Despair, But Hope

On this trip, I’ve really noticed how different the societies are between Uganda and the United States. You see on the commercials and you always hear about it. Especially when people found out I was coming to Africa, I was told how different it was here, but it never really sunk in until I saw it; until I saw the poverty, until I saw the despair. But yet even in all the despair, the people are able to enjoy. But in America, we don’t even have as much despair, and we have a better chance to succeed, yet we still don’t find as much joy as the people here do. That has really stuck out. We just don’t find as much joy as they do and they have lots less of a push towards hope.

Another thing that has stuck out to me is just how many children there are, and how many children there are that don’t have love or a source of love in their life. They yearn for affection and crave for our love. Even from strangers, they are open to accepting our love because they desperately want it, and want acceptance, that respect, and that affection.

The whole trip has been memorable, but one of the first ones was on the first day we handed out beds at the second distribution site outside of Gulu. There was a boy that came up to me and I was just loving on him and playing with him and he was sitting in my lap. It was just giggles and fun. Then December, the Health Alert Director, came up to me and said, “Oh look. You have a kid. How great.” And I was thinking, “Oh no, his mom probably loves him too much and is worried about him.” but December told me, “Oh no, he is an orphan.” and it broke my heart.

 I’d like to say that it didn’t get my spirits down, but it did because it was so sad to know that this precious baby, who was maybe 2 or 3 years old didn’t have a parent to go home to, and didn’t have somewhere to go home to at night. He was pretty much on his own. That really stuck out to me and I really felt blessed to give him the opportunity for a bed and love. And at the same time it was so sad because I could only love on him for those moments. I couldn’t fix his not having parents.

Realizing that so many children were orphans, I was so much more eager and on fire the next day just to love. Because if these children don’t have parents to love them, they have to know love somehow, somebody to care for them. That is something that all kids need. So, the next day I was so eager. I couldn’t wait to get out there and find a kid and give that kid my whole heart for those few moments, so that maybe, just maybe they would know love and fill that void they might have from not having a parent.

On this Sweet Sleep journey, I’ve been able to show love and I’d like to say that I witnessed, but only through translation. But I’ve been able to witness and show love to these people and I don’t even speak the same language as them. I can’t walk up and start a conversation with them, so my entire witness has been through my smile, my handshakes, and just playing with the children. So knowing that I can show love and that I can witness to people without using my words, and I’m a person that talks a lot, it gives me a fire and a hope that I can do it at home. Why can’t I witness? There is nobody that I shouldn’t be able to witness to, because if I can do it without talking, then I can for sure do it if I speak the same language. So I think that this trip has just opened my eyes to opportunities to witness that I haven’t looked at before this trip.

One thing I’ve really noticed this week, the one thing that has really hit my heart is how much I take for granted. Sometimes I’ll just look at my life and think that I have it bad. No, I have it GOLDEN, and I’ve never taken the time to appreciate that and this trip has really helped me to appreciate all that I have. Whether it be the love of my friends and family, especially my parents, seeing all the orphans makes me appreciate all the love that I have. It’s just shown me not to take anything for granted because there really are people that would love to have everything that we have, or just anything at all. I’ve learned to stop and take a look at myself and try not to be just another selfish American, and try to be a good witness like Jesus told us to.
Kelzye Isham

A day fit for a king.

They came from all parts of town. From just blocks away, or an orphanage across town, or the outskirts of the city of Gulu. At the headquarters of Health Alert Uganda, the partner of Sweet Sleep in Northern Uganda reaching out to the HIV positive children, many, many came. Many more than were expected. More than what mattresses were available. They came hoping, expecting to take home a soft place to lay their head, but many left with only a mosquito net this time. They left with a smile, though, knowing that they were on the list for the next distribution there, hopefully with the next team in November, 2012 if enough funds are raised to provide them.

As for the numbers of the day, 147 beds were distributed and another 200 nets were given out to those new ones who came and registered.

It was a day where The King of Kings was lifted high. His name was proclaimed through testimony, story, song, and actions. We participated in being the hands and feet of Jesus, giving love and hope to some who others have stopped giving love and hope to. Drawing, coloring, playing ball, holding, carrying around, laughing, blowing bubbles, having pictures made, placing stickers on, as well as countless other activities with children of The King.

Most of the drawings were of a religious nature. Bruno, with palsy affecting his face, drew a church and Jesus. Scovia drew Jesus being baptized. Linda just drew lines, like any 3 year old would.

