International Women's Day

Today is International Women's Day. So much of what Sweet Sleep does empowers women. Most of the caretakers in every country we serve are women. Especially in Africa these women are almost always widows and are as such, as vulnerable and unable to take care of themselves as the children. But by caring for the orphans, they are cared for themselves. In addition in Uganda, Sweet Sleep by purchases magazine bead necklaces from these widows, and as a result we are providing employment, security, and independence.

The caretakers in Moldovan orphanages are no different. They are teachers, nurturers and are the first line of responsibility for these children in that country as well. We want to show them how valued they are. Tomorrow we send a team to distribute beds in Moldova. Since it is so close to International Women's Day we are celebrating these women by bringing them a rose or other flower and some chocolates or other small treats as a token of how much we appreciate their presence in these children's lives.

Please begin praying for the trip next week and celebrate a woman in your life today.

Blonde Haired, Blue Eyed Ugandan orphans

One of the greatest testimonies I often make about Sweet Sleep is how relevant of a ministry it is to our children.  After all, it is a ministry FOR children.  I have seen this relevance in my home over the past four years that I have been involved with Sweet Sleep.  My  children are 4, 7, and 9 years old.  They have grown up, their entire lives practically, watching me serve with and through Sweet Sleep.

The profound impact of Sweet Sleep has not only been realized by the children of Uganda, Haiti, Moldova, and South Africa, but also by my young family, who has grown since early childhood watching my involvement.  The mission of Sweet Sleep – to show God’s love to the world’s orphaned and abandoned children by providing a bed, bible, and mosquito net – is so relevant to our children.  They understand that a bed is a safe place; this is where they rest, where they dream, where they pray.  The covers hide them from their fears and wrap them up just like God giving them a big hug.

It has been beautiful to watch my children grow in their understanding of what it means to act in service and obedience. They understand sacrifice and that God calls us to take care of the orphaned.  They know they are being obedient when they are brave while I am away.  They show their love to the orphans by drawing pictures and writing notes that I take with me.  Over the years that love and those prayers have evolved – and the once “blonde haired, blue eyed” African children’s faces are now shaded dark as their understanding of children a world away grows.

As I tell them stories and show them pictures, they have grown to know these children are just like they are and, more importantly, that God created them and loves them in just the same way that he created and loves each of us.  They know the only difference is that we were born here and that they were born there, and into those circumstances.  They know that God did not put us where we are for our comfort.  He has done so, and has given us a great responsibility – and that is to take care of and love His children in their time of need. 

Because of Sweet Sleep and my involvement in the ministry, orphan care is a part of my family’s vocabulary.  In the evening, my children pray for their dinner, and the orphans.  At bedtime, they pray for their friends and their pets, and for the orphans.  I am grateful and encouraged as I watch my children grow into their roles of service in the Kingdom and I faithfully wait for the day they deliver their written note to an orphan themselves, in person.

Madelene Metcalf
Trips Coordinator

Vote for Our Giving of Life Grant!

For the second year in a row, Sweet Sleep has applied for the Giving of Life grant. We could be one of 14 ministry category winners to receive a minimum grant of $10,000. With enough votes we could be one of three finalists to win an even bigger grant at the end of the year!

Click here to vote for Sweet Sleep now!

Voting ends on May 22, and grant recipients for the first season will be announced June 4.

Giving of Life was founded by three visionaries with a heart for transformation—Dan Maclellan and Russell Courtney of The SoulCare Project, and Kerry Bural, principal and founder of The Resonate Group. They started the unique web-based initiative in 2011 to revolutionize the way grassroots ministries grow and give life to the world—primarily by designing a hassle-free method for giving financial and promotional boosts to 501c3 organizations. Non-profits like Sweet Sleep apply for grants but we need your help to receive the reward.

Please vote for us and then share with your friends about this important opportunity to get the message of Sweet Sleep changing lives of orphans to an even larger audience. Thanks!

Mission Possible Kids, Seymour, Indiana

Sharing Love February inspired many people to do something for orphaned and abandoned children around the world. We are so grateful for the continued encouragement not to mention funding we are getting in response to the stories that have been shared. Today we hear from a group of "special agents" in Seymour Indiana who have been on a mission to help Sweet Sleep build beds.

I am the director of our local chapter of Mission Possible Kids. In this cool, ‘hands- on’ mission club, elementary aged kids are “special agents doing God’s work”. We “go on missions” each month, and in January we partnered with Sweet Sleep.

