pray that little prayer as a child, or hear a child pray it? I have heard that prayer my whole life and it's never really impacted me...but as I think about it tonight, it becomes very meaningful. Today 25 discarded children received brand new beds and bedding, and for maybe the first time in their lives they will lay down and sleep sweetly because of the love of God in the hearts of so many people that made this moment a reality. I had the pleasure today of presenting some boys with their beds. The faces of those children when they walked into their room was God given; one young man in particular, John, sat down on his bed with me and began to move closer and closer to me until he was holding my hand. As I sat and told him and the other boys that God loved them and cared for them, I was filled with joy and thanksgiving that God had allowed me to play a small part in his plan for these precious souls. Not all of us are called to a mission field, not all of us have the means to provide for others, but we all can pray. And as these children pray tonight they'll pray from a brand new bed provided by the mercy of God and the special people who heard from God about this work. Thank you to each one of you who answered the call to help "one of the least of these" and give them a chance to lay down to a very sweet sleep.

Orphans, Beds & Bananas

2011-12-29T14:36:00.009-06:00

Buna ziua everyone...that means hello for all of you English speakers! This is Lannette. As I sit here tonight in a room with electricity, plumbing, and a warm, comfortable bed, I can't help but think about the time in my life that I took all of those things for granted. I didn't think about what a luxury it was to have a pantry stocked with food, a faucet that provides clean water to drink, power to cool or warm my house, and a safe, warm bed to rest each and every night. I am also reminded of the day that God "knocked me over the head" with the reality that most of the world doesn't share in the luxuries that I was so selfishly taking for granted. I vividly remember God laying a burden on my heart for the orphans of the world. He wanted me to stop paying "lip-service" to the truth's taught in James 1:27..."Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this; to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world." He wanted me to take action! He wanted me to GO and the place He called me to was Moldova...a place I didn't even know existed 3 years ago.

Since that time, my life has been forever changed by the mission trips I have had the great privilege of being a part of each year. I can't help but always think about all of the thousands and thousands of children around the world who do not have the opportunity to have a safe, comfortable bed to rest in or any of those basic comforts that I took for granted for all of those years. It's something that I strive to teach my children and the children I work with at our church to always be sensitive to...

As I was preparing to blog tonight, a whirlwind of feelings and emotions were swirling about in my head...exhaustion (my body is still trying to adjust to the time change and I had so many responsibilities to complete before I go to bed tonight)...happiness ( I have met so many new friends and had so many wonderful experiences already)...about being asked to sing on camera...(side note: those of you who know me are aware that I only sing for preschool audiences who think that there teacher is the best singer in the whole wide world! LOL)...but ABOVE ALL OF THESE...IS THE OVERWHELMING FEELING OF LOVE that surrounds you when you are following God's plan for your life! My heart is filled with love for these kids. My goal is to not only help provide the comforts of a new bed but also to bring the light of Christ to an otherwise dark place. As my prayer partner so sweetly reminded me in her letter to me this morning of the words found in Daniel 2:20-22..."Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are His. He changes times and seasons; He sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells in Him."

Today we made our first visit to Soroca. We were able to meet the director and the children at the orphanage in Visoca. We were able to play an interactive game with the kids, sing Christmas carols, discuss the true meaning of Christmas, and share a sweet snack...BANANAS! You could see the excitement in the children's eyes and the anticipation of special surprises that are coming tomorrow. I look forward to the opportunities we have over the next few days to share the light of God's love with these precious children. I ask you to join our team in prayer as we continue this great adventure God has for our team! I also ask you to search your heart. If you feel God tugging on your heart to take action on His perfect plan for your life, don't be afraid to answer the call! Believe me...you won't regret it!

In Him,
Lannette Burlingame

2011-12-29T13:56:00.001-06:00

Today we went to the Russian occupied area of Moldova called Transnistria.We were able to visit the orphanage in hopes to build a partnership with SweetSleep. As you can see, their current beds are in poor condition from the yearsof use with many, many kids. Hopefully a Sweet Sleep team will be able toreplace all 120 beds in March when they return!

We were able to leave the children with a special treat. Long livebananas!

Jet lagged and dog bit

2011-12-28T18:15:00.002-06:00

Today in a nutshell; we woke up, ate breakfast and drove in a van to an orphanage. We walked around, handed out bananas and candy, and had lunch in the nearby town. Tony and Dan made us laugh. The drive was bumpy but the people in the van were great. I gained a respect for the people of the land and fell in love with Lucia and our translators. We drove home, saw christmas lights in Chisinau and had chicken and pickles for supper at the mission house. Went to bed.

The day for me was defined by what I think they call "Jet lag". My body doesn't know what day it is or what time it is and I have periods of normality followed by periods of extreme sleepiness. In fact, I had to take a two hour nap after dinner just to be able to process what happened today and put it into words.

Here are some random things I've noticed in my jet lag fog:

-The people here are no different than us, they just have not had the opportunities we have had. In some ways they are better than us. They don't complain and are very greatfull for even the smallest act of kindness.

-Moldova is Moldova not Romania or Russia, Inteleg?

-Transnistria is loyal to Russia and they speak Russian but they are not officially recognized as independent from Moldova.

-The younger women are apparently enamored with the west because they dress rather provocatively with high heels, tight jeans, hair and make-up even though they must of had to spend a large portion of their income to portray that look!

-The locals seem quiet and unashamed of who they are and how they live, in fact they love their country and each other.

-The Orphanage buildings and equipment were very old and in serious need of repair but were clean and organized.

-The teachers and workers make use of anything and everything to do whatever and are effective. Since teachers can't really print things off the internet for teaching and crafts they design and draw it themselves with skill.

-The children were disciplined and respectful and grateful to have clothes and shoes even though the clothes didn't match, the coats may not zip up or the shoes may have no laces.

-So far, the food whether home cooked or in a restaurant has been fantastic!

-Apparently americans stand out easy and may even be intimidating to some.

-God loves the people and the children and the Church must help these people!!!

-I am glad God has opened my eyes to how blessed I have been and ashamed at the same time that I have been ungrateful, selfish and mostly ignored the cries for help from others in the past.

-One cannot see first hand the suffering and depravity of his fellow creation and then not do something about it. Children are children and innocent regardless of where they live or what lanquage they speak. I wonder how my life will change.

A little story, after we returned from Transnistria we stopped by the mission house to freshen up and then go to downtown Chisinau. In the downtown area there were Christmas lights and lots of people and an area where you could have your picture made in front of various back grounds that said "Happy New Year 2012" in Romanian

The background that interested me had a live owl, an eagle and two chinchillas. So Darla and I had our picture made here. The back ground that interested the group had two small dogs and a dwarf dressed like an elf. I grabbed one of the dogs and we began filing in and posing for the picture. My dog was interested in what I had for lunch which was apparently still in my beard.

I was describing what the dog was doing, sniffing and licking my beard as we were all facing the camera. That was when the animal clamped on my beard and tried to rip it from my face. That's when I screamed like a little girl, which in Romanian apparently means "everybody laugh at the stupid american man afraid of a little dog".

Bible verse that comes to mind.

Isaiah 3:13-15

The LORD takes his place in court; he rises to judge the people. The LORD enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: “It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses. What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?” declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.

Gnome Away From Home

2011-12-28T15:49:00.006-06:00

Many hours spent in the van traveling today. This afforded some quality bonding time with the “Christmas in Moldova” team. These “team moments” will hopefully help establish a comradery that will help our team more effectively take on the mission God has sent us here to do.

Today was a “scouting” day to an orphanage in a Russian occupied area called Transnistia. The mission was to see the orphanage and the bed situation in order to prepare for another team to build beds on a future trip. We also took a treat of bananas and chocolate for the 260 boys and girls that live there year round. While our time at the orphanage was not long, we were able to see the living quarters and distribute the treats to the children.

While I have seen children in a variety of improvised conditions, this was my first experience in an orphanage. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but the situation of this facility was better that what I was anticipating. I was very impressed with the orphanage staff and their apparent care for the children and desire to improve the environment for the children. While the bedrooms and classrooms are basic and outdated by our American standards—what they have is clean and well kept.

As with every mission journey I have been a part of, God reminds me of His Kingdom agenda for ALL people. It is so easy to get caught up in where I live (which is Brentwood, TN) and be so focused on what is going on in my little world. Often forgetting that there is a whole world of people who live in drastically different conditions and many who have never even heard about the love of Jesus.

