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!
Monday, July 25, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
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?
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?
Sunday, July 17, 2011
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
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
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