Through your photos I was able to relay to our agents the devastating conditions in which our friends sleep on the other side of the world. It left nobody in our room longing for one of those old beds! I was able to share with the children your passion and mission of providing a new, fresh bed for every head, and your chosen mission scripture of Proverbs 3:24. That night our agents worked hard and hand-made 50 heart shaped fleece pillows for your organization to distribute with every new bed you provide!

But we also wanted to be able to provide you with more than just sweet pillows. We wanted to be able to send as well a nice monetary contribution to enable you to keep doing what you do in providing complete bed sets to the orphans. So we embarked in another mission we called, “Sweet Sleep- Part Two”. Through the Saturdays in February we set up a fundraising station in the foyer of our church serving hotdogs, Gatorade, and snacks to the basketball league traffic that was passing through (see attached photos). We had prepared and set out for display a full poster board of Sweet Sleep pictures and continuously played a dvd stating our mission and including your videoclip, “We Must Go.” With God’s blessing and the hard work from the agents we were able to meet our goal of raising $1000.00!!!!

So you may be wondering, “Why Sweet Sleep”? Of all the great organizations we partner with, why the extra energy and effort in accomplishing the mission in two parts with Sweet Sleep?

Perhaps ...the other side of the world is not that far away.

You see, one of our agents was born in Ukraine. Only 6 years ago, her little bed was like one we see in your photos. If I shut my eyes I can still smell the very room where she slept, and see the all the little beds lined up side by side in multiples. Anyone who has smelled this smell and seen this sight is forever propelled to do whatever it is they can to provide love and hope for these forgotten.

The agent I speak of is my little girl.

Thank you, Sweet Sleep, for being committed in your mission. We are very happy to be able to support your worthwhile work!

Martha Brown
Director, Mission Possible Kids Seymour, Indiana


Are you looking for a missions project for your group?
If your church group or organization would like more information on how you can raise funds and build beds for orphans through our Build-a-Bed, Nickels for Nets or other programs, contact Sarah at sarah@sweetsleep.org.

We only need a few more nets!
We are so close to our goal of 568 nets for newly registered HIV+ orphans who are came out of hiding in Uganda. We still need you to buy nets for only $8 a net. Please give at sweetsleep.org/donate. Mark "Gulu net" in the comments box.

Love is Hard

The entire month of February Sweet Sleep has chosen to “Share Love” with the world by telling stories via our blog and FaceBook. It has been incredible to hear the stories of individuals and groups coming together to be incredible advocates for orphans around the world! I cannot help but be challenged and encouraged by each of these stories. I cannot help but be challenged by the Word that has inspired them to do what they do! 

John 13:35 says “…by this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Love is the ultimate definition of a Christ follower. It seems profound and simple all at the same time. If we know that love is what sets us apart, then we must think about what love looks like in our lives. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).” 

I do not know about you, but there are many days when I am lucky to be able to claim even one of those qualifiers. In fact, I think I need to add a part to 1 Corinthians 13. Love is HARD. Love is not what it seems on television. It is not something that you can create by a streamlined process. It’s really not something you can fake. That’s why love is the way that the world will know that we are followers of Christ. It’s something that only He can give. After all, God is love (1 John 4:8).

So love is hard, but love is worth it. You will never regret choosing to love people well. This is something that I have become very convinced of through my work with Sweet Sleep.  James 1:27 clearly calls us to love and care for orphans. Realizing the great need of a bed and the reality that for orphans across the world a clean, comfortable, safe place to sleep is a dream come true is incredible. Beds are not only life- changing for these orphans, but they are also life-saving.  I have had the opportunity to experience this in Moldova and in Northern Uganda. The joy these kids get is INCREDIBLE. I love that these beds are given along with the Gospel. It is not hard to see and know that the Kingdom impact of Sweet Sleep is HUGE.
--Sarah Edwards, Sweet Sleep Director of Student & Church Initiatives

Only 68 Nets to Go!
We are so close to our goal of 568 nets for newly registered HIV+ orphans who are came out of hiding in Uganda. We still need you to buy 68 more nets for only $8 a net. Please give at sweetsleep.org/donate. Mark "Gulu net" in the comments box.

Be a part of this life changing ministry by giving a one time donation or Be a Bedhead and help provide beds each month for orphans across the world.

Every weekday in February Sweet Sleep is Sharing Love through stories from individuals, churches and other partners who have helped us show love to orphans around the world by giving them a bed.

Go to www.sweetsleep.org/sharinglove and find out more about Sharing Love.

Bethany Laughlin, Sweet Sleep Intern

Only one more day of Sharing Love in February. We have had a great month of sharing the stories from so many people who love orphans and Sweet Sleep. Today we hear from our intern Bethany Laughlin. Bethany is a junior at Belmont University.

