Sweet Sleep Pajama Party!

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

"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

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

 

"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!

 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

Photo of the Day

These hands raised want to know Jesus.  Thanks to your support through gifts and prayer, our teams were able to introduce Jesus to these people; continue your support to help make sure all nations will hear the good news of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior!

 

 

Photo(s) of the Day

 From the children's ward at a hospital we visited in Gulu, Uganda:

Before--No nets, but still treating the children for Malaria...or treating them for other illnesses and then contracting Malaria due to no mosquito nets.

We provided 55 nets to the children's ward, children's surgery unit and children's ICU.

 Thanks for making this possible!

Visit sweetsleep.org/donate

Photo of the Day

Just last week in Gulu--After receiving her new Sweet Sleep bed and resettlement kit.

Finally, a good night's sleep without the worry of Malaria!

Thanks to all who have helped and continue to help make this image possible for orphaned and abandoned children around the world!

Forever Blessed, Forever Changed

Well another week is in the books with the beautiful children of Uganda. I consider it such a blessing to have been a part of this Sweet Sleep team and our partnership with the New Kabaale Busenga Orphanage. We were able to have a special last day with the children while enjoying the opportunity to celebrate their birthdays. We had the privilege of speaking God's blessing over their lives, as we reminded these beautiful children that they are beautifully and wonderfully made. It was such an honor to share with these sweet children one last time that God has a special plan and purpose for their lives.

With part of our team arriving late due to travel difficulties, myself included, and a special afternoon spent at Blessed Hope, I felt like I finally had a chance to really connect with some of the kids today. There was James, who was so excited for his Bible so he could read from the book of James, and little Kevin who was always happy to be by my side. It has also been a blessing getting to know the staff at this wonderful school. The teachers seem to truly care for these children and they have been just as grateful for our presence as the children have been.

It continues to amaze me all that they are teaching these students with such limited resources. It has been a blessing getting to know the likes of Ivan, Joel and Benson as they are so excited about the subjects that they teach, and the gift of a simple paper map of the world or a children's book on animals can brighten their day, because they know it will bless their students.

One of the greatest joys for me today and during this entire journey has been the extra blessing of sharing this experience with my father. Although this is my third journey with Sweet Sleep to Uganda, it is my father's first, and I wouldn't trade this time together for anything in the world. To see these children latch on to my dad, to pray over his life, and to simply find comfort in his touch has been a great boost to my spirit and to our relationship. It also makes me look forward to the day when I can share these types of experiences with Gideon and Abel.

I want to share a few stories before I end this post so please bear with me. One of them took place on Wednesday night at Blessed Hope Champions Academy. This is the orphanage where our team served last year, and I was excited for the opportunity to return, and to see the children once again. I was disappointed to learn that my dear friend Dallen was no longer at Blessed Hope, but my spirits were lifted by my friend Jonathan instead. Out of all of the wonderful kids that I had made connections with last year, Jonathan was one that specifically wrote many letters to my son Gideon during our stay, and his first words to me were, "How is Gideon." Without a prompt he not only remembered Uncle Mike, but my child as well. He gave me a note as we left the orphanage grounds on Wednesday night and it was once again addressed to Gideon, saying that he will continue praying for him everyday.

We often say that we will pray from someone in passing, but rarely do we see it through with much consistency in our busy lives in America. What peace, hope and humility it gives me to know that an orphaned child on the other side of the world is bathing the life of my son Gideon in his prayers daily. We are certainly called to be a blessing on these trips, but the blessing has been all mine. Just as these trips do not end when we board our plane for home, it was confirmation that the impression that we make on these kids lives will live on for far to come as well.

Another aspect of these trips that I want to highlight as things come to a close is the often overlooked blessing of serving alongside some incredible men and women of faith. The team that God has assembled on this trip has been a truly remarkable one. Each member of our team has brought their unique talents, abilities, and even past hurts to be able to minister to these children, staff members, and one another in such a beautiful way. It is Christian community at its finest, and I can honestly say that I have been blessed by every member of our team this year in very unique ways. Thank you all for answering God's calling on your life and loving the "greatest of these" during this remarkable journey.

Forever blessed and forever changed,
Michael Warneke

Olyotya!

Olyotya! In the beautiful and complex language of Lugandan, this means "How are you?"

It's difficult to believe we've been here for four days. It feels longer, and I mean that in a very positive way! We were so thoroughly accepted and loved from the very first moment we stepped off the bus that it felt like we were family. It is a completely natural feeling to get up in the morning and spend time with the children. As anxious as I am to get back to my own family, our time here is too short.

I wanted to share part of a letter that I received from one of the children. Rachael, a beautiful girl who loves math and wants to be an accountant, wrote that her life is good but she sometimes feels bad with a headache and stomach ache. When this happens she likes to remember her favorite Bible verse, Philippians 4: 6-7. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." The apostle Paul, who wrote these words, knew what he was talking about, and apparently so does Rachael! When she is sick, she doesn't have medicine or a doctor readily available, she has the words of God. Rachael says, "When I read that chapter, everything is good in God." As I read this verse I just sat there in wonder at the faith and conviction these children have in God. Our Sweet Sleep team and these children are on equal footing when it comes to loving our God and having faith that He will provide. In fact, it is the children who are continually inspiring us in our faith. However, what we were able to bring to these children, with the help of all of you who are reading this, are the wonderful and much needed beds, the Bibles (which the children treat with such respect and excitement), and a tremendous amount of love and hugs. Beyond all else, these children want to be lovingly hugged and talked to. I want to say a HUGE thank you to all of you who helped our team get to Uganda. These schools and these children could certainly use money, but the children desire our love, up close and personal, even more.

This week has been amazing. God's presence is obvious. Tomorrow we get to celebrate with a birthday party for the children! We can't wait! Thanks to you all, the donations from Central UMC Vacation Bible School, and many others, we have an incredible number of gifts for the kids, teachers, and staff at the Adonai house (where we sleep). We even have party decorations, crafts and games planned. It will be a day I'm sure all of us will cherish.

Once again, webale (thank you), for continued prayers and support.

With love,

Melissa Counts