We're here!

Just a quick post to let everyone know our team has arrived in Kampala and is sleeping already!

We'll begin our work by driving to Gulu in the morning. It's a 5 hour drive. Our staff shared with us that it's been raining in Gulu and there have been power outages. Please pray for the rains to stop!

More to come! Thanks for your prayers!

Sweetly,
Jen

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

I think last week marked my 27th trip to Moldova. I don’t even know if I’ve been to the grocery store 27 times.

Our team was fabulous and I’m still processing everything God allowed us to experience, collectively and personally. The group is home now and I'm traveling in Africa for more work. With so many trips following Moldova I knew it was possible I wouldn't have the time to digest what I'd already experienced. However, this morning I’m finding myself with a rare few hours before my next meeting and so I thought I’d take this chance to share a little.

Our team worked in a militant-run section of the country called Transnistria and, as you've read on the blog, wonderful things happened. However, at some point toward the end of the week I became completely aware that some of my thoughts were of Chisinau and the children at the very first orphanage I ever worked with. In a typical year I’d average 5-6 trips to Moldova. I’ve never been in the country and not at least stopped by the orphanage to see the children--my children. I’ve watched them grow up and have been a part of their lives in countless ways.



I think last week I realized things would be different there this time. For different reasons, two years have passed since I was in Moldova. It’s one thing to watch your sibling’s or friend’s children grow---it’s another thing to watch 300 children grow. The long-time orphanage director retired this Spring, Galina now lives in Nashville with me and my sweet Mihai has graduated from the 9th grade and is no longer living at the orphanage. The list of names of children who are no longer there goes on and on and the thoughts overwhelmed me in ways I didn’t expect.

God expanded my heart to hold all the children who would drink in the love I could pour out to them. He has allowed me to hold them, hug them, cheer them on, listen to their hurts and their fears, pray with them—for them, take them to doctors, dentists, optometrists, bury their parents, hold their newborn children and give them loving, healthy places to lay their sweet faces each night and let them drift off to sleep wrapped in the blankets we’d explained to them were like the arms of God.



The orphanage isn’t just home to hundreds of children like Galina, Mihai, Maria, Olga, Viorel, Vasile, Petrica, Denis, Anastasia, Tolea, Viorica, Luminita or Sasha…it was also home to me and the thought of going home and feeling like a stranger was one I ultimately decided not to experience. Not this time. But I will go back, because it is home. I will go back and yes, all the faces I’ve watched grow over the years will be different. There will be new faces to know and pray for. There will be new children to hold and to hug and to experience life with and to lavish with love and to share about the meaning of their beds. There will be new children who long for Hope that we have to share. That’s where you come in.



I’ve other thoughts and hope to share them with you. But, for now, just think about praying for your own heart. Think about praying for God to make your heart big enough to know the face and name of an orphan. Think about praying for God to allow you to have the opportunity to go with Sweet Sleep next year and change the life of a Michlei, or a Ion or a Katerina.

Your life will be blessed forever. That, I can promise you.

Sweetly,
jen

Home With Me

It has been a long amazing week. This has been my second time to this orphanage and I've had the chance to really get to know some of the kids from last trip better and meet some new ones. The fact that I've grown closer to these children made it all the harder to leave this time. Since our work building the beds there is now done It's a good chance that I will never get so see these children in person again. That breaks my heart. Everyday I had a different list of children that I wish I could bring home with me. And each day the list got longer. They have so little and seem to need so much but I think lots of love would go a long way. Once again I had the opportunity to take plenty of photographs, so I guess I'll have to bring them home in my heart and look at their photos whenever I want to see them. Here are a few of the beautiful children we have been working with this week.

Birthday Wishes

We have arrived back at the "Ritz Carlton" team house in Moldova after throwing a big birthday bash for the sweet children in Trandniestria! What fun it was to celebrate these adorable children and their lives! We served them cake and juice and gave all 150 of them presents! To see their faces light up over such simple things is a reminder of how blessed I truly am! At one point during the celebration, the orphanage director stood up and thanked us for coming and spending time with the kids and providing them beds! She then read some of the letters the kids wrote to us expressing their gratitude and appreciation for the new beds and playing with them! To hear what these kids had to say was such a blessing and another reminder of God's abundant blessings! While it was difficult to leave the kids, I am comforted in knowing that the Holy Spirit is at work in the orphanage and town.

