Author Archive

Concrete Blocks

Posted: May 20, 2015 by Patrice Miles in Egbe, Lenny Miles, Miles In Missions
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                                                                                         Guest Post by Debbie Parker
885739_10205734876805479_1425482419253386569_oThree weeks ago, tomorrow, we arrived at Egbe. This construction is happening beside our housing. You can see the great progress that has been made in three weeks. It has been amazing to watch. The blocks are made on the compound so that the quality is good. It cost more and is more labor intensive but the building is better. The foundation is sure and block by block the walls come up under the hot African sun. Makes me think of The Church. Blocks, we are, especially crafted to be excellent in quality. Mortared together to form a church.

11096617_10205734871605349_4070631506318868194_oLenny Miles is the “Oga” (boss/sir). He has been know to knock down a few pillars and demand the work done over if it is not done perfectly. The foundation is important, the blocks are important, the walls are important. All together, the building is excellent. Let me say what I have been thinking. We are all a part of the building, living stones, that make up the church. One block is a contractor in Africa. One block is a bank executive, in the city, helping the homeless find shelter. One is a real estate entrepreneur that seeks schooling for orphans in a distant land. One is a praying pastors wife in a small town of Western Kentucky. See, what is important is that all the stones are fitted together making the building-The Church.

10983142_10205734884285666_5792543197410201397_oSometimes, our greatest challenge is to see the value in the block that is mortared right beside us. Or to see that without all of the blocks, the whole building would not be. I am thankful for all of the blocks. That they have been made special and put together with excellence. Nothing less. The Oga knows what He is doing. With every block he lays, He is mortaring together The Church.11059933_10205734880365568_8620491370666207475_o

We Are Home!

Posted: May 2, 2015 by Patrice Miles in Egbe, Miles In Missions, People of Egbe
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DSC_1739After 3 days of travel, 3 airplanes and a bus ride, we have arrived home in Egbe! We now know that our delay in the U.S. was God ordained. I don’t think we realized how exhausted we were after 18 months in the field, until we were actually forced to stop and rest an additional 2 months in the U.S. We were able to spend that additional time resting and focusing on our family, our marriage and God. We were also able to connect with several more friends and family members that didn’t make it into our one month visitation marathon in February.

IMG_8959Thank you to everyone that hosted us, fed us, donated to us and encouraged us. We truly felt loved and encouraged over the past 3 months. The time in the states helped us realize the need to rest and refuel so you can be your best for God and your ministry. Our time home in Egbe has already shown us how much more we hear God and can do for God when are cups are full.

 

IMG_8955Attached are a few pictures of the joy brought to so many from the donations we received. It was absolutely overwhelming for us when we arrived home to boxes of donations lining one of our rooms. While we were in the U.S. two containers arrived in Egbe. With these donations and the donations given to us while we were in the states, people’s lives were truly blessed.

DSC_9061We love you all and will be back at the end of the year for home assignment. We will spend 2-3 months meeting with supporters and hosting events for our transition from short-term missionaries to long-term missionaries in Egbe, Nigeria. Our family prays you will continue to support us in this new chapter as long-term missionaries with SIM and Egbe. See you at the end of the year!

 

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Yomi and the Whale

Posted: April 10, 2015 by Patrice Miles in Uncategorized
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khriddle's avatarSwept Away

IMG_5847 Yomi working on generators as Jesse watches on.

Just recently we hired a new worker amongst the Egbe Hospital maintenance team named Abayomi a.k.a. “Yomi”. Yomi has family from Egbe, but has been living in Lagos, Nigeria for several years. Lagos is located on the south west coast of Nigeria and actually ranks as the fourth most populated city in the world! Yomi works on big ships coming in and out of the Nigerian ports and specializes in large engine work such as generators. Yomi immediately became a great asset to our team. We ourselves have three large generators running our hospital and housing compound from which we rely on heavily day and night.  His skills are tremendous, his personality a match with the other guys, and he has even been teaching some of the other mechanics in the work shop many things they did not know!  However, when Yomi came to us…

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Don’t Beat Your Donkey (Miles Family Detour)

Posted: March 10, 2015 by Patrice Miles in Egbe, Egbe Nigeria, Miles In Missions, Nigeria, Patrice Miles, SIM
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Did you know that donkeys talk? One of the most interesting miracles in the Bible involves a talking donkey. The story goes like this… A prophet named Balaam is headed to Moab when an angel of the Lord blocks his path. The donkey won’t move because of the obstacle in his way so Balaam gets frustrated and beats the donkey. The donkey eventually speaks to Balaam questioning why he is being beaten. Once Balaam’s eyes are opened, he sees why the donkey won’t move. There is an obstruction in his way, an angel of the Lord. The angel says to him, ” I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me.” Numbers 22:32.

