Author Archive

Join Us in Welcoming and Praying for Our New Chaplain 🙏

Posted: October 14, 2025 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa, People of Egbe, Prayer
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🌿 A New Chapter of Spiritual Growth at CARE Africa

We are overjoyed to share that CARE Africa has welcomed its first-ever full-time Chaplain!

This is a brand-new position and a huge step in fulfilling our mission to nurture both the minds and hearts of the children and staff we serve.

Having a Chaplain on staff 24/7 allows us to pour into our students, teachers, and caregivers with intentional discipleship, prayer, and spiritual care — something we have dreamed of for years.

🎥 Watch a Message from Our Chaplain ➜ 

✨ His Mission

Our Chaplain’s ministry centers on evangelism and discipleship, leading programs such as:

  • Morning Devotions to start each day grounded in God’s presence.
  • Weekly Kids’ Discipleship Classes that teach biblical truths in practical ways.
  • Staff Fellowships and Monthly Prayer Gatherings that strengthen unity and faith.
  • AWANA & Bible Bowl Programs that help students memorize and live out Scripture.
  • Community Evangelism to share Christ’s love in Egbe and surrounding villages.

Through these programs, we pray that every child and staff member will grow in their faith and live as shining lights for Christ in their homes and communities.

🙏 How You Can Partner in Prayer

We are asking for your prayers as our Chaplain steps into this new full-time role:

  • Pray for wisdom, endurance, and anointing as he ministers daily to our children and staff.
  • Pray for fruitful outreach as he leads evangelism efforts throughout the community.
  • Pray for God to bring the right person to mentor and walk alongside him.

We are specifically looking for a Pastor or Chaplain in the U.S. who would be willing to meet with him once a month via video call — to pray with him, encourage him, and offer guidance as he grows in this important leadership role.

If you or someone you know would be interested in this meaningful partnership, please reply to this email or contact us through our website.

🌍 Standing Together in Faith

Your prayers and encouragement are the heartbeat of this ministry. We are deeply grateful for your ongoing support as we continue to see God’s hand at work in Egbe — transforming lives, restoring hope, and building His Kingdom.

🌟 Meet the Principal Behind Foundations Academy’s Success! 

Posted: September 24, 2025 by Patrice Miles in African School, C.A.R.E. Africa, Nigeria, Orphans, People of Egbe
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At C.A.R.E. Africa, we know that strong leadership changes everything. That’s why we’re excited to introduce you to the heart behind our school in Egbe, Nigeria—our incredible Principal at Foundations Academy.

In this short video, you’ll see:

  • 🌱 Her passion for empowering the next generation through education and faith.
  • 📚 How her vision is creating lasting change in the community.
  • 💛 The difference your support makes every single day.

Your partnership allows us to provide quality education, mentorship, and resources that open doors for children to dream bigger and achieve more.

👉 Watch the Video Now: https://youtu.be/5roOjvVSFUw

Thank you for standing with us to build brighter futures—one child, one classroom, one dream at a time.

The Basilica We Are Building

Posted: August 15, 2025 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa, Child Sponsorship, Egbe Nigeria, Empowerment, Miles In Missions, Nigeria, Orphans, Patrice Miles, People of Egbe, Prayer, Sponsorship
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Years ago, my family and I were blessed with the opportunity to travel to Italy. One of the most awe-inspiring experiences of that trip was standing inside St. Peter’s Basilica. As I wandered through its vast, intricate beauty, I found myself captivated not just by the architecture, but by the story behind it. The dream that brought it into being.

Who were the people who dreamed this into existence? Who envisioned something so grand, so detailed, and so enduring, centuries ago? Who were the ones who labored to bring it to life without the technology or equipment we so often take for granted?

St. Peter’s Basilica took over 120 years to build. Generations of artisans and laborers worked on something they would never live to see completed. Imagine being a stonecutter or carpenter, spending your entire life working on a project you knew you’d never fully witness. Yet still, you show up, day after day, faithful to a vision passed down from dreamers.

A basilica like this stands as a testament to the very best of us. Our creativity, devotion, craftsmanship, patience, and perseverance. But more than that, it’s a testimony to the power of a dream and the people who believe in it. For every cornerstone laid, there was a dreamer behind it.

Someone imagined the sanctuary. Someone else found the stone. Another drew the first sketches. And then a multitude of hands joined in hauling, carving, sewing, raising money, and pounding nails, carrying the dream forward.