I’m reminded of lyrics from one of this year’s VBS songs…

You said, “Go,” so I will go, You said, “Tell,” so I will tell
Sharing Your story, proclaiming Your glory
To a world that needs to know what they’re worth
I will take Your name to every nation
Spread the Good News of salvation
Baptize in the name of the Father
The Son and the Holy Spirit
I will teach the things that You’ve commanded
Make sure that Your truth is planted
Jesus, I will do whatever it takes, To bring glory to Your name

Easy words to sing but more difficult words to live out. God has been challenging me over the last few years that His command is not complicated-it is simply to “go.” It’s not always around the world; sometimes it is across the street. But my job is to obey when He says, “go”—no matter where it is or to whom it is. My prayer is that glory is brought to the name of Jesus through building beds and loving on children this week!

Posted by Amy Carter

getting ready for a big surprise!

2011-12-28T12:18:00.001-06:00

I will let the photos do the talking. We are going to our first project tomorrow where we will surprise 260+ smiling faces at the first orphanage we will be serving. To give them an extra special time, we assembled gift bags for each child. While the gifts may seem simple to Americans, Lucia (the Moldova Sweet Sleep Manager) assured us that it would bring joy to many hearts tomorrow. We had a great time putting them together, too!

We Made It

2011-12-27T14:39:00.000-06:00

That’s right,we finally made it here to Chisinau, Moldova. Our trip started Christmas night as we left home at about 8:30, stayed in a hotel in Irving (I was able to get between 3-4 hours of sleep) and was at the airport by 5:30 a.m. on the 26th. Three flights later, the layover in D.C. at Dulles will be memorable, and we finally arrived in Chisinau at 12:00 on Dec 27th (with all of our luggage and all of our people). We are going to be staying at the IMB House for the next couple of days, then we’ll be off to Soroca, Moldova. Tomorrow we are going to the Transnistria area of Moldova (we’ll get a taste of what the old Soviet Union was like while visiting here) to visit with 260 orphans. Hope they’ll be happy to see us; we are taking them bananas, Kit Kat bars and cookies for each one of these kids. We bought way too many bananas tonight (guess you can’t trust the produce guy at Metro) so the orphans that we see later this week in Visoca will no only get new beds but will get bananas daily (bananas are a big treat here). I am looking forward to seeing how God will use us this week. Go has put us all here for an important reason, so I ask that you take time to pray for this team as we reach out to these special needs orphans in Slobozia and in Visoca later this week. More to come tomorrow. I should even have pics…

Dan McBride

The Journey Begins

2011-12-27T08:23:00.002-06:00

Well, we made it; 3 planes and 24 hours later we're in Moldova. What a fabulous team God has assembled for this trip. We've already made several memories during our layover in Dulles in Washington D.C. and were amazed by the ease with which we made it through the airport in Munich. We are settled in the IMB Mission house and are excited about our unique oppportunity to get to travel to the Transnistria area of Moldova tomorrow to visit with 260 orphans there. I'm always amazed how God can bring people from all different walks of life and even different countries together and can create such harmony. It is a beautiful thing to be able to serve with these gifted and talented folks in this precious country. If you're reading this blog, take time to pray for this team as we reach out to these special needs orphans in Slobozia and in Visoca later this week. I know great things are going to come out of this jouuney and I pray our lives and the lives of these needy children will be impacted for all time. God bless!

Christmas - It is 4 Days Away! Don't Miss It!

2011-12-21T10:22:00.001-06:00

Due to a plethora of crazy schedules and siblings living across country from one another, my family decided tocelebrate Christmas early this year. Two weeks I ago I flew to Texas and thewhole gang was there. We did everything like we have always done-familyget-togethers, amazing food, gift exchanges, family drama, and everything else you couldimagine. It felt nice. It was Christmas. Not long after all the gifts wereopened and everything was cleaned up I realized that although the familygatherings were over, the presents had all been given, and it had even felt likeChristmas, Christmas had not yet happened. This was a big moment for me. Infact, it kept me quiet for a few days. Realizing that Christmas day was notover and we still had time to celebrate and reflect on the true meaning ofChristmas made me VERY excited! It hit me in a way that I am not sure has ever happened to me. Maybe that is a bad thing? I took it as great! I was beginning to realize that I could saythat Christmas is not about the presents or the traditions, but reality isChristmas has become something to me that includes both.

I came back to Nashville and began to reflect on the time Ihad just spent with my family. I began to think about the Christmas story. Icould really sit down with my Bible and think through these accounts now thatI have a little extra time. It's really amazing what you can do when you are no longer facing the pressures of the perfect gift and baking the perfect dish for the party! Anyway, I became very reflective. I thought about how all throughout Scripture therehave been people who were waiting in great expectation for the coming of theMessiah. I also thought about how all throughout history and even today how fewpeople have actually realized he has already come as a child in a manger anddied on the cross for our sins. I thought about how easy it is to greatlyexpect something and still miss it.

The birth of Christ is not just exciting. It changes everything!

Doing Christmasdifferently this year has been huge for me. I am not saying that this is theonly way to fully experience Christmas. In fact, I am sure others do it wellall the time. However, for me, I feel like it has saved me from missing anopportunity to truly reflect and to experience Christmas in a significant way.It has given me the opportunity to step away from the traditions and the giftsand choose my response to Christ and His coming. You see I believe that when welook back on our lives one of our biggest regrets will be when we do not chooseto love people well. I think it will have little to do with the gifts we bought(or did not). We will be most satisfied by the moments when we chose to love theway the Lord has loved us. That love is complex and simple. It most definitelyincludes grace and it requires patience. This love makes a choice to be consistent and unconditional. It does not often look all nice andpretty. It is a love that we cannot come up with on our own. That is what makes it so incredible! Christmas itself is a huge example of the love that God has for us! It is alsoan unbelievable opportunity for us to show that love to others!

My challenge to myself (and to you) is that you not missChristmas! Give the gifts and spend time with friends and family, but do notmiss the opportunity you have to understand better the love you have been giventhrough Christ and, as a result, love people well!

Merry Christmas!

Last Minute Shopping - For Men!

2011-12-20T16:19:00.000-06:00

ATTENTION MEN:
Sweet Sleep knows Christmas shopping can be stressful and most of us wait until the last minute. We want to help you. And the best part is, when we help you, you will be helping others!

• Sweet Sleep is excited to announce that we will have our retail store open to MEN only on Wednesday, December 21st for a special shopping opportunity in which we will help you pick out the perfect gift for that special person in your life. Stop by from 4pm-6pm on December 21st to take advantage of this unique (and painless) shopping experience.

And the best part is we will have stylists on hand to help you pick out the perfect gift. How easy is that!

• We have an amazing selection of handmade jewelry from Uganda that every woman will love. Each piece is unique and comes with the story of how the jewelry was crafted in Uganda.
• We also have hand sewn scarves from fashionABLE. We couldn’t keep these on the shelf last week during our open house. Thanks to fashionABLE, Sweet Sleep is the only place in Brentwood that you can hand pick these scarves in person.
We also have items for all family members such as t-shirts, hats, running shirts and much more. Lots of great stocking stuffers available!

*WE WILL ALSO BE GIVING AWAY A PAIR OF TITANS CLUB LEVEL TICKETS AND A PARKING PASS TO SATURDAY’S LAST HOME GAME VS. JACKSONVILLE AT THE OPEN HOUSE*

Our office is located in Brentwood off of Old Hickory Blvd and Franklin Pike in the Mazatlan Restaurant building beside the post office. Our address is 116 Wilson Pike Circle Suite 100, Brentwood, TN 37027.
For those unable to make the open house, you can shop at our Sweet Sleep On-Line Store.
Sweet Sleep accepts cash, check, and all major credit cards and a portion of the sale price is tax-deductible.

What Moment Are You Living In?

2011-12-13T15:11:00.001-06:00

Today is December 13^th. I think. For me though, it might as well December 20^th or January 4^th or August 26^th. And I say that because I have found myself more often than not these days thinking ahead and not in just hours, but days, weeks and months. Do you ever find yourself waking up on a Friday and already dreading a Monday? Or worried about a situation that might happen next month? I know I am guilty of this and it reveals a big flaw in my spiritual life. If I am constantly living in the future, than I lose sight of the present. And when I lose sight of the present, I am left with little time to worship and praise God for this day he has given me and how lucky I am spend another day fulfilling the call he has me here on earth for.

I was reminded of this a few weeks ago upon learning about a terrible tragedy involving a man from Hendersonville who was well known throughout the community. He was young, just married and headed to work one morning when he was tragically killed in a car accident due to heavy fog on the interstate. In a split second, lives were changed forever.

