Archive for the ‘Missionaries’ Category

I think I have D.I.D.

Posted: November 9, 2021 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa, Egbe, Egbe Nigeria, Miles In Missions, Missionaries, Nigeria, Patrice Miles, People of Egbe, Prayer
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I think I have (DID),  Dissociative identity disorder previously known as multiple personality disorder.  I find that I am one person in the U.S. and an all together different person when I land in Nigeria. 

In the U.S. I am confident, in control, busy and efficient. I rarely experience drama or trials that cannot be readily fixed. The car starts like it is supposed to, phones and internet are dependable, if I am injured I can call an ambulance, hospitals and doctors have what they need to fix me, grocery stores are everywhere with plenty of food, a flip of a switch gives me instant electricity and the temperature in my home can be adjusted to my liking – everything in the U.S. works pretty well. I really don’t need anyone or anything and depend primarily on – Patrice!

I have grown to love my American life and for the most part it is very comfortable. Regular date nights with my husband, fun holidays with my family, purposeful activities with my children, a close church community and constant electricity and AC! It’s secure and safe. I wake happy to see the day but lay my head down at night wondering if my life was used in any way to show Christ’s love to someone.

When it’s time for my quarterly visit to Nigeria I start to get anxious. No control, no efficiency, no AC, no dependable electricity, phones or internet. I start to think about all the comforts I will be giving up. The long, uncomfortable 30+hours of travel , insecurity on the roads, the heat…..oh the heat! I think about my husband and kids I will leave behind and the burden on them to manage the household duties. I think about the cultural adjustments, don’t stare people in the eye when talking to them, wear dresses and skirts, cover your head when praying or in church, don’t interrupt someone who is talking (even if they talk for an hour), eat your meat last, use your right hand, greet every person you pass, don’t show fear, and remember you are a women. All this anxiousness actually makes my right eye start twitching weeks before I travel.

The funny thing is the moment I touch ground in Nigeria my second personality comes forward like a pre-programmed robot. Where did this Patrice come from, she was so anxious just a few minutes ago?

I’m confident yet the confidence comes from the Lord – not from Patrice!  Every step I take I am praying God goes before me. “Go before me and allow the customs officers to let me through without extortion. Go before me and allow my driver to be alert and careful among the unregulated drivers on the roads. Go before me and allow all the security, army and police check points to go smoothly. Go before me and remove any evil people with intentions of kidnapping or robbery. Go before me and keep malaria, ecoli, typhoid, COVID, and any other sickness away. Go before me and help me adjust to the 6 hour time difference so I can be alert and ready to encourage my staff. Go before me and give me the words and activities necessary to benefit the voiceless and exhausted. Go before me and make every appointment a divine appointment that will help your kingdom grow. Go before me and allow me to get back home to my family and recover quickly from jet lag”.

While in Nigeria, I rely on the Lord each day and every step! I know I cannot do it without Him and He shows up every trip and prepares the way. Oh the pages I could fill of the divine appointments in Nigeria and seeing God so beautifully in them.

So this second personality in Nigeria is confident too, but not in Patrice!  It’s confidence in the Lord!  I am busy but in His work and activities, I am efficient, not with time or schedules, but with relationships. I must rely on Him because I have no control and no clue what is going to happen next. 

My question always is this – how can I take Patrice in Nigeria back to the U.S. with me? 

How can I rely on the Lord in the U.S. like I do in Nigeria? 

How can I know and see Him orchestrating and protecting every single minute of my life in the U.S. as I do in Nigeria? 

God uses each trip to mold me a little more into the woman He wants me to be.  Until then I continue to wait for the day I see Him face to face and hear Him say “Well done my good and faithful servant” or as they say in Egbe, Nigeria “You really tried!

Nigeria Trip October 2021

Posted: November 4, 2021 by Patrice Miles in African School, C.A.R.E. Africa, Egbe, Egbe Nigeria, Miles In Missions, Mission Trip, Missionaries, Nigeria, Orphans, Patrice Miles, People of Egbe, Prayer
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Check our my latest trip to Nigeria. I was so blessed to be able to spend time with my staff encouraging them through leadership training. We re-visited our vision, mission and core values while evaluating our programs and processes. We analyzed our office culture and came up with ways to show Christ’s love better in the lives of those he has entrusted us with. We celebrated our children and continued to work towards progress on our building project for the school. God continues to give us all the strength to be his hands and feet in Egbe, Nigeria.

