FREE T-Shirt

Posted: December 25, 2015 by Patrice Miles in Egbe, Fundraising, Miles In Missions, Nigeria

 

egbeite

I remember in college walking to class and seeing a “FREE t-shirt” of John Belushi. Three years later when the credit card I signed up for still had a balance, I realized that the “FREE t-shirt” was actually a huge learning experience and definitely not “FREE”.

Miles in Missions is having one last big fundraising blow out! Our goal is to give away 100 “FREE t-shirts”. For a minimum donation of $25 to our ministry we will send you a “FREE t-shirt”. Simply click SIM and make your donation online and put in the memo “FREE”.

We promise we will never send you a past due notice or call you with debt-collections. Instead, by becoming an Egbe-ite you are helping us give away the one thing in life that is FREE, salvation.

Please remember your gift is a tax-deductible donation, so if you want to have an end of year 2015 donation please do so by December 31st.

Merry Christmas

Spaghetti Dinner

Posted: December 14, 2015 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa, Miles In Missions

IMG_1371I see on Facebook all the time a story of a little girl or boy somewhere in the U.S. that has made a billion cupcakes or had a lemonade stand that sold $5,000 worth of lemonade. You read how the child wanted to raise money for an orphanage or for food for a village in Africa. I have always read these stories with tears in my eyes and never thought I would be the recipient of one.

Today I leave a small small town in Texas called Center City feeling overwhelmed, blessed and humbled. Over a year ago a women named Linda received something in the mail about missionaries. It inspired her to teach a children’s Sunday school class about missions. After the class, two little girls, Tori and Lilly, were inspired to not just hear the message but to act on it. They wanted to help in a big way and begged Linda to find them a ministry they could help. Linda contacted Don Fawcett at The Baptist Network. He had just recently met Emma and I in Egbe, Nigeria and learned about C.A.R.E. Africa. Once he told Linda about the ministry she was so excited and told Tori and Lilly about it. They immediately wanted to sponsor one of the C.A.R.E. Africa kids. They decided to have a spaghetti dinner to raise the money. To their surprise the congregation came together and raised enough to support three C.A.R.E. Africa kids.

IMG_1349On the other side of the ocean Emma and I were in Egbe, Nigeria praying diligently for funds for C.A.R.E. Africa. I had taken in more children than we had money for and was going to close the doors. I had no clue how to afford the children we currently had and God was still bringing more children to us. When I received the email from Linda that they were going to sponsor a child, I was filled with joy. I thanked God for the answer to prayer but told him we still had several others that needed sponsorship. A few days later I received the news from Linda that God showed up at their spaghetti dinner and stirred people hearts. They could now sponsor three children. Wow!

IMG_1350Today was an amazing time with this small church that God is using in a mighty way. They have all the C.A.R.E. Africa kids pictures posted around the church. They allowed us to speak at their service and show video. They took up a love offering for us and prayed for our ministry. They told us they have adopted our family into the congregation forever and then fed us so much food we were about to bust. Truly amazed at how God can take people from all over the world to change the world and grow his kingdom!

 

See our video below to learn more about C.A.R.E. Africa. You can sponsor a child for $35 a month. Click C.A.R.E. Africa to sign up now. 

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Roller Coaster Ride

Posted: December 9, 2015 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa, Egbe Hosptial, Fundraising, Miles In Missions

Screen Shot 2015-12-08 at 6.20.33 PMI am coming to the conclusion that missionary life is a roller coaster ride. When we said “Yes” over two years ago it was like getting in line for the roller coaster ride. We waited in line for 6 months while supporters said “Yes” to support us in Egbe. When we were 100% supported the gate opened and we boarded this roller coaster called Egbe, Nigeria. The ups and the downs, the excitement and sadness, the good times and the bad times continue to keep us with that feeling of your stomach in your throat. There is so many days I want to get off…I’m dizzy, beat up and tired. There is other times that I don’t want it to stop. I beg to go around and around again and I through my hands in the air as high as I can feeling as free as a bird.

Screen Shot 2015-12-08 at 6.22.16 PMOn October 15th, 2015 we got off the roller coaster ride to come back to the U.S. to take time to rest, raise support and transition to long-term missionaries with SIM. We have committed to serve for two more years with the Egbe Hospital Revitalization Project. With increases in health and evacuation insurance, loss of supporters who are unable to continue on our journey with us and long term ministry costs, we are several thousand dollars short of our monthly budget. With over 20 buildings renovated and/or built and our C.A.R.E. Africa ministry coming out of the one year mark, there is still so much more to do. So many lives are still waiting to be mentored and discipled but we cannot get back to Egbe without supporters.