The future suddenly became irrelevant.

Far too often I wake up and take for granted the day I’m given. I hurry through breakfast, find out where in the world Matt Lauer is, try to squeeze in a “quiet time” and head off for a day that comes and goes in a flash. And each day I rarely stop to take the time to thank God for the breath he has given me. My nature is to worry about things down the road that I have absolutely zero , zilch, nada control over. I think I do. But in reality, I no more have control over the next 30 minutes let alone the next 30 days.

But occasionally, I do make it a point to stop to thank God for the present. I thank him that he has given me another day at a wonderful job that I love. I thank him for my wonderful family that I am blessed to be a part of. I thank him for friends that I can spend hours laughing with on a 12^th South patio or spend a Saturday with serving others. And on the days in which I do this, I am filled with such a comforting peace that it makes the days worries seem quite insignificant.

I love this line from author Francois Fenelon where he says, “To live in both peace and vitality, we’re invited to trust God and simply let his will unfold. That way, we go through each day in a spirit of worship, not being concerned whether we will have answers to our every question. Above all, live in the present moment and God will give you all the grace you need.”

This particular moment is all we need. It’s my prayer we would all stop and remember that each and every day.

“Heavenly father, help me to prayerfully receive whatever comes today. Let me see through your eyes what is really happening, with mind and heart fully open to your Holy Spirit.”

No Need to Worry!

2011-12-08T11:21:00.001-06:00

Clear, moonlit nights are the best. The ones where the stars look so close andvivid you could almost reach out and touch them. The ones where you can see virtually everyvalley and mountain on the moon. Theones where the light from the moon seems as bright as a street light whenwalking down the driveway.

I don’t often take the time to sit and just think about howsmall I really am in the grand scheme of the universe that God created. Francis Chan, pastor of Cornerstone Church inSimi Valley, CA has a video that details just how vast and expansive theuniverse really is. When I stop andconsider that an all powerful God who created not only the earth, but the moon,the sun, the stars, the galaxy and thousands of other galaxies, loves me morethan anything and wants desperately to have a relationship with me, I amstunned.

One of my favorite verses is Jeremiah 29:11, which says “ForI know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and notto harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future”. Think about that for a second. The God of the universe, maker of all heavenand earth, has plans for ME. He isconcerned about ME. He knows me andloves me without condition, so much so that he sent his son to die on the crossfor my sins so that I could have a way to be with Him in eternity.

Why then do I worry about the trivial day to day things thattend to make me frustrated or upset? Whydo I worry about where I will be five or ten years from now? Sure, it’s okay to make plans and to be awareof daily responsibilities – we all are tasked with that – but it’s theworrying, fretting and anxiousness that I often feel that I need to lay down atthe feet of Christ. God is sovereign andin control. Nothing happens anywhere,anytime that He does not know about or allow. Whatever I may be worrying about at any given time is no match for thesovereign maker of the universe.

So, the next time you find yourself looking into the nightsky, looking for the Big Dipper or noticing how close Venus looks, think aboutthis: the maker of all of this loves youand cares for you. He holds you in hishands and has plans for you. No need toworry!

- Tim Pereira

Sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see...

2011-11-29T10:00:00.008-06:00

One of the things I have been learning a lot about is faith. It's a hard word to learn because you can only learn as much as you allow yourself to actually have. If you are living by faith, you know a lot about what faith is and what it requires. If you are not living by faith, you have a good textbook answer that will be followed up with a lot of tough life situations that will teach you the hard way. Life has been teaching me many things about this word. It's teaching me that it has been awhile since I have had to truly have faith. The further you step away from the details of my life the more it appears that I am living by faith. However, the closer you zero in to me and my day-to-day life you would find that it's been awhile. I'm also learning that we often look at faith as something we have and do in a singular moment. We notice it when we have to make a big decision and are facing transition. We realize it when we see controversy and have to make a stand. However, we all know that once we make a big decision the journey is not over. We continue in a faith journey long after the "big moments" of faith. Faith is not about a singular moment. It's consistently making decisions of obedience.

Hebrews is an incredible book when it comes to studying faith. I was reading chapters 11, 12, and 13 recently and several things stood out as powerful to me as I am learning about faith from life.

First, the definition of faith "is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1)." We do not have "faith" in order to get results. We have faith that God will do what He says He will do. Faith is being sure of that. Faith is being obedient because of that.

Hebrews 11 is often described as the "Faith Hall of Fame." The hall of fame is not an exhaustive list of those who have lived by faith. In fact, I believe there were certainly others in Scripture (and even in our lives) that have lived by much faith. Hebrews 11 is a beautiful display of the fruit of faith! The stories and people we read about were chosen with divine intention. We need to know that when we as believers live a life of faith we reap many things.

Verse 4 - "and by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead."

Verse 6 - "and without faith it is impossible to please God."

Verse 7 - "became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith."

When we live a life of faith we reap the fruit of faith.

Hebrews also shows us the reality that faith is a long term commitment. Hebrews 11:39 says, "These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised." These people are in the "Faith Hall of Fame" because they were sure of what they hoped for and certain of what they did not see.

So what do we do with this?

We are faithful in our lives. It is not that we live a life absent of faith. The problem is where we choose to put our faith. The scary thing is that we are far too often way more faithful to ourselves than we are to our God. I do not believe we always do this intentionally. In fact, I feel like I often do so with the intention that my agenda is pleasing to the Lord. The reality is that Hebrews 11:6 is truth. We cannot please the Lord without faith. Our agendas can stop us from doing the very thing we have set out to do!

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and PERFECTER OF OUR FAITH." Perfecter of our faith! That's how we can become perfect in our faith. It's not possible for us to do this on our own. It's Christ in our lives every day working to make us more like Himself. We go through hardship and welcome discipline because these are the things that all us to share in holiness (12:10) and that produce "a harvest of righteousness and peace (12:11)."

Faith in God is what we are called to by Scripture. Through faith God creates kingdom. These are the things that ultimately matter. These are the things that will stand eternally. "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:28).'"

I have no way of knowing where this post finds you. I do know that it is a truth that challenges me especially during this holiday season. My prayer is that we will daily learn to be faithful and that as a result we will "be thankful and worship God acceptably!"

Big and Dangerous Prayers

2011-11-23T12:50:00.002-06:00

Are you ever surprised at what God does? Like you, I pray. I pray a lot. And those prayers are mostly centered on me asking God to do something. I pray for him to show up, to reveal himself, to provide wisdom and discernment or just to provide “things”. And since I’ve been at Sweet Sleep, I’ve seen those prayers multiply as we partner with others to provide a bed for every head, a task which seems quite often insurmountable. But I pray anyway. And what I’ve found is that a majority of the time, God shows up and answers those prayers.

And I’m shocked.

I rarely pause to reflect on why I’m surprised. I just am. And then I thank God for answering that prayer and send up another one. And then I’m shocked when he answers the next one. With my words I profess to have faith that God answers all prayers. But more often than not, I am surprised when he does.

I was reading recently in Mark about Jesus and his time with the disciples in the weeks leading up to his crucifixion. In Mark 11:12, we find Jesus and the disciples leaving Bethany. Jesus was hungry. He saw a fig tree in the distance and went to find out if it had any fruit. It did not as it was not the season for figs. He then said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

The next morning, the disciples were leaving and as they went along, they saw the same fig tree withered from the roots. Peter then said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”

Did you see that? Exclamation points. I don’t know about you, but I only use exclamation points when I’m REALLY excited or surprised. Peter, a disciple who had seen Jesus perform countless miracles, was surprised that what Jesus had commanded came true.

Peter was shocked.

As I read this, I was surprised at Peter’s reaction. My response was, Peter, how can you of all people be surprised when Jesus does what he said he was going to do. Did you not trust him or believe that what he commanded would happen? Then I realized that all too often, I’m just like Peter.

Jesus responded to Peter’s surprised reaction in verse 22, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, go throw yourself in to the sea, and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Wow. I’m often guilty of praying prayers to God then having an attitude of not really believing if what I pray matters to God or will be answered. But here in Mark, Jesus commands that we believe in the power of His word and might. And when he does answer those prayers, we shouldn’t be surprised or shocked at the outcome, for he has already told us that he can move mountains, wither fig trees, heal the sick and on and on.

So pray big prayers or as Jen says quite often, dangerous prayers.

Just don’t be surprised when God answers them.

Sweet Sleep - Moldova - Prayer Need

2011-11-16T11:20:00.012-06:00

Sweet Sleep Prayer Warriors!

