Jos Nigeria | Miles In Missions

Archive for the ‘Jos Nigeria’ Category

Recent Attacks Make Shelter Need Urgent

Posted: August 5, 2021 by Patrice Miles in African School, C.A.R.E. Africa, Fundraising, Jos Nigeria, Miles In Missions, Missionaries, Nigeria, Outreach, Prayer, SIM

At C.A.R.E. Africa we try to reach out to the community monthly to support other ministries to encourage them. We recently visited a ministry in Jos, Nigeria and fell in love with the work they are doing. Meet Bibi, a teacher that was tired of seeing the children in Jebu sitting around with nothing to do. They had no money for school fees so she brought the school to them. The children come everyday now to learn to read and write but have to sit outside in the hot sun. Recently there has been attacks on their village and the need for a shelter is even more important.

Bibi needs a building for these children and has been raising funds all by herself. Help her buy the block, wood and roofing materials needed to finish her building for the children of Jebu Miango in Nigeria. Any amount will help towards the $500 needed. You can donate at https://donorsee.com/project/10366

Check out the progress of their library an educational center along with information on the recent attacks on their village at https://www.facebook.com/kangyangg1.

Why Are You So Stubborn?

Posted: June 29, 2021 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa, Egbe Nigeria, Jos Nigeria, Miles In Missions, Nigeria, Orphans, Prayer, Sponsorship

Meet Elijah and Inioluwa. They are brother and sister and double orphans. We met them several years ago when their father had just passed away. Their mother was destitute and barely managing to care for Elijah, Inioluwa and their older brother Segun. C.A.R.E. Africa took all three siblings in and now provides them with an education, discipleship and mentoring. We also began working with their mother to help with empowerment and discipleship.

Unfortunately, within a matter of months their mother passed away. We located the maternal grandparents and they took all three children in. It was very hard on the elderly grandparents as Elijah, the youngest, was full of energy and never slowed down. The grandmother constantly begged us to take all the children and adopt them out. We worked and prayed with the family and after a few months we felt like they were beginning to settle in. Then unexpectedly the grandmother passed away. This left the care of the children up to the aging grandfather. Shortly after the grandmother passed away the neighbors began to obsess about the deaths and started claiming the children were evil and needed to leave.

We moved Elijah into our transition home, Inioluwa moved into foster care and the oldest Segun stayed with the grandfather to try and help. These kids have experienced too much death and rejection in their short years here on this earth. As a result we began to see acts of bad behavior, stubbornness and lack of interest in school work. During this time we had hired Gloria, a counselor for our C.A.R.E. kids. We sent her to Jos for some training and when she came back she was able to work directly with Elijah, Inioluwa and Segun to assess the trauma. She observed them and came to the conclusion that not only had they suffered severe trauma but they all suffered from different learning disabilities.

Learning disabilities in Nigeria are everywhere but very few Nigerians in the smaller villages recognize or know how to help children with them. These children are normally classified as stubborn or too playful. They fall behind in school and eventually drop out because they cannot cope in the classroom.

Gloria, our school counselor needs more training and resources to help not only Elijah and Inioluwa, but other children in our ministry. We have found training specific to dyslexia in Jos, a city about 11 hours away. These professionals have agreed to evaluate Elijah and Inioluwa for a fee and to provide Gloria with the training she needs to effectively work with children who have learning difficulties.

Please consider helping us make this trip possible by donating towards Gloria’s travel expenses and training. We have also created a Amazon list of resources Gloria will require in order to work with children who have learning challenges. Click the links below to donate towards Gloria’s training and or purchase items at Amazon for her resources.

Donations towards Gloria’s dyslexia training in Jos https://donorsee.com/project/10142

Amazon List for Gloria’s resources for working with children with disabilities. https://www.amazon.com/registries/custom/FM34NRI4CXMM/guest-view

Sports Outreach

Posted: January 12, 2021 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa, Egbe, Egbe Nigeria, Jos Nigeria, Nigeria, People of Egbe, Prayer, Sports Outreach

By: Emma Salako

We have been trying for some years now to bring a sports team from Jos all the way to Egbe. Finally, the Lord answered our prayers in November and the team came to Egbe. I can tell you that it was a glorious moment of change and discipleship. The first game was played against Vessel’s F.C of Egbe which ended at 0-0. We shared the gospel with all the players and the crowd that had gathered. The second game was played against Egbe Mekun F.C and ended up at 0-0. Both games went well and there were no injuries and no fights, which is rare for football games in Nigeria. Many players made a vow to be committed to their game and not just their game but to God also. The team from Jos was able to share experiences with Egbe players and relationships were built. We have now been invited to Jos to play and the team from Jos wishes to return to Egbe and stay for one week to help drill the young youths and have more outreaches to neighboring towns.

