amy0b87982ac418
bluewatergigi
dbeville
Patrice Miles
LennyHave you ever thought about volunteering for a non-profit?
Could you spare a few hours a month to make a difference in the lives of 73 children?
In Egbe, the majority of C.A.R.E. Africa children do not know their birthdays. Generally, with a little research, we are able to discover their birth date but there are times we simply have to give a child a birth date. Birthdays are not celebrated in Nigeria the way we CELEBRATE in the Western world. Only the “wealthy” are able to purchase a small cake for their child and sometimes a present. When C.A.R.E. Africa children have their first birthday celebration complete with a present and cake it is very special to them. Our goal is, on their birthday, every child in our ministry would receive a present and a small cake to share with their extended family.
So, back to our earlier discussion about volunteering. Here’s your chance! We have created a new volunteer position called Birthday Advocate. This volunteer would spend a few hours a month helping us make our kiddos birthdays special.
This volunteer position is virtual and can be done anywhere in the world with reliable internet connection. We would provide you with the data to keep track of all the birthdays. At the beginning of each month you would make a list of each child with a birthday in the following month and reach out to the sponsor/s of each birthday child. You will ask if they would like to send the birthday child a present or have us purchase a birthday package in Nigeria for their child. There will be a point of contact at C.A.R.E. Africa for you to communicate which children will need a birthday package/ cake purchased. Once the child receives their birthday package our staff will send you a picture and/or video of the child opening their present which you would forward to the child’s sponsor/s. It’s an easy task with such a great reward.
Help us create some smiles and lasting memories for these precious children by becoming our new Birthday Advocate. I am ready to greet you and teach you all the fundamentals. I look forward to hearing from you soon! Email me at patrice.miles@sim.org
Lately, my relationship with the Lord has been a lot of work. Coming back to the United States and leading C.A.R.E. Africa from afar has not been as easy as I thought.
This last year, I have spent time rekindling my relationships with friends and family. We get together for a meal, coffee or a walk in the park. The more time we spend together the more the relationship grows. If I have a problem I can call or text and talk it out with them. It feels easy and there is definitely not any silence.
Yes, eternal life is worth it! I don’t deserve to ask for anything more as He has given me everything needed. But sometimes it feels like obedience is all there is in this relationship. 
Sometimes the obstacles are unforeseen. Weddings are a big event in Egbe. We saw an opportunity to teach our high school girls how to make wedding cakes to later find out the neighboring city of Ilorin would be our competition. In Egbe it is considered prestigious to have your wedding cake, wedding dress and catering to come from a bigger city like Ilorin. If you bought it all in Egbe then you must not be doing very well. Hopelessness…..
I recently found this quote and it meant so much to me because it is the antidote to hopelessness and it is what we are doing at C.A.R.E Africa. 
Give away those unwanted and or unused items lying around your home! Furniture, books, clothes, toys and appliances. 
Give away your finances! 
Starting January 2020, our school started an after school reading program. Many of our children are behind in reading due to lack of an education or the quality of the education they were receiving before they came to us. A few days after starting the reading program we received a call from the hospital that we had boxes to pick up that had come on the last container shipped from the USA. We were so encouraged and surprised to find a large donation of children’s books!
The next day our staff went through all the books. There were so many that we are having more shelving built for the library. The icing on the cake was that there were multiples of the same books. This may not sound like anything special, but for us it was! Now, at the after school reading program, all the kids can have the same book and read along as others read. This will help speed up their reading and comprehension skills as they are able to follow along and not just have to listen or read on their own.
Miles In Missions 