Miles In Missions

About four months ago we were posed with the question, “What do you think Cason should do for high school?”

We were shocked and then almost saddened to realize that our children are in fact growing up way too fast. We asked Cason, “Do you want to go to a real high school or continue in Egbe with homeschool curriculum?” He said, “I really want to go to a real school for high school.” Then we asked, “Do you want to go to college?” Once again he said, “Yes, and I want to study business!”

Living in this very rural setting, an education that will prepare our children for an American university is hard. We thank the children’s teacher, Katie, for all the amazing work and education she has provided for our children over the last three years. She felt undoubtedly that she could provide a high school education for Cason, but her resources in a one-bedroom house turned schoolhouse would be limited.

Since then, we have been in prayer and seeking guidance through SIM leadership for what should our next steps look like to accommodate a high schooler. We visited Jos, Nigeria recently and went to look at Hillcrest School. The school has a deep history for many missionaries in this region that we have grown to call family. We are glad to announce that our children will be attending school there starting August of 2017. Cason will enter as freshman for 9^th grade and Jolie will enter middle school as a 6^th grader. They are both very excited about this, but are of course sad about saying goodbye to their Egbe friends.

So what does this mean for the whole family? It means that we have a large transition ahead of us. We will be moving from Egbe to Jos where we will resettle at another SIM station. SIM Nigeria has recently appointed a new director and with him comes a grander vision to reach 75+ million least reached people in northern Nigeria. Our family feels God is calling us to move closer to the north and live in Jos to assist with this new vision.

Recently our field determined the strategic importance of having a Communication Specialist to help tell SIM Nigeria’s story, someone who can communicate stories through video, blogs, presentations and the web. Lenny realized how he can use his skills and interests to help get the word out about the vast needs that exist throughout Nigeria to spread the gospel among the least reached and to disciple the believers to a deeper level. Lenny will work and travel throughout Nigeria to create materials to broadcast the needs and opportunities to serve. We are praying that through this supportive role, more missionaries will come and the gospel will spread throughout the least reached people of Nigeria.

Patrice will continue to manage the C.A.R.E. Africa and Spring of Life HIV/AIDS Project in Egbe. She will travel back and forth between Egbe and Jos many times a years utilizing the resources of a number of other ministries in Jos to grow these two ministries in Egbe. She is very excited to now be able to dedicate her full time to these two ministries, helping to grow them and make them more sustainable in the future.

We are planning our move for the middle of the year 2017. At that time we will have served for almost four years in Egbe. We feel like God has used us mightily and his kingdom has grown through the revitalization of the hospital, C.A.R.E. Africa, Spring of Life HIV/AIDS clinic and through our relationships with the many Nigerians we now call family.

This move will be costly, but we trust God will provide for all our needs.  We were blessed to be able to borrow furniture, cars, generators and appliances loaned to us in Egbe from the hospital project itself. However, in Jos we will be required to buy all of these items. Plus we will now be responsible for full school tuitions for Cason and Jolie.

Please be in prayer on how you might be able to help our family continue to serve in Nigeria to grow HIS kingdom.

With love,

The Miles family

See below for pictures of our new home and Cason and Jolie’s new school.