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Patrice Miles
LennyWhatever your title -teacher, mom, CEO, wife, business owner, friend, leader, sister, pastor, husband or father…do you ever feel unequipped and think God totally picked the wrong person for the job?
When I first got back to the U.S. in May I knew my role with my ministries was going to look much different. I needed to learn to speak at events and churches, network with people and businesses and create awareness of what God is doing in Egbe, Nigeria. I begged God to help me become that person who can engage a room full of people in easy conversations. I watched Ted talks on public speaking and tried to do what they did but I sucked at it. I would get mad at myself for not being able to be a great advocate for C.A.R.E. Africa and our other ministries. What is wrong with me? Then one day I read a blog about a teenager who didn’t meet the criteria for the job.
She was Young, Inexperienced, Simple, had no Training, Poor, and a Virgin!
But…… God chose her to be Jesus’ mother. Her willingness was the only qualification she had.. Luke 1:38a, b: “‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’”
Mary had every reason to feel unequipped, yet she was told she was chosen and she only had one question: “‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’” (Luke 1:34, NIV)
The angel Gabriel in Luke 1:35-37 reminds her that what seems impossible to her is absolutely possible with God.
I look around and see amazing nonprofits run at such a professional level. I continue to think they are so much more qualified than I am…. I don’t even have a college degree!
But I am reminded this Christmas season that all God wanted from Mary was her willingness and that is all he wants from me too. He has given me all the gifts necessary to be a great mom, sister, friend, daughter, wife, advocate for my kids, staff and caregivers in Nigeria, marketing manager, child sponsorship manager, missions trip leader, speaker, fundraiser, CEO and whatever other role necessary. I just needed to lift my willingness up to Him and let Him help me be the best version of me.
Are you feeling unequipped for the role you are in? Should God have picked someone else for the job? Well you should know that God loves to show off and take ordinary people and do extraordinary things through them.
God doesn’t want us to perform for him. He simply wants us to say “YES” to Him.
When you see the manger scene this Christmas, look at Mary and be reminded of her “YES”. Lift up your willingness in all areas of your life – at work, in ministry, at home, with family, friends and neighbors. Let’s make our greatest desire in the New Year to be all God has called us to be and nothing more.
At this time in my life I have come to understand that following one’s dream and achieving it is never easy. 
That means that what they think or say about you is more important than your dream.
You don’t need anyone to approve your dreams.
In Nigeria, I employed house help and a driver as part of the ministry to give people jobs. This allowed me to work all day on C.A.R.E. Africa and have my evenings and weekends free for family and Sabbath time. In the US I still get to focus on ministry during the day, but nights and weekends have turned into cleaning, cooking, shopping and driving kids around…… Welcome to America most of you would say!
In one week it will be American Thanksgiving Day. Odds are you will be around some well-meaning family members who might ask “So, what do you do all day or when are you going to get married or find a better job “ – other people’s expectations as to what you should or should not be doing in life. Remember who you are and whose you are! You have already met the approval of the only One that matters! So sit down, take a breath and enjoy this holiday. God loves you unconditionally always!
Orphan Sunday started in a small, struggling church in Zambia. The church members had little, but the pastor believed that everyone is called to express love for the fatherless. The church responded in astounding ways, some even removing their own shoes for orphans nearby.
Emma spoke to the orphanage staff to remind them that the children under their care are precious and not a problem, they are of value and not of trouble, they are the next leaders in Nigeria. He spoke of how it is not poverty that stops us from giving and caring for the orphans, but our unwillingness, and because we don’t want to share with others what God has given us. C.A.R.E. Africa enjoyed giving this Sunday instead of receiving. We pray seeds have been planted and God was glorified in these two orphanages and also in our staff and children that attended.
I ask Amarachi to share her journey with me. In the early years the family lived in Lagos where they had jobs that paid for food and school fees for the children. Amarachi’s mother-in-law fell ill so she and her husband had to leave Lagos and move to Egbe to care for the ailing mother. Once in Egbe, they crammed all their possessions into the mother’s 20 x 16 sf room. The floor is dirt, one window, no ventilation, no plumbing, no electric, and no toilet. All seven lived in this one room for four years until the mother passed – now there are six. All six of them sleep on two foam mattresses (see picture). Before she passed, Amarachi’s mother-in-law taught her to make palm kernel oil to sell. The locals use it for skin salve and also take orally for stomach problems. The smell and texture reminded me of motor oil.
Amarachi also works with her husband who is a vulcanizer – repairs tires. Amarachi and her husband freelance a street corner where people know them to be honest workers. They attend church as a family and are well liked in the community. She and her husband are both hard working people but the need for palm kernel oil or tire repair is not much. The need to feed and educate her children is a constant worry for Amarachi. Her other three children will not be attending school as they cannot afford the school fees. Amarachi is very thankful Damilola has been accepted into C.A.R.E. Africa because her daughter will be well educated, looked after physically and spiritually and have a chance at a better life.
C.A.R.E. Africa is one of the only family based orphan care nonprofits in all of Nigeria. Everywhere there are orphans, there are orphanages housing them. Majority of them are poorly maintained, managed and overall a very scary site to see. So to find trainings on orphan care much less family based orphan care, is not easy. Even webinars and podcasts I have found outside of the US have been challenging for us in Egbe due to poor internet connections.
Emma and Tofunmi were invited to come to a one week training on Family Reunification in Nairobi, Kenya that 
One of the many hats I wear at C.A.R.E. Africa is child sponsorship. With over 60 children it is a huge task, but very satisfying. I know each one of these children and their needs personally so the investment I have in each on of the sponsorships is huge. Words cannot express the joy in seeing a child open a letter or a package from their sponsor when they have never had a gift like this before. I’m speechless when I see a picture of a child’s sponsor taped to the wall by their pillow when checking in on them. The greatest joy is getting to experience a child and a sponsor meeting for the first time in Nigeria when he/she comes on a mission trip with us.
Would you consider making a difference in a child’s life? We have so many in need and many on the waiting list. You can see all the children and the different ways you can help on our sponsorship site at 
Miles In Missions 