Below you will find the text of an email from Valeriu Ghiletchi that we recently received. Val is the former Bishop of the Baptist Union of Moldova---with whom Sweet Sleep has had a partnership with since 2006. He is now a member of Parliament and, as a Christian and an orphan advocate, his seat holds an important place in the future of the country. Additionally, there’s a Nashville connection. His oldest son, Stas, graduated this past May from Belmont and returned to Moldova this summer to marry and live. His second son, Eugen, is currently a student at Belmont. Both are good friends of ours.

Please be in prayer as directed below…

Dear friends,

For more than two years, our country does not have an elected President. The political, economic and social context of the world is not very encouraging. Arab countries are shaken by Islamic revolutions. The United States and the European Union are facing a major economic crisis with consequences difficult to predict.

In this context, political instability caused by the absence of the President makes our country more vulnerable to the problems faced by the whole international community. On November 18th 2011, the Moldovan Parliament is set to elect the President. The risk of not electing the President is quite high, because until now there was no candidate to register, although the deadline for registration is November 14th.The prophet Hosea speaks of a similar situation as a judgement of God: "For the children of Israel will remain a long time without a king ..." (Hosea 3:4).

Therefore, realizing that everything is in the Lord's hands, I urge you to pray for the election of the President of the Republic of Moldova, that MPs have political responsibility and discernment to vote for a candidate which will bring the country to the normal path and that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and dignity. (1Tim. 2:1-3, Eph. 6:18).

Serving Him together,

Valeriu Ghiletchi

Celebration of our families we served this week!

2011-11-11T14:29:00.000-06:00

Today, we join an organization in Cape Town called Open Doors, and celebrated all of the families we provided beds for during this past week. As the women completed a parenting class and continue meeting in support groups through the services of Open Doors, they received the gift of bed(s), beddings, mattress and Bible for their children.

Over the past week, we have been in the homes of these families and have gotten to know the children as well. Today, they came together for us to celebrate their success and to encourage and affirm them.

I was amazed to hear some of the women speak so passionately about what they had learned through Open Doors, how grateful they were for the beds (and what it meant to their children), and how much they wanted others in their community to be empowered as well! I can clearly see the foundation that has been laid as this first class has graduated and the revisions are being made to begin a 2nd class. God is clearly at work, and with the partnerships between Living Hope, Open Doors, and Sweet Sleep, transformation in these poverty stricken communities is beginning to take root!

"For I know the plans I have for you', declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11

Seeing poverty in silence...

2011-11-11T13:54:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, we all had difference experiences as we walked through the wetlands of Masipumalele. Masi is a township that houses around 35,000 people that live on about 100 acres. Before entering this area, we were told to stay together or we could become lost in the maze of tin "storage sheds". (If you go to Sweet Sleep's Facebook page, you'll see the pictures of this area).

As one who is deaf, my experience was in silence. Therefore, my other senses are heightened, especially sight and smell. As I looked into the eyes of the people there, I saw hopelessness like never before, even in children and babies. It was actually quite surreal.

There was no smell of nature...flowers, trees, or grass. It was mostly dirt, wood and tin. The hopelessness was understandable. The hope of Jesus and His promises is desperately needed. Fortunately the home where we built 4 beds, a local church family had adopted them and were very much involved in their lives.

As the grandmother (the primary caregiver along with her husband) saw the new mattresses, she was overwhelmed with emotion. Not long before we arrived to Cape Town, this family was sleeping on the ground. Then to receive 4 new beds, mattresses and bedding, it gave them a glimpse of hope through their gratefulness. However, their eyes still showed great despair...for the poverty was overwhelming. At least now, we know they are resting better and remembering God's love for them through His provision of the beds and through His love we displayed by words and actions.

Honestly, this blog is hard to write because nothing I say will come close to expressing what we saw and experienced. Some things have to be experienced first hand to understand.  Though not everyone will have this experience, we can all pray for every family in Masi to know Jesus and to be adopted by someone or a family, and to be lifted out of such extreme poverty. Remember, I am sharing about our experience with just one family out of 35,000 people...

The way things are seen

2011-11-10T13:53:00.025-06:00

About ten years ago my wife and I had the privilege of buying our first house. It was great ranch home on about an acre lot in the Crieve Hall area of Nashville, TN. After being there for a year or so we decided that we needed to purchase an 8' x 8' shed that would allow us to house our lawnmower and yard tools in a safe and dry place. It was well made and served its purpose well.

Today as we continued our work in the township of Ocean View I couldn't help but be humbled as we began to install three twin beds in a shed of similar size intended to sleep a family of six. It was not of the same quality or craftsmanship of the shed in our yard, but it was their home.

After our time in Ocean View we traveled to the wetlands in the township of Masiphumalele. Masi is a township that houses around 35,000 people that live on about 100 areas or on average 350 people per acre. The same amount of land in which our first house and shed sat houses hundreds of people in the most poverty stricken area I have ever seen.

As we traveled through the maze of corregated metal shacks I was struck and pained by the circumstances in which we were currently maneuvering and that these children lived. I couldn't process in my mind everything I was seeing. As I became more overwhelmed I couldn't help but recall 1 Samuel 16:7 - "But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

As we have had the opportunity to spend time with these families over the days it has been a joy to be able to see this lived out firsthand. The love of Christ, the spirit of giving and the ability to find joy in tough circumstances is amazing and shows the true heart of people. The same houses that I looked at and saw nothing but rusted metal God looks at and sees a beautiful and blessed place.

God never promises that through faith in Him we will not face adversity or troubles during our time on earth. But He does promise that though faith and acceptance of Christ we will live in unrivaled beauty in eternity with Him.

A Different Impact

2011-11-09T18:55:00.001-06:00

I've been on five bed building trips with Sweet Sleep in four (or five depending on who you ask) different countries. Every experience has been unique, with different cultures and different specific situations. That said, there have also always been common threads that hold true across cultural and political barriers. In Cape Town, both of these characteristics hold true. The setup here differs significantly from the work I've previously done with Sweet Sleep since it is focused on individual homes rather than larger scale orphanages or organizations; but the characteristics of the people we are working with, and what they are looking for, remains.

When I was here in the summer with Jen, we met several of the church and community leaders working in the neighborhoods and townships with the greatest needs with regard to providing for vulnerable children. It was encouraging to see how many people were working to serve those in need, but also a bit overwhelming to see the extent of that need. We were fortunate (blessed and directed) to eventually meet with staff from Open Door, an organization working out of the Ocean View community (while the name technically provides a true description of the community, it doesn't adequately reflect its state -- while it's certainly not the most impoverished area, there are significant drug and other problems that result in many kids living in bad home situations or away from their parents). We were able to work with the Open Door staff to set up the seeds of a parenting program to be tied to the delivery of beds to some of the neediest in this community, though.

Coming back to Cape Town, we'd heard that the classes went well and that the soon to be bed owners were very excited. And while the specific situations of the people receiving the beds varied, all would be providing a better, safer place for vulnerable children. While we knew this coming in, what I didn't expect was the profound change the classes and beds would have on the caregivers.

Though we still have a few to meet, the caregivers we have met thus far have been unanimous in their praise for the value the classes added and the amount of help they've already provided in raising the children in their care. In addition, the staff of Open Door have shown great enthusiasm about the success of the classes and how productive they were -- and how they fostered support groups among the caregivers that have continued beyond the timeframe of the classes.

Sweet Sleep has traditionally worked through orphanages to provide directly to the children housed in them, and in doing so worked toward its mission of providing a bed for every head. What we are beginning to see in Cape Town is the opportunity for that work to not only impact the child but the caregivers as well, and subsequently the culture around the children. This additional level of influence offers a great opportunity to impact the overall culture of the area, and exponentially expand the reach of Sweet Sleep in these neighborhoods. With the great local partners, there's an opportunity to eventually make an impact that's multi-generational. Most importantly, it allows the same type of impact opportunity for witnessing to the people of these areas and encouraging those who are already our brothers and sisters in Christ.

God has set up many threads to form a beautifully emerging pattern in Cape Town. I'm very excited to see what the future holds, but just as much by what we are already seeing.