I first heard about Sweet Sleep through a friend at Belmont who used to intern here.  When she told me about her experience, I knew I needed to find out more about this amazing organization.  I really wanted to gain experience in the non-profit world and Sweet Sleep seemed like the perfect fit.  Over the past couple of months, I’ve been able to see how unique and special this organization truly is.  I love the way Sweet Sleep is able to use the gift of a bed and a mosquito net as an avenue to sharing the Ultimate Gift of Christ with these precious orphans.  There is such great physical need in countries like Africa, Moldova and Haiti, but there is an even greater spiritual need, and Sweet Sleep provides the rare opportunity to meet them both.

Even though I haven’t gone on a trip with Sweet Sleep to these countries, I have been able to learn what goes on behind the scenes to make these trips possible.  In fact, part of our team just returned home from Gulu, Uganda and part of my job was to upload some of the photos that were being taken to Sweet Sleep’s Facebook page.  Well over 1,000 children were able to receive a bed, a net and a Bible, and to see the joy on their faces captured in a photograph was absolutely beautiful.

Sometimes it’s hard to grasp the bigger picture when focused on the small details, but I’ve discovered that an internship with Sweet Sleep indirectly helps raise money to buy beds for orphans in need.  In fact, my 4 month internship will allow Sweet Sleep to use the money saved to buy about 100 beds.  Ultimately, this internship has shown me how important each member of this organization is.  The Lord has given each of us unique gifts (giving, service, administration, teaching, etc.), but in order to fully utilize these gifts, we need all the members of the Body actively working together to advance God’s Kingdom.  So, whether it’s through a donation, an internship, or a trip, we all play a significant role in helping the lost and the broken.

If you or someone you know is interested in an internship at Sweet Sleep please contact Tim Pereira at tim@sweetsleep.org.

Be a part of this life changing ministry by giving a one time donation or Be a Bedhead and help provide beds each month for orphans across the world.

Every weekday in February Sweet Sleep is Sharing Love through stories from individuals, churches and other partners who have helped us show love to orphans around the world by giving them a bed.

Go to www.sweetsleep.org/sharinglove and find out more about Sharing Love.

Rainier Christian School

Rainier Christian School, Maple Valley Elementary Campus is a school of 140 students located in Renton WA. In February each year the school does a Missions Month.  This year the faculty chose Sweet Sleep to be the focus for their missions project.  They chose Sweet Sleep because of the simple impact they could have on educating the students on the plight of orphan children in orphanages in countries like Moldova.

Raising money to make beds for the children, giving them bedding and a Bible is a simple way of giving to others and sharing their love to these children on the other side of the world. The goal at Rainier is to have each classroom build 3 beds each which is approx. $600 for a total of 21 beds or $4,200 in the month of February.

The kids had a launch presentation on Sweet Sleep which created the awareness of the needs of these children and the horrid conditions of the beds the orphanage. Then the goal was set and each week they are challenged to fundraise in various ways.  

 

We loved the fact that Sweet Sleep makes it easy, by providing simple tools and resources like the coin boxes to raise funds.  Then the kids are given half way through the program a work certificate that encourages them to work for funds.  Finally they will be awarded a Slumber Party at the school during the day if the full amount of money is raised. They added a quilt square for each bed they funded to show their progress.

The kids at RCS “Love Sweet Sleep”. If you or your group would like more information on how you can raise funds and build beds for orphans, contact Sarah at sarah@sweetsleep.org.
Be a part of this life changing ministry by giving a one time donation or Be a Bedhead and help provide beds each month for orphans across the world.

Every weekday in February Sweet Sleep is Sharing Love through stories from individuals, churches and other partners who have helped us show love to orphans around the world by giving them a bed.

Go to www.sweetsleep.org/sharinglove and find out more about Sharing Love.

Interview with Bedhead Jennifer Olsen

As a part of our Sharing Love in February, we interviewed a few of our bedhead giving partners. Bedheads are monthly givers to Sweet Sleep. Sweet Sleep will automatically deduct your gift from your credit card. You will receive convenient monthly and annual receipts by email. If you give at least $30 per month we will send you a tshirt too!


We love our bedheads because they want to make a difference in a child’s life half way around the world. Here is our interview with Jennifer Olsen from Nashville, a bedhead since October 2011.

 1. When did you decided to become a bedhead?

I decided to become a bedhead after returning from a mission trip in Africa. After seeing their living conditions, I wanted to help by sending comforters and bedding back to the youth I had met there. I prayed God would give me another opportunity to help people and the very next day, I was invited to the Sweet Sleep Soiree. I learned about the organization and knew that was the answer to my prayer.