Leaving the hotel, on the other hand, was not so difficult. Staying in a hotel in which the rooms are bugged was definitely not on my "bucket list". When we were told that was the case - and when I saw the room... and bathroom - I felt as though I walked back in history at least 50 years. I had no idea what to expect and let's just say even my most creative imagination could not have come up with this place! Fortunately, a rat chose to room with John and Jim during our stay! Thank you Lord for such wonderful blessings!

Art Teacher to Art Teacher

Something I was not expecting for this trip was the opportunity to visit with the art teachers for the children. Part way through our craft project yesterday one of the teachers came to me with this box that had been converted to an art display masterpiece, if I do say so myself. She introduced me to the boys that had created the seed art in the box. Of course my eye's where huge and my excitment went through the roof that I was going to get to take home some of their art. I talked with the teacher some more and found we had much to share and she invited me to her art room to show me all the treasures the kids had made. I can not even begin to describe the amazing cuteness of this room and the kids working on their project. At the end of this narrow room was a large window and some shelves covered in art. All made from found objects lots of seed art, eggs, play dough creations, and paper mostly animal designs. So sweet! Of course my excitment for the art promped more sharing and we went out in the hall and she showed me all the art on display in the hall explaining each project with such pride and excitment. Another teacher came by and brought me into her room and showed me all her projects, amazing I might add. Then she pulled out this what I can only describe as a treasure box made of cards cut and sewn together to create this box with working lid. I was in amazment and asked how old the student was and they where in the 6th grade! She then said the majic word "gift"!!! What for me what. Da "yes" I muttered. Even more this same afternoon I talked with the paster's wife about art and she has been working on bringing local women together to do art projects together while doing some Bible study. She said the women are opening up and responding so well the opportunity.
All these interactions where such a blessing to have conversations about our students and how proud we are of their talents and gifts, no matter the child's academic abilities and disabilities. The smiles on the teacher's faces told me they where encouraged. This was also so special coming from a culture that encourages skill jobs and not so much the arts. I can not wait to take these new treasures back to my art students and encourage them and share the beautiful and talented children of Moldova with them.

My experience with Sweet Sleep

My name is Anatoly. I am from Moldova city, Chisinau. I helped Sweet Sleep organization with translating in Orphanage. All team made bed’s for children’s. I had a great time talking and playing with kids and Sweet Sleep group. Sweet Sleep organization has a big warm heart full of love for children in all world. Each day when we came to orphanage, the children were so happy to see us and had smiles on their faces. I thank God for experience ,that he allowed me to be with children and help them.

May God Bless your work Sweet Sleep. And special thank you Jen you have such a big heart for children’s and much love for them . You make a great work helping children with beds.

GOD BLESS YOUR WAY.

Posted by Anatoly through Mary Ann's blogger.

We All Need a Smile

Today most of the beds were built so I found myself in what I am titling the orphan suite. This suite was downstairs and had two nice rooms with three beds each, private bathrooms, and a gathering room in between. The electric drills were upstairs in the larger rooms so we had the handy hand drill to build these 6 beds. Natasha, one of the girls who lived in the suite, was sweeping the floors when I arrived to work. Later, I found out she had a headache and went to her room to lie down. She had a hard time lying down since we had taken her bed away and stripped down the room. Poor girl. Well, we didn’t know she felt ill so we asked her to work (build a bed). She smiled softly and after much non-translated encouragement she used the hand drill to build the bed. Although we could not have a conversation the smile on her sweet face and the creaking drill sounds filled the room.

When the beds were built our wonderful interpreter showed up and we asked Natasha some questions. She sat quietly on the bed and barely had an answer. I did find out she stays in the room by herself, she is 17 years old, and has lived at this orphanage for 10 years. I then took her up to the bed-making headquarters to pick out some sheets (the only ones left: the illusion of choice is only a small fib). We walked together back down to her room and made her bed together, and sat down on the bed while Anatole translated this one-on-one talk. I told her why we brought her the bed and how much God loves her. Then asked I asked how we could pray for her. She said her mom has passed away and her dad is in prison. She also said she didn’t have many friends and she didn’t know what she would do when she leaves. As I began praying with her and for her she teared up, it was hard for me to continue hearing her quiet weep. I am finding that praying or speaking with through a translator offers invaluable time to think about your words. Mostly this is great but partly this made it even more emotional. I ended the prayer with an amen.

Later in the afternoon I found Natasha during arts and crafts and asked her how she was doing and she said good with a sweet shy smile. I pray that her story becomes not a sad shy one but filled with new beginnings and a spirit-filled life.

