Telling their Stories

Re-entering Nashville each year that I come back from Uganda is tough. I find myself missing the joy the people have...the wonderful dependence on God....and the community between each other. It's hard to understand how our country got so far removed from that. Leaving the children behind is one of the hardest things anyone will ever do...the kids in Uganda are so incredibly sweet. I never want to make a promise to them that I cannot keep...but the promises I can make them are that I will pray for them and I will share their stories. Each child has a story, has hopes, and dreams.

This year in particular I was inspired by Pastor Alex at the Good Samaritan Home. He has such vision for the children in his home. We believes in each one of them. He wants to know their dreams, and he wants to help them achieve it. As the week continued, we were so blessed to develop relationships with the children. We learned that they dreamed of going on to high school...to college...and on into careers. The children want to  be teachers...doctors...lawyers...pilots...social workers...and more. They dream just like each child does here in America. Their hopes are like our hopes...their God is our God. Their future can be just like our future.

I'm encouraged by these thoughts each year. I too have joined in with Pastor Alex in seeing Uganda's future. I am so excited and hope that God opens doors for me to continue to be a part of it. I want to be open and willing to go and do whatever He calls me to do. As I re-enter Nashville life, I want to remember each one of the children's dreams and hopes. I want to commit to praying for them, and that they will have the opportunities to fulfill their dreams. I think one of my favorite things about God is how big He is! I cannot wait to see how Uganda's future unfolds.

My hope for this year is to never forget, to feel passion for the children of the country as if I see them daily. Trying to live in today's world unselfishly is hard; I'm scared as I get back into my "routine" I'm going to just focus on me again. But I have the stories of the kids, I have the pictures, and I have the memories. I'm going to keep sharing...I'm going to try to keep going...and most importantly I'm going to keep praying. I know God can totally do it without me, but I hope to be a part of it in some small way :)

God is Sufficient

      For the past three years I have been blessed with the opportunity to come to Uganda. I am always excited to get into the country to spend time with the children here. This year was just the same; I could not wait to see the smiling faces of the kids and to have the opportunity to give them beds. Although I know that God is constantly moving and stretching us in our lives, I can never predict where He will take these trips. He provides opportunities for us to meet new people, see Christ in others, learn new things, and be humbled as well. This trip was no different.

       My team is full of some of the most incredible people I have ever met. People that are outgoing, reserved, teachers, leaders, creative, spiritual, and more things than I can begin to name. Each of them has unselfishly brought their gifts and talents that God has blessed them with and laid them down to be used according to His purpose. There have been times of joy when we were able to provide for a child’s needs, and there have been times of heart ache when we have not.

        Today was a day when heart ache was felt by many of our team members. We met a child with a need that at the time we could not meet. He was older and well spoken, frustrated and confused by God. He loves the Lord, but he cannot understand why some children’s needs are met when he also has prayed. He shared that he felt God had delayed His answer. My heart broke for him. Josephine spoke such words of wisdom to him; they were truly words from God. She spoke with him about how he is also special to God, and that God had not delayed his support, but that God’s timing is perfect. She encouraged him to never doubt God’s timing, but know that the Lord is looking down on him always.

        It’s days like these when I think back to all the times I have questioned God on why not now? Why not soon? My needs that I often question are so trivial. They are not life threatening…they have nothing to do with my health…they are selfish, yet I find myself frustrated or sad when I pray consistently for them. The boy, Francis, made me speechless today. God’s plan for this trip for me was far greater than I could have imagined. I am thankful that God continues to break me and humble me…I am nothing without Him. I should never question His timing just as Josephine assured the boy Francis that God would meet his needs, so should I be confident in God’s plan for my life.

            I can say with much joy that my team members have joined together to work on meeting Francis’ needs. They will be met soon in the future. I hate that it had to take Francis’ heart ache and confusion to make the picture clear for me. God is sufficient. He is all-knowing. He is love.

           Speaking with Francis today just continues to make me more aware of the needs here in Uganda. There are always children in need, and my heart want to somehow help all of them. I know that is not possible, but I know that God is also moving in this country. If any of this moves your heart, please pray about how God can use your for this country. Thank you for all your prayers this week. Our team has had such a sweet time with the children. The children’s blind and never failing faith has caused all of us to grow. I can only pray that this fire God has once again lit in my life will not be extinguished by my life back in Nashville. Tomorrow we will go to the Good Samaritan Home one last time to shower the children with a birthday party. Oh how they deserve this. Some probably have never celebrated their birthdays before or maybe not even know when theirs is. It will be a time for laughter and joy. Please pray that the gifts will be like the fishes and loaves, and that each child will get something that makes them feel unique. Pray that they will understand though we leave tomorrow, God never leaves them. Pray that somehow we can continue to meet the needs of Uganda and also empower them through this. Thank you.

