Archive for the ‘C.A.R.E. Africa’ Category

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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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!!

Hospital DonationsScreen Shot 2015-10-28 at 2.00.16 PM
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

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.

Miles Family Pic

   

Brothel Ladies, Blessing is on the far right.

Brothel Ladies, Blessing is on the far right.

Meet Blessing. While I was in the US earlier this year a few of our missionaries on the ground stumbled onto a brothel in the town. They met several times with the prostitutes there and built some relationships. A local Pastor, Pastor Wale, came alongside them and was able to get a few ladies to leave the brothel. The church  found them places to live for free and even gave them money to help start small businesses. Blessing was one of the ladies that choose to leave the brothel.

When I arrived back to Nigeria in May, Pastor Wale asked if he could enroll Blessings’ two children in CARE Africa. Currently the children lived in another town with grandma and he wanted to reunite them with their mother.  Without a guarantee of an education the pastor was concerned for the boys. We immediately said yes and the next week Blessing was reunited with her two boys

Blessing right after being reunited with her two boys.

Blessing right after being reunited with her two boys.

The following Saturday she came to CARE Africa. When she walked in the door she started crying and begging us to take the kids from her. “Please take my children! This is too much for me!” She said the money she was making selling beans and rice was just not enough to support her and the two boys. She said that everything was much harder than she had imagined it would be. We explained to her we were not an orphanage and prayed with her. We prayed for God to give her the strength to handle her new life and not revert back to the old one.

A few weeks ago I went to check on Blessing and the boys. We sat and talked about the upcoming school year. Once all contracts were signed and everything was understood by all parties I asked how her business was doing. She said it was still the same but she was managing. I asked her if now, a month later, she still wanted to give Friday and Samuel to me and she laughed and said “No”. I told her how proud we were of her for managing and not going back to what she knew and what was easy.

Last week at back to school meeting at CARE Africa.

Last week at back to school meeting at CARE Africa.

I then asked her what she needed to help her business do better. She said she needed to be able to buy in bulk.  If she could buy more than just a days supplies she would have more profit and thus could invest more into her business. Emma  and I started calculating what a whole bag of rice would cost and all the supplies she would need and it came up to N17,000 ($80). I opened my planner and showed Emma what I had written on my to do’s for that day. “Deposit N18,500 from craft sales from volunteer team.” The day before I had sold N18,500 in crafts from CARE Africa to a recent team that visited Egbe. I love it when God shows off! I asked Emma if he felt like we needed to talk about it more or if he felt led to go ahead and help her. He just smiled and said “It looks like we are just suppose to go ahead and do this.” God’s timing is so amazing.

Emma explained all this to Blessing in Yoruba to make sure she knew all the events that led up to her getting this money. I wanted her to understand how none of this could have been a coincidence. Emma explained how God planned for us to visit her that day and to have this money in our pocket from sales yesterday. I looked her in the eyes and said “God loves you Blessing! He thinks you are special! He has chosen you!” I loved getting to see the shy smile on her face as I spoke these truths to her. You could just see in her face that no one had ever told her this.

Samuel on the Left and Friday on the right.

Samuel on the Left and Friday on the right.

I am so blessed to get to watch God change lives in Egbe. Thank you for continuing to support Miles in Missions and CARE Africa so we can continue to show God’s love to people that have never been shown love. God loves you! He thinks your special! He has chosen you!

Friday and Samuel are Blessings’ children’s names. Friday is currently sponsored but Samuel is not. If God is leading you to help Samuel, click CARE Africa and sign up to send Samuel to school for only $35 a month.

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Samuel pounding yam!

“D” Groups

Posted: September 12, 2015 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa
Tags: ,

DSC_0014For over a year, CARE Africa had been meeting every Saturday from 12-4pm. It started in my home in a little 10’x10′ room that we all crammed into. We had a bead class, discipleship, and tutoring all in one room. It was crazy! We were then blessed with the use of a local community center called The Centenary. We have plenty of space now and have separate rooms for bead making, tutoring, and discipleship.

DSC_1236Word quickly spread through the town about our Saturdays at Centenary and more and more children started showing up. What was supposed to be a CARE Africa thing turned into a community thing. We counted one Saturday 60 children. We did not want to turn children away but it started to become too much. We just did not have enough hands a feet to keep the children corralled and it started to seem more like a day care then a discipleship and mentoring program.

DSC_0391When school ended for summer holiday we decided to take a summer break too from CARE Africa Saturdays. Katie and I didn’t know what to do. We wanted to see our CARE kids. We wanted to pour into their lives and get to know them better. We loved seeing them on Saturdays! Together we both came up with this idea and then another idea but nothing we thought of seemed realistic or sustainable. Not until we stopped trying to think of something ourselves and went to God in prayer did the answer come. Wednesday night “D” Groups, Discipleship Groups.