A moldovan perspective

My name is Ilie Ciobanu and I’ve been working with Sweet Sleep for three years. I met different people while I worked with the teams and all of them had a desire to serve God and to help the orphan children by giving them a new bed and it was not just only to give a bed, but to give them the love which they showed to the children. I was able to not just to be the one who interpret for the people from USA but to be a part of the project and help build beds and spend time with this precious kids. I enjoy working with kids and I believe we did a great job with God’s help. I know that kids from orphanage liked those beds and they not only liked those beds but they can have a sweet sleep on their beds and remember the good people that brought the beds.
I am very happy and it is a privilege for me to work with Sweet Sleep and to bring joy to the kids because children are our future. May God bless and rewar everybody who took part in helping these children.

Thoughts from Marni on Day 5

This is Marni writing under Jen's name:

I have to first start off by saying that we have had an amazing experience! Because a team from Sweet Sleep came before us this past spring, the kids and staff welcomed us with open arms. Their ministry made ours so much easier by the trust they gained and the love that they showed these children. The kids knew right from the "get-go" that we came to make beds and have a birthday party. Jen's "mwahs" (throwing a big kiss) have caught on, being given now to us without prompting! Tatiana, the director, has graciously given us an hour and a half per group, of which there are two, every day. We have further divided those groups into half, taking one group to worship and recreation, and the other for crafts and English. It has worked out beautifully, even with all the different age groups.
The orphanage, as we refer to it, is called an “Internat” here in Transneistria. This is because many of the children have families. One little boy comes just for the day, and goes home to his parents and brother in the evening. Yesterday we met three sisters, ages 12,13,14 who also have an 11 year old brother. And then there was the sad story of a little girl who’s family has fallen apart. Her brother committed suicide, her sister died in a car accident, her father is in jail, and her mom has cancer.

Today we finished the beds, 18 more to be exact. Our team of boys came down to join us, and have gotten quite good with the power tools. We had it down to a system by the second day, and the building has gone very smooth. The beds look so inviting, that I think all of us would like to spend the night!

Our theme for today was salvation. Mary Ann had cross necklaces as the craft for the day. Surprisingly enough, we didn’t loose too many pony beads on the floor. English lessons included colors and numbers. Karla has gotten very good at coming up with ideas to “make it stick”, such as games, like “I Spy” for colors, and having the older kids count backwards-since most of them knew how to count in English already. We tried the nursery rhyme, “One Two Buckle My Shoe” but that was a flop. But hey, you’ve got to give it a whirl, right?

We also visited Anatole and his family. Pastor Serghey took us over and introduced all of us. Anotole can no longer walk due a muscular disease. Our nurse practionor, Ashley, thinks it may be muscular dystrophy. She was about ready to give him her crutches, until we saw that he has very little use of his right hand. He is about 50yrs old, only able to work 19 of them. Their house is small, by our standards, but cozy. Their garden is huge! And so are their hearts.

Everyday, as we arrive, the kids are at the windows waving. We get more hellos, high fives and hand shakes as the days go by. This is really a big deal, since most of the children are shy, but well behaved and polite. The love that the staff has for them is apparent. I have to say, it's been very easy to fall in love-and we all have fallen hard. I thank God for my amazing team, and the chance that I have had to come on this mission trip. Truly memories that will last a lifetime!
By Marni Baker

Thoughts from Marni on Day 5

This is Marni writing under Jen's name:
Let me first start out by saying this has been an amazing experience! The door was opened for us by the team that came in March of this year. Their ministry made ours so much easier by the trust they gained in the love that they showed to these children. Even the director, Tatiana, welcomed us with open arms. She has graciously given us an hour and a half per group, of which there are two, every day. We have further divided those groups into half, taking one group to worship and recreation, and the other for crafts and English. It has worked out beautifully, even with all the different age groups.
The orphanage, as we refer to it, is called an “Internat” here in Transneistria. This is because many of the children have families. One little boy comes just for the day, and goes home to his parents and brother in the evening. Yesterday we met three sisters, ages 12,13,14 who also have an 11 year old brother. And then there was the sad story of a little girls who’s family has fallen apart. Her brother committed suicide, her sister died in a car accident, her father si in jail, and her mom has cancer.
Today we finished the beds, 18 more to be exact. Our team of boys came down to join us, and have gotten quite good with the power tools. We had it down to a system by the second day, and the building has gone very smooth. The beds look so inviting, that I think all of us would like to spend the night!

