Miles In Missions

We Are Home!

Posted: May 2, 2015 by Patrice Miles in Egbe, Miles In Missions, People of Egbe

After 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.

Thank 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.

Attached 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.

We 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!

Yomi and the Whale

Posted: April 10, 2015 by Patrice Miles in Uncategorized

Swept Away

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

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.

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, and 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!

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_o people 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!

Egbe Bus Nigeria Tour

Posted: March 6, 2015 by Patrice Miles in Egbe, Egbe Nigeria, Miles In Missions, Missionaries, Nigeria, Volunteers

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

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

18 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, road 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.

We 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.

Boys 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

Barren 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

Please Pray!

Swept Away

In 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 bomb Nigeria-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

C.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.

All 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

A 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.

Please 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.

Meet Iyabo, a F$lani Business Women

Posted: December 6, 2014 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa, Egbe, Egbe Nigeria, Miles In Missions, Patrice Miles, People of Egbe, Prayer

Adamo in School

Meet Iyabo, a F$lani business women. Two of her daughters happened to be at a football match and met Emma, my partner with C.A.R.E. Africa. When C.A.R.E. Africa started, Emma remembered one of the girls, Adamo, We registered her in our home care program. Adamo and her family are a Yuroba F$lani family. The Father has many wives and is in the bush with the cows. He rarely visits. When he does come home there is no support given to the family. With 5 children to take care of, Iyabo, like many abandoned mothers, is struggling.

Picture Inventory Spreadsheet

Iyabo has a store, but it doesn’t provide the income to sustain her family. We wanted to help her but in a way that would not hurt her later. We wanted something sustainable. We sat down and talked about what product she is selling and what product she is not. We quickly analyzed her business and found there were several items she wasn’t making any money on. There was also many that she was making great money on. We got rid of the non money making product and focused on what was moving . The next step was to teach her how to keep inventory and track expenses and income.

Emma explaining how to use the spreadsheet.

This was a lot harder as she does not know how to read. We came up with an inventory in an excel spreadsheet with pictures. Once we showed her the chart and how to use it, she was very excited and said no problem. We will be starting week one with her on Monday. I am so excited to see what happens. I am sure that we will find product she said moves doesn’t. There will probably be mistakes in the inventory count, but we will tweak it every week until we find out what works and what doesn’t. I never thought I would be teaching business in Africa but God did. He prepared me through running my husbands construction business and my own real estate business. Now I get to use those skills to watch his kingdom grow.

Iyabo and her store.

Please pray for Iyabo and her family to come to know Christ. Pray for God’s wisdom with C.A.R.E. Africa on how to help the people of Egbe, Nigeria.

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