Overall we thank God for this amazingly peaceful event and all the lives that were committed to Christ and relationships that were built with many other football players around Nigeria. God is definitely using this sports program to spread the gospel to the men of Nigeria. These men will return home and share the good news with their friends and families. As you support this ministry you too are fulfilling God’s great command found in Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.”

Meaningful Gifts at Christmas

Posted: December 9, 2020 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa, Egbe, Egbe Nigeria, Jos Nigeria, Miles In Missions, Seamstresses

Check out our Etsy store this year for meaningful gifts for Christmas. All purchases help support our programs and school in Egbe while also empowering a Nigerian artisan. Check out a few of the people your purchase helps. Visit www.CareAfricaStore.com to pick that special gift for that special someone.

Seamstresses in Egbe

Josephine

Threads & Light Ministry

Ibrahim

Kids in School

Six Months

Posted: October 31, 2019 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa, Jos Nigeria, Lenny Miles, Miles In Missions, Missionaries, Nigeria, Patrice Miles, SIM

Wow! I cannot believe we have been in America for 6 months already!

Jolie, what is the best thing about being back in America?
1. Air Conditioning in my school.
2. A real school cafeteria with food.
3. The dinners you cook us at night.
(She is definitely my daughter, everything relates to food!)

Jolie, What do you miss about Nigeria.
1. I miss my friends, Caitlyn and Lowena
2. I am sad I will miss SIM Spiritual Life Conference in January.

Cason, what is the best thing about being back in America?
1. I love American school and making straight A’s now.
2. I love how much there is to do.
3. I love having all types of food options to eat.

Cason, what do you miss about Nigeria?
1. My friend Jephthah.
2. I miss having Jollof Rice all the time.
3. Freedom to do whatever and no rules.

Lenny, what is the best thing about being back in America?
1. Love having hobbies again like hunting.
2. More activities to do as a family and couple.
3. Being around my family again.

Lenny, what do you miss about Nigeria?
1. Food, Egusi & Pounded Yam!
2. Miss the missionary community.
3. Rainy season.

Patrice, what is the best thing about being back in America?
1. Food, Food, Food and more Food! (Doughnuts, cakes, cookies, real chocolate oh my!)
2. Seeing my kids joy as they play sports and are involved in different programs.
3. Hanging out and catching up with all my family and friends.
4. The participation and involvement from family, friends and strangers in C.A.R.E. Africa!

Patrice, what do you miss about Nigeria?
1. Food, Egusi & Pounded Yam.
2. Driving around with my driver, Samuel, on all our adventures in the crazy city.
3. Jumai, who helped me clean, cook and shop.
4. Those deep conversations with like minded missionaries who lived and breathed the same trials and tribulations we did.
5. My Nigerian brother and sister, Emma and Tofunmi.
6. Having to rely on God every day to just get from Point A to Point B in anything and everything I did.

Nigeria Trip Pictures

Posted: September 18, 2019 by Patrice Miles in AWANA, C.A.R.E. Africa, Egbe, Egbe Nigeria, Jos Nigeria, Miles In Missions, Mission Trip, Missionaries, Nigeria, Orphans, Patrice Miles, People of Egbe, Prayer, Spring Of Life

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Here we go!

Heathrow train with 9 bags

London pit stop.

Will all the luggage fit?

Emma made it all fit!

Welcoming Crew!

A few of my girls.

Seamstress kid hangout.

One on one time with teachers.

Seamstress class.

Quickbooks time….

What….I didn’t do it.

The Mummy’s

Baby Cecilia, Precious.

Family Interviews

Charles barbering apprenticeship.

Giving gifts from sponsors.