Our theme for today was salvation. Mary Ann had cross necklaces as the craft for the day. Surprisingly enough, we didn’t loose too many pony beads on the floor. English lessons included colors and numbers. Karla has gotten very good at coming up with ideas to “make it stick”, such as games, like “I Spy” for colors, and having the older kids count backwards-since most of them knew how to count in English already. We tried the nursery rhyme, “One Two Buckle My Shoe” but that was a flop. But hey, you’ve got to give it a whirl, right?

We also visited Anatole and his family. Pastor Serghey took us over and introduced all of us. Anotole can no longer walk due a muscular disease. Our nurse practionor, Ashley, thinks it may be muscular dystrophy. She was about ready to give him her crutches, until we saw that he has very little use of his right hand. He is about 50yrs old, only able to work 19 of them. Their house is small, by our standards, but cozy. Their garden is huge! And so are their hearts.
Everyday, as we arrive, the kids are at the windows waving. Jen’s “mwah’s”—alias, throwing a big kiss—has caught on in a big way! We get more hellos, high fives and hand shakes every day. I can say for all of us, we are all falling in love—and falling hard. I thank God for my amazing team, and the chance that I have had to come on this mission trip. Truly memories that will last a lifetime!
By Marni Baker

Love Hug

This was day 2 at the orphanage and what an amazing day! We furnished 32 beds to some beautiful boys and girls today. Once we finished making up the beds, the children came into their rooms and sat on their beds. We had the opportunity to spend some time with the kids and listen to what they thought about their new beds. Three of the girls we met were sisters and they sang a beautiful song for us. The smiles and beautiful faces of these precious children just make my heart melt.

In the afternoon, we played outside with the children... thanks to God giving us a beautiful sun-shining day! We played many games including a childhood favorite among many countries, duck-duck-goose. The younger ones definitely enjoyed that and let’s just say that my legs don’t run as fast as they once did. After playing with one group of younger kids, this one precious little girl came up to me and gave me a HUGE love hug! It was the sweetest moment of the day for me!

After returning back to the church from the orphanage, we were blessed to experience a worship service with the church who has partnered with Sweet Sleep and the local orphanage. What a wonderful experience it was to meet some of the local people and hear about how the church is ministering to the kids at the orphanage.

God is so amazing and it is such a blessing to see His Holy Spirit at work in so many ways and in so many places.

Wednesday...favorite day :)

Today has been my most favorite day thus far. The sun is shining in Dubasari with no rain or extreme cold weather. We built approximately 30 beds this morning. The teenage boys at the orphanage continue to be involved with the manly tasks of bed building. Since we are not building a massive number of beds, we have lots of opportunities to get to know the children and share God’s love with them.

In one room of young girls, Jen asked the children about their hobbies. One girl said, “Drawing” and when asked more specifically about her favorite things to draw she said, “A house and flowers.” It saddens me to think about this sweet orphan child drawing a house. A house is something I have never been without and take for granted everyday. For these children in Dubasari, a house, a room of their own and a family are not a part of their daily lives.

I am thankful for this life changing experience. I am thankful that in God’s kingdom there are no orphans or even grandchildren…We all have the honor of being true children of God. Please pray for us as we finish bed building tomorrow and then celebrate the children’s birthdays on Friday.

Boys Will Be Builders

Jim teaching boys to build beds. Love it!

As I type this I'm surrounded by some intense boys who are learning from our team and translators the art of using power tools. Talk about fun!

There's a lot of sounds of trigger happy fingers going crazy on a block of wood and screws finding their super snug place in the wooden slats being secured into the side rails. You can also hear our team make sounds like this, "Woah! Woah!!" and "It's going in reverse!" But thankfully nobody asking if anything will require stitches. That's always a good thing.




Our boys Dima, Eddie, Eugen, Andrei, Venya, Andrei and Eugen have become pros and are so proud of their work they're even being incredibly particular about the way their vinyl covered mattresses and sheets fit onto their beds.



Every time we have the children help build their beds it's awesome. Just let one of our team members, John, explain it to you, "Building the beds is a chance for us to be blessed as we help them learn something new. And it's a blessing to the boys because it gives them a chance to build something that will last and help them to dream about a better day."

How can you beat that? Check out all the pictures we're posting this week and be sure to sign up as a follower of our blog so you can get all the great stories coming from Sweet Sleep's ministry to orphans.

Thanks for your prayers,

Jen

P.S. Dima and Eugen say they can't wait to go to bed!

Day 4

While today was our fourth day, it actually felt like our first. We were able to start building the beds for the kids. The kids were excited and very helpful. In all, we completed 25 beds with another 50 to go over the next 2 days. The kids were very proud of their new beds with smiles to show!