"A Bed With Legs"

2011-11-09T15:30:00.002-06:00

If you've been following our trip blog so far you know we're not really "roughing it" as far as the trip accommodations go: the sound of the Atlantic Ocean waves singing me a sweet lullaby at night and the beautiful colors of the sun setting over the ocean painting a lovely view from the dining room table each evening. I was running on the beach the other morning and my view consisted of ocean waves crashing down to my right, sandy white beaches straight ahead and the sun rising up over the mountains with a light fog to my left - talk about picturesque! As I ran and reveled in God's beautiful, elegant and peaceful handiwork, though, the thoughts and memories of all the poverty stricken areas we've seen, stories heard and experiences incurred reminded me that this is far from any form of Utopia. While I have many amazing stories I could ramble on and on about (to all my friends & family - don't you worry...you'll hear ALL my stories when I return), I'd like to share about our bed building experience today with Genevieve. This story is from a bit of a different perspective though as it's more about the mother figure than the child. She is 27 years old and lives with in a 2 story dome type structure along with 4 other family members (the total square footage of the dome might be the size of my living room). She and her sweet 7 year old daughter live in the tiny attic space of the dome. The space was so small we had to make a custom bed frame to fit the area. She didn't care though. She was so excited when we arrived -- just like a small child on Christmas morning. Her beautiful toothless smile was beaming as it stretched from ear to ear while she anxiously waited for us to assemble the twin size bed that she will share with her daughter. I didn't think it was possible for her excitement level to increase any more until she realized she was not only getting a new bed, comforter, linens and pillows, but that her bed was "a bed with legs" (mini custom size legs to be exact, but legs nonetheless). In her 27 years she had never had a proper bed, let alone a bed with legs! Being the same age as her I had a brief "what if that were me" moment and what would my attitude look like...would I be that joyful if I were in her circumstance? The simple joy she had for something we consider a "basic need" and far from a "want" or luxury made me realize not only how blessed we truly are, but also how much we can learn from others. It was such a humbling moment that I hope and pray I never forget it. I'm also hoping her joy was contagious so I can bring a little back home with me! :) Later on that morning we sat up in her tiny attic on her twin size bed and discussed all sorts of things, including a mutual love of reading. She had a stack of books she had read and when I asked her which was her favorite she pulled out one called Life Swap. Basically in her Cliff notes version of the book she told us it was about a rich woman and a poor woman switching lives. As you might have guessed, eventually they switched back at the end with a renewed clarity on life with that the "grass isn't always greener on the other side" mentality. Ironically enough, the poor woman's name in the book was Amber. So as you lay down tonight on your comfy pillowtop oversized mattress I ask that you think of sweet Genevieve and her daughter tucked away sleeping sweetly tonight in their first ever "bed with legs."

"Give thanks to the Lord, for is he good; his love endures forever." Psalm 107:1

A Mother's Love

2011-11-08T14:14:00.005-06:00

Today was the day we have been eagerly waiting for these last few months. We have prayed for these families, not knowing them by name. We built three bunk beds today for three families, for 9 children total. Yes my math is correct. Even though the children are getting new beds they are not getting to have their own. The first family had three boys sharing the bunk beds....let me add the parents sleep in a twin bed now right across from them in a room smaller than most of our children's rooms back home. The second family who got a bunk bed will be split among five children. The three boys on top while the girls are below. House three had a bunk and these lucky kids got their own bed.

After we had built all the beds and furnished them with sheets, pillows and comforters we had the pleasure to go back into the homes and spend time with them and just share Gods message to them through the bed.

I had the honor to be with Sharon. She is a single mother to three children but also felt compelled to gain custody of her brothers son and daughter whom was being molested by two separated men in her house. Let me add Sharon lives in nothing more than a 10 by 10 shack, if that big.

Sharon was so honest with us and we talked about her situation. She came out of an abusive marriage, she was now raising five kids in this shack, she did not have a job but in spite of ALL that she was looking to see how God was going to use her through what she has experienced in her young life. She was a mom who was doing everything in her means to provide her kids with stability, to shower them in love.

As the 10 of us sat in this shack I was overcome with so many emotions. The joy of these children who had so much joy and happiness. Their joy was not found in material possessions....it was found in each other...their faith and their family. They were not focused on what they did not have. I never once heard Sharon talk about how bad her life was because of what had happened to her. She talked about what God was going to do with those broken pieces not only in her life but in the life of her children.

A minster at King of King church here in Cape Town noted on Sunday that we as parents are accountable to God for how we raise our children. We lay the foundation for their lives and Sharon is making the best of what she has to bring glory to our Lord and Savior I was humbled to be with her today. I was honored she let us PROUDLY in her home and love on her.

The most amazing thing was to hear her talk about how she wants to be involved and possibly teach some of the classes she had to take in order to receive the bed. She is beacon of light in a very dark place.....a woman who wants to take the joy she has found and pass it to others.

I feel so at a loss for the right words because what we are experiencing is overwhelming and humbling. It is awesome to see Gods hand here in South Africa. I am blessed to be a part of the wonderful work with Sweet Sleep.

South Africa

2011-11-08T14:08:00.002-06:00

God's Love is Shown Through Beds!

Today we put beds together in homes. After seeing all God's Amazing Creation in the ocean and mountains we saw His wonderful creation in these children. Some of the homes we were in we have used the word box to describe it. Box...a home that is made of whatever they could find to make walls and a roof. Box...not big enough for some Americans lawn tools. This "box" had 7 people living and sleeping in it. 7 people in a space we would not use for our lawn tools. A mom who already had 3 children has adopted 2 more! In this box she praises God and teaches these children to sing praises to God! This box is full of people and full of joy!

All I can think of today is what am I doing with my house (not a box), what am I doing w/the blessings God has given me? What more should I be doing to help the children all over the world that need love? We are told to care for the orphans and widows so why are there so many children all over the world that are with out some one to love them. Children without a place to put their heads at night and call their own.

Tonight there are 3 homes full of children that are sleeping sweetly tonight for the first time. They were told that as they pull the covers up to think about God's arms around them and loving them.

What can you do you ask? Donate to Sweet Sleep (www.sweetsleep.org) so more children will be able to Sleep Sweetly and hear about the love of Christ. The work here in South Africa is just beginning and I can't wait to see what all God will be going here! I am humbled to be here and be a part of what God is doing here!

Alyson Walker

Cape Town South Africa, November 7,2011

2011-11-07T12:45:00.003-06:00

Today was a stark contrast to the events of day one. We shifted in full gear as a team in action. This morning we spent time touring all the ministries of Living Way and seeing first hand all the various ways they are trying to bring a significant change in the circumstances that are hurting their community such as Aids, poverty, skills training, and health care. I was moved by two phrases that were posted at Living Way

"Are our children valuable or vulnerable, The way we see them is the way we treat them"

"It is easier to build a children then mend a broken man"

The remainder of the morning was spent preparing the beds that we will begin building and installing tomorrow. The sun was hot in in Oceanview and we finished in about two hours.

The reality of life in many parts of South Africa for so many set in as we worked in Kids Camp in the afternoon. Our group worked with young children (between 1 yr and 10yrs old). The town we were in was Mountainview, which was nothing more than wood, metal and cardboard shanties set on narrow dirt streets with all the sights and smells you can imagine. Coming from my background it is hard to understand how hard life can be in these conditions. As we walked through this small town the children ran up to us and grabbed our hands in greater numbers as we walked them back to the small child care center. The most moving thing to realize is we all start as innocent children and that at this age their joy is not dictated by their circumstances. It is a powerful sight to witness these children recite the Lords Prayer and sing Jesus Loves Me.

As we sat in The Team House tonight sharing our thoughts about today, you can be overwhelmed by how many children in this world who are either orphaned or vulnerable and how few you may be able to reach. I think more and more that GOD is not expecting us to reach them all; His call is to be opened to his will everyday, as we go and not miss the opportunity to care for those he puts in front of us.

My pray for those on this team is that GOD will continue to break our hearts for the right things and his will be accomplished. My pray for each of you who read this blog is that GOD moves you in the same way.

David Ward

Bigger Than Me

2011-11-06T13:45:00.002-06:00

Bigger is better is normally not true...but today was an exception. We did the tourist/sightseeing events that most teams kickoff with on day 1. Our team ventured up a mountain to Cape Point. Cape Point is part of table mountain. It was at the top when I realized once again just How BIG God is. The view was just short of breath-taking. The thought that first came to me amidst all the waves crashing and wind blowingwas that God did this masterpiece as easy as He made me.

Roman 1:20 reaffirms that God's divine nature is in all His creation. At home there are many times that I tend to lose sight of God's handy-work. I thank the Lord today for putting South Africa on my heart and giving me the opportunity today to be reminded that across the world God's hand is evident and seen.

I'm so excited to see how the Lord is going to use our team to further the message of Christ throughout Cape Town. Please continue to hold our team up as we try to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the people of Cape Town.

