amy0b87982ac418
bluewatergigi
dbeville
Patrice Miles
Lenny
C.A.R.E. Africa D Groups have been such a blessing to our children and our volunteers for almost a year now. Our eyes were opened to how little our children know about salvation, sin, repentance and just the basics. We realized we really needed to start from the Genesis 1:1 in order to truly disciple these kids.
We were excited to find AWANA Nigeria several months ago and have been pursing them ever sense. Visits to JOS, sharing with local pastors, training and more had prepared us to start the program in April. The last thing remaining was uniforms. The Nigerian AWANA version divides the children into 4 separate colored teams which helps with the games, record keeping, council time and team time. It is wonderful but each uniform is 900 Niara each.
I work with orphans who cannot afford their own school uniform so an extra curricular uniform would be out of the question. I reached out to a couple of donors asking for help with the cost of the uniforms. Over and over I kept on running into closed doors. We postponed our April start date and rescheduled for May. I told God that if he wanted us to start AWANA in Egbe he needed to provide.
The next week I got an email from someone who told me she had soccer supplies she could donate. I expressed my joy in this, but told her that we had bigger needs then that and asked if she new anyone that could help. I explained AWANA and our need for uniforms. I also explained the 5 applications of children wanting to join C.A.R.E. but cannot b/c I don’t have a sponsors for them. She emailed back thanking me for my honesty and said she would take care of all the AWANA uniforms, sponsor a child and reach out to a few churches she knows could probably sponsor a few children too.
WOW! God is so good and I love it when he shows off. I had to share to encourage anyone that is facing an obstacle right now. John 5:14 says to bring your requests to him with confidence! He will answer you! Just be open to a NO or a YES, and know that his will and his timing are always best.
We started AWANA last Monday and had 45 children attend. This previous Monday we had 60 show up. We are expecting our club will probably have 100 by the end of the month. We need an AWANA club from the U.S. to sponsor us. If you know of any clubs in the U.S. looking to sponsor a club in Africa can you email me at Patrice.Miles@sim.org.
I, Iwarere Oluwatofunmi, I’m writing on behalf of Funke Moses, a women who lives near 3rd ECWA Church, Egbe. She is a married women with 3 kids, although she and her husband are no longer together and he has taken another wife.
Funke has 
High school kids in Nigeria are very similar to high school kids in the U.S. At age 14,15 & 16 they have no clue what they want to do for the rest of their lives. They may think of something that sounds flashy like an Artist or something that they know makes a lot of money like a Doctor. This is of course is a great goal. When you ask what University do they want to go to and what kind of Doctor or Artist they want to be…you normally get a blank stare. Kids are kids no matter where you are in the world. The difference in Nigeria is that TV, books and movies are not as widely utilized. You would be surprised how many children know the word airplane but have never actually seen one live or as a toy, in a book or even on TV. In the U.S. kids can see a doctor on television or read about them in books and know they have will see blood and wear a white jacket etc. In Nigeria, some have never even seen a doctor before.
An apprenticeship is the only way Nigerian kids can see trades and truly understand what they do and how they work. C.A.R.E. kids are required to complete one during their Holiday breaks. University in Nigeria is very hard to get accepted into and it is very costly. The ones that can afford University tend to graduate with a certificate that they will never use and end up back home with the family barely making ends meet. Learning a trade in Nigeria is a much better option for most. Electricians, welders, plumbers, carpenters, seamstress and many other trades are high in demand in Nigeria.
Our E.H.R. staff have stepped up and taken such pride in our program. Many have made friendships with these kids that have continued over the years. This year we were so excited that the medical side of Egbe joined in with us. We were able to have apprenticeships in Lab, Pharmacy, Records, HIV/AIDS Clinic and our Pastoral Care. Every morning as we make our rounds to check on the kids, their smiles and their mentors smiles show us how much this program is a blessing to both the kids and their mentors. Our C.A.R.E. kids are truly experiencing Jesus in so many different ways through this program. I am just exited that I get to watch it all unfold.
I am so excited to introduce you to the C.A.R.E. Africa team. I had no clue that God had this amazing team already planned out for me when I stepped on Nigerian soil in 2013. I had no clue C.A.R.E. Africa was even in the radar for my life in Nigeria. If you remember, I was supposed to be a stay at home, homeschooling mom. God had bigger plans for me and he continues to shower his love on me by placing people in my life with the same goals, visions and passions that I have. Let me introduce you to some amazing people that are a part of my life and the C.A.R.E. Africa team
Everyone knows Emma Salako! I cannot go anywhere without hearing people yell out “Coach” or somehow know Emma or of Emma. He is our Administrator, running the day-to-day operations of C.A.R.E. Africa. He is an orphan himself and has a passion for this ministry and everyone involved. He continues to push me to grow the ministry and trust that God will provide. He is my little brother, best friend and confidant. I don’t know what I would so without him.