Screen Shot 2015-09-12 at 8.34.47 AMI remember Wednesday night High School groups like it was yesterday. “Vision” was the name we called it and it was at the old Southeast Christian grey building on Hikes Lane. I remember every Wednesday so excited to go to church and hang out with my friends. I was touched many times by the Holy Spirit and learned so much about my walk with the Lord. I was so excited to bring this experience to Egbe, Nigeria and watch God use it to teach these kids more about himself.

I immediately contacted my brother, Garrison Polsgrove, who is a youth pastor for Shepherd on a Hill. I told him our vision and he immediately sent me curriculum and guidance on how to run a “D” group. See his latest Blog here on small groups.

DSC_0374We now meet every Wednesday 4-6pm. We have “D” group till 5:30pm and then feed them Jollof Rice for their dinner. For some, this is the only meal they will have all day. I will never forget leaving our first D group meeting last Wednesday and one of the girls said. “Wow, this was so amazing. I have never seen people so happy before.” Thank you God for allowing me once again to be apart of something so much bigger than I can even begin to imagine. The seeds that are getting planted and the generations that are going to be changed is going to be amazing to watch! Thank you to all our supporters for allowing us to be here to watch his amazing work in Africa.

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Diana 1We need your help!! City of Middletown welcomes your family to join them for Middletown’s Family Fun Festival and Craft Show 2015. There are activities for the entire family! Games, booths, a parade, crafts, rides, kidz fun zone and entertainment. This was one of my families favorite festivals when we lived in Louisville.

Our application for the Middletown Family Fun Festival was accepted. God blessed us with a donor for the fees for the booth and now we just need workers. Please pray about helping our C.A.R.E. Africa partner, Diana Beville, run the booth.

diana 4If you can help, there are several shifts to choose from:
Friday Sept. 11th          5:00pm-8:00pm
Friday Sept. 11th          8:00pm-11:00pm
Saturday Sept. 12th      9am-12noon
Saturday Sept. 12th     12noon-3:00pm
Saturday Sept.  12th     3:00pm-6:00pm
Saturday Sept. 12th      6:00pm-9:00pm

diana 2Ideally, there will be at least 2 people on each shift at the Middletown Family Fun Festival. The more the merrier. If you are not able to volunteer, please consider stopping by our booth or spreading the word for us. Thank you!

Feel free to visit the Middletown Family Fun Festival website by clicking on the link.

david spalshThis is a recent letter we received from a family member of one of our orphans, David Olamide.

“A life filled with testimonies is the life of David Olamide since he came in contact with C.A.R.E. Africa. Prior to the time C.A.R.E. Africa became committed to being a helping aid, he couldn’t converse in English Language. His studies were nothing to write home about and so also his behavior and relationship.

davidSuddenly his behavior at home became a type that is envied so much that his grandmother had to attest to the new development. She (grandmother) confessed that the impact of “ C.A.R.E. Africa” on David Olamide is so enormous that language is in poverty of what could be used to express her gratitude. David Olamide expressed how mixing with the white children has really given him a sense of belonging. Many may say he is (David) wild, but we his family are happy for the acclamation.

He may not be where many think he should be now, but he’s no longer where he used to be. We are grateful for how “C.A.R.E. Africa” came at such a time in his life and gave his life a meaning when many had given up on him. It is an understatement to say “C.A.R.E. Africa” has helped him to find his place in all ramification. More grace to the vision and visioniers. Long live Egbe, Love live Nigeria. Long live C.A.R.E. Africa.” Pst Andrew J.T. Edwards

DSC_0086David is currently sponsored but we have many other children that are still in need of a sponsor. As you have read, you can make a difference in a child’s life. For $35 a month you can sponsor a child. Currently the following children are still in need of a sponsor. Email me if you would like to join the C.A.R.E. Africa team at patrice.miles@sim.org or click C.A.R.E. Africa to make a donation.

 

 

Adama

Adama

Thankgod

Thankgod

Hosanna

Hosanna

IMG_2606Wow! Have we really been living in Africa for two years? It seems that time fly’s when you are in your sweet spot. I do not even know where to begin on how to tell you what this journey has been like for our family. The only words I can say is that God has provided everything we’ve needed along the way. He has provided a house that our whole family feels is our home. He has provided safety from snakes, severe illnesses, Ebola, kidnappings, and robberies. He has provided a stronger marriage for Lenny and I. He has provided friends that I will cherish for the rest of my life. He has provided a different perspective on life and his word. He has provided financially through supporters, as we never fell below 100% in our support. He has provided success in our ministries and he has provided Peace in a country full of unrest. Jehovah-Jireh, God will provide!