Abundant Love

2011-11-06T13:22:00.003-06:00

Sweet Sleep's team in South Africa began this morning by eating a fresh breakfast with a spectacular view from the dining room table of white sandy beaches, lined with beautiful mountain ridges. Afterwards, we made or way to worship at King of Kings Baptist Church. Aside from a few noted minor differences, worshiping here was much like it is in The States. We sang familiar worship songs and heard a message about the responsibly of raising Godly children in a worldly world.

As the mother of four, I knew that leaving my family to travel half way around the world to Cape Town, South Africa to minister to orphaned children here would be a hard step to take, but I don't think I realized just how hard that would be until this morning. As I sang in worship to the Lord, I started to miss the way that my third daughter, Leah, would reach up to me during Sunday morning worship, beckoning me to pick her up and hold her. I missed the way I could hear her softly sing worship songs in her little voice as she would lay her head on my shoulder.

I whispered a prayer to God, letting him know that while my heart missed my own children, I knew that he had called me here to Cape Town to minister to the little ones here who don't have a mother to reach for each Sunday morning in a worship service, who don't have a mother to run to when they scrape a knee, or when they are scared.

After we attended King of Kings, we traveled to a much different church service, this time in a small, one room church in the heart of a poverty stricken community here. In spite of the small number of people, the volume resounding from this place was on the same scale as something you would here in your average American mega church. Although we could not understand the majority of their words, the passion there could not be missed. The praises seeped out of the windows of the church and filled the dirty streets near by where children were playing. It was nothing short of amazing.

As we walked into this church my heart rejoiced as a small boy ran up to me with a smile that could light up the world and held his hands out for me to pick him up....just the way my Leah does. What an amazing God to know just what I needed in that moment... and to provide the strength and resolve I needed to go forth with our mission to show God's love to orphaned and abandoned children in South Africa, a love that is abundant and never failing.

Posted by: Courtney Beddingfield

Compassion

2011-11-03T20:19:00.003-05:00

We leave tomorrow on our journey to South Africa! I am a mother of two...my son, Nolan, is 7 and my daughter, Ada, is 5. Over the last few months as I have prepared for this journey, I began to pray for my own children and how this would affect them as I am away for 10 days. Over and over, God kept revealing to me that my children are just as much a part of this journey as I am.

As a mom..we all want the best for our children...we want them to be smart, healthy, have nice things, have fun birthday parties, etc....but my biggest prayer right now is that both Nolan and Ada have compassion......compassion for those who are hurting, lonely, poor, sick, orphaned, people who are different from them... I want them to have compassion for other people like Jesus did.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Col 3:12

We began by watching videos about Sweet Sleep, talking about orphans and how we can make a difference..and actually how taking care of orphans is something that God tells us we are to do. Both of them have Nickels for Nets and Build a Bed boxes beside their beds where they save their “silver coins” ...and each night as I tuck them into their cozy beds we say prayers for the sweet orphans pictured on those boxes and for those orphans we have never seen.

So as my little ones will not be physically on this journey with me...I know they will be doing their part at home...saying prayers for Mommy and the people I come in contact with as well as saving their coins for nets and beds. I am so excited to come home and share with Nolan and Ada about the lives that will be changed on this journey.

Please pray for each of us traveling to South Africa, that we will have compassion and share the love of Jesus with everyone we meet.

Sweet Sleep Prayer Needs - November 2011

2011-11-02T15:57:00.003-05:00

Thank you for being faithful to pray for the ministry of Sweet Sleep! Here are specific ways that you can pray in the month of November.

South Africa

Sweet Sleep's first team to Cape Town, South Africa leaves this Friday (November 4). Pray for the team: Brooke Elder, Tate Elder, Jenny Griggs, Courtney Beddingfield, Amber Lutz, David Ward, Jeff Wolfe, Ashley Lamb, John Hataway, Desri Richardson, Alyson Walker, and Jen Gash. You can read more about Sweet Sleep's new work in Cape Town here. You can also follow their trip by "liking" the Sweet Sleep FaceBook Page.

Moldova

Final details are being put together for the Christmas in Moldova trip (December 26-January 2). Please pray for those who will be on this team. Pray that God will begin preparing them for what He wants them to learn and see. Pray that they will be able to raise funds. Pray also for the children and teachers that God will begin even now preparing their hearts for what He will do during this trip.

Please pray for continued wisdom and discernment as God continues to grow Sweet Sleep's work in Moldova.

Uganda

2012 trips will soon be announced. Pray for discernment for the right times and ministry partners in order to make the most impact for the Kingdom. Pray for those will go on these trips and that their hearts would become burdened long before they even know about the trip.

Please pray for continued wisdom and discernment as God continues to grow Sweet Sleep's work in Uganda.

Other Prayer Needs

Sunday, November 6th is National Orphan Sunday. Pray for great awareness as churches and individuals are exposed to the reality of the orphan crisis.

Praise // Thankful for an incredible Soiree and the story of Sweet Sleep around the world that was shared through this event. Thankful that the lives of orphans that have been greatly impacted due to this ministry.

Praise // Thankful for Sweet Sleep's International Staff and the time they were able to spend in the USA. Thankful for their stories and the way that they were able to tell these stories to impact churches and individuals. Pray for the health of the International Staff and their families as they adjust to being home. Prayerful for the work that they will do now that they are back in their countries.

Sweet Sleep sends a monthly prayer newsletter to those who request it. If you would like to receive this email, please email info@sweetsleep.org and ask to be added to this list.

I believe in Sweet Sleep. And I'm a bedhead.

2011-09-27T10:00:00.001-05:00

Ashley Hamm and her husband, Clay.

Today, there are many organizations that are doing great things -- with countless opportunities to serve, volunteer, give, and participate in life-changing movements. The endless availability of these foundations that offer and implement much-needed change around the world is amazing, but choosing the right place for your contributions is a difficult decision.

My heart was broken when I first heard the story of Sweet Sleep several years ago. Sweet Sleep, started by a sweet family friend, takes care of our future leaders, teachers, parents, innovators, and world-changers by providing a soft place for orphans around the world to lay their heads at night -- to rest their minds and bodies.

A few months ago, while complaining about the discomfort of my 8-inch-thick, pillow-top mattress, I began looking into the price of a much-coveted and absurdly expensive memory foam mattress. I hear they are amazing. However, around the same time, my sister (and friend) was on a mission trip with Sweet Sleep to Gulu, Uganda. Doing the math, I realized that the price of the mattress that would allow me to jump on my bed without spilling a glass of water, could provide over 30 orphaned children in Africa a bed, a mosquito net, bedding, and a mattress. Enter humility.

I didn't need a fancy mattress to help me sleep better after all. Peace of mind has worked just as well. I am a bedhead because it helps me fall asleep knowing that I am contributing to the comfort of someone on the other side of the world, who is also trying to sleep sweetly. I am a bedhead because I know that when life is hard, a sweet sleep is a great escape; a sweet sleep means a fresh start -- a rested mind, heart, and soul. I am a bedhead because I believe in this organization, its mission, its purpose and its integrity. I believe in Jen Gash and her hard work. I believe Sweet Sleep is fighting to ensure that thousands of abandoned and orphaned children have the opportunity to wake each morning with strength. And I believe in the future of these children.

Sweet Sleep is doing amazing things. Just $30 a month can make a great impact. That’s a dollar a day saving thousands of lives; preventing hundreds of illnesses; and allowing millions of sweet dreams.

If you are able, join me in becoming a bedhead and helping orphaned and abandoned children around the world sleep sweelty. Just go to www.sweetsleep.org/donate and make your gift of $30 a month or more.

You'll even get a cozy Sweet Sleep tee for signing up.

Ashley Hamm is an entrepreneur who lives on Okaloosa Island in the panhandle of Florida with her husband Clay, who currently serves in the U.S. Air Force. Ashley recently graduated with an International Business degree and now hopes to share her passion about global issues through her writing and lifestyle.

Why I'm a Sweet Sleep bedhead...

2011-09-21T12:19:00.006-05:00

Something Sweet Sleep has down to an art is the mission trip. I have been so fortunate to have been a member on several trips with Sweet Sleep over the past two years. With each trip comes a flurry of fundraising as goals are set and beds are provided. What my involvement with Sweet Sleep over these years has also shown me is that flurry of activity is not reserved exclusively for trips.

In 2010, Sweet Sleep provided over 10,000 beds to orphaned and abandoned children in Moldova, Haiti, and Kampala and Gulu, Uganda. Many are unaware that Sweet Sleep continues to work, tirelessly, to provide safe places for children to pray, dream, and sleep. These beds are given with love, education, and the word that God loves the children.