Hope for Uganda

Each year that I am blessed with the opportunity to come back to Uganda, I am overwhelmed with the amount of joy that is found in each of the citizens. Today was the wonderful bed delivery day. As we begin putting the beds into the rooms, the new owners of the beds lined up excitedly outside the doors. I could hear them singing “We are so happy! We are so happy!” It is such an overwhelming gift to be a part of this day. This year we were able to distribute 120 beds within the Good Samaritan Home. These beds not only mean a clean place for these children, but they also represent hope…hope in a new future, hope for physical wellness and rest, hope for promises made. These beds not only allow the children to sleep, but the nets give them protection from malaria and the blankets remind them of Jesus’ arms surrounding them. Thank you to each one of you who donated to this journey. Your gifts can never be measured. The more time I spend learning about the country and visiting the country, I learn more about the resilience of these people. My love for our work here comes from the hope and empowerment we seem to be giving them. The people have felt defeated for so long. Whether it is due to civil wars, struggling governments, or simply not coexisting well, they have been broken for quite some time. The ministry of Sweet Sleep not only provides a physical need, but the gift of empowerment as well. My hope and prayer for this country has always been empowerment and sustainability. I hope to somehow be a small part of bringing the country back together. My favorite part of the day has to be my time spent with Apostle Alex Mitala. He is the founder of the Good Samaritan Home. His passion for his country is contagious. He shared with us that he also hopes so much for this country to become independent again, to be strong, and to produce leaders. In the Good Samaritan Home, they strive not just to educate but to teach the students how to transform into the leaders they can be. He teaches five core beliefs to the students: Jesus in me, the Holy Spirit in me, the Word of God in me, education in my head, and money in my pocket. With these five beliefs, he is investing in them as people. Apostle Alex knows that many of his students will go on to be great leaders in Uganda, perhaps even a President. His hope in their country today was such an emotional experience for me. It is truly my hope for them as well. I ask you today that you will join me in prayer for this country. Pray for transformation of the government and of the people. I pray for Apostle Alex as he not only instills these values in the children at Good Samaritan Home, but also as he travels the country to instill this in other pastors and leaders. Pray that his ministry will catch on fire and that all will value their citizens and empower them. Pray for the 20 students that have graduated from Good Samaritan Home and are now in vocational school. I feel God’s hands on these people, and I believe their future is optimistic. Thank you for joining me in these prayers. I’ll leave today with a fun memory. I met a little boy named Shadrak. He was precious and is a wonderful example of the simple joy possessed by all. Here are a few pictures of us!

Team Strengths Shine! To God Be The Glory :)

When you look up the word Africa in the dictionary, the first definition should be "all who come visit should be very laid back". This is not necessarily a good definition for my personality but the Lord is teaching me this currently :) With lots of prayers from many people in many countries, the Indiana team arrived this morning at 9 am! Yay! They came to meet us at the orphanage this afternoon.

Although this morning we awoke with an unsure plan and pretty much no recreation equipment or craft supplies, we had a great morning prayer time. As a team, we shared some great things we had seen the day before...the children's love for the Lord as well as the true joy on their faces from just being around us. So we a prayed for strength and the "loaves and fish" prayer for entertainment ideas and headed out this morning.

It was SUCH a wonderful experience!! The children were so receptive to anything and everything. We told the story of Peter and walking on the water. The children of all ages are so excited to hear the Word. It is such a humbling experience to see a child with scripture burned into their heart... How they hold on to it and truly make it their life. They shared recreational games that are common to them, it was a great learning exprience. They find such entertainment in the simplest games. I LOVE it!

Tomorrow is our big day...we will have the bed distributions. The dormority rooms are approximately 20 by 25 feet and 36 children are sleeping in them sharing worn and very soiled mattresses. Tomorrow we get the unbelievable privilege of getting to give them new beds and deliver an awesome message. Sweet Sleep's beds represent God's love for them...as they pull up the blanket each night so are God's arms wrapping around them. We are able to also give them a Bible which represents spiritual rest. Some of these children come from broken homes or from no parents at all....to be able to reassure them that God has not forgotten them and will always protect them is huge!

Finally, we pick our last two team members tonight at midnight. Please pray for rejuvenated spirits and lots of energy!! We can't wait to spend time with the children :) God is so good!

Gulu's Heartache & The Lord's Strength

The past week has been such a rush of emotions that it is hard to find words to express them. Our Gulu team has now left headed home to the states forever changed. There are so many things I'd like to share but I will try to pick a few.

Gulu, Uganda is continuing to rebuild after a horrific in country war that last 20 plus years. The people have so little but are so resilient. Our team spent time traveling to various villages or to centers to distribute beds, mosquito nets, blankets, and Bibles. This particular week's mission was to partner with children who had AIDS. Sometimes the children and mothers or care givers had walked long distances, and all of them had sat on the ground patiently for hours and hours waiting for the opportunity to own a precious possession. 

