A bed for every head

          As you read this paragraph, three children become orphans worldwide. An orphan is a child whose parents have died or have been abandoned by their family, because they cannot provide for them. These children are left on their own to survive.

Every day about 5,760 children become orphans, adding to the 153 million orphans worldwide. These substantial numbers (reported by the non-profit organization Sweet Sleep) are made even more tragic by knowing that most of these orphans do not have anyone to rely on and have no hope. Precious children have to hide in secret because of a stigma against orphans who are abused and HIV positive. Sweet Sleep, on a recent trip to Uganda to provide beds for orphans, drew 2,000 of these children out of hiding.

           Image by Sweet Sleep
Sweet Sleep's logo and motto.

“A Bed for Every Head” is the motto of Sweet Sleep. They are reaching out to the orphans who sleep in filthy conditions or who have no place to sleep at all. The beds that are provided by Sweet Sleep are catalysts to impact and change the orphans’ lives and get them back into good families, said Jen Gash, president and founder of Sweet Sleep.

The children who live in orphanages are not all orphans. According to Sweet Sleep, 80 to 90 percent of children living in orphanages actually have parents. These children are called social orphans. The orphanages that they live in are not necessarily better, because of poor conditions and no one to genuinely love and care for them. Abandoned children desire to have a safe place to sleep.

  

                                    Photo provided by Sweet Sleep
The beds before and after Sweet Sleep provided
new beds and mosquito nets to these three girls in Uganda.

            Not only does Sweet Sleep provide beds, they also provide mosquito nets, teach malaria prevention and how to care for the sick, and most importantly they provide Bibles and the love of Christ. Gash said that God gave the idea for this ministry to her ten years ago on the way home from a mission trip in Moldova, when He burdened her heart for the 153 million orphans who needed a place to sleep.

            “During our team meeting, someone prayed for the kids to have sweet sleep,” said Gash. “On the plane ride home, I knew that God brought me here for more than just a trip. I opened my Bible and it fell open to Proverbs 3:24, ‘When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.’”

                                   Photo provided by Sweet Sleep
Children have to sleep on filthy beds like this in orphanages in Moldova.

            This short mission trip to Moldova started a domino effect of trips around the world to provide love and care to orphans. For ten years, Sweet Sleep has provided over 20,000 beds for children in the United States and eight other countries in Europe, Central East Africa, and the Caribbean.

Biblically, it’s the churches responsibility to take care of the widows and orphans. Churches have more resources than any other non-profit organization to do this. The church needs to step up and obey God’s command to care for the little children and bring them up in the way of the Lord.

The church can be more intentional to support orphans by working with partners such as Sweet Sleep and social services. According to Gash, churches in Eastern Europe have been obedient in answering God’s call to give kids’ homes and families.

“In January 2013, Sweet Sleep launched a new ministry initiative called Heart for One,” said Gash. “This initiative embraces indigenous programs which provide integrated social services toward children and families so that the family is strengthened and empowered in a way they can provide loving and sustainable homes for the children they have and the children that they will foster or adopt.”

The orphan crisis is changing society. Millions of children with great potential never reach their potential, because no one is giving them the chance. Sweet Sleep can make a difference in these children’s lives with your help.

                             Photo provided by Sweet Sleep
Madelene Metcalf and Jen Gash are the founders of Sweet Sleep.

            Sweet Sleep has many opportunities for people to help them in their endeavor. Going on trips to hand out the beds to children; giving money which goes directly to providing beds, mosquito nets, and other supplies; and praying for Sweet Sleep. Discover how you can get involved and help Sweet Sleep change the lives of children by going to www.SweetSleep.org for more information.

           Children who have a safe place to sleep at night and perhaps even a family through the new beginnings of Heart for One have a better chance of succeeding in this harsh world. By helping Sweet Sleep combat the night time horrors and giving orphaned children the hope of Christ, you are helping a small child not only in this short world, but also in eternity.

“Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these,’” Luke 18:16.