We are standing in line again for the Egbe ride waiting for God to call additional supporters to support our ministry. We are suppose to board the ride on January 2nd 2016, pending we are fully funded. SIM will not open the gate to the Egbe ride without additional supporters saying “Yes” to Egbe. Please say “Yes” to Egbe! We are asking that you prayerfully consider supporting our ministry on a monthly basis. There is no amount too small or too big. $10 a month to $1,000 a month gets us that much closer to Egbe. Click Miles in Missions to sign up.

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Norwex

Posted: November 29, 2015 by Patrice Miles in Egbe, Egbe Nigeria, Fundraising, Miles In Missions, Nigeria, Patrice Miles

11986431_10154067518152334_934970296776599310_nI recently was invited to a Norwex party and was upset no one had ever told me about these wonderful products. After begging volunteers to bring Nozema or filling our precious luggage with shaving cream and soaps…I wish I had known about Norwex. If you don’t know about these antibacterial clothes lined with silver, now you do. The body cloth is my favorite b/c now I don’t have to use eye make up remover, face wash, soap or shaving cream. Next would be the kitchen cloth. I was blessed when a volunteer left me several tubes of Clorox wipes but once depleted, JIK (bleach) was the alternative. With the kitchen cloth I will never need JIK again. There are many other amazing products like a window cloth that cleans your windows streak free with just a little water or the dryer balls so you never need fabric softner again.

Screen Shot 2015-11-29 at 2.03.21 PMPam Donaldson a consultant with Norwex volunteered to give her 40% commission to Miles In Missions on any products ordered through my online show. So if you love Norwex and need more products or would like to try Norwex click NORWEX to order. They also make great Christmas gifts and it is just another way you can help our ministry in Egbe, Nigeria.
We continue to need monthly financial supporters so we can be at 100% support and be allowed to return to Egbe on Jan 2nd. If Norwex is not your thing and you would rather support us monthly please click Miles In Missions. Remember no monthly or one time gift is too small.

 

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Road Trip

Posted: November 16, 2015 by Patrice Miles in Egbe, Egbe Hosptial, Fundraising, Miles In Missions, Missionaries, Nigeria, SIM

IMG_0730After 4 weeks in Louisville living with the hostess with the mostest, my Dad and Minette, we are off on a road trip for the next month. While in Louisville we were so blessed to get to show what God is doing in Egbe at our open house, speak to possible medical missionaries at the Egbe Hospital booth at GMHC (Global Mission Health Conference) and collect an overwhelming amount of donations for Egbe. In addition we were able to fly to Colorado Springs to MTI (Missions Training International), which was insightful and so encouraging. Now it is time to take this show on the road.

Screen Shot 2015-11-16 at 3.03.43 PMOur first stop is Edenridge (Mission to Missionairies)  for some family time just the four of us with junk food, movies and our PJ’s! Next is a visit to Samaritans Purse, SIM, and a missionary family considering Egbe. Then we will celebrate Thanksgiving with my senior brother and his family in Charlotte, NC. Next is Ft Myers Beach FL to visit Lenny’s 82 year old grandmother and we will stop to visit a few supporters along the way. Next is Banyan Air in Ft Lauderdale where our U.S. Egbe team is and the container heading to Egbe. From there it’s off to Orlando for our Christmas present from Poppy, Disneyworld!! Once we have visited with Mickey Mouse and all the princesses we jump on a flight to Dallas/Fort Worth Texas. We will spend some time in Early TX with a supporter and with Central City Church. Then we head to see our favorite Nigerian family of 5, The Starns family in Buffalo! Last but not least my Eicher family in Lewisville, TX and then my Sisters…Hilary and Courtney and their parents in Sunnyvale, TX. Back to Louisville just in time for Christmas with the family and then we are headed home to Nigeria on January 2nd.

Wow I am exhausted just typing this but we are so excited to get to see everyone. Several of our supporters will be able to pour so much wisdom into our ministry, answering questions and guiding us on next steps. Many have be praying for us but now we will get to pray together. We are excited to be an encouragement and to be encouraged over the next 30 days. Good bye and Hello!

Miles Family PicP.S. Just because we have left Louisville, KY doesn’t mean it is too late to sign up to financially support our family in Egbe, Nigeria. We are still in need of several monthly supporters. No amount monthly is too small or too big. Click here to sign up Miles In Missions.