We sat down and spoke with December, the director of HAU, who shared some great facts about the great partnership between Sweet Sleep. Over the past three years, mattresses have been provided to over 2,000 positive children in Northern Uganda, but there are over 4,100+ positive children identified, with more being added when they come out of hiding and get registered. Sweet Sleep has played and important role in helping to bring these children out of hiding and getting identified and started with the HIV anti-retroviral medication and support.

After a long day, our last in Gulu, we had time to get cleaned up before returning to the HAU headquarters for dinner. Little did we know that a feast fit for a king was in store for us. We were met at the gate with native drums and singing and dancing, The Welcome Dance. Teenagers were dressed in native attire and performed for us throughout the evening. We were allowed to join in the dancing and drumming. It was an incredible evening that words and pictures will never fully describe. The group usually only performs for visiting dignitaries, such as the President of Uganda, kings or leaders of other countries when they visit Gulu. We were informed that we were being thought of in such high regard and the works we had been doing the past few days was that well respected. The food was delicious, the entertainment incredible, the fellowship with the staff of Health Alert Uganda was uplifting. We came to Uganda to serve, yet we felt as though we were the ones doing so much receiving.

Of all the mission trips I’ve been on, this Sweet Sleep trip is so unique and powerful. We didn’t come just to go somewhere to do a Backyard Bible Club or VBS. We have come with a purpose, one goal. We want to be Jesus’ hands and feet and be able to provide a sweet sleep to the children of Uganda. This trip has been a life-changer. Providing a soft place for a child to lay its head, when all the child (or even their parent) has even known was a hard dirt or concrete floor. THAT is a life-changing event. But OUR lives have been changed forever, also.

Seeing the joy these people have, when sometimes that is all they have. Holding a child that might only have a caregiver or guardian instead of a parent. Seeing how we should never take things for granted, or complain about some of the simple things in our past daily life. And finally, this mission journey has been and will continue to be a life-changer in our church. Having spent the past seven months raising funds, preparing for it, and now following this on the Facebook page or blog post. Waiting daily for word from halfway across the world to hear what God and the team is doing. Exploring new ways to reach out and minister to those close to home.

Today was truly a day fit for a king. We were treated as royalty, but our prayer is that The King of Kings will be lifted up and receive all the honor and glory as we continue on to our week in Kampala and an orphanage close by. Thanks for your continued prayers and support, and begin thinking of ways that we can help raise funds to help provide more beds so hundreds of children who walk long distances can receive not just a mosquito net, but a bed and a Bible so they can experience a Sweet Sleep.

-Spencer Key

Interested in helping to supply beds, mosquito nets, and bibles to the children of Gulu? 

 Go to our website, click donate, and designate in the comment box where you would like your fundings to be sent!

Interested in Going?  Contact our trip coordinator at trips@sweetsleep.org to find out how you can be the physical hands and feet of Jesus on our upcoming November 2012 Gulu, Uganda trip!

What would you say?

What would you say if given the opportunity to share the Gospel with a group of people? The Sweet Sleep Missions trip gave me the chance to speak to the group of people that assembled to receive beds and netting. I prayed and asked God to show me what was important for this audience to hear.

My heart was to give God glory and to share the love of Jesus.  1 Corinthians 15:3-4 captures the heart of God’s purpose. “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the scripture, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to scriptures.”

God’s inspired scripture is powerful to convey His purpose and draw people to conviction. God knows the people’s needs and can work in ways beyond our comprehension. The Gospel is beautifully simple. God did it for us through Jesus Christ. We must receive it and apply it.

The people were gracious and smiled and listened. My prayer was that the simple message from scripture was used by God to work His will. God knows how to handle the needs and answer the questions that we all face.


I don’t know if what I said helped the people, but I know that my prayer and seeking God’s wisdom helped me as I prepared. I am blessed as I try to serve and help others. I simply give my best to God. I pray that God would use it as He chooses. My simple prayer, is that I would say what God wants me to say.

Ronald Rogers

Buzungu, Precious, by Amanda McCutcheon

Monday July 23,2012
Everything here is gorgeous. We’re on our way to Gulu, and I’ve never been so in awe. I’ve spent the last hour waving to people that are walking by our van. They are so pleasant and excited to see us.

I notice all of the children dressed up nicely on their way to school, though most aren’t wearing shoes. People shout and laugh as they see us smile and wave. All of the concentrated or sullen faces break apart with the flash of pearly white teeth and sparkling eyes. All just because I took a second to make eye contact and wave. I love all of them. My heart hurts a little. I think this is my favorite place. Even the smells are comforting. Occasionally the air will be filled with a waft of fresh fruit from a vendor, mahogany, exotic flowers, and of course- burning garbage. The weather is so nice. It’s cool, like being in fog early in the morning.