P.S. My birthday fundraiser for Pastor Alabi was fully funded!! Thank you everyone for helping make my birthday wish come true!

Today is my Birthday!

Posted: October 21, 2021 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa, Egbe, Egbe Nigeria, Fundraising, Medical Missions, Miles In Missions, Missionaries, Nigeria, People of Egbe, Prayer, SIM, Spring Of Life
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Today is my Birthday! Only $1,540 more needed to make my birthday wish come true! Help Pastor Alabi’s family move into his new home! https://donorsee.com/project/11672

Pastor Alabi is married with children and he is the project manager for the Spring Of Life Counseling Center. He works with over 300 patients with infectious diseases through support group meetings, home visitations, outreach and counseling on drug adherence and trauma care. He has been trying to build a home for his family for over 10 years. In Nigeria it is almost impossible to get a mortgage for a home. Every step must be paid for in cash. Pastor Alabi has been trying to divert funds to the building of his home but at the rate he is going it will be another 10 years before he is able to move in. Would you please consider making a difference in this family’s life by helping purchase windows, doors, cement work and a bore hole so they can move into their new home.

Help us invest into Pastor Alabi like he invests into so many every day! https://donorsee.com/project/11672

Make My Birthday Wish Come True!

Posted: October 14, 2021 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa, Egbe, Egbe Nigeria, Fundraising, Medical Missions, Miles In Missions, Missionaries, Nigeria, People of Egbe, Prayer, SIM, Spring Of Life
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One week from today is my Birthday and I only have one wish! Move one of my favorite Nigerians, Pastor Alabi, into his new home! https://donorsee.com/project/11672

Pastor Alabi is married with children and he is the project manager for the Spring Of Life Counseling Center. He works with over 300 patients with infectious diseases through support group meetings, home visitations, outreach and counseling on drug adherence and trauma care. He has been trying to build a home for his family for over 10 years. In Nigeria it is almost impossible to get a mortgage for a home. Every step must be paid for in cash. Pastor Alabi has been trying to divert funds to the building of his home but at the rate he is going it will be another 10 years before he is able to move in. Would you please consider making a difference in this family’s life by helping purchase windows, doors, cement work and a bore hole so they can move into their new home.

Help us invest into Pastor Alabi like he invests into so many every day! https://donorsee.com/project/11672

What’s Been Going on at C.A.R.E. Africa?

Posted: October 11, 2021 by Patrice Miles in African School, AWANA, Board of Directors, C.A.R.E. Africa, Child Sponsorship, Egbe, Egbe Nigeria, Fundraising, Miles In Missions, Missionaries, Nigeria, Orphans, People of Egbe, Prayer, Seamstresses
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From Canada to the U.S. to Egbe…..here a some beautiful pictures to illustrate what has been going on at C.A.R.E. Africa! Enjoy!

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
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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.

Our New Home

Posted: January 19, 2021 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa, Egbe Nigeria, Miles In Missions, Missionaries, Nigeria, Patrice Miles, Prayer, SIM
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If you haven’t heard already, Louisville Kentucky will be our new home. I am excited to announce that I will be assuming the position of the Executive Director at C.A.R.E. Africa, Inc. I will continue to work in an administrative role in donor relations, child sponsorship, and marketing. As Executive Director, I will now also coordinate with the board of directors and those on the ground in Egbe to facilitate growth of the C.A.R.E. Africa ministry.  I will also travel back and forth from the U.S. and Nigeria several times a year to continue to oversee operations.

 

C.A.R.E. Africa, Inc. has been a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) since July 2017. God has grown the ministry PHYSICALLY with more children, staff and programs in Egbe; SPIRITUALLY with lessons learned through fellowship and studying His word; and EMOTIONALLY as we have dealt with COVID and the effects on our children and caregivers.