Video  —  Posted: November 11, 2015 by Patrice Miles in Egbe Hosptial, Egbe Nigeria, Miles In Missions

Screen Shot 2015-11-11 at 2.56.24 PM“Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.  I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty.” Ruth 1:20-21.

Sitting at MTI (Missions Training International) in Colorado for debriefing and being forced to reflect on the past 26 months in Nigeria, I realize how bitter I am. The excitement of moving to Africa has worn off and the adventure has turned into life. Living in a different culture is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Leaving everything that was comfortable and adjusting to new foods, language, climate and sicknesses while trying to be in relationship with people who don’t think like you, act like you, feel like you or even understand you. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty.

11588812_sMany of us on the Egbe compound are overwhelmed due to the many roles we play. No one has just one hat, we all wear many hats due to the lack of missionaries on the ground. This leaves us exhausted and empty, feeling like we have nothing else to give. I was encouraged today to read Mark 14:33,34 in a different way. He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” Jesus was overwhelmed, distressed, and troubled as he was growing his Father’s kingdom in a culture not his own. If Jesus, the perfect man, experienced these emotions then why in the world would I think my frail humanness wouldn’t? Praise the Lord…I am normal! No comments please!

No one ever told me doing God’s kingdom work would be easy. Why would I think Satan would stand by and watch an entire community be revitalized through a beacon of hope, Egbe Hospital? Why would he just casually watch as missionaries come one by one and pour into peoples lives in Egbe? Oh no….he is going to do everything he can to make it hard so we become overwhelmed, bitter, and give up hope of the miracle that Egbe was and is. Over 20 buildings revitalized, help from over 300 volunteers, unheard of partnerships with Samaritans Purse, Banyan Air, World Medical Missions, SIM, ECWA, 16 containers successfully shipped, no robberies on the road, no serious illnesses, no missionary or volunteer harmed, over 300 staff employed, our own personal cell tower on the compound, 1000’s of lives healed physically and spiritually all in a bush town called Egbe. These Miracles are evidence that God is doing a mighty work in Egbe, but this also means we are a flashing red siren for spiritual warfare. The Miles Family is on the winning team and we pray you will join us!

I am encouraged today to reflect back on the miracles that I have experienced in Egbe and am honored to return in January to continue to watch God work. It doesn’t mean I won’t get overwhelmed, distressed, troubled and even bitter sometimes, but I know who’s team I play ball for and I am up to bat! Will you join me?

We need short term and long term medical and non medical missionaries. Click “YES” to see all the opportunities to serve in Egbe.

We need monthly financial supporters to allow us to continue to serve in Egbe. Click “SUPPORT MILES FAMILY” to sign up.

We need you to pray for the spiritual warfare we face daily. Click “PRAY” to be added to our prayer partners.

oubres and jospehWe desperately need a General Surgeon ASAP, short term or long term!! Our hsopital is surgeon-less as of December 19th. Please tell everyone you know to spread the word!

Screen Shot 2015-10-28 at 1.19.45 PM“Do you have any coffee?” Cason asked Shannon in the missions department at Southeast Christian yesterday at 4pm. I had to explain to him that he would never go to bed if he drank coffee a that hour. He just looked at me confused. Its hard to believe we have been in the U.S. for almost 2 weeks now. We have adjusted to the time zone well, but are still tired and need many cups of coffee a day. The food has started to grow on us. Only a few of us have thrown up, so we think we are doing pretty good. HAHA:)

We haven’t stopped running since we touched the ground. Visiting with family, working on videos for our presentations, planning for Global Missions Health Conference next week, mailing out over 450 support letters and still managing our Nigerian staff and projects back in Nigeria. We see rest in the near future at MTI in Colorado and then some time as a family in a chalet in the mountains for missionaries.

We are excited about the many opportunities we have over the next few weeks to present what God has been using our family for in Nigeria. Please join us on Thursday the 5th at 6pm for our open house at Southeast Christian Church ED 216/217. We will have several videos, speakers and food to share with you.

Screen Shot 2015-10-28 at 1.23.23 PMWe will be taking a small Uhaul on our road trip of support raising over the next few weeks. We will be picking up supplies for Egbe along the way. If you would like to donate anything please let us know. Below is a list of items we are hoping to collect to put on a container in December in Fort Lauderdale. If there is anything on this list that you have extra of or would like to send to us, please click EGBE to email me. You can also bring donations directly to the Open House on Thursday the 5th. Please feed the Uhaul!!

Thank you to everyone that is continuing to support us financially and in prayer. See you on Thursday the 5th at 6pm!!