I read mom’s card for me today. It was encouraging. I honestly think I could live here. I keep daydreaming about what it would be like to wake up each morning in Africa. There is a lump in my throat from just watching a family walk by. They call us ” buzungu” which is Swahili for white, which is associated with “precious” I wish there was a word I could respond with, to let them know I think they are precious too.

Lubanga Mari, by Russell Milmo

Tuesday morning, Jul 25, 2012
Here we go, bright and early. A little warmer today, but it’s nothing new to me. Still hasn’t dawned on me that I’m in Africa. Some blue sky, red dirt. Just different culture. I tell you what, these people grow more corn here than the state of Illinois! These folks however, grow it to eat, not to sell. They are always roasting it over a little fire somewhere and kids are always gnawing on the cob. I noticed today that there peanut hulls on the ground. Turns out that what I call peanuts, they call them “ground nuts”. I reckon I got more in common with these folks than I thought, since I was raised on a corn and peanut farm. I’ve noticed that they don’t try to grow as much as they can, but instead only what they need. I asked Josephine about it and she actually grew up doing field work. She told me that they only grow what they can handle. Reason being is that the soil is so black and rich that anything will grow. This is one of the main reasons they don’t cultivate more because keeping weeds under control can be difficult.

(afternoon)
Well, I finally learned what to say to the kids and adults who come to receive beds. Lubanga Mari, which means, “God loves you.” there were about 180 beds distributed today. I handed a lady a mattress, she turned around, sat the mattress down, lifted her hand and gave out this loud vivacious shriek. At first I thought I said “God loves you” wrong, but realized she was praising God instead. I guess that’s enough words on paper today.

First Thoughts

Today on our first day in Gulu, we started out by getting up and ready by 5:00am so we could travel to Gulu, a drive of over 5 hours. We started off in Anaka around 2:00pm, about 6 hours late due to not driving up until this morning, behind schedule. We gave out 150 beds to children that had registered previously, then we handed out 112 more mosquito nets to the new ones that came out of hiding today and registered. Some of these children started walking yesterday morning, up to 30 kilometers, to come meet us and pick up their beds. They had all been waiting patiently for us since 8:00am. We then traveled back towards Gulu to hand out 50 more beds at Koch Goma. Both of these small communities are in the In Nwoya District in Northern Uganda. Spencer Key's Personal Blog

 The following was shared by team member Cayliegh Little. ~ spencer

As we were pulling up in Anaka, the first place we were going to distribute the beds, we drove up and the people started clapping for us. They were just so very excited. The women were doing this distinct sound that I will never forget. A shrill sound. It was like they were screaming, but it was the most amazing sound I’ve ever heard. They were just showing so much joy that they had.

After we pulled in, the mothers would let their little babies come up to us and sit in our laps. We sat there and Doug McCutcheon started in with a little devotional and anytime he mentioned God, Jesus, or the Bible the people would start clapping and yelling and just praising the Lord. You might think that the language might be a barrier but it wasn’t. They were just so excited to be hearing about God.

As we started handing them the beds, it was just amazing. I was able to touch every one of them. I just couldn’t quit smiling. We were told we were supposed to be strong and not cry, but seeing their excitement was overwhelming. It was tough to just be teary-eyed and not bawl.

At the second place where we went to distribute beds, I got to talk to some 16 year old boys. They are just a year younger than me and I got to talk to them about school. They were both very excited about school, and that hit me, because when we go to school in America, we are always trying to keep ourselves awake in class and we don’t get excited at all about school, but these kids travel for hours one way just to get there.
Tonight, we got to hear the stories of our translators, who are in charge of Sweet Sleep over here, Josephine and Jennifer. They both grew up with practically nothing and their situations are like the kids we are giving mats to, without their parents. These kids came today, and we knew they came from bad situations or might be sick, but we were given some insight into these kids lives.

Tomorrow, I’ll just be able to love those kids 100,000 times more than I did today. It amazes me at how willing they are to just come up to you and talk to you, or give you a hug. They all want to see the skin color difference. There was one little girl and she just wanted to keep touching my hand. That in itself was just amazing, because they might not have seen or spent much time around a white person. Coming to them was such a huge deal. They kept telling us that it was such an honor for them to have us come, but it was actually the other way around. It was an honor for me just to be in their presence and share with them, share God’s love with them.

I really don’t have much more to say, but if you ever have an opportunity to come, take it. Seven months ago I started dreaming about this and I knew God was calling me to go, but I didn’t think I would get the opportunity. What are the chances that a 17 year old from Olney, Texas would to get to go to Uganda? It’s just amazing to get to come here and touch the people physically and spiritually. I just can’t get over their smiles. Their pearlie-whites just shine so bright and at first they are apprehensive, but you wave or smile and their faces just light up.