After lunch, we returned to the school and were able to spend more time with them. We broke into groups of 2, Arts and Crafts and recreation and worship. In arts and crafts the kids made mirrors so that they would know that they were made in God’s image (which was tied into worship). Worship time was spent on teaching the children that they were made in God’s image. We were also able to teach the kids a little English. We taught them the songs Jesus love me and Head shoulders knees and toes.

Olya with her new mirror made in arts and crafts.

We are looking forward to Day 5, spending more time with the children and building relationships.

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image…”

As they saying in Russian “DA”---YES!!

Bed Building, Day One

Marni carrying new mattresses into rooms...

As I type this our team is in the midst of putting new Sweet Sleep beds into the bedrooms at the orphanage.

It's quite a flurry of carrying wooden bed components and opening up packages that hold mattress and pillow protectors, new pillows and sheets.

Sasha helping carry some headboard and footboards.

We've divided up into groups. Part of the team is working with older boys from the orphanage and Pastor Serghei to drill together side rails and foot and head boards and then screwing down the slats that will hold the mattresses.

Lucia shows a boy how to place the slats.

Others in the group are putting vinyl protectors on the mattresses and lining them in the hallway so that they'll be ready to go as soon as the beds are assembled.

The great "mommas" at the orphanage are very protective of their children. They're afraid they might cut off a finger while screwing screws into the slats. So, we may or may not have been keeping a vigil at the door and we may or may not have been letting them drill with supervision. And the boys may or may not have been extra smiley today as they claimed their own beds for future "sweet sleep".


I must go....our first rooms are finished and the children are anxious to come try them out. We're explaining the purpose of their beds and praying with them. Good stuff. Good, good stuff.

A room full of brand new Sweet Sleep beds!

Sweetly,
Jen

Back In The USSR

Back in March of this year I went on my first mission trip with Sweet Sleep to Transnistria. In fact it was the first time I had ever been on a mission trip and I really didn’t know what to expect. I turned out to be one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had in my life. I wrote a blog that first time called “Crossing Boarders” about my experience and about my anxiety of moving beyond my comfort zone. I learned that like so many things in life, most of our fears and worries are all in our own head. A lot has happened to me this year. My studio was ruined in the flooding we had back in may, my parents relocated from NJ to Nashville and my brother’s condo-building was destroyed in the fire. So you’d think I had enough stress in my life for a while, but here I’m again back crossing this border into Transnistria, a place about as foreign as it gets to me (you know, Russian military guys in fur hats with the AK-47’s), but this time everything is completely different. Instead of worrying of what lies ahead, I am totally excited. Not just because I kind of know what to expect now with the hotel and food etc. but because I get to see the kids again! The last time I was there I had the amazing opportunity to photograph most of the children at the orphanage as if I was taking class photos for them. For the past 6 months I have been living with the faces in the photos that I took. There were times when I would look at them and think, I’ll probably never get to see these kids again in person. At times it was disheartening to think to think too much about it. I found the hardest part of the trip for me last time was when it was time to leave. The week goes by pretty fast and then it’s over. And its goodbye for now…forever? So when the opportunity arose for me to go back again I jumped at it. As usual God’s plan works in mysterious ways. I’m so looking forward to spending the week ahead working with a new Sweet Sleep team and spending time with the beautiful children of the Dubasari orphanage.

Chicken or Pasta?

Up up and away we go to the great country of Moldova. All bags packed and packed some more with not only nessessities but esentials like beanie babies, fleese blanks made with love, and colored popsicle sticks for our sweet children of Dubasari. The sixteen fifty pound bags weighing in with the grand total of 800 pounds. Unfountunatly only 13 bags made it all the way to Chisinau but we have faith they will be with us tomorrow. Flights were all pretty smooth we enjoyed meals at all sort of weird hours, not sure how many we ate in a twenty four hour period. Sitting in the back of the plane provided less decision making on meal choice, chicken it is! After a small hitch in the efficiency of the Frankford airport, yes, Jen was able to join the rest of us on the highly delayed Moldovian Air flight. FYI Moldovia Air requires a 3 mile bus ride to the outskirts of the Frankford tarmac.

We recieved a warm welcome by Lucia and C.J. who were there at the airport to meet us and tour us through the city on our way to the mission house. Awaiting us was an amazing chicken ball and pasta dinner from our new best friend Lilia complete with no nut Chocolate brownie Sunday. So far we are not starving...these are important things. In Moldova we don't have to make a decsion between chicken or pasta, we can have it all.