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10 adjustable exam room stools
100 fitted twin sheets (35in wide x 77in long)
50 standard size pillows
Plastic coated pillow covers and cloth covers
2 pairs each of size 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14 closed-toed crocs
10-15 shoe box size and slightly larger plastic bins with covers for storage
50 visitors chair, 1 per bed
Portable carts with TV/Monitors and DVD equipment for evangelism in 4 places
Yoruba and Hausa tracs
Jesus Film in Yoruba and Hausa
Yoruba Bibles

 

CARE Africa Donations
Backpacks
Pens, black or blue only
School sandals, see picture (sizes 6-9, boys and girls)Screen Shot 2015-10-28 at 1.39.15 PM
Durable flip flops (sizes 6-9, boys and girls)
White socks, over the ankle (all sizes)
Boys boxer briefs (all sizes)
Girls under ware and bras (all sizes)
Soap, Toothbrushes, Toothpaste
Gently used boys sport shorts and shirts (all ages)
Gently used girls cute tops, skirts to the knee and dresses (all ages)
SOCCOR BALLS
Soccor jerseys for training
Beads for bead making
New or slightly used labtop with Microsoft programs and wireless internet capabilities
New or slightly used digital camera with SD card
New or slightly used printer
Children’s books all ages
Any AWANA program items
Plastic spoons, napkins and med size tupperware with lid

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Wood and or Metal Lathe with tools
Dewalt cordless hammer drill and impact drill 20V lithium battery w/charger
Honda 5500 and/or 6500 watt generators
12 volt sirens for housing security systems
Mechanic coveralls (sizes med, large and x large)
Black Ink HP 85A Laserjet
Pictures or decor for new duplex and other housing
Nightstands for new duplex
Heavy duty rain coats for the security staff/revite workers

Nigerian Lingo

Posted: October 24, 2015 by Patrice Miles in Egbe, Egbe Nigeria, Uncategorized

imageHere in Nigeria, more specifically Egbe, the heart of “Yagba Land” there are so many peculiar, unfamiliar, but nevertheless FUN figures of speech! Over the past fifteen months we have not only enjoyed them, but undoubtedly acquired such jargon ourselves. These days such phrases quickly roll off our tongue without a second thought. Positively, without […]

http://riddlessweptaway.com/2015/10/24/nigerian-lingo/

IgoSAIAH 6:8 THEN I HEARD A VOICE OF THE LORD SAYING, “WHOM SHALL I SEND? AND WHO WILL GO FOR US?” AND I SAID, “HERE AM I SEND ME!”

HERE WE ARE! SEND US BACK! It has been over two years since we said “Yes” to God and sold everything we owned and moved to Egbe, Nigeria. Many of you have journeyed with us in prayer and or financial support over the past two years and we cannot thank you enough. We are excited to be on home assignment for the next 3 months. During this time we will be traveling the U.S. to share our story, do debriefings with our agency, work at the Global Missions Health Conference and so much more.

Lenny is in phase two of revitalizing the hospital. Construction work has slowed and he is now working towards discipleship of the construction staff in both construction and spiritual growth. The hospital administration is also in phase two as most of the buildings are built and equipment is in place. We now need short term and long-term medical missionaries to say “YES” DSC_9862and join us in Egbe.     

C.A.R.E. Africa has grown and we now care for 25 orphans. We still have many applicants that want to join our program but we are waiting on God to show us next steps in this ministry. C.A.R.E. Africa is also exploring synergies with Spring of Life, which is an HIV clinic that evangelizes to the community through HIV testing and counseling. God continues to use us in Egbe as the needs are big.

Screen Shot 2015-08-21 at 4.45.51 PMPlease come out to our open house in Louisville, KY @ Southeast Christian Church on Thursday Nov 5th from 6pm-7pm so we can share the past two years with you through videos and stories of our time in Egbe. There will be catered food, African handmade products, unbelievable videos and pictures even from Cason and Jolie. Our time is short in Louisville and this may be the only way for us to see several of you.

We are excited about continuing with SIM as long-term missionaries in 2016. We were blessed with many financial supporters over the past two years but due to other obligations several have been unable to continue to journey with us financially. We will need to raise an additional $2,500 a month in monthly supporters to make up for the ones that are unable to continue with us. We also have a goal to raise $20,000 for ministry projects, as well as one time fees needed for things like airfare back to the field. We know God will provide and have already booked our tickets back to Egbe for Jan 3rd, 2016. Will you come and journey with us?

Click this link to sign up now and support Miles In Missions.

To become a prayer partner please click PRAYER.

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