2. Why do you think it is important to be a bedhead?

I think it is important to be a bedhead because I am blessed with so much. I want to show how thankful I am by sharing what God has given me. I was once advised to give where i see good fruit being produced and I believe that is the case with the Sweet Sleep organization.

3. Have you shared with friends or family that you are a bedhead and why it is important?

I have shared with my family and friends about Sweet Sleep because I feel that is another way to help besides just giving myself. I want to see it grow, in order to help more people. Not only are we providing beds, but also life saving mosquito nets, and a Bible! The Bible teaches to care for orphans and to live like Jesus. Whenever Jesus saw a person in need He had compassion for them. This means not only to feel sympathy for that person or people, but to follow that up with an action to alleviate their need. That is what Jesus did and this is how we should live!

Would you like to be a bedhead? Go to www.sweetsleep.org/donate, then click the bedhead button. You can choose to have your credit card charged on the first or the fifteenth of each month. You will be helping orphans around the world sleep sweetly.

GRACE homeschool co-op helps orphans sleep sweetly

GRACE, a home school co-op group from Wichita, Kansas, chose to make Sweet Sleep their mission project for the semester.

The group, which consists of 18 families and 57 kids, heard about Sweet Sleep through a family member, Yevonne Donkervoet, who is the Preschool Minister for Fielder Road Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas. Over the semester, the kids raised money by collecting loose change and doing extra chores or small jobs. The children gave joyfully and were so proud of the coins they were able to contribute each week.

Do you have a group or organization that would like to help buy a bed for an orphan in need? Contact Sarah Edwards to for more information.

Raising money for Sweet Sleep is easier than you think. Did you know that:

• $8 provides a mosquito net to orphans in Africa or Haiti.
• $10 provides a Bible to an orphan in his or her language.
• $50 provides a bed and bedding for orphan resettlement kits in northern Uganda.
• $125 provides a healthy, comfortable new Sweet Sleep bed for a child in Africa.
• $167 provides a complete Sweet Sleep bed for an orphan in Haiti.
• $200 provides a comfy Sweet Sleep bed for a Moldovan orphan.

Be a part of this life changing ministry by giving a one time donation or Be a Bedhead and help provide beds each month for orphans across the world.

Every weekday in February Sweet Sleep is Sharing Love through stories from individuals, churches and other partners who have helped us show love to orphans around the world by giving them a bed.

Go to www.sweetsleep.org/sharinglove and find out more about Sharing Love.

Message from Jennifer

Our Gulu Uganda team is back and in the swing of things. The stories of love they share are amazing. Be sure and check our facebook page for more stories and photos. As you know, they distributed a record 1301 beds, Bibles and nets in 6 days. In addition, 568 newly registered orphans who are HIV/AIDS positive came out of hiding to receive help from Health Alert Uganda and Sweet Sleep. We gave each of them a net to protect them from malaria before our return trip in June. You have helped us by funding over 400 of these nets so far but we still need you to buy over 100 more for only $8 a net. Please give at sweetsleep.org/donate. Mark "Gulu net" in the comments box.

We are blessed to have two amazing women on our staff in Uganda. On Monday we shared a message from Josephine Ssebambulide our National Director in Uganda. Today you will hear from Jennifer Auma Odong, Program Director, Northern Uganda.

A Sweet Sleep thank you from Northern Uganda!

I thank God for the wonderful heart of people around the globe. It was so wonderful to see this team sharing love with the vulnerable people in Africa UGANDA.

I am thrilled and out of words. I was touched to see God’s work through his people (Jen, Jeff, Madeline, Mindy, Jonathan, Zach, Mindy, Jamie, Tim, Daren, Paul, Alyson, Deana, Trish and Mary). What a wonderful team! They are all so talented and full of God’s love and care. God has used this team to truly make a difference in Gulu and has even left Gulu yearning for more love and affection. I am so proud to be part of this work with Sweet Sleep.

To the Team: Thank you so much for accepting his call to come and serve in AFRICA, UGANDA, GULU. We have been touched with love and sincerity. Do not ignore what these people were saying. You have made a difference.

To those who Prayed and Contributed for these beds/nets: May God continue to bless you! Thank you for sharing what you had with these children, and may you continue to pray for them and advocate for them and be their messengers around the world.

Each person involved is most important. The work done was awesome, unbelievable, and magnificent.

Because of this work 1301 children have a bed for the first time in their lives. Because of this work 600+ children came out of hiding to receive treatment and education for HIV. Because of you their lives have been forever changed.

Much love from Gulu,
Jennifer Auma Odong

See more photos at: www.facebook.com/sweetsleep

Read more stories from the Gulu Uganda trip here.