I am good about making gifts at the time of a trip or at year’s end, but what happens through the rest of the year? I became a bedhead in order to ensure the sustained capabilities of Sweet Sleep on an ongoing basis. Having a community of supporters who have committed to give even a small amount on a monthly basis allows Sweet Sleep to budget and plan for ongoing bed placements.

What’s more is that each month when the gift is automatically drafted, we are reminded and reassured that our commitment is serving, protecting, and showing God’s love to a child worlds away.

I would like for you to prayerfully consider how you can be a part of Sweet Sleep’s bedhead program. What can you sacrifice in a month; a night out to dinner, a manicure? With a monthly commitment of $30 or more you, too, will be a bedhead! Don’t forget to mention your shirt size in the comments box so they can send you one of my favorite Sweet Sleep t-shirts!

Giving is simple! Just go to www.sweetsleep.org and indicate that your gift is a monthly gift by clicking the appropriate circle.

I am excited for all God is doing in and through Sweet Sleep! Please consider how He is calling YOU to be involved!

Madelene Metcalf, Nashville, Tennessee

Why I'm a bedhead...

2011-09-09T08:07:00.003-05:00

A few years ago, I became familiar with Sweet Sleep at a conference. I never had thought about how children were sleeping. It just broke my heart to think children, especially orphaned and abandoned children, were sleeping in such terrible conditions.

As a preschool minister at my church, I suggested that we give our VBS offering to Sweet Sleep last year - participating in their Build-A-Bed program. Our kids loved it!

Later, our staff was challenged to read "Radical" by David Platt. After reading it, I saw that Sweet Sleep was going to Gulu, Uganda and I felt that I should step out and go. I am so thankful that I was able to join the work of Sweet Sleep. I saw first hand the children that got new Sweet Sleep beds. Seeing how excited they were for a bed was an amazing experience. I even had the privilege of going to a home and setting up their new beds and nets. The children said they could not wait for bed time to come. I don't know many children who are excited about bed time here at home.

After returning from Uganda I wanted to do more. Becoming a bedhead is a simple way to help each month. Every penny counts and helps children sleep sweetly.

Click here to join Alyson and become a bedhead!

Alyson Walker is currently serving as Minister to Families with Preschoolers at South Tulsa Baptist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has led Sweet Sleep's Build-A-Bed and Nickels for Nets Projects in her church, is serving as a Sweet Sleep Regional Rep for her state and is looking forward to going to Cape Town South Africa with Sweet Sleep this November.

Why I'm a bedhead...

2011-08-31T09:29:00.009-05:00

It’s easy to get caught in the routine of life. Wake up, go to work, come home, make dinner, go to bed (maybe watch a little TV here and there). I was dabbling around on Facebook one day and ran across the Sweet Sleep Facebook page. Almost immediately, I was reminded of a mission trip I went on to Chisinau, Moldova in 2007. I remembered names, faces, and the emotions that ran high those two short weeks that I was there.

I started reading the Blog and two short hours later, I was in tears over the stories of orphans who were sleeping on infested mats, being swarmed by mosquitoes carrying diseases, I was lost in frustration and sadness. Even worse, I was picturing those amazing children I met a few years ago in that Moldovan orphanage suffering from the same situation. I didn’t know what to do! I prayed hoping God would immediately solve the problem and bring comfort to these kids, but we all know, that’s not how He works. He works through us.

I became a bedhead because I know this team of amazing people are not only providing comfort, but also sharing the gift of Jesus Christ to these kids. As long as I am able, I will be a bedhead, and hopefully one day, I’ll have the privilege and joy to travel back to Moldova, or maybe somewhere new, to share in this ministry. I continue to pray for this team and the orphans that they serve. Praise the Lord for the people at Sweet Sleep!

Click here to become a bedhead.

Travis lives in Nashville, Tennessee and works in promotions at Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing in Franklin, Tennessee. Travis is pictured above on his trip to Moldova in 2007 with kids and translators from the orphanage where he served, Internat #2 in Chisinau. To visit the facebook page that inspired Travis to become a bedhead, visit www.facebook.com/sweetsleep.

be a bedhead with me!

2011-08-24T16:23:00.005-05:00

My involvement with Sweet Sleep began a few years back when I was looking for a faith-based organization that would provide mosquito nets to children in Africa. And the more I learned about Sweet Sleep's work with orphaned children, the more I wanted to get involved financially. I became a bedhead because I can't think of anything greater to do with my life than to positively impact the lives of others, in Jesus' name.

As an elementary teacher, I work daily with children, some of whom have much, and some of whom have little. My heart is filled with compassion for children when I think of Jesus' command to care for the poor: the orphans and the widows. And I can't imagine not doing my part to carry out Jesus' command. In my eyes, this command isn't optional. It's imperative.

Sweet Sleep is an organization whose sole mission revolves around Jesus' command to care for the poor and to spread the Good News! And I want to help! I feel honored to be involved in spreading the Good News, while fulfilling tangible needs of children around the world. To whom much is given, much is required.... And its a blessing to do my part!

Join me in becoming a bedhead! It's just $30 a month and you can sign up at www.sweetsleep.org/donate. You'll even get a soft, cozy "I Helped An Orphan Sleep Sweetly" t-shirt for signing up! So join me in helping provide these beds, life-saving mosquito nets, and Bibles to orphans through Sweet Sleep!

Kristen Jackson teaches elementary school in the Pulaski County Special School District. She is married to Jeremy Jackson, a firefighter with the Little Rock Fire Department. Kristen and Jeremy live in Little Rock, Arkansas and have one 7-month-old son, Logan.

A New Look for the Sake of Orphans!

2011-08-23T16:14:00.003-05:00

Judy Clanin getting a nice new hairdo by Paulette Catt!

Ohhh the things we do for orphans :)

Amy Draves getting pied in the face by Taylor Morris.

In Amy Draves's 15 years as a Kids Pastor, she's never repeated a mission project.

Until now.

Kids at Wesley Free Methodist Church in Anderson, Indiana attending their Go Fish "Kickin' It Old School" VBS participated in Sweet Sleep's Build-A-Bed Project for the second time this summer. in 2010, these kids collected their largest missions offering to date - $1,000! The kids related so well to kids not having beds, pillows, blankets and Bibles - and they were so willing to help!

After the huge success of Build-A-Bed at their 2010 VBS, Amy decided to support Sweet Sleep with their offerings again - but this year, they wanted to challenge the kids to do even more! If kids earned enough money to purchase 5 complete beds for orphans in Haiti, at $167 each, Amy would get a pie in the face. If they raised enough to provide 7 beds, Judy Clanin, one of their amazing volunteers, would get her hair cut. One volunteer even challenged the adult volunteers to give and matched their gifts one night! On the final day of VBS, funds were tallied and $1,500 was collected for best for orphans! That was enough to provide 9 beds for orphans in Haiti! So you guessed it! Pies were thrown and hair was cut. The pictures above tell the story of leaders so dedicated to helping orphans sleep sweetly, and engaging their kids in meeting the needs of orphans, that they'll lose their locks and get meringue in their eyes!

Thanks Amy and Judy for inspiring kids at Wesley Free Methodist to help orphans sleep sweetly! We're thankful for you and so are the orphans now sleeping sweetly because of you and your sweet kiddos!

You can sign your church up to participate in Build-A-Bed by e-mailing kids@sweetsleep.org. For information about the program, visit www.sweetsleep.org/build-a-bed.

May You Find Rest: A devotional word from Sweet Sleep's Emily Colledge

2011-08-16T14:24:00.003-05:00

These days are full. And I can so quickly get out of rhythm. When I’m feeling tired, stressed, weary, or just out-of-sync I hear the voice of my sweet mama in my head, “Get some rest, child.” Or maybe it’s the voice of my Heavenly Father. I know when the Lord is trying to teach me something because it shows up in all sorts of places. Has this happened to you? For me lately, this idea of rest and what that means keeps showing up everywhere. I’ve been reflecting on what it truly means to rest. And the places we find rest. And then I was thinking about the lives of the children impacted by Sweet Sleep. And the rest that comes—for body and soul—through Jesus Christ. I came across Isaiah 30:15 where it says, “…In repentance and REST is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength,…” as the Lord was speaking to His children. And of course there’s Matthew 11:28-29. And then, a dear friend sent me a blog post by Rachel Olsen called ‘Laying Me Down to Sleep.’ I want to share it with you today. May you find rest, dear child.