Tomorrow we are looking forward to the boarder crossing into Transnistria and meeting the children of the Dubasari Orphanage and Paster Sergey at The Word of Life Church to begin our mission of proving the beds for the children and spreading God's great love.

Happy Anniversary to Our Merry Man!

Three years ago today, God blessed the ministry of Sweet Sleep with the fabulous Jon Merryman.

We've seen so much happen over the last three years. To start with, Orphan Office now has electricity (we had jut moved into our newly renovated space during his first week and our utilities were sketchy at times).

We've watched the number of orphans who've gotten beds grow from just over 1,000 beds in our first 4 years of ministry to nearly 11,000 in the last 3 years. And all along the way Jon has been working hard to communicate the powerful stories that we see, hear and experience when we give an orphan a bed and a Bible and tell them that they're never alone, that when they lay down at night and pull their new covers up around them it's God giving them a big hug.

We've laughed together, grieved together, gotten older together, celebrated ministry milestones together and adopted Moldovan orphans into our families together.







God has immensely blessed Stuart, Jason, Emily and I as well as our Board and all of the churches across the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia who have used the programs Jon has created to help them share the plight of the orphan with their own children and youth.

It's because of God working through Jon and his heart that Sweet Sleep began working in Haiti in 2008 after the hurricanes, rock and mud slides buried an orphanage in Jacmel. As a result, Sweet Sleep has been used in powerful ways to provide beds and hope to more than 7,000 orphans in that country.

Jon's heart is, and probably always will be, half Moldovan. Like me, God used Moldova to help Jon fall in love with orphans. God took a big heart and make it even bigger so that it could tirelessly pour out love to the entire world around him as he shares his personal stories and his heart with anybody who'll listen to him talk about orphans. It's an amazing thing to get to watch Jon share about his love for the orphaned through Christ. It always brings me to tears.

So, thanks for your heart and ceaseless advocacy for bringing Sweet Sleep to the orphaned, Jon Merryman. The ministry of Sweet Sleep is a better, stronger, more effective tool for the Kingdom because of you.

And as our next Moldova team departs tomorrow, I want you to know I'm dedicating that trip to you, awesome orphan advocate! Thanks for all you do to bring hope and love to orphans around the world through Sweet Sleep!

Hugs to you!
Jen and lots of company

Gulu: One Advocate's Story

Friends,

We asked one passionate advocate to share her story explaining why she's so compelled to help the children in northern Uganda. The following is taken from this month's e-newsletter (sign up at www.sweetsleep.org if you didn't receive this or, check your junk mail folder).

My name is Mary Meyer. I've followed and supported Sweet Sleep's work for years and love what they do for orphans around the world. For years I've been passionate about their work with orphans in Moldova, but recently heard of their work in northern Uganda and was moved to help.

Now, I don’t have an earthly motivation for helping these kids. I’ve never met them, never been to Africa, and I will most likely never meet them on this side of heaven. I am certainly aware of the love that God has for the orphan, and that when He moves on our hearts to give, I see it as more of a direct command from the Commander-in-Chief. I know that the desperate conditions in which these kids live are beyond my ability to comprehend. I know that they literally are living on the brink of death. I also know that Jesus said that the angels of these little ones continually see the face of their Heavenly Father. Can you imagine how they plead the cause of these children?

Years ago I really settled into the reality of knowing that the love I have for my children (my birth kids), is the same love that God has for all children, only His love is by far greater. We adopted four children from Moldova based on the knowledge of this love. I would have thought that that in of itself would “fulfill” my obligation to help with the world’s orphans. Having seven children certainly limits my ability to help with fundraising for beds. Yet, I’ve still felt and continue to feel a burden to help with these particular children in the limited ways that I can help.

$50 for a bed that will save a life. That includes a Bible that will save souls for eternity. Real hope. It’s an incredibly small price. There are times I stay awake at night in desperate prayers for orphans I don’t know. It makes no sense, yet it makes perfect sense. If one of my children came to me with a desperate need, and I could send another child to help them, of course I would do that. How much more does our Heavenly Father love us and desire to meet the needs of His children. He has chosen us to be the ones to fulfill the need. I believe my desire to help is based on the desperate prayers of these orphaned children – children of my Heavenly Father. The fact that He would trust me to help is in and of itself my blessing.

Blessings,
Mary


Gosh, does anybody else need a tissue? I'm so moved when I read of her burden to help as being a direct result of the cries of the children to their heavenly Father. I've never thought about it like that before, but it makes perfect sense that when one child (or 700) cry out to God, He would begin to move hearts of His people to be the answers to those children's prayers.

