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Archive for the ‘Egbe’ Category

HELP!

Posted: May 3, 2016 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa, Egbe, Egbe Hosptial, Egbe Nigeria, Miles In Missions, Nigeria, People of Egbe, SIM

Letter received by C.A.R.E. Africa from Tofunmi our Caretaker Manager

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.

I have known her for 3 years and she has been a hair dresser. For the last two years I noticed her stomach has been getting bigger. At first, I thought she was pregnant but when she didn’t give birth for over a year I knew it was due to cysts in the stomach.

When I confronted her to ask why she did not have it operated on, she said it was due to the financial aspect of it. She said that all the money she makes from hairdressing goes for the children’s upkeep, feeding and education. She said she hasn’t been able to save anything towards her own medical bills.

I would be grateful if you could assist her in anyway. The bill according to the hospital for the operation will be N80,000-N100,000. ($290-$363). Your help would be greatly appreciated. God bless you (Amen).

Yours Faithfully,

Iwarere.

Funke has Cystic Fibroids and requires a hysterectomy. She currently looks like she is 6 months pregnant and the cysts seem like they are getting bigger. She is uncomfortable but not at risk of dieing. Because her surgery is an elective surgery the hospital benevolent fund is unable to help at this time.

We need your help!

Her surgery is scheduled for Friday as we have a visiting surgeon from the U.S. She will be admitted on Thursday.

I just know that with just a few people contributing small we can come up with the $290-$363 required for her surgery. Donating to the Nigerian Benevolent Fund to help people like Funke is tax deductible.

Please email me at patrice.miles@sim.org if you are interested and want to donate directly to the Nigerian Benevolent Fund. Please mark in the memo ECWA Hospital Egbe. Click Funke for the link to donate or email me if you want to mail in a check.

Thank you in advance for your help!!

Thank You Central Church, Charlotte N.C.

Posted: April 22, 2016 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa, Egbe, Egbe Nigeria, Miles In Missions, Nigeria, Orphans

I want to be a Doctor…..

Posted: April 18, 2016 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa, Egbe, Egbe Hosptial, Egbe Nigeria, Miles In Missions, Nigeria, Orphans

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.

DSC_1996 (1) 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.

DSC_2026 (1) 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.

Is Sustainability Possible?

Posted: March 8, 2016 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa, Egbe, Egbe Nigeria, Miles In Missions, Nigeria, Orphans, SIM

Gabriel and Family

I am excited to introduce our first Nigerian sponsor, Engineer Gabriel and family. Gabriel answered God’s call 2 years ago and left his job and family in Abuja, Nigeria to serve in Egbe. He worked alongside Lenny helping to build the wall around the compound and our new Guesthouse. He also spent his free time tutoring children around town and teaching at a local school. Many people were blessed by his time in Egbe.

Gabriel and his Hillcrest Mait. Staff

Construction at Egbe started to slow and a job in Jos, Nigeria opened up at Hillcrest International School. The position was for HOD of maintenance. Gabriel was a perfect fit and they hired him. He now is managing 11 men and living on the school compound with his family. God honored his obedience to come to Egbe in so many ways and the Hillcrest job is just one of the fruits we have seen from that.

Grandma and 4 of the 6 children she cares for waiting on her N1,000.

Gabriel was aware of our outstanding C.A.R.E. Africa applications and asked if he could help. I told him of a recent visit to a grandmother who was caring for 6 of her grandchildren in a one 10×10 room. Bolu is in JS1 (6^th grade) and her Father was killed by his own brother out of jealousy. After his death Bolu’s mother left her with grandma to go and try to find work in Ibadan a town 6 hours away. The day we visited grandma she was at home with her 4 other grandchildren and they where waiting on 1000 Naira ($3) to arrive from a family member so they could go and buy food.

Bolu

Gabriel will be sponsoring Bolu but we still have 5 other children in this household that need sponsorship. We are praying for God to bring more Nigerians alongside us as sponsors, volunteers, care takers and mentors. I truly believe that when more Nigerians start helping Nigerians like Engineer Gabriel, we will see a true change in this country that will last for generations to come. As we wait on God to bring these fellow Souljourners to us please consider sponsoring one of the children above for $35 a month. Email me at Patrice.Miles@sim.org for more information on how you can help.

A Gift for You!

Posted: January 23, 2016 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa, Egbe, Miles In Missions, Nigeria

Susanna, Gift, Ngozi (Goodness), Thankgod and Favor

Over a year ago I met women named Gift. She was a widow with 4 children and she was struggling to provide for her family. C.A.R.E. Africa took in her children and enrolled them in school and our other programs. We then wanted to empower Gift so she could one day take care of her children on her own. She said she wanted to learn to be a seamstress. Seamstress work in Egbe is high in demand. Fabric is selected from the local market and then women and men choose their style and the seamstress makes it. The traditional African fabric is worn by many people everyday. The goal would be for Gift to learn this trade and then we would help her get a sewing machine and her own shop.