Ring Pop from sponsor.

Fatoye visit.

Office Shola

Solo the Great

Ayo the road angel.

Teacher training time.

Henna

September Birthdays

Measuring of land for possible permanent school site.

More measuring….

Patrice teaching how to measure land.

CARE Staff

Foundations Staff

WWJD bracelets

Backpacks! Backpacks!

Miriam and her style

More of baby Cecilia!

Nigeria!

Southeast Outlook in Jos

Sponsor gifts.

AWANA

Spring of Life HIV/AIDS Staff

Spring of Life meeting.

Caregivers praying over teachers.

Library organizers

Egg Roll! My favorite!

CARE’s prayer warrior, Baba Warren

Yup!

Teacher training with games.

One on one time with teachers

Teacher selfies.

Spring of Life Outreach

Outreach

Jollof rice for the kiddos!

WE love Jollof Rice!

Back to School Party

Sponsorship gifts

The Emma’s

Sponsorship gifts

Toyin selfie

Teachers selfie

And it’s time to go back to school!! See you next time!

Where is the money?

Posted: August 20, 2019 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa, Egbe Nigeria, Fundraising, Jos Nigeria, Miles In Missions, Missionaries, Nigeria, Patrice Miles, Prayer, SIM

When you Google the definition of a non-profit organization it says, A non-profit organization is a group organized for purposes other than generating profit. C.A.R.E. Africa was founded for purposes other than generating profit, so why is it all I think about is money?

Last Import - 57 of 581 I will never forget the time I walked into a widow’s ministry in Jos, Nigeria. There were many women at their sewing machines singing and smiling. Discipleship was going on, community was going on, empowerment was going on and I was amazed. My business mind started to churn and I asked questions about how the ministry was funded, what was their vision and mission statement, what was their URL for their website and how was their Facebook page doing. I will never forget the missionary’s response. “Oh, we don’t really have any of those things, God just continues to provide in unexpected ways. We always have enough to pay for what we need.”

I was so jealous! I constantly have this fear of not being able to pay salaries for my staffs that work so hard everyday fighting the Spiritual warfare in Egbe. I cringe at the thought of not being able to pay teachers that pour into children’s lives. I hate saying “No” to the request to start programs that could enrich our orphans and caregivers because I don’t know where the money will come from. Jealousy and frustration overwhelmed me that day because I was working so hard to fundraise money for my ministry and here was a ministry that God just provided for.

Screen Shot 2019-08-19 at 5.14.19 PM A supporter recently recommended a book called God Guides by Mary Geegh, a missionary in India. It really isn’t a book, more a pamphlet and it isn’t written well at all. The content, however, is powerful. Mary tells stories over an over again of her time in India where there is a need so she rests at Gods feet, hears from him, obeys and then receives. She is constantly saying, “Where God Guides, HE Provides.” Over and over again in her life she rests at his feet, he guides her and she listens and obeys and then he provides.

This morning I took time to be like Mary in the Bible and also Mary Geegh missionary in India and I rested at his feet. I sat quietly removing all distractions and seriously seeking him beyond the daily devotional and Christian living book. I admit I have done this before but it is not a regular practice of mine as busyness and self-assertiveness are much more comfortable to me then being still and quite. It was amazing! He gave me this blog to share with you along with so many other things for my upcoming trip to Egbe and just life.

Are you anxious about something right now?
Are you scared about something right now?
Is God guiding you into a new chapter, a new endeavor?
Where God Guides, HE Provides.

Take time and rest at his feet…seriously stop what you are doing and retreat to a quiet place and just be still. See what he has to say and then obey because Where God Guides HE Provides.

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Teach to Transform Nigeria

Posted: April 17, 2019 by Patrice Miles in Jos Nigeria, Miles In Missions, Nigeria, Prayer, SIM

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Judy, Pastor Dogara & Wife

“Would you like to come to church with me?” Last year, Judy, from Southeast Christian Church happened upon a Nigerian pastor named Dogara Gwana who was in Louisville for some seminary classes. Judy invited him to church and her bible study. It was at the bible study where Pastor Gwana met Dr. Tom McKechnie, founder of Teach to Transform. Teach to Transform (TTT) equips indigenous pastors and believers with basic medical training, farming and vocational skills. The hope is by using their new skills it will open doors for the gospel to be shared with others.