“God called the light ‘day,’ and the darkness he called ‘night.’ And there was evening, and there was morning— the first day.” Genesis 1:5 (NIV)

What time did your day begin today?

Did it begin as the sun poked through the widow urging you to wake? Or, did the alarm buzz at 5:30 AM? Or maybe at 6:45? Perhaps you slept until 8:00?

What if I told you your day began last night as the sun set — would you disagree?

In the modern, westernized world we think of our days as sun rise to sun rise. In other words, we rise, we work, and then we end the day in rest. We rest to recover from our work … with whatever time is left over after the work is done.

However, in the ancient Jewish tradition the day runs from sundown to sundown. That’s quite a different concept. In other words, we rest, then we rise and do our work. Rest becomes the source and fuel for the work rather than merely recovery from it.

Where did the Hebrews get this seemingly backwards notion of the day beginning in the evening? From the God who never sleeps, in the Bible. Notice in today’s key verse — in fact, in multiple verses throughout the Genesis creation account — there was evening, and then morning and that was counted as a day.

A secular rhythm of life makes work primary. We work first, then go from work to vacation. In contrast, a sacred rhythm makes rest primary, moving us from God-ordained rest into our vocation. The sacred rhythm is rest, rise, work rather than rise, work, rest. Let that difference sink in and sway the seat of your soul.

Internalizing this difference is the basis for connecting with God through rest. Pastor and author Eugene Peterson describes this ancient rest-first rhythm:

“This Hebrew evening/morning sequence conditions us to the rhythms of grace. We go to sleep, and God begins his work. As we sleep he develops his covenant. We wake and are called to participate in God’s creative action. We respond in faith, in work. But always grace is previous. Grace is primary. We wake into a world we didn’t make, into a salvation we didn’t earn.

Evening: God begins, without our help, his creative day. Morning: God calls us to enjoy and share and develop the work he initiated. Creation and covenant are sheer grace and there to greet us every morning.”

I don’t know why God’s Word marks out time in this way in Genesis, but I am discovering I think and live differently when I adopt this view of my days. I see each night’s rest as something important, something to prepare for — and something important that prepares me. I’ve long known that rest prepares me physically to rise and work again, and now I’m finding it prepares me spiritually to rise walk in grace and faith.

As I lie down, close my eyes, pray, and slip from consciousness, I do so with the understanding that it is God who holds everything together during my temporary absence from the world. And it’s Him who will continue to hold everything together when I rise and work in the coming daylight. At no point — day or night — am I independent of Him. He even has the power to direct my dreams should He desire.

So I’ve developed a theology of sleep that punctuates my days. It helps me see my nights and my rest as set apart and holy. It helps me to see God as I lay myself down to sleep. In fact, it helps me see that it is He who lays me down for the gracious gift of rest.

What about you? How do you think about rest? How do you treat it? How might God be calling you to look at it differently?

Dear Lord, thank You for rest. Thank You that I can rest while You continue to hold everything together. Help me rest well and worship You through rest. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

(Excerpt taken from: http://devotions.proverbs31.org/2011/07/laying-me-down-to-sleep-2.html)

Emily Colledge currently serves as Assistant to the President at Sweet Sleep. You can learn more about Emily at www.sweetsleep.org in the About Us/Staff section of the site.

Photo of the Day

2011-08-12T12:18:00.000-05:00

Each one of them is Jesus in disguise.

--Mother Teresa

If we truly lived by this truth, imagine the changes that could happen in these sweet children's lives?

Jesus commands us to love and serve one another, so let's join together and do just that!

Be a part of a Sweet Sleep journey and GO!

Sweet Sleep Pajama Party!

2011-08-11T11:12:00.001-05:00

Our friends at First Baptist Church-Whitehouse had an Awanas Sweet Sleep Pajama Party!

These little ones were diligently watching a Sweet Sleep video to learn about orphans and the mission of Sweet Sleep!

Sweet Sleep Pillow Case Sack Races!

They decorated and stuffed small pillows to help them remember to pray for the orphans around the world who don't have a safe, warm, place to rest their head.

Ready for some sleep after a night filled with learning about orphans and Sweet Sleep!

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down your sleep will be sweet.

Proverbs 3:24

We thank you FBC Whitehouse for joining with us and sharing with these children how so many other children lack the luxury of a nice bed to go home to at night. There's something so special when the Lord uses children to become advocates for other children in need :)

Continue sharing the stories of orphans and the mission: a bed for every head.

Photo of the Day

2011-08-10T12:10:00.000-05:00

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."

John 14:18

Be a part of the first Sweet Sleep journey to Cape Town, South Africa and go to these children. They need love and compassion, and the truth of Jesus.

{November 4-14}--Join Us!

Don't forget--Informational meeting at the Sweet Sleep office August 15th @ 6:30 p.m.

Hope to see you there :)

Sweet Sleep Heads to Cape Town

2011-08-09T13:26:00.015-05:00

Each month of the year, people around the world contact Sweet Sleep asking, hoping, praying for us to provide beds, nets and Bibles to the orphans in their care. I could spend all day sharing with you about the sleeping needs and struggles of orphaned and abandoned children around the world.

Today, I want to introduce you to Cape Town, South Africa and its children.

Behind the beauty of Cape Town lies great hurt

South Africa has the highest percentage of child and baby rape in the world. South Africa also has the highest concentration of HIV/AIDS in the world. In countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Nigeria, it is a common belief that a person with HIV be cured of AIDS by having sex with a virgin. In many cases, these children are raped by a father or a caregiver.

I've been amazed and humbled to see the impact made by Sweet Sleep's presence around the world. With that first-hand knowledge, we've been studying the situation in South Africa for the last 10 months and have been prayerfully trying to discern and determine what direction God might be directing Sweet Sleep in helping change and save the lives of South Africa's orphans.

Within South Africa are many tribes which believe in caring for their own tribe's children...the whole "it takes a village" idea. Once those mommas and poppas aren't there to care for their children, they are left to a willing person: an aunt, a cousin...even a complete stranger. It's been reported South Africa has a 50% unemployment rate. When there are no jobs and a community self soothes in drug and alcohol abuse, it's the children who suffer the most.

Through new partnerships with Living Hope and Open Door, Sweet Sleep will begin it's work here in the fall of 2011, in a township of Cape Town, South Africa known as "Ocean View". These partnerships are important because the provision of a bed from Sweet Sleep will encourage new, and strained caregivers to participate in programs which will lead to better parenting and awareness and prevention of child abuse, thus resulting in the decline of child abuse and child rape in this township.

In just a matter of weeks, Open Door will begin a new 8-week parenting class for caregivers whom are identified by social workers as candidates for this program. The requirements will be tough: every caregiver in the home will be required to attend class---each week. They'll be connected to a social worker and a local church. They'll be expected to "pay it forward" upon completion. Each week caregivers will learn about budgeting, effective discipline, dietary needs of children, drug abuse, HIV/AIDS and child abuse. Ocean View is known for it's high drug abuse problems. As Open Door says, "All sexual abuse goes to drug abuse." The classes will also offer Bible studies to male caregivers in the home and provide opportunities to educate children about all of the above, as well.

Graduates of the program will then receive a certificate from our partners and a bed from Sweet Sleep.

We are more than excited about this new endeavor; we are prayerful that as a result of the work of the above organizations, and your support through Sweet Sleep, the lives of South Africa's most vulnerable will be spared and saved. Join with us.

Our first team will be November 4-14, 2011. I invite you to be a part of the information meeting on Monday, August 15th, 6:30 pm at Sweet Sleep's office. Please contact us at 615-730-7671 if you are not able to attend or would like additional information.

Sweetly,
Jen

Photo of the Day

2011-08-09T11:22:00.000-05:00

"Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile."

--Mother Teresa

Sometimes the only thing that these children need is to feel loved. We have to be the hands and feet of the Lord, ensuring these sweet orphans know they are truly loved and are special.

Sweet Sleep is 8 years old today!

2011-08-04T10:33:00.001-05:00

Sweet Sleep is celebrating 8 years of providing beds for orphaned and abandoned children in Moldova, Uganda, Haiti, and now South Africa!

Every Sweet Sleep journey ends in a birthday party to celebrate these children and remind them, that in God's eyes, they are special and are His precious children.

In honor of today, and how special it is to us, enjoy these photos from some of the birthday parties celebrated throughout these incredible and blessed 8 years of serving orphans!

We thank the Lord for his faithfulness and you for the prayers and gifts that have made these past 8 years so wonderful.

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

Proverbs 3:24