Traditional African Fabric Outfit (Ankara)

We found a local seamstress to train Gift on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. Gift needed the remaining days to find work so she could buy food and provisions for her family. The plan started out well but eventually Gift was missing her classes. I asked her why she was not coming. She advised me that she needed to work more. Working only two days a week was not enough to feed her kids.

I completely understood, but it caused a dilemma for me. How do I empower women if they cannot take time away from work to learn a trade? God put it on my heart to try and get a sponsor for Gift the same way we have been getting sponsors for our children in C.A.R.E. Africa. I sat down with Gift to ask her, “If I could have your income supplemented for a year would you commit to seamstress training for that entire year?” I made it clear she could not miss one class. She agreed and I then felt led to ask a friend I know in the U.S. for her sponsorship. She said “yes” to sponsoring Gift. I was so excited to have our first Empowerment Sponsorship!!

To put icing on the cake, two days later I get this Facebook message….
Patrice, I have just received a check here for $200 from ————-, which is one of the churches in the Heart of Texas Baptist Network. She is saying that they want it to go toward Nigeria missions. She is very learned on the things going on in Nigeria and she suggested a sewing machine, but she said should would like for you to make a decision where it goes based on your deepest need.

WOW!! He knew what I needed before I even asked Don’t you just love it when you hear Gods voice, obey and then he just opens the floodgates!! Spend time with him today…….hear his voice today……obey today……..he will provide more than you can even begin to imagine!

What is Normal?

Posted: January 14, 2016 by Patrice Miles in Egbe, Egbe Nigeria, Miles In Missions, Missionaries, Nigeria, Patrice Miles

What is normal? Google says normal is conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or expected.

Miles Family

Before God called me to Africa normal was; -a job I went to every day of the week that paid me in American dollars -a house I paid a mortgage on that had AC in the winter an awesome fireplace for the winter
-a church in a building with amazing worship talent, small groups and many other activities to get involved in
-a school for my kids that I paid tuition for and I tried to get involved in
-3 meals a day with food that I could drive 5 minutes away to purchase
-weekly dining out dates with my family and or husband
-weekends full of events from sports to birthday parties
-changing weather from hot to cold every year
-once the weekend was finished, I did it all over again the next week

I loved my normal! It was comfortable and I knew what was expected of me and what I expected of others. I normally felt in control because everyday was the usual, typical day.

Since moving to Africa, the normal is;
-a ministry I am apart of everyday that pays me in smiles, thank you’s and stress.
-a house I rent with undependable electricity, bugs, windows that stay open year round and currently Harmattan everywhere
-a small church in my home worshipping God with my husband and two children in our family room
– a school for my kids that is free and they are the only two children
– 3 meals a day all with my family with food freshly killed or store bought over 7 hours away
– weekly dining out at the Guesthouse with fellow missionaries
– weekends filled with hiking, bush rides, bead making, getting a suntan or just hanging out.
– changing weather from hot to hotter and hottest
– once the weekend is over I have no clue what next week will hold and have stopped trying to plan it or guess what might happen.

I love my new normal! It is very uncomfortable but not in the way you would think. I don’t know what to expect and I don’t always understand what others expect of me. I never feel in control. Everyday holds new problems and stresses that I am not prepared to handle. I have to sit at my makers feet every morning in order to be prepared for the day. It can be freeing if I let it, but then it can also be stressful if I try to do it on my own.

I encourage you to embrace your normal, but to always be open to a new normal God might be calling you to. Weather it is a new job, switching kids to a new school, a new friend, a new home or maybe a move around the world. Whatever your normal or new normal might be, you cannot do it alone. Trust in him and have faith he will always provide what you need even if it may not be what you exspected.

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 31^st.

Merry Christmas

Norwex

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

11986431_10154067518152334_934970296776599310_n I 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 PM Pam 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 2^nd. 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.

Road Trip

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

After 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 PM Our 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 2^nd.

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 Pic P.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.

“Don’t call me Naomi!”

Posted: November 11, 2015 by Patrice Miles in Egbe, Egbe Hosptial, Egbe Nigeria, Fundraising, Miles In Missions, Missionaries, Nigeria, Prayer, SIM, Volunteers
Tags: Africa, Egbe, Egbe Hospital, Egbe Nigeria

“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.

Many 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.

We 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!

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