Most of them probably didn’t see themselves as anything extraordinary. They might have simply said, “I’m just a blacksmith,” or “I’m only a seamstress.” But if you asked God, I suspect He’d call them dreamers and builders of sacred things.

It makes me wonder: How many teachers, nurses, parents, farmers, or small business owners are doing the very work of Christ without realizing it? We don’t often think of our daily work, our spreadsheets, our caregiving, our meal prep, our customer service as sacred. Yet Scripture reminds us otherwise.

In a letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul described a spiritual dwelling being built among us, a great temple. A living basilica. Not one of stone and mortar, but of people. Of us. A basilica of the dreamer.

We don’t talk much about building basilicas anymore. Maybe we should.

We live in a society that often measures work by the American dream: job titles, salaries, promotions, possessions. But the dream of the Basilica, the one God calls us to be part of, isn’t about accumulating wealth or prestige. It’s about offering our gifts, our work, our sweat, and our presence toward something bigger than ourselves.

Whether you are a plumber or a poet, a board member or a baker, your role matters. Your work matters. What’s required is not a perfect résumé or a five year plan, but a willingness to dream and to believe that your dream is a stone in the basilica being built.

That’s how I often feel about my work with C.A.R.E. Africa. The seeds being planted today in the hearts and minds of children, caregivers, and communities in Nigeria are part of a sacred, generational vision. Most days, I don’t get to see the fruit.

I don’t know which child will grow up to lead with integrity or which caregiver will break cycles of poverty or trauma. And I may never see the full harvest in my lifetime. But I believe we are placing stones in a basilica we cannot yet fully imagine.

And if you’ve ever donated to C.A.R.E. or prayed for the children and staff, know this: you are a dreamer and a builder too. You may never meet the student who learned to read because of your support. You may never hear the prayer whispered by a mother with a full belly. But your faithfulness, your prayers, and your generosity are part of something sacred. You are helping build a living basilica, one life at a time.

William Faulkner once wrote, “You can’t eat for eight hours a day nor drink for eight hours a day nor make love for eight hours a day. All you can do for eight hours a day is work.” So if we must work, let us work with joy. Let us offer our hours not to the idols of success or status, but to the dream God is unfolding among us.

Maybe the basilica you’re building is a home, a school, a community, a small business, or a safe space for someone who’s hurting. Maybe it’s a line of code, a meal delivered, or a hand held in silence. Whatever it is, do it for the dreamer.

And if you don’t live to see it completed, you’re in good company.
The grandest basilica I’ve ever seen is still under construction. Not one of stone and mortar, but of God’s kingdom, rising in unseen places through ordinary people.

At St. John the Divine in New York City, there’s a quote carved into the stone at the base of the cathedral’s Poet’s Corner:

“Thy will be done in art as it is in heaven.”

To that I say, Amen.
Amen in plumbing and parenting.
In spreadsheets and sermons.
In counseling and cleaning.
In teaching, feeding, and sponsoring.
In everything we do, may we place our stone in the long awaited basilica.

The work is in front of us. Let’s keep building.

Crisis to Hope: Feyiski’s Journey of Healing

Posted: August 8, 2025 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa, Egbe, Egbe Nigeria, People of Egbe, Prayer
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When Feyiski, one of our dedicated caregivers and a mother in the CARE Africa program, suddenly fell gravely ill, we rushed her to the hospital and discovered she was going into kidney failure. Thanks to quick action and God’s grace, we found a dialysis center two hours away and began treatment.

Today, she is stable, thriving, and back to caring for her child—but she must continue receiving dialysis every two weeks to survive.

We need to raise $126 each month to cover her ongoing dialysis treatments. Would you consider being part of her support team and donating any amount monthly towards this?

Every gift—big or small—makes a difference. Let’s keep Feyiski healthy and strong.

👉 Give Now

With gratitude,

Patrice Miles

Executive Director, CARE Africa

P.S. Your support doesn’t just save a life—it helps a mother stay with her child and continue being a light in our community.


Meet Ayo: The Heart Behind CARE Africa’s Mission

Posted: August 1, 2025 by Patrice Miles in African School, C.A.R.E. Africa, Egbe Hosptial, Nigeria, People of Egbe, Prayer
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We’re excited to introduce you to someone who plays a vital role in everything we do at CARE Africa — our Operations Manager, Ayo.

In this short video, you’ll hear directly from Ayo as he shares about the ministry, the school, and the heart behind the work happening every day in Egbe, Nigeria. His leadership, compassion, and tireless commitment help keep CARE Africa moving forward and impacting lives.