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I have to admit that I hate detours! I get as frustrated as Balaam did when I cannot get to where I want to go! Our family was supposed to be in the US for a one month vacation to rest and rejuvenate. As fun as it was to be at different restaurants or houses every day and night visiting with family, friends, and supporters, we were exhausted from no real “down time”. A few days before we were to board our flight back to Nigeria, we received notification from leadership at our agency SIM. “We strongly recommend due to current unrest in Nigeria, expected chaos with upcoming elections, acareboysnd possibly lack of rest in the short time you have been at home, that your family remain in the US until after elections.” We were fully aware of the recent missionary kidnapping, bombs in Jos, and the possible unrest due to upcoming elections. But I still wanted to get home to my Missionary and Nigerian family, my dog, my cat, my home…oh my goodness I didn’t prepare anyone in the office for this….I didn’t leave enough supplies for all my helpers….what about CARE Africa and all my orphans, widows and abandoned mothers? If I was riding a donkey right now I would be beating him, and I love animals!

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God brought a beautiful book to me only a few days before I almost beat my donkey. The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson, Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears. Amazing, Amazing, Amazing and Inspiring book! I just happened to be reading the part about Balaam and the talking donkey when this detour was placed in our way. Mark Batterson says “Detours are frustrating and confusing. But the devine detours often get us where God wants us to go. When I look back on my life , I’m grateful for the moments God has gotten in the way of my plans and rerouted me.”
So the Miles Family has been rerouted until mid April. Please don’t be offended if you didn’t know we were still in town. We were in shock and working out the details of our detour, so only a few 11046632_10206229818446695_8039362722880959645_opeople knew. We’ve had some time to process everything and are at peace with our decision to stay. God is working with us on resting during this time and not filling up our calendar. This isn’t the first time The Miles Family has been rerouted and I am sure it will not be the last. We are relishing in the truth that God loves us enough to get in our way when we are going the wrong way. Thank you for your continued support. We are excited to see what God does through us in Egbe when we return in April completely rested, filled and overflowing with the Holy Spirit!

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Egbe Bus Nigeria Tour

Posted: March 6, 2015 by Patrice Miles in Egbe, Egbe Nigeria, Miles In Missions, Missionaries, Nigeria, Volunteers
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If you have ever wondered what it is like to drive in Nigeria, here is a little taste. This short video shows our trip from Egbe to Abuja and then to JOS. It really looks like easy roads, but don’t let this video fool you. All the footage we took driving the first three hours out of Egbe was so shaky it would make you throw up just watching it. Enjoy and don’t forget your Dramamine!!

 

Egbe Life 18 Months Later

Posted: March 2, 2015 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa, Egbe, Egbe Nigeria, Miles In Missions, Nigeria, Patrice Miles
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We have been back in the states for almost one month now and as much as we love our family and friends we miss Egbe. Our flight back to Egbe is scheduled for this week. We will miss the U.S. food and comfy accommodations, but as we watch this video below we cannot wait to see our Nigerian family. We put together a short video to give you little insight into our Egbe life after 18 months of living there. I hope you enjoy watching it as much as we did putting it together for you.

Gently Used

Posted: February 2, 2015 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa, Egbe, Egbe Nigeria, Miles In Missions, Missionaries, Nigeria, Patrice Miles, People of Egbe
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airport18 months ago our family left the United States and landed on Nigerian soil. God has gently used us to help host over 100 construction and medical volunteers, say good bye to three Samaritan Purse pioneer missionaries, say hello to 7 new long term missionary families, completed work on a new pharmacy, OR, CSR, men’s ward, maternity, X-ray, laundry, 3 missionary houses, 5 containers unloaded, started a new guesthouse and  a Wednesday Women’s Fellowship group. C.A.R.E. Africa came alive and over 20 children are in school now, 5 women are learning a trade and 2 women were helped to start a business. From rashes, Mosquitos, Lenny malaria x5 and Cason x2, cotta (Nigerian cold), dog dying, 110 degree temperatures, Mosquitos, bombs in JOS and Abuja, tearful goodbyes, stomach problems, Mosquitos, bank robbery and shootings, DSC_0239road robbers, Mosquitos, nail boys, Ebola, hospital gates stormed, fighting and did I mention Mosquitos, we survived.  Everything was completed giving God the glory and lives have been changed and his kingdom has grown. He gives us small peeks every now and then of his big picture for Egbe Nigeria through open doors in ministry, national workers voices of gratitude, lives given to Christ, relationships built with Nigerian leaders, miracles at the hospital and deeper relationships with other missionaries . These small glimpses keep us going in a culture that is not our own.

DSC_0020We will be home in less than week and we are so excited! We have been gently used and God knew when this date was being planned that we would need this time with friends and family to refuel. While we are home we need your help. In less than a month we need to collect a lot of items to take back to Egbe. Can you look around your house and see if you have any of these gently used items that you could donate to the people of Egbe.