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Dr Tom Mckechnie & wife Karen with board member Ken Wilson and a TTT participant TY Wiggins

But the exciting part of this story is how God had a plan. Judy and Pastor Dogara were one of two divine appointments. My mother had heard of TTT and asked for a meeting between TTT and the Foundation she works for. As she listened to TTT share what they do with the Foundation’s President she thought of Nigeria. My mom told Dr. Mckechnie about her daughter in Nigeria and asked if they had ever considered going there. Having two divine appointments where Nigeria was mentioned, Dr. McKechnie felt he had to explore what God had in mind. He traveled to Jos, Nigeria, and met with SIM, Pastor Dogara and myself. After seeing the need, Dr. McKechnie committed to coming back with a team.

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The Team

This past week I have had the pleasure of hosting this amazing team of 14 facilitators from Kenya, Texas, Ohio and Louisville, Kentucky (my home town). We had 59 participants who attended the training in basic medical skills. About 75% of the class passed as trainers. Each was given a medical backpack with all the necessary medical supplies and sent forth to spread the gospel through basic medical care. Our class of 59 had a higher pass rate then any class TTT has ever trained. The high pass rate testifies that Nigeria has the people it needs to truly transform this nation if given the education and tools to do so. This story is about the awesomeness of God! You never know when you invite someone to church or set up a meeting that you might be a part of a divine appointment orchestrated by God Himself.

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Nigeria Presidential Election on Saturday

Posted: February 14, 2019 by Patrice Miles in Egbe, Egbe Nigeria, Jos Nigeria, Miles In Missions, Nigeria, Prayer

Presidential elections will be held in Nigeria this Saturday the 16^th of February 2019. This will be the sixth time that an election has been held every four years, since the end of military rule in 1999. Our family has started stockpiling supplies in case of lock down and curfews implemented due to violence. Cason and Jolie’s school has already given them off Friday and Monday.

Elections in Nigeria have always been a volatile subject. 2007 elections were described as “the worst they had ever seen anywhere in the world”, with “rampant vote rigging, violence, theft of ballot boxes and intimidation.

2011 elections were postponed and there was tension over whether a Muslim or a Christian should be President.

Our family was in Nigeria during 2015 elections and it was mostly very peaceful. All the nationals forecasted Buhari’s win and that it would be a peaceful handover and they were right.

This year, 2019, the forecast is not so positive. Concerns with terrorist attacks on elections institutions, violence toward voters, observers, or electoral officials, the use of armed gangs for voter intimidation, and widespread vote buying.

electiongif The U.S. has warned against violence during the February 2019 general elections in Nigeria, and U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington says,

“I can tell you from my impressions during my travels and my previous service in Nigeria that I fear there will be some violence around these elections, as has been the case with previous elections. I do not anticipate large-scale nationwide conflict, but rather localized violence. We look at states that are currently tense, especially if state-level politics are contentious like those in Benue, Plateau, as well as those in high-stakes locations with large populations such as Kano”.

We know our God is a big God and his word says in Romans 13:1

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

Please pray for Nigeria this weekend. The entire nation waits to see who the next President is and if the losing candidates will be humble and show the world that Nigeria is a country moving forward.

Throwing Spaghetti at the Wall

Posted: September 4, 2018 by Patrice Miles in Jos Nigeria, Miles In Missions, Nigeria, Patrice Miles, Prayer, SIM, Uncategorized

Many of you know our Nigerian daughter, Titi. For those of you who have no idea who she is – I invite you to click on the following link to read Titi’s amazing testimony. https://milesinmissions.wordpress.com/2018/03/01/my-goal-my-dream-my-life/

After Titi moved in with us we felt it was part of God’s plan for her to have the best education we could provide. We signed Titi up for SAT and TOEFL classes to prepare her for the required international exams. We also had to obtain an international passport so she could take those exams. There were mountains of paperwork to complete in applying to colleges and universities; and applying for scholarships and grants. We even applied to programs to help you apply for scholarships. In all this time we had no idea of the plans our God had put in place. So we just kept “throwing spaghetti at the wall” to see what would stick. The process was exhausting and the responses we received back were demoralizing. She was denied scholarships or financial aid because she wasn’t in the top of her class or she didn’t score over 1400 on the SAT or she wasn’t involved in sports. We were told over and over again that Titi’s case was hopeless and we were wasting our time.