Going back home will definitely different. I will have a new perspective on life and I for sure will not take things for granted, like a toilet.  My day was just amazing and I just give God the glory. He’s blessing me way more than I could ever think about blessing the people.

 Cayleigh Little

Celebrating 3 years in Uganda!

Yesterday marked the 3 year anniversary of Sweet Sleep in Uganda, can you believe it?!  It’s hard to comprehend the immense blessings that have spanned over our time there and how a team just so happens to be there right now sharing the love of Jesus Christ!  

Josephine, our national director of Uganda shared how special her time serving with Sweet Sleep has been, especially with the joy of having another team there on the 3 year birthday!  

“It was on the 21st of July 2009 when our first Sweet Sleep team of 22 members came and changed the sleeping condition of 260 children in Uganda.  What a blessing! Since then, so many children have really been blessed and have sweet safe nights. On the same date and month, God has yet blessed us with another incredible Sweet Sleep team of 16 members to continue blessing and changing the sleeping conditions of the so many children.”

Over this time Sweet Sleep has sent 5 teams to Kampala and 5 more teams to Gulu.  During those journeys there have been over 3,500 beds distributed in Uganda, and praise the Lord for that!  Not only were beds distributed, but nearly 10,000 children and villagers have been ministered to along the way.  

The benefits are not only a good night’s sleep, but in the Kampala orphanages where Sweet Sleep has provided beds and nets, malaria has decreased due to the life-saving mosquito nets! One orphanage reports that with the money they save in the treatment of malaria they are able to provide meat and fruit to their children once a week.  In Gulu, the provision of beds has

Currently Sweet Sleep is partnering with Health Alert Uganda, an organization that provides anti-retroviral drugs to HIV+ children.  The beds Sweet Sleep provides to these children protect them from opportunistic diseases such as malaria and pneumonia. But not only that, because of the desire to receive a bed, over 1000 children living in secret with HIV have come out of hiding, to register with HAU.  Those children are now receiving the medial care and drugs they need.  And since early this year Sweet Sleep has provided a mosquito net to every new registrant, so that they will be protected until we can return with their complete bed!

Of course these children also receive their own Bible!  When asked, the children often tell us the Bible is their favorite part of their gift.  "It tells me how to live" one girl once told me.  Our partners in HAU have told us "Before, the only escape these [HIV+] children had from the disease was death.  Now they know they have LIFE in CHRIST."

Josephine had some more sweet words about Sweet Sleep’s birthday in Uganda.  “On this memorable Sweet Sleep UGANDA Birthday, we extend our sincere appreciation and thanks to all our Sweet Sleep teams and supporters who have continued to touch the hearts of our beloved children through the provision of the beds, beddings, life-saving mosquito nets and bibles. You have always made us feel proud and we will always remember you all.” 

As we celebrate today, with 3 years in Uganda, please keep this team that is currently there in your thoughts and prayers.  Pray for safety, opportunities to form new relationships, for the love of Jesus Christ to be what shines through this team, and for those children to feel His love as they climb into their new Sweet Sleep beds.  

Thank you again for making this possible, and be sure to continue keeping up with the team through our facebook (linked) page and through our blog.   The team is now in Gulu and we’ll be sure to keep you posted on what’s next for them!

Sweetly,

Jen

By The Numbers

8,500 miles – Olney, Texas to Kampala, Uganda
18:45 Hours in the air, 3:45 hours on the ground, 22:30 hours total
3 different planes
4 different countries
3 continents
16 people-7 men, 2 women, 7 teens
14 days
Hundreds of mattresses
Thousands of children
1 orphanage
Dozens of Bunk beds

From a town of 3,000 people, to cities of 150,000 (Gulu) and 1.5 million (Kampala)
Texas – 268,568 sq. miles, Uganda – 91,136 sq. miles

$3,400 per person cost of trip
$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.

Life expectancy – Uganda 54, US 78
Estimated population living with HIV/AIDS – 1.2 million in Uganda (150,000 under the age of 15), 1.2 million in US (10,769 under the age of 15)
Under 17, orphaned due to AIDS – 1.2 million in Uganda, no numbers even reported in US
Under 17, orphaned by all causes 2.7million in Uganda, 2.1 million in US

49% of the country’s population is under the age of 15, and of that, 20% live in orphanages. Uganda has the highest proportion of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS worldwide.