I first met Ayo in 2013 when we arrived in Egbe. At the time, he was affectionately known as a “small boy,” serving as an intern assisting the hospital secretary. From our very first interaction, I was struck by his incredible work ethic, attention to detail, and the humble confidence he brought to every task. He stood out immediately, and I knew he was someone special.

Years later, as CARE Africa began to grow, our former CEO needed an assistant. Around that same time, Ayo reached out to me looking for work. I didn’t hesitate, he was the perfect fit. He served faithfully and humbly for over two years before stepping into the role he was truly made for.

Today, as our Operations Manager, Ayo leads with excellence, inspiring our team and ensuring the mission of CARE Africa is lived out every day. We are so grateful for him!

Thank you for being part of the CARE Africa family. Your support helps make stories like this possible.

Meet the Mission: What Is CARE Africa?

Posted: July 25, 2025 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa, Egbe Nigeria, Nigeria, Orphans, Prayer, SIM
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If you’ve ever sponsored a child, prayed for our team, or supported us in any way—this is for you.

We put together a short video that captures the heart of C.A.R.E. Africa—what we do, where we work, and most importantly, why we do it.

📍 We serve orphaned and vulnerable children in Egbe, Nigeria—giving them access to education, mentorship, and daily care.

📚 We support their caregivers and teachers—through job training, leadership development, and hope.

💪🏾 And we believe God is raising up the next generation of leaders, right in the heart of rural Nigeria.

Whether you’ve been part of CARE Africa from the beginning or you’re just getting to know us, we want you to know: you’re part of this story!!



Nigeria Trip 2025

Posted: July 18, 2025 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa, Egbe Nigeria, Miles In Missions, Mission Trip, Mission Trips, Missionaries, Nigeria, Orphans, Outreach, People of Egbe, Prayer, SIM
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Thank you to everyone that helped us fill the bags for Nigeria. Our trip was amazing and you will see a lot of new developments over the next few weeks. Stay tuned for some exciting updates at C.A.R.E. Africa!

The Enneagram: Can it be a Tool to Transform and Heal Relationships?

Posted: January 1, 2025 by Patrice Miles in Coaching, Miles In Missions, Patrice Miles, Prayer
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Thomas Merton once wrote, “The beginning of love is the will to let those we love be perfectly themselves, the resolution not to twist them to fit our own image.” This quote encapsulates the heart of why tools like the Enneagram matter—not just for understanding ourselves but for extending empathy, grace, and mercy to others.

When I first encountered the Enneagram, I was skeptical. Another personality test? I feel like an expert when it comes to the DISC and even teach classes on it……What more did I need? At first glance, it felt like another way to categorize myself: an “8 with a 7 wing” to tuck neatly into my bio alongside my favorite color and what I do for a living. It wasn’t until I began to dig deeper, guided by The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile, that I realized the Enneagram wasn’t just a tool for self-awareness—it was a map to better understand the people around me.

The Beauty of Diversity in Personality

The Enneagram reveals the motivations behind our actions, breaking us into nine unique types, each with its own core desires and fears:

1. The Reformer: Driven by a need for things to be right.

2. The Helper: Motivated by love and the need to care for others.

3. The Achiever: Seeking admiration through success.

4. The Individualist: Longing for uniqueness and authenticity.

5. The Investigator: Fueled by a desire to learn and understand.

6. The Loyalist: Focused on security and solving problems.

7. The Enthusiast: Seeking joy and avoiding pain.

8. The Challenger: Advocating for strength and control.

9. The Peacemaker: Craving harmony and avoiding conflict.

Each type is a beautiful reflection of the way God uniquely designed us. It’s easy to look at someone’s behavior and think, “Why would they do that?” But when we understand their Enneagram type—or any aspect of their personality—it becomes easier to see the world from their perspective and offer them the grace they deserve.

Grace Begins with Understanding

How often do we hold unrealistic expectations of people simply because we don’t understand them? For example, my husband is an introvert. If I didn’t understand this, I might expect him to be the life of the party or love hanging out with a crowd of friends. That expectation, unmet again and again, could easily lead to frustration, disappointment, and even bitterness.

But when I understand how God wired him, my perspective shifts. It’s not that he doesn’t care about me or my friends—it’s that social situations drain him in ways they don’t drain me. And while understanding his introversion is helpful, reading about the Enneagram Six gave me an even deeper insight into the man I’ve been married to for 23 years. His core desire for security, his loyalty, and his knack for anticipating potential problems made sense in a way they never had before. This knowledge deepened my respect for how he approaches life and allowed me to love him better.