I was near tears one evening when I vented all my frustration to my Bible study group. I knew I heard very clearly that God wanted something better for Titi but He was not showing us what His plans were. The good news is that we didn’t give up and we continued to tell Titi’s story to everyone we came across.

Finally one day we got an acceptance letter from Webster University, a U.S. University located in Ghana. They offered her a 25% scholarship. We were excited as she would be close enough to travel home for visits plus the food wouldn’t be so different and there would be a large African population for her to make friends. The icing on the cake was a U.S. college education. It sounded perfect! Then one day I was telling a fellow missionary about our many challenges with college applications and she asked if we had ever tried Lancaster Bible College. I said “Where in the world is Lancaster?” As she shared about this amazing college and how they worked with her on her two sons’ tuitions- I began to get excited. We had already applied to a million places so what was one more application – just to make certain – before we committed Titi to the university in Ghana.

I emailed the info@lancaster address and said very bluntly in my email…”I don’t want to waste either of our time but we have an amazing Nigerian daughter whose testimony I have attached. We have acceptance to Webster University with a 25% scholarship. That is where she is going unless you have something better.” I was weary and just could not be anything but direct. Within 24 hours we had an email from an angel who had talked to their admissions team and were offering Titi a 50% scholarship in the degree program she was wanting!!! But there were big hurdles that had to be tackled. The remaining 50% of tuition, housing and meals as they were not included in the scholarship PLUS we had the issue of a Visa and airfare. Wow God, we have been “throwing spaghetti at the wall” and a few things have actually stuck!

So we began tackling our hurdles one at a time. Housing – who do we know in Lancaster? Lenny, my husband, reminded me that we actually knew three families who had served in Nigeria and just left the field in the past 30 days that were from Lancaster. I was laughing now! I reached out to these wonderful missionaries to see if they would ask their churches and friends if anyone would be willing to provide housing for an international student. That Sunday we laid hands on Titi and asked God to provide housing if His plans were for her to attend Lancaster Bible College. Within 24 hours I received a message from the sweetest, young couple you will ever meet, Simeon and Alison Harrar. They opened their home to Titi AND they live 1 mile from campus!

Ok God, you have provided the school, the scholarship and the housing now we need a Visa. Our experience with a Nigerian being granted a Visa has not been a good one. On top of everything there was the pressure of forfeiting the Webster University scholarship if we did not respond back within a few days. We moved forward with Lancaster Bible College believing that God hadn’t opened all these doors only to have her Visa application denied. On July 16th, Titi’s 20th birthday, she was granted a U.S. Visa. But we barely had time to celebrate as we now faced the $15,000 hurdle…her tuition, airfare, monthly meals and supplies. Lord we need a miracle!

Titi sent emails out to everyone she had ever met. God provided and day-by-day donations started to come in – $6,800 to date. In addition, some precious people donated their air miles for Titi’s airline ticket.

This blog is so long but it can’t even begin to tell all the big and small miracles that Titi and I would wake up to every morning and dance and scream. The beginning of the year was such a struggle but the past few months were so sweet and God totally showed up and showed off. This process encouraged me even more to not give up and to persevere until we hear the voice of God say “STOP” or He shuts a door in our face. I wanted to give up so many times and just yell “What do you want us to do? Speak louder! I am tired of “throwing spaghetti at the wall” to see what sticks….can’t you just do this already?” Even in His silence and our exhaustion we continued to take baby steps in faith every day just waiting for Him to open a door real wide so we wouldn’t miss stepping through it. I hope this encourages some of you who are facing your own hurdles to keep “throwing spaghetti at the wall” until something sticks – God is faithful – don’t give up.

Titi is in the states now at Lancaster Bible College studying social work. She has a blog you can follow called https://plantainsplease.wordpress.com/ She still needs support so if you feel led to donate to her college education or her daily living expenses you can donate at http://bit.ly/titischool to our ministry account and the money will get to her. Just write Titi in the memo.

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