Upcoming Mission Journeys
Orhei/Ivancea, Moldova
March 7-15, 2009
Cost Approx: $2600
Informational Meeting
Tuesday, January 6th
Brentwood Baptist Brentwood,
Tennessee
Applications and $500 non-refundable deposit due January
19th.
Join us as we return to Orhei to complete our mission of providing beds for the handicapped boys in Orhei's "Casa de Copii." Our
trip to Orhei last March was amazing. To watch a video about this trip and these boys who desperately need new beds, click here.
We'll also be providing 100 new beds for the children living in Ivancea's special needs
orphanage. These children have problems with their hands, feet and joints, arthritis, and cardiovascular/cicrulatory problems. These boys and girls
are so sweet and can't wait to get their new beds!
Cupcini, Moldova
May 22-31, 2009 Cost Approx: $2600
Spend your Memorial Day with the orphaned children of Cupcini, Moldova. This
orphanage in northern Moldova is home to 100 children ages 6-16 whose beds are some of the worst we've seen in this country.
On this mission journey we'll build new beds for these children, possibly
teach in the classrooms, and lead the children in worship and Bible study this last week of the Moldovan school year.
Africa
July 15-26, 2009 Cost Approx: $3500
Trailblaze with us: join Sweet Sleep's first trip to Africa! Sweet Sleep is
currently evaluating the needs of orphanages in Uganda, Kenya, Central African Republic, Ethiopia and Sudan and will announce information about our
project, slated for next July, soon.
Mark your calendars!
Our Mission
Sweet Sleep exists to share God's love by providing beds to the world's orphaned and
abandoned children.
Sweet Sleep is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
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From Jen's Pen
Last week, I had the privilege of leading our staff team on a praying and
planning retreat in Townsend, Tennessee (thanks to a wonderfully generous friend of Sweet Sleep that let us use their family cabin!). It's definitely
fall and the trees in East Tennessee were turning, the air was brisk - it was a wonderful time to get
away and focus on God's plans for this coming year of ministry. We are so excited about the goal God has called us to of providing 1,000 beds for
orphans this year!
I keep hearing cold weather is on the way and I
see reminders everywhere that Christmas is just around the corner! I hope you
will consider giving the gift of Sweet Sleep in honor or memory of your loved ones this holiday season. Read on for more information about how you
can
make this Christmas special and give gifts that make a difference.
We have a profound task ahead of us and we need your help. I can't tell you
enough how thankful I am for your support of our ministry. We
couldn't help the children we serve around the world without you!
Sweetly,
jen
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The Sweet Sleep Staff: (left to right) Jason, Jen, Jon and Stuart have been
praying and seeking
God's plans for Sweet Sleep in the coming year. How will God use you to impact the lives of orphaned and abandoned children? Find out how you can get
involved at www.sweetsleep.org.
P.S. As you
gather together with family and friends these next couple months,
consider taking
a few moments to pray for the world's 210 million orphaned and
abandoned children who only dream of spending time with a family. If
you love to lift
up these children in prayer, sign up for our prayer e-mails by editing
your information here ore-mail jon@sweetsleep.org.
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Sweet Sleep Joins
Christian Alliance for Orphans
Sweet Sleep is excited to announce their membership in the Christian Alliance for
Orphans (CAFO)! This alliance is a group of Christian organizations and churches that are joining voices to make caring for every orphan a reality.
Alliance
members include organizations and ministries in the 3 components of orphan care: adoption, foster care and international orphan care. Members
of
the Alliance include: Bethany Christian Services, Buckner International, Vision Trust International, Orphanos, Saddleback Church and
Shaohannah's Hope. Through this Alliance, we pray God will strengthen our ministry to the world's 210 million orphaned and abandoned children.
For
more information about the Alliance, visit www.christianalliancefororphans.org.
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GIVE THE GIFT OF SWEET SLEEP THIS CHRISTMAS
It's time to pull that money out of your mattress and put it into another. This
Christmas, you have the opportunity to change the life of a child by giving the gift of Sweet Sleep.
When you give your tax-deductible gift to Sweet Sleep this Christmas, in honor or memory
of someone you love, you help replace a child's old, broken and soiled bed with a beautiful new Sweet Sleep bed. These new beds have a solid wooden
frame, a brand new mattress, a fluffy pillow, comfy sheets and a cozy comforter.
HOW YOU CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN:
Go to www.sweetsleep.org/donate. When you
make your gift to Sweet Sleep, let us know who you are honoring or remembering with your gift, and we'll send a special holiday certificate letting
that special someone know about your gift.
$20 provides one pillow and vinyl pillow cover
$50 provides one set of sheets and a comforter
$80 provides one mattress and vinyl cover
$100 provides one new bed frame
$250 provides one complete Sweet Sleep bed
$3000 fills an entire room in a Third World orphanage with new beds!
Visit www.sweetsleep.org/donate now to Give the Gift of Sweet Sleep.
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Save yourself from shopping, wrapping and mailing. Give the Gift of Sweet Sleep to your grandparents, aunts, uncles, parents,
co-workers, teachers, neighbors, ministers - anyone on your list!
The Gift of Sweet Sleep is also a great way to honor employees, vendors or clients!
Please also consider giving to Sweet Sleep for your year-end tax-deductible giving.
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Sweet Sleep's first Artist Partner,
Dora Pop, travels the country sharing her story in song and telling the stories of orphaned and abandoned children. Find out more about Dora and her
ministry here.
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Sweet Sleep Launches
Artist Partnership Program
Sweet Sleep is proud to announce the launch of their Artist Partnership Program and their
first artist partner, Southern Gospel Recording Artist Dora Pop!
Sweet Sleep is building a roster of artist partners who will tell the stories of the
world's orphaned and abandoned children while on the road.
If you know of an artist that would like to partner with Sweet Sleep and raise awareness
about orphans and their need to sleep sweetly, e-mail jon@sweetsleep.org.
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WHY WE GIVE
Periodically, we like to introduce you to friends of Sweet Sleep who
financially support our ministry to orphaned and abandoned children. Meet our friends, Ken and Sonya Rucker, and hear why they give
to Sweet Sleep.
There is one major reason we feel led to support this ministry. We give
because it is the only ministry that has moved my husband to tears.
When Ken first heard about this ministry, it was evident that the Lord was
speaking to his heart. One of his co-workers, Carol Bedi, shared with Ken about her son, Tim, who was in Moldova to help build beds for the children
living in an orphanage. When Ken read Tim's blog, he was touched by his stories and by the children. After showing me the Sweet Sleep website and
Tim's blog, it moved me too. It was hard for us to believe the conditions that these children lived in, and while we could not go there and
bring
those children home with us, the next best thing was to give to Sweet Sleep so Jen and others could go and take a little bit of home there.
A couple of years ago, Jen presented us with the most beautiful gift we could
have ever received -- a beautifully framed picture of boys and girls that we have helped through our giving. They were smiling and holding signs that
said "Thank You Ken and Sonya". That picture now hangs proudly in our home. Every time we walk by, it is a reminder of the ministry that God has
called
us to. Thank you Jen and Sweet Sleep for letting us share in this wonderful ministry. God bless!
Love in Christ,
Ken and Sonya Rucker
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From the Heart
Orphans living in the orphanage in Falesti thank Ken and Sonya for their new
Sweet Sleep beds. Because of the faithful giving of Ken and Sonya Rucker and other friends of Sweet Sleep, nearly 2,000 Moldovan orphans have
received
new beds.
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