  • We currently have 73 children being taken care of by 60 caregivers in the town of Egbe.
  • Our school (Foundations Academy Egbe) is in its 3rd year and currently enrolls children from nursery to 7th grade.
  • Secondary School (Middle/High School) is under construction.
  • Two C.A.R.E. Africa children are in university and two are waiting on admission.
  • Vocational school under construction with plans for providing classes in baking, sewing, hairdressing, barbering and shoe repair.
  • Weekly AWANA (Approved Workers are not Ashamed) and High School Discipleship.
  • Monthly community service programs where our kids are able to give back to the community.
  • Our transition home is being remodeled and currently houses five C.A.R.E. Africa children
  • Monthly sports outreach in Egbe and surrounding towns has been successful in leading others to Christ.
  • Seamstress program with six women sewing for our Etsy store at www.CareAfricaStore.com

 

Our family is excited to have finally planted our feet somewhere. As of January 4th we officially became home owners and are excited to see what this next chapter of our lives will hold for our family and C.A.R.E. Africa. Lenny has started a remodeling company call GR8 Home Improvements. You can visit him at http://www.GR8hi.com.  Cason is planning on heading to EKU this fall and Jolie is praying she gets to go to school in person at Dupont Manual High school someday soon. Titi has only 3 semesters left at Lancaster Bible College. Our Nigeria Golden Retriever, Tuck, is doing great and loving all the cats and squirrels everywhere. We added a little one to our family and his name is “Biggie” and he is such a funny little puppy.

Thank you to everyone that has supported our family over the past 8 years through prayer and or finances.

Thank you to everyone that is continuing to support our ministry directly through C.A.R.E. Africa.  We feel like God is up to something big and we cannot do it without the support of loyal donors.

Giving Back

Posted: November 18, 2020 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa, Egbe Hosptial, Egbe Nigeria, Medical Missions, Miles In Missions, Missionaries, Nigeria, Outreach, People of Egbe, Prayer, SIM, Volunteers
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One of the many things we try to teach our kids at C.A.R.E. Africa is to give back to the community. Our teenagers, just like Western teenagers, are so focused on their own lives that they forget the world  is full of hurting people with bigger problems.

This month, ECWA Hospital Egbe, gave permission for our teenagers to serve their hospital patients. Our teenagers distributed biscuits, eggs and other provisions. They also prayed for the patients and gave them some words of encouragement. In addition, we were able to raise some money to give to the ECWA Hospital benevolent fund which helps patients that cannot afford medical care.

If you would like to learn more about our sister ministry,  ECWA Hospital Egbe, visit https://egbehospital.org. This ministry is always in need either short or long term missionaries to serve in the clinical and administrative departments of the hospital.

Nigeria COVID-19 Update

Posted: October 15, 2020 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa, COVID-19, Egbe, Egbe Nigeria, Miles In Missions, Mission Trip, Missionaries, Nigeria, Orphans, Patrice Miles, People of Egbe, Prayer, SIM
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Update on Return Trip to Nigeria

I have had so many people ask me when I plan to return to Nigeria now that international airports are opening. Our visit in June was cancelled due Covid-19 and my team and I have been anxious to reschedule. The most recent COVID testing and quarantine protocols for travelers arriving in Nigeria requires:

  1. We must provide the airline with proof of a negative Covid-19 PCR test result administered within 5 days of departure to Nigeria. The airline will deny boarding of any passenger who does not have said proof.
  2. We must register and upload PCR test results to Nigeria’s online International Travel Portal.  We must pay via the online portal for a Covid-19 PCR retest in Nigeria to occur seven days after arrival at an approved lab.
  3. At the airport in Nigeria we will undergo mandatory health screening and must present evidence of negative pre-boarding PCR test results and evidence of payment/appointment for a repeat PCR test in-country.  Our passport biodata page including our passport picture will be forwarded to all COVID-19 PCR Sample Collection Centers.
  4. Mandatory eight days of isolation.  Present ourselves for repeat Covid-19 PCR testing on day seven.  Once we have received a negative repeat PCR test the quarantine is lifted.

We would have to travel to the small town of Ilorin for our repeat Covid-19 PCR tests 7 days after arrival. The four hour drive to Ilorin is over difficult roads that are frequented by robbers. We have no experience with anyone obtaining a PCR repeat test in Ilorin so have no idea what the challenges might be. We have heard from other missionaries about delays in getting their repeat PCR test results performed in better run and larger cities. Two weeks of our time in country are tied up meeting all the testing and quarantine requirements – and that’s only if there are no problems along the way (no “wahalla”).  Unfortunately, in my experience, it is unlikely this will be a smooth process. It is not a risk I am willing to take nor put my team through at this time. You can pray Nigeria does away with this in country Covid-19 PCR retest so our team can visit and encourage our children, staff and caregivers and bring much needed supplies.