The kind of poverty that is seen is nothing like I can describe, but the joy that each of the children showed when their name was called was amazing. Each distribution was both happy and sorrowful as we saw so many that had been waiting for a bed even though their name was not on the list. It's hard to see faces of desperate caregivers that only want to better their child's life. These caretakers will try again and again to seek rest for the children, both with a physical bed and a Bible for spiritual rest. 

On Wednesday night, we had the privilege of eating dinner with several children who received beds in November. In particular, a boy named Francis's story touched all of our hearts. His parents were killed during the war and his grandmother could not afford to take care of him. He wandered in his own until a woman took him in. I cannot fathom a child alone in Africa wandering for survival. His caregiver made contact with Sweet Sleep and Francis now something to call his own....a Bible of his own to worship with. Francis is a very grateful and humble boy...he's quiet and somber. After spending time with him at dinner, we began to teach him the hand motions of "double double this this double double that that...etc" ring any bells? The light from Francis's smile was enough to melt our whole team's heart. As I remember Francis, I will remember him with admiration...his determination for survival and love for the Lord is like no other. 

On Thursday, we visited the government hospital. They did not have mosquito nets on any of their beds. The conditions of the hospital were overwhelming....what should be a sterile, healing environment was one of dirt and disease. Families sat in the floor with babies....dehydrated, hungry, and exhausted. Some had been there for days while others weeks. When asked if the children were getting better from the malaria...most answered no. Stella, who works for Health Alert, shared that most government hospitals do not have the funding for medicine to actually heal malaria but instead can only treat the symptoms...these people have no where else to go so they come here. To conditions that most of us couldn't even stand when completely healthy. Sweet Sleep was able To provide nets for all of the children's beds in the hospital to help prevent malaria from reoccurring during tees families' stays. 

There are so many more stories I could share...of the tired and worn down faces of grandmothers or precious and sick babies....but in all of their hearts is a fight...a fight for life, for the Lord, and for their family. They may not have many worldly possession, but they know what the most important things are in their lives.

Psalms 9:9-10 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you Lord her never forsaken those who seek you.
V 18 but the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.

As we start our second week, I have many prayer requests. Please pray for our Gulu team and safe travel home...that they will take back the urgency ofthe needs and that people will be ready to listen. Please pray for our Kampala team as we start this week's journey. Half the team was delayed and I know are frustrated. The other part will be traveling to the orphanage to spend time in worship with the kids. Pray for strength :) Above all, please pray for the people of Gulu, their strength, health, yearning for the Lord and their peace. 

For Liberty...

Gulu is a part of Uganda that has such needs. Sweet Sleep has had a wonderful opportunity to partner with an organization called Health Alert. Health Alert supports orphans with AIDS. W learned today that their list currently is 2,510 children. We've had the amazing opportunity to give some of these children beds, mats, nets, and Bibles. 

On Monday, we arrived to a village outside of Gulu. The people were so excited to see us coming. It's such an overwhelming feeling to know people have such needs they will wait for hours for the arrival. After introductions and education, we began to distribute the beds. As we neared the end, we noticed that we had one bed left over...since beds and Bibles are so preciously counted we knew there was not a mistake. Quickly, we learned that a sweet 8 year old girl named Liberty had passed away the day before we got there from malaria. This news that Liberty passed away from a treatable and preventable disease is truly heart wrenching. 

Over the next week and a half, Sweet Sleep has the opportunity to distribute more mosquito nets to help prevent such a young death like Liberty's. Will you help be a part of this? Only $8 will help save a child's life. We need your help...go to www.sweetsleep.org  to donate a net today (add the word net in the memo) Who's going to be the first? 

Arrival in Africa!

How great is our God! Anytime anyone travels overseas and for long journeys...things inevitably go wrong or are made difficult. The Lord was with us the whole journey and we have all arrived safely with only a few bumps is the road. Every time I visit Africa, I am reminded just how truly wonderful the Lord is. We had the privledge of visiting Africa Greater Life (an orphanage previously visited by Sweet Sleep). The children show such true joy. It is such a wonderful feeling to be surrounded in true bliss and dependence on God. I am thankful that as a team we were able to spend our Sunday morning with these children who have had beds provided by Sweet Sleep. Seeing the difference it has made just makes our journey even more real.

After a long 6 plus road trip we have arrived in Gulu! I ask for you to join our team in prayers for the travel and the wonderful children we will meet this week. Please pray for their health, spirits, and comfort. I also ask that you will pray that we are courageous ithe Lord and seek every opportunity to serve Him while we are here! Thank you so much for your support.

Sweet Sleep,
Amanda Calhoun