Relationships in Today’s World

Today, I hear about so many relationships—spouses, family, and friends—constantly on the verge of breaking up. It’s heartbreaking to witness the hurtful things that have been said or done, with everyone so quick to throw in the towel. Cutting people off seems to have become the go-to solution, as if avoiding the issue is easier than working through it. Everyone feels justified in defending their own perspective but rarely considers the other person’s.

But when we pause to consider the other person, we begin to see that their childhood upbringing and life experiences up to this point have deeply shaped who they are. This is something I love about the Enneagram and The Road Back to You—it encourages us to examine not just the “what” of our personalities but the “why.” Everyone is going through something or has gone through something. We’re all carrying wounds, fears, and insecurities that inform how we respond to the world around us.

No, we are not their God, and they shouldn’t look to us to solve their issues or be their everything. But in the same way, we cannot look to others to satisfy all of our needs. That role belongs to God, not to any person in our lives. When we take that pressure off the people around us and shift our expectations to align with how God uniquely designed them, we create space for love and understanding to flourish. This is how Jesus walked the earth—meeting people exactly where they were, loving them as they were. And something incredible happened: through His love, they began to believe in themselves and blossomed into the extraordinary individuals God had always designed them to be.

Our way, our thoughts, our actions—they might feel right for us because they align with how we’re made, but they’re not always right for someone else. Instead of forcing others to fit into our mold, what if we started loving them for the way God uniquely made them? What if, by showing that love and grace, they began to believe in themselves and in their God-given worth?

The Enneagram as a Tool for Empathy

The more we embrace the uniqueness of others, the more we can offer grace when they don’t meet our expectations. Instead of asking, “Why can’t they just…?” we begin to ask, “How can I better support them in being who they are?”

This is where tools like the Enneagram are transformative. They help us peel back the layers to see the core motivations of the people around us. That coworker who seems overly critical? Maybe they’re a Perfectionist (One) who feels deeply responsible for making things right. That friend who flakes on plans? They might be an Enthusiast (Seven), easily distracted by new opportunities. Instead of frustration, we can respond with understanding—and set healthier, more realistic expectations.

A Prayer of Blessing

The Enneagram journey begins and ends with seeing ourselves—and others—as God sees us. The prayer from The Road Back to You beautifully sums this up:

May you recognize in your life the presence, power, and light of your soul. May you realize that you are never alone, that your soul in its brightness and belonging connects you intimately with the rhythm of the universe. May you have respect for your individuality and difference. May you realize that the shape of your soul is unique, that you have a special destiny here, that behind the facade of your life there is something beautiful and eternal happening. May you learn to see yourself with the same delight, pride, and expectation with which God sees you in every moment.

When we understand ourselves and others, we open the door to deeper relationships. We replace frustration with empathy, expectations with acceptance, and bitterness with grace. The Enneagram isn’t just a tool for categorizing personality—it’s a pathway to love others as they were beautifully and intentionally made.

A Million Little Miracles

Posted: December 4, 2024 by Patrice Miles in Patrice Miles, Prayer
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A Million Little Miracles: Rediscovering Wonder in Everyday Life

We tend to think of miracles as exceptions to the rules. They are, indeed, the extraordinary events that defy the laws of nature. But as Mark Batterson reminded me in A Million Little Miracles, the laws of nature themselves are profoundly miraculous. G.K. Chesterton once said, “We should always endeavor to wonder at the permanent thing, not the mere exception.” He urged us to be startled by the sun, not just the eclipse. After all, as Chesterton observed, “God is like the sun. You cannot look at it, but without it, you cannot look at anything.”

The Miraculous in the Mundane

There’s a fine line between the mundane and the miraculous. If you see the miraculous as mundane, life becomes a bore. But if you learn to discern the miraculous in the mundane, welcome to Wonderland! Batterson challenges us to maintain a “holy curiosity” about the Creator and His creation. He reminds us that “nothing is as simple as it seems; everything is more miraculous than we can imagine.”

Have you ever experienced a miracle? Batterson argues that you have—you’ve simply stopped noticing. “There are only two ways to live your life,” said Einstein: “One, as if nothing is a miracle. The other, as if everything is.” Which way are you living?

Too often, we stop noticing the sunrise and sunset as something spectacular. We become numb to the simple pleasures of life. We lose our childlike sense of wonder. Batterson’s words serve as a wake-up call: miracles are happening all around us, all the time. Even the breath you just took is a miracle—a truth that resonates deeply for me, especially as I think of my uncle Kelvin, currently in the hospital on oxygen, struggling for every breath. The ability to breathe freely is something we should never take for granted.