 

Update on School Resumption

We were so excited to get the news last month that schools could finally reopen. It was challenging to get the needed resources like face masks, hand sanitizers and other COVID-19 requirements, but God provided and we are open!

The children were very excited to return. However, we found that the homework packets and the small amount of interaction we were allowed with the children have left the kids behind academically. Thankfully, Nigeria decided to start the school year with the original third term that was missed due to the COVID shutdown.  Repeating the third term should help catch the children up but there are still many challenges that we face.

Starting Nov 1st, the first term of the new school year will begin, and things will hopefully return to normal. Pray for our teachers and kids to persevere and that this pandemic will not have a negative effect on any child’s educational foundation.

Enjoy some of the smiling faces returning to our school.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

C.A.R.E. Board Power!

Posted: October 8, 2020 by Patrice Miles in Board of Directors, C.A.R.E. Africa, Egbe, Egbe Nigeria, Miles In Missions, Missionaries, Nigeria, Patrice Miles, Prayer, SIM
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C.A.R.E. Africa has been a registered 501(c)(3) since 2017 and we have an amazing Board of Directors! Let me introduce you to them. 

Diana Beville

Diana is married to Stephen Beville and has two young daughters. She runs our C.A.R.E. Africa markets and Etsy store while also working part time as a career consultant in Louisville, Kentucky. Diana has traveled to Egbe, Nigeria three times and Stephen two times. Stephen is a solution architect with GE and helped create the bylaws and financial accounts for C.A.R.E. Africa’s US 501(c)(3). 

 

 

Jolene Eicher


Jolene is retired CEO of Advanced ENT and Allergy and a small group leader at her church in Louisville, KY.  She is married to Fred Eicher, a financial counselor. Jolene has four grown children and seven grandchildren. She is the secretary for our Board of Directors and also proofreader for all marketing, blogs and press pieces. She has visited Egbe, Nigeria three times helping to document our children’s stories and progress of the ministry.

 

Cindy Borody

Cindy, her husband and three children were missionaries in Niger for 20 years. While in Niger, Cindy started a local village school, and taught in a one room school house for Missionary Kids. Her husband ran the lab at a local hospital. After their time in Niger they had a sabbatical in the US and then moved to Egbe, Nigeria.  Cindy helped with the C.A.R.E. Africa school while in Egbe. Today she is living in Canada and manages the SIM C.A.R.E. Africa Canada project and C.A.R.E. Africa Canada Etsy store. She has two grandchildren and one on the way. 

 

Ashley Beebe

Ashley is a retired school teacher and is married to Scott Beebe. They have three children, two in high school and one in college. She currently works in administration for her husband’s coaching firm (“Business on Purpose”), facilitates a women’s group called the “Real Reel”, is on the missions board at her church and helps with our child sponsorship at C.A.R.E. Africa. She has been to Nigeria eight times and provides training and encouragement for the teachers at our school.

 

Patrice Miles

Patrice Miles is married to Lenny Miles and has two children. Patrice and Lenny, along with their children, were missionaries in Nigeria for six years. While in Nigeria Patrice helped found the C.A.R.E. Africa ministry. She now resides in Louisville, Kentucky and continues to run the C.A.R.E. Africa ministry from the U.S.A. She is the chairperson for the board and in charge of child sponsorship, donor relations, marketing and all day to day communication to and from Nigeria for the school, C.A.R.E. center and Spring of Life HIV/AIDS counseling center.

 

Hilary Wang

Hillary is married to Jeff Wang and lives in Plano Texas. Hillary is a CPA and teaches at the University of North Texas. Hillary lived in Egbe, Nigeria at the H.E.L.P. orphanage for six months. Hilary tutored and encouraged the orphans at H.E.L.P.  Hilary has returned to Egbe, Nigeria several times and continues to be involved with the children at H.E.L.P. Hillary is the C.A.R.E. Africa Birthday Advocate.  She facilitates birthday celebrations between sponsors and their C.A.R.E. Africa sponsored child. 

 

 

 We are so grateful to have these volunteers serve on our C.A.R.E. Africa board. Their involvement will ensure the sustainability and future of C.A.R.E. Africa.  Please add them to your prayers as we endeavor to make wise decisions with what God has entrusted into our care. C.A.R.E. Board Power!

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