amy0b87982ac418
bluewatergigi
dbeville
Patrice Miles
Lenny
We are so excited to announce that we have a C.A.R.E. Africa van!!
Our Bus Project was a huge success! The staff and children of C.A.R.E. Africa are extremely grateful to all of you who donated to the Bus Project to make our dream a reality.
Check out the video above to see Emma , CEO of C.A.R.E. Africa, commissioning our new vehicle.
We originally had high hopes of being able to get a big bus, however, after a lot of prayer and research a used bus was not recommended. In Nigeria all buses are used for transport of people or goods to and from the major cities. These buses are driven hard over pot holed roads and have not received the necessary maintenance to keep them in good driving condition. Any used bus we looked at in our price range was too sketchy. After prayer and input from knowledgeable people we decided purchasing a used bus was not a risk worth taking.
Once the bus was no longer an option- the search was on for a passenger van. We were blessed to find this van in mint condition, direct off a shipping container in Lagos, Nigeria. It had never been driven on Nigerian roads before. Our fearless mechanic in Egbe, Ayo, looked at it and gave us the thumbs up. After negotiations we have made the purchase and she is already in Egbe, taking kids to and from the C.A.R.E. Africa Center.
Praise the Lord – our C.A.R.E. Africa children no longer have to ride motorcycles on the busy and bumpy federal road!!
Thank-you so much for blessing C.A.R.E. Africa with our new transportation!
I am reading a book called “A Framework For Understanding Poverty”. The four things that move you out of poverty are employment, education, relationships, and a future story. C.A.R.E. Africa focuses on education and our programs allow us to build relationships with our kids so we can teach them about Jesus and their future story.
I came to the conclusion that I couldn’t just pay school fees and think that itwould help children like Michael. I had to be involved in their lives. Michael is one of the reasons C.A.R.E. Africa was started.
I will have to say bringing these two boys out of the village for the first time and into the city was one of the funnest things I have ever done. They had their first ice cream, their first paved roads with paint on them, first traffic lights, their first tall building (taller than two stories), their first indoor market (grocery store), their first movie in a theatre, their first shopping mall, their first zoo with live animals, first pancakes and syrup, and so much more. Their minds were completely opened to how much God loves and values them but also to a whole world out there.
I recently was blessed to get to hear a friend tell about her experience when she came to Nigeria and worked in our ministry. She made a statement that really stuck with me. She told a story of the first time she visited Nigeria and was on the bus to Egbe. She asked a national on the bus, “Wouldn’t you just prefer us to send all the money that this trip cost instead of actually coming?” The national replied “No! Your presence is worth more than your money.”
I have witnessed the effects your visit has on the nationals when short term mission trips are done right. I notice the smiles my staff, kids and caregivers carry on their faces, the change of attitude, and I see their renewed spirit. For people to leave their loved ones, their home and country to come meet us and encourage us is invaluable. We all are impacted. We all see Jesus through a different cultural lens. The nationals see openness, vulnerability, humility, sacrifice, words of affirmation and so many other things that are not normal for Nigerian culture. The love they receive from you fills them so much that they are spilling over. Christ’s love is being spread to others for weeks after your team leaves.
I am not saying that we don’t need money. We have ongoing finances that must be met. 
Good Morning from Nigeria! Today is the day, Orphan Sunday. Would you help us spread the word? Forward this blog to everyone you know. If you are on Facebook or Instagram, would you please consider changing your profile picture to the following photo and posting the verbiage below. Thanks so much!!
Orphan Sunday is only one week away on November 12th. We are using this event to try and raise funds for a school bus for our C.A.R.E. Center. Currently our children are walking or riding Okada, motorcycle taxis, to and from our center on a busy federal road. The children that walk end up getting home later than desired and sometimes can get into trouble along the way. The children taking Okada get home on time, but we always say a prayer as we send them off. Okada accidents are very common in Egbe and we are blessed that none of our children have been in one.
Miles In Missions 