What a blessing of an opportunity, indeed!

Thanks friends. I encourage you to give, now. Please write "Gulu" in the memo. All your gifts are being matched right now. Talk about an awesome opportunity and an answer to prayer. www.sweetsleep.org

TODAY is THE day to make 700 dreams happen!

Amazing friends...

Thanks to you, Sweet Sleep has done amazing work in northern Uganda. And, with your support RIGHT NOW, we can do it again.

Here’s the situation:

Sweet Sleep and our partner, American Refugee Committee (ARC), is working with hundreds of thousands of children living in child-headed households in the IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps in northern Uganda. 20 years ago, the government of Uganda placed every person in every tribe into these camps to protect them from rebels which were attacking the North over two decades. A few years ago this area finally began to experience peace, however today, more than a million people are still living in these camps. An estimated 750,000 of these people are children who are orphans with no place to go. ARC is working to trace each child by their family name back to their home tribe. They then work with village leaders to determine what land their family owned and reclaim it for them. As part of the process, each resettled child receives a new hut from ARC.

Being resettled gives a child hope and a chance for a new life. There’s just one problem: the children have been afraid to leave. Until now.

Even though the Ugandan Government has closed these camps, it is very difficult to get all of the children to leave. The children in these child-headed households were born in these camps – it’s simply all they’ve ever known.

In January of this year, as Sweet Sleep’s partnerships began in northern Uganda, ARC hoped to resettle 600 children. This was more than the number of children they resettled in 2009, but they were hoping the children would have a good response to the opportunity of being provided with a bed, net and Bible.



By the end of this June, Sweet Sleep had already provided ARC with the full amount of beds, nets and Bibles they’d requested for the entire year! Much to the amazement of ARC leadership, the children are now lining up to leave the camps to be resettled into their home villages. The children are sharing with ARC and Sweet Sleep that they never imagined they could have such a thing as a bed, mosquito net or a Bible of their own. Many other organizations in northern Uganda have come to ARC to ask how they’ve been able to get so many children to resettle. Who would have known something as simple as a bed, mosquito net and Bible could be so completely profound on a child’s life? Amazing. Simply amazing!


So, my friends, here’s where you come in. ARC recently asked Sweet Sleep to provide 700 more beds to the additional children they’ll be able to resettle this November -- in just 25 days! But we can’t resettle these children without you. A resettlement kit with a straw mat, new mattress, blanket, mosquito net and Bible is just $50!

$50 to help a child find hope, peace and comfort in their new home. And thanks to some wonderful friends of Sweet Sleep’s, any gifts given to help resettle these children in October will be matched 100%! We need just 350 friends to give $50 or 175 people to give $100 – we can do this, right? So take a moment and think – how many beds can I provide? I know you’ll sleep sweeter knowing a child has come home and will sleep sweetly because of your gift. Just go to www.sweetsleep.org to donate any amount and be sure to write “Gulu” in the comment box.

One more thing….read this letter I recently shared on our blog. It's from a child Sweet Sleep resettled in June. Let’s work together to help more sweet orphans like David finally come home.

Dear Sweet Sleep,

My name is David. I am 14 years old and am in primary four. I would like to thank you, Sweet Sleep for giving me the mattresses and mostly the Bible.

Now days I know more about God than I did before because I read my Bible and after I go for a sleep on my soft mattress. Am very happy this days because I start sleep right when I got on to my bed till morning without feeling any pain.

So I again thank God for that special gift which I was not even expecting in my life and not forgetting to pray for you and also the organization called Sweet Sleep.

Thank you so much from David.

God Bless You.


It's a true blessing to work along side each of you. Thanks friends!

Sweetly,
Jen

Orphans Need You to Pray...Here's A Guide To Help

Sometimes we are so far removed from a situation or find a situation so large that we feel helpless when it comes to knowing what to do. At a glance it's possible you might feel that way about the orphan crisis. Let me help change the way you look at this problem...

You don't have to like children or have children (or even like the children you have!) to care about orphans. Orphans are little people who eventually grow up to become big people. The way in which they are cared for as a child have a direct impact on the person they become. A recent estimate from a world leader in caring for children reports there are 163 million orphans in the world. This is a crisis like the world has never known. Imagine what 163 million adults who grew up as orphans will look like 15-20 years from now. The crisis continues. You must pray. God approves of this.