What can we expect to give to the people we come in contact with?  What we can give them is LOVE… being the hands and feet of Jesus. Introduce them to Him. Share our relationship and experiences with Jesus with them, and help them develop a deeper understanding and relationship with Jesus. We can give them hugs, smiles, laughter, games, crafts, Bible stories, testimonies, devotions… We can give them a bed, a Sweet Sleep… a Bible, a mosquito net and a mattress.

We depart Texas today,  July 20th, and we ask y’all to pray for us daily while we are gone. We’ll be posting updates, photos and videos daily. Without your prayers and financial support, this trip would not even be possible. We feel such peace and power in the midst of our preparations. Thank you, and please keep it up. Feel free to respond on our Facebook page ( FBC Olney Sweet Sleep Mission Trip Facebook Page ) with words of encouragement to us.                                                                                ~ By Spencer Key

Small Town Fundraising

When we began planning our trip in December 2011, we knew that fundraising would need to be a priority. Throughout the last six months, our team has been involved in a variety of activities to help make this journey possible financially. We have truly been blessed continually by the support of our families, friends, church, and community.

The following is a list of ways our team was able to raise the money to send 16 individuals to minister in Uganda and to have the ability to provide over 665 beds to children.

Cake Ball Fundraiser – We sold over 5600 cake balls (which is almost 2 cake balls per person in the city of Olney) for Valentine’s Day.

Bottles for Beds – We provided over 30, 1 gallon, bottles of water to church families for them to drink and then fill with coins over four months.

Crockpot Lunch

Crockpot Lunch

Crockpot Lunch Fundraiser – We asked church members to bring crockpot meals and side dishes for a lunch after church at a cost of $5/person, and we then placed buckets in front of each crockpot so that members could “cast their vote” for their favorite dish by placing money in the buckets.

Scentsy Fundraiser – Team members sold Scentsy items, such as wickless candles, in person and online.

Baked Potato Lunch Fundraiser and Blankets for Beds Silent Auction – We provided a baked potato lunch, including salad, baked potatoes with all the toppings, dessert, and a drink for $5/person. We then held a silent auction for handmade blankets and quilts provided by church members.

Garage Sale – We held a garage sale in our church parking lot of items donated by church members.

Scrap Metal Collection – We picked up scrap metal donations and sold them to a collection center.

Mission Journey Support Letters – We mailed these to family and friends seeking their financial support.

Extra Jobs – We had several church and team members take on an extra job or two to raise money by mowing yards, cooking weekday meals for families, detailing vehicles, selling items such as Pampered Chef, and working for local businesses and organizations in Olney.

Donations – We have been blessed to receive contributions from individuals who have been committed to giving to the mission trip over the past six months.

As we planned and prepared for this journey, we wanted to ensure that everyone who helped provide for us financially through the above and through prayer felt that this was their mission trip. We cannot put into words how much we appreciate all that has been done to help our team financially. It has been amazing to see everyone come together to support us through finances and prayer. Thank you to everyone who has been such a vital part of this journey.

                                                                                    In Christ, Renee Russell

If you have helped raise funding for a trip in a creative way, we want to know all about it!  Email us at Stephanie@sweetsleep.org w/ your experience or ideas!

Community Support

As we have been preparing for our Sweet Sleep mission journey to Uganda, the team members have been overwhelmed by the support received from our community of just over 3,000 people. From co-workers, friends, and family, the outpouring has been tremendous. Our community has a long and strong history of pitching in to help. When community members experience a major illness, blood or bone marrow drives have been conducted. When fires or accidents devastate a family, arms encircle them in their time of need.

Being in a small town, people and businesses are constantly bombarded with requests to help out financially for community organizations, school groups, athletic groups, youth groups, church camps, etc. It seems that everyone gets the request to give money or buy something many times each year, and they generally will respond in the affirmative. When it came to fundraising for this trip, people graciously chipped in to help make this trip possible.

Our community has also been providing support in many other ways as well: Having friends and co-workers offer up prayers and sharing words of encouragement; Having them ask about the trip preparations, those we will be ministering to, even about the shots required for the trip; Having a boss or supervisor tell you not to worry about a thing while you’re gone. Also, we have truly been blessed with notes of encouragement, wall posts on our FBC Olney Sweet Sleep Mission Trip Facebook Page, and phone calls.

Being from a small town, we have grown accustomed to seeing such examples of community support. Regardless of the need, caring hearts and able hands have stood ready to step up and help out. We try not to take this support for granted.

There will only be 16 of us physically present in Uganda for two weeks, but hundreds more will have been supporting us for the many months leading up to the trip, and during the trip itself. We will be an extension of each of them, being Christ’s hands and feet to the children of Uganda, helping them have sweet sleep.

Thank you, for the ways that you have supported, and will continue to support us. 

-Spencer Key