A Divine Wake-Up Call

Batterson reflects on the story of Abraham and Sarah, who spent 20 years enduring frustration and heartache. God had promised to make Abraham into a great nation, but Sarah couldn’t get pregnant. By the time Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90, the promise seemed impossible. But God.

When God spoke to Abraham, He said, “Do not be afraid, Abraham. I am your shield, your very great reward.” Yet Abraham’s response reflected his negativity bias: “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me, since I remain childless?” Abraham’s fixation on what hadn’t happened blinded him to what God had already done. This tendency to focus on the unmet desires rather than the fulfilled blessings is a common human flaw.

So what does God do? He invites Abraham to take a two foot field trip outside his tent. Inside, Abraham was staring at an 8-foot ceiling, his perspective limited. But when he stepped outside, God told him to look up at the sky and count the stars if he could. “That’s how many descendants you will have,” God promised.

The difference between Abraham’s tent and the night sky was profound. Batterson draws a powerful lesson: “Quit putting an 8-foot ceiling on what God can do. Quit putting a man-made ceiling on His sovereignty.” It’s never too little, and it’s never too late. Sometimes, all it takes is a two-foot field trip outside—to look up and count the stars.

Rediscovering the Miraculous

Batterson’s A Million Little Miracles is an invitation to step outside ourselves and rediscover the wonder and miracles all around us. From the breath we take to the sunrise we’ve stopped noticing, every moment is an opportunity to marvel at God’s handiwork.

So, how do we discover the millions of mysteries and miracles hiding in plain sight? Start by recognizing life for what it is: a miracle from start to finish. Take a two-foot field trip outside. Look up. Count the stars. And never lose your childlike sense of wonder. As Batterson so beautifully reminds us, “Miracles are happening all around us, all the time.” Are you ready to see them?

Skidding Into Home

Posted: November 2, 2024 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa, Miles In Missions, Nigeria, Patrice Miles, Prayer
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“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, ‘Wow! What a ride!’” — Hunter S. Thompson

This quote has been my rallying cry over the years, inspiring me to embrace a full and intentional life, even when it has meant sacrificing comfort or certainty. This perspective, especially in light of our time in Nigeria, has been both a compass and a challenge.

I imagine life as a baseball game. Each base you approach is a new challenge, and each one demands courage to reach. But you don’t get to walk the bases. You have to run, slide, or sometimes crash into them. The journey isn’t smooth; you don’t arrive at home plate unscathed. The obstacles on the way, the hard slides, and the unexpected stumbles shape you as you go. And in this picture, I see the challenges of building something meaningful for the Kingdom—of making sure our lives leave a mark.

This baseball metaphor, though simple, has a powerful truth. In baseball, you rely on the person at bat to determine your speed. Sometimes, in life, we find ourselves shaped by circumstances and the actions of others, and we react—adjusting our stride, slowing down, speeding up or getting taken out of the game completely depending on how they hit the ball. We don’t always know if we’ll make it to the next base, but we’re called to run with purpose, knowing that each bruised moment strengthens us.

In my work with C.A.R.E. Africa I’ve seen so many children who have had to “run” despite circumstances that would leave most of us on the sidelines. They come to Foundations Academy Egbe not only for education but to learn about the hope and love of the Lord. Their resilience is humbling and reminds me that, like them, we are all part of a much larger story, one that requires running even when we feel worn out.

I recently read that Satan only attacks those who are a threat to his plans. This reminded me of something I believed fiercely in my 20s and 30s—that if I was being challenged, I was in a place of significance. In those years, I woke up hearing “Be the kind of woman who, when your feet hit the floor each morning, the devil says, ‘Oh no! She’s up’. But in my 40s, I feel the weariness. The thrill of sliding into bases has given way to the desire for peace. Sometimes I wonder if it’s okay to want to simply walk the bases, to not feel the bruises and scars of the race.

But as I reflect on this life and my calling, I know there is strength in those scars. I may be tired, but the mission God has placed on my heart remains unchanged. In Nigeria, as in every step of this journey, I am reminded that true fulfillment comes when we give everything to God’s purpose, even when it requires more than we feel we have to give.

So, do we slide into home base, worn out and battle-scarred, or does God offer us another path? Perhaps the answer lies not in how we arrive but in why we keep running. I hope my life, with its bruises and bumps, will reflect a journey not of exhaustion but of devotion—a life poured out, not for my glory, but for His.

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