 

CareAfrica_logo_v1_tag2_flat-01Boys items for ages 12-16
-Clothes
-Soccer wear
-Soccer cleats
-White Socks and Boxer Briefs
-Sandals, flip flops, tennis shoes.
-Belts
Girls items for ages 13-16
-Everyday dresses, skirts, shirts
-Sandals, flip flops and dress shoes
-White Socks
Back packs
Wrist Watches
Laptops
Tablets
Oxford Dictionaries

We would also like to get some t-shirts printed for C.A.R.E. Africa if anyone knows of an affordable place. Contact me at patrice.miles@sim.org if you have any of these gently used items you would like to donate. Or if you would like to donate directly to our ministry click Miles In Missions, missionary #040380.

Does Missions Separate Families?

Posted: January 16, 2015 by Patrice Miles in Uncategorized
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Rebekah's avatarBarren to Beautiful

Selah meeting her cousins for the first time.

Tomorrow, my brother-in-law and his family will get on a plane, and fly to Africa. I won’t see them again for three years, except by some emailed photos, or maybe a choppy Skype connection.

I joke that I am going to sabotage their trip to the airport. And part of me really wants to. Because deep down, I really don’t want them to go. I have enjoyed having them and their three sweet girls around the last six months. They were the first to teach her how to have a proper tea party, and make elephant noises, and sing “Let it Go” at the top of their lungs. As they ran barefoot through the grass in the summer, she chased them. As they danced wildly in the living room in the winter, she imitated them. She adores them, as if they were her own…

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Election 2015

Posted: January 14, 2015 by Patrice Miles in Uncategorized
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Please Pray!

khriddle's avatarSwept Away

Nigeria ElectionIn the month of February Nigeria will hold its Presidential and National Assembly elections. Looking into the past, such times as these have proven dicey and filled with excessive violence. Nigeria, already in a season filled with relentless cycles of violence and distress this can only add to the mix. As of Monday reports of political disturbances have already begun in Jos, Plateau State and once again news broke of fatal attacks by Boko Harram in Baga, Borno State.

I don’t write out of fear or to trigger alarm directing you back to a previous post entitled Safety In Gods Will. The security felt when writing this blog has not wavered, even as I now write living in country.  The only deviation from now to then is due to these facts: I have recently walked the streets of Jos and been in the market where reminense of bombNigeria-Unrest explosions can be seen…

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C.A.R.E. Africa Etsy Store

Posted: December 14, 2014 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa, Egbe, Egbe Nigeria, Miles In Missions, Nigeria, Patrice Miles, People of Egbe
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10408141_1716672908556954_5092199233753583452_nC.A.R.E. Africa’s Etsy Store is up and running! https://www.etsy.com/shop/CAREafrica Almost all of the items have made their way back to Louisville, Kentucky and are waiting to be shipped out to a new home.

Everything is hand made in Egbe, Nigeria. There are four beautiful girls that make our beaded jewelry. Seun, who is a single mother. Remi, is a widow with 3 children. Felicia, is a young single girl trying to make ends meet. Last but least is our newest addition Abigail who is also a single girl.

10636854_1726048147619430_8165663666469171368_oAll our cow horn, coconut and calabash items are currently made by Emma. He is in the process of training the Home Care boys on how to make these amazing pieces. The cow horn is from Fulani cows. The calabash is taken from trees in Egbe and dried and then cut into pieces for earrings. The coconut is taken from the Miles kitchen. We eat a lot of coconut so we have a lot of coconut shells J

DSC_0571A few different people in Egbe sow the bags and purses. Toyin, is an orphan and he also does a lot of the tailoring for the men on the compound. Janet, who is our compound seamstress, has an apprenticeship program. She trains women over the period of a year how to sew. These women in training sew our bags for us currently. Gift who is our only member in our seamstress program is a widow with 4 children. She is learning at Janet’s 3 days a week and then comes to CARE Africa on Saturdays to sew our new patchwork material for the purses.

All of these children of God plus our Home Care kids come together every Saturday to work on the items for the Etsy store while also spending time in God’s word. All of the members are paid the moment they complete an item so they can support themselves throughout the week. We then send the items back to the US through visitors that come to Egbe. Once they arrive in our hometown Louisville, KY, my friend Diana Beville puts them on the Etsy store. Once an item is purchased she ships it to wherever it needs to go.

10676221_1709188602638718_4128179935287055497_nPlease support the women, men and children in our program by purchasing some of the items as gifts for Christmas or for yourselves. All items will reach you before Christmas. Please pray for our store to find a place in Egbe too. We will be testing the Nigerian market at the end of January at an annual ECWA conference. We need your prayers.

Christmas or for yourselves. All items will reach you before Christmas. Please pray for our store to find a place in Egbe too. We will be testing the Nigerian market at the end of January at an annual ECWA conference. We need your prayers.

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