IMG_2748God has also provided a desire to remain in Nigeria until he calls us home. We do not know how many more years that will be. Since arriving we have helped revitalize and construct many areas of the hospital. Operating rooms, the men’s ward, women’s ward, maternity, pharmacy, a new guesthouse & duplex, wall around the compound, missionary housing, fencing around our water supply reservoir, and so much more. In addition, C.A.R.E. Africa was created. Through this ministry, orphans and widows in Egbe are being empowered through the Bible and education.

Egbe WorkersAs the revitalization is slowing down it is time to focus on mentorship and discipleship. The hospital was days away from closing prior to revitalization. We do not want this to happen again. Training of the Nigerian staff and finding more missionaries to say “YES” to Egbe, is the second phase of this revitalization project.

 

In order for us to be able to participate in this 2nd phase of the revitalization project we will need to raise additional support and go through some long-term missionary training. We will arrive in the U.S. for home assignment in mid-October. We know God will again provide for us, so we have already booked our return flight back home to Egbe for January 2nd 2016. Our home church, Southeast Christian Church, will be hosting an open house for us on Thursday November 5th at 6pm so we can share video, photos and information about our time in Nigeria. We will be traveling to over 7  different states during our home assignment to meet with supporters, go through long term training, debriefing and more so our time in Louisville, KY. will be short. Please mark your calendars now for this event so we can see you. 

DSC_9963If you are currently one of our supporters we cannot Thank you for journeying with us over the past two years! We are asking that you pray about continuing to support us long term. If you currently are not one of our supporters, we ask that you pray about signing up to journey alongside us in growing God’s kingdom in Egbe, through this revitalization project and C.A.R.E. Africa. Click on this link to sign up now, MILES IN MISSIONS. See you in October!

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Screen Shot 2015-08-13 at 4.44.38 PMI am a strong woman. I have never been very sympathetic to anyone’s’ ailments or problems. I persevered through a rocky child hood and it made me who I am today. I continually pray for God to soften my heart so that I have more compassion for people during their times of trouble. I just get up and go and expect everyone else should do the same. Why think about your problems or complain about things when there is this whole big beautiful world out there? I wake every morning excited to see what God has in store for me. I have always wondered why God gave me such a strong heart. Africa has shown me why.

DSC_9946Mom’s in Egbe do not have it easy. It seems eight out ten women I meet are single mothers that have either been abandoned or widowed. Most of them have at least two or more children and are barely managing. Gift, is a widow who has been a part of our seamstress program for over a year now. Her husband died two years ago and she has been managing ever since. At the beginning of 2015 she expressed the need for her four children to attend school. When I went last week on a home care visit to see Gift, I was again amazed at the joy that so many Egbe mothers have in spite of their circumstances. As I watched Favor, her 15 year old son, boil corn over charcoal and tried to get Goodness, her youngest, to sit still for a picture, I asked Gift a few questions.

DSC_0042“How often are you getting to seamstress class every week, so you can graduate soon?”

“I haven’t been able to attend in the past few weeks. “ Gift said quietly.

“What work are you doing for money right now?” I questioned.

“I have had a few brick and stone moving jobs here and there.” she proudly told me.

“How are you able to buy food and provisions for your babies right now?”

“I am very wise with my money, Mummy.” she told me.

“Do you have any family that can help?”

“No Mummy. My father is old and I have lost track of my brothers and sisters.”

DSC_0022We are then interrupted by her youngest son named , Thankgod. He comes running past me with a wheel on a stick. He was laughing and laughing as if his toy was the best toy in the whole world. Gift smiled at him and laughed and then offered me corn that Favor had been boiling. Goodness, her youngest, stared at me as she leaned on Emma eating her corn. I wondered what she was thinking of my white skin? I wondered if this is the only meal they will have all day? I wondered if Favor always cooked the meals? I prayed in my head for God to show me what he wants me to do for this family. I was speechless as how this mom continues to smile, laugh, and love these children and God everyday.

I am also amazed at how I can go home to my revitalized house, eat my dinner with my family that fills my belly, and not think about Gift and her family in their 10×10 room with their boiled corn. How do I sleep at night in my soft bed shipped from the US and not wonder how all 5 of the Jeremiah family fit on the one mattress they have on the floor? Have I become immune to the poverty here? Is it really poverty or is it just a way of life here? My mind can play so many tricks on me and my emotions can get the best of me sometimes. Screen Shot 2015-08-13 at 5.59.54 PMI am a strong woman and God built me for this bush life but I am also weak too. I cannot rely on myself to remain strong but, thank God that I can rely on him. I know God is faithful. I know he loves all his Egbe children both old and young. I know he will always give them what they need. I am only one person but he is all-sufficient. He shows up over and over again for these Egbe Mom’s…..I see it in their smiles…..I hear it in their laughter! Thank you God for making me the way you did. Thank you God for allowing me to see how weak and inadequate I am so I can see how BIG you are. Thank you God for using me!