Tofunmi is next and she is our Caretaker Manager. She manages, mentors, disciples and educates all of our caretakers. Tofunmi is the only daughter of our chaplain in the hospital, Pastor Janet. She was raised in an amazing family with a mother and father that loved God, loved each other and loved their kids. She is a master in bead making and reins from Ilorin where she helped run a bead shop. Her business skills have already proven to be a huge asset in empowering our caretakers in business.
Titi, our Child Mentor, is always smiling and a huge blessing to our children. She mentors, disciples, counsels and assesses the overall welfare of our children. She spends time with each child at least once a month to walk alongside them as their friend and confidant. She graduated from George Campion School in 2014 and is trying to get into university. Her parents have poured a lot of their life into her and it shows through her attitude; walk with the Lord and her desire to learn.
Cecilia our secretary is our newest addition. She is married with a degree and is proficient at Microsoft Office products, computers and more. She recently finished her one-year corper at H.E.L.P. orphanage where she was an assistant accountant, secretary and Auntie to the girls. She is married and lives in Ode Ere. I am excited, as she will be taking a lot of the load that Emma and I currently carry. Expect to see emails from her with updated pictures of C.A.R.E. kids for sponsors.
Diana Beville our Etsy store manager in the U.S. sacrifices her time several weekends a month to travel to different craft shoes selling C.A.R.E. Africa products. Her display booth has been perfected over the past year and our product moves so quickly we cannot keep up with the demand. She would love more volunteers to come alongside her to help market the Etsy store and its products and help with the many craft shows she travels to.
Last but not least are our volunteers. Nick and Katie Riddle, Yomi Bello and my hot and sexy husband Lenny Miles. We could not continue our Wednesday night D Group program if it wasn’t for these guys. We continue to pray for more volunteers as we are hoping to start the first AWANA program in Kogi State in May 2016.
Meet Toyin Kayode. Toyin’s mother abandoned him and his father many years ago. His father is a farmer but had grown old and could not provide for Toyin anymore. His Father told him to walk to Egbe from Oke Ere (the next town) and find an old friend of his. This friend happened to be the grandparents to Wale one of our CARE Africa kids. Toyin asked if he could stay with them. He told them he would find work so he could feed himself and pay school fees. They agreed and he moved into Wale’s room.
After only a few weekends I noticed a change in Toyin. He seemed to be less moody and a smile started to develop on his face. I asked him how things were going with his Dad and he would smile and say things were going great. I asked how church was and he said he loved going with his Dad and helping him to read the Bible we gave him. He told me that there was even talk of maybe his mom coming to visit soon.
I can get so discouraged sometimes by my conditions here. I work so hard and don’t get to see the fruits of my labor. Things of this culture can seem hopeless as if nothing can or will be changed. I look at these pictures and just smile because he gives me little glimpses each day of why I do what I do. I pray he does the same for you this week.
Amos is an artist from Ibadan who carves wood and paints amazing African scenes. He has supported his family for over 20 years through this trade. His artistic skills have allowed him to send 3 of his children to university. University in Nigeria is very expensive. There are no school loans available to allow Nigerians to attend. University must be paid in cash up front. On average one term is n150,000. Middle class Nigerians make n20,000-n40,000 a month outside of the larger cities. You can see…very few people can afford to go to University on the income they make.
C.A.R.E. Africa is excited to have partnered with Amos to help him support his family and all proceeds will go to C.A.R.E. Africa for orphan care. Several of his pieces of art are on their way to the U.S. as we speak. Small paintings will be $10 and large ones will be $15. He also has some stunning African table clothes and napkins to match for $25. I have sent one nativity seen but more can be ordered and he also has many other wood carvings that you can see below that can be ordered. He is truly gifted and his work truly captures African scenes.
We also have a local U.S. artist who has partnered with C.A.R.E. Africa too. He is well known for his pallet work and has designed an Africa wall hanging for. These will sell for $75. All the proceeds go to orphan care. For more information on any of our items feel free to email Diana Beville at 
Miles In Missions 