Not sure HOW to pray? Sometimes I don't either. The orphan crisis is monumental. God hears all your prayers. God hears your whispers. And when you don't know what to pray or even to whisper, God hears your heart. Be still with Him for just a moment and invite conversation and thoughts of the fatherless in. God will direct you. God honors the hearts of those who care.

Will that be you?

Our friends at Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO www.christianalliancefororphans.org) are hosting the 2nd annual National Orphan Sunday this November 7, 2010. You can be a part of that in countless ways. If you're in Tennessee, talk with me. If you're in another state, let me know and I can help put you in touch with the state coordinator in your area. Make this year matter for the orphan. It all starts with you.

Below are the daily prayer guides for this week's "40 Days of Prayer for Orphans" which leads up to Orphan Sunday. Email today's reflection to your friends or put it on your Facebook. Just get the word out there and let the opportunity wash over people who might see it. You never know how God will speak to the heart of someone who might read it.

Thanks for being an advocate. You matter to Sweet Sleep and to all the lives of those we serve.

Sweetly,
Jen


Monday, October 4, 2010
Today, ask the Lord to help your church family to live out Proverbs 31:8:“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.”

Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Today, thank the Lord in advance for all that He is going to do to bring glory to
His name in your church and community. Thank Him for the care He is going to provide for orphans through your church.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Today, pray for the Lord to raise up workers for the harvest from your church and community. Ask Him to call Christians to go to the “fields of the fatherless” to experience the joy of caring for orphans as we are commanded in Isaiah 1:16–17 “Give up your wicked ways. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the orphan. Fight for the rights of widows.”

Thursday, October 7, 2010
Today, pray that God would break the heart of your city’s pastors with the plight
of orphans. Ask that He would convict them to lead their churches to pray, go,
and love in Jesus’ name.

Friday, October 8, 2010
Today, ask the Father to set the lonely in families. Pray specifically for families in your community who may be in the process of adopting an orphan.
Ask for God’s provision for all of their needs: physical, emotional, and spiritual.

Saturday, October 9, 2010
Today, pray specifically for any orphans you may know by name. Pray for their health and safety. Pray for their shelter. Pray that they will be brought into loving families who will provide for their education.

40 Days of Prayer for the Orphan...Saturday and Sunday guide

Saturday, October 2, 2010
Today, ask the Lord to help your church congregation to feel His heart for the orphans as seen in Psalm 68:5–6: “A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families . . .”

Sunday, 3, 2010
Today, pray for the fatherless in your community. Ask the Lord to protect them and to care for them and to defend them and keep them safe.

You can stay right here for guides for prayer for orphans or you can visit www.christianalliancefororphans.org and click on resources. Scroll half way down to find the guide. Be encouraged...share this with your friends and make a prayer group!

National Orphan Sunday is November 7, 2010. I'm the state coordinator for Tennessee, so let me know if you need inspiration, direction or resources! And, if you're having annnnny kind of "event" to recognize the plight of the orphan, please let me know and we'll put it on the Christian Alliance for Orphans website for you!

Sweetly,
Jen

My bed helps my studies...Letters from Gulu

Dear Sweet Sleep

I am Morish and am in primary six. Am very happy with you for supporting me with the following: mattress, Bible, blanket, etc.

Since I lost both of my parents in 1992 and never got such an opportunity, all those items is helping me with all of my future studies.

Thank you. May God bless you for ever. I am an orphan.

Morish

What Morish is saying is true...when children have beds their studies improve. Think about yourself as a child or your children now? How did sleep effect your ability to stay awake in school and to do your best?

Orphanage directors and pastors in Uganda have shared with me that their children are "sleeping better, so they're learning better." They've also been able to show us records from the school nurse. After the children receive mosquito nets from Sweet Sleep the number of cases of malaria dramatically decreases. Children sleep soundly from not being "bitten by, swarmed by, attacked by" mosquitoes as they try to sleep. Healthy, rested children attend school every day and are able to absorb all that is being taught. When orphanage director's medical expenses are reduced there are more resources for food.

See, beds are more than something cozy. They're life saving and help raise a brighter generation.


Be a part of our 40 days of Prayer for Orphans (in conjunction with Christian Alliance for Orphans) which leads up to National Orphan Sunday on November 7, 2010. See the earlier post for today's guide and stay tuned to this blog for more.

Sweetly,
Jen
PS. Don't forget...your gift to provide a bed for an orphan in Gulu next month is now being matched! Give 1 bed and you actually provide 2! www.sweetsleep.org and click on "donate". Make sure to write "Gulu match" in the memo.