Archive for the ‘People of Egbe’ Category

Letter received by C.A.R.E. Africa from Tofunmi our Caretaker Manager

IMG_2958I, Iwarere Oluwatofunmi, I’m writing on behalf of Funke Moses, a women who lives near 3rd ECWA Church, Egbe. She is a married women with 3 kids, although she and her husband are no longer together and he has taken another wife.

I have known her for 3 years and she has been a hair dresser. For the last two years I noticed her stomach has been getting bigger. At first, I thought she was pregnant but when she didn’t give birth for over a year I knew it was due to cysts in the stomach. 

When I confronted her to ask why she did not have it operated on, she said it was due to the financial aspect of it. She said that all the money she makes from hairdressing goes for the children’s upkeep, feeding and education. She said she hasn’t been able to save anything towards her own medical bills.

I would be grateful if you could assist her in anyway. The bill according to the hospital for the operation will be N80,000-N100,000. ($290-$363). Your help would be greatly appreciated. God bless you (Amen).

Yours Faithfully,

Iwarere.

Screen Shot 2015-08-13 at 5.59.54 PMFunke has Cystic Fibroids and requires a hysterectomy. She currently looks like she is 6 months pregnant and the cysts seem like they are getting bigger. She is uncomfortable but not at risk of dieing. Because her surgery is an elective surgery the hospital benevolent fund is unable to help at this time. 

We need your help!

Her surgery is scheduled for Friday as we have a visiting surgeon from the U.S. She will be admitted on Thursday. 

I just know that with just a few people contributing small we can come up with the $290-$363 required for her surgery. Donating to the Nigerian Benevolent Fund to help people like Funke is tax deductible.

Please email me at patrice.miles@sim.org if you are interested and want to donate directly to the Nigerian Benevolent Fund. Please mark in the memo ECWA Hospital Egbe. Click Funke for the link to donate or email me if you want to mail in a check.

Thank you in advance for your help!!

Back Together Again

Posted: March 17, 2016 by Patrice Miles in C.A.R.E. Africa, Miles In Missions, Nigeria, Orphans, People of Egbe

DSC_0033Meet Toyin Kayode. Toyin’s mother abandoned him and his father many years ago. His father is a farmer but had grown old and could not provide for Toyin anymore. His Father told him to walk to Egbe from Oke Ere (the next town) and find an old friend of his. This friend happened to be the grandparents to Wale one of our CARE Africa kids. Toyin asked if he could stay with them. He told them he would find work so he could feed himself and pay school fees. They agreed and he moved into Wale’s room.

We felt Toyin was a great candidate for C.A.R.E. and enrolled him in our program. I wanted to meet the Father to confirm Toyin’s story so Emma and I traveled to Oke Ere. He was all alone in his house when we arrived and it didn’t look like he was well. He explained that a neighbor lady was cooking for him so he could eat. I asked him about Toyin and asked why Toyin could not come home and live with him. He explained that the schools in Oke Ere were not good and that it was better for him to stay in Egbe. I talked about scripture and the importance of a Father in a boy’s life. He agreed and said he wanted to be a good Father to Toyin but he could not provide for him. I asked him if Toyin could just come home for the weekends. At first Toyin and his Father didn’t like the idea. I explained that Toyin needed to learn how to be a man, Father, and farmer. Also, he needed to get to know his Fathers church and his Fathers tribe. They both looked scared at the thought of living together but agreed to try it.

DSC_1860After only a few weekends I noticed a change in Toyin. He seemed to be less moody and a smile started to develop on his face. I asked him how things were going with his Dad and he would smile and say things were going great. I asked how church was and he said he loved going with his Dad and helping him to read the Bible we gave him. He told me that there was even talk of maybe his mom coming to visit soon.

Since returning to Nigeria from my home assignment in the US, I came back to find out Toyin’s mom had actually moved back home. I was so excited to hear this news and I went out to meet her. When I arrived she was so excited to meet me and called me Toyin’s Oyinbo (Toyins “white person”). I immediately noticed a difference in Toyin’s father as he looked fatter and had the biggest smile on his face. Toyin was beaming with joy and you could really tell that his family was complete. I was so blessed to get to sit on their front porch and bask in God’s sunlight. His glory was allover the faces of this reunited family. Family Preservation was at work and God was using Emma and I as his hands and feet.

DSC_0017I can get so discouraged sometimes by my conditions here. I work so hard and don’t get to see the fruits of my labor. Things of this culture can seem hopeless as if nothing can or will be changed. I look at these pictures and just smile because he gives me little glimpses each day of why I do what I do. I pray he does the same for you this week.

Toyin’s father still is unable to farm and sell goods like he use to. Toyin’s mother is around now and she sells Garri (a food made from cassava). We are praying to help her buy in bulk the raw cassava needed so that her profit can be maximized. Toyin already has a sponsor for his schooling, but if you would like to help us empower his family, you can donate towards some cassava. Click Toyin  to help us empower another caretaker in Egbe. careboys

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IgoSAIAH 6:8 THEN I HEARD A VOICE OF THE LORD SAYING, “WHOM SHALL I SEND? AND WHO WILL GO FOR US?” AND I SAID, “HERE AM I SEND ME!”

HERE WE ARE! SEND US BACK! It has been over two years since we said “Yes” to God and sold everything we owned and moved to Egbe, Nigeria. Many of you have journeyed with us in prayer and or financial support over the past two years and we cannot thank you enough. We are excited to be on home assignment for the next 3 months. During this time we will be traveling the U.S. to share our story, do debriefings with our agency, work at the Global Missions Health Conference and so much more.

Lenny is in phase two of revitalizing the hospital. Construction work has slowed and he is now working towards discipleship of the construction staff in both construction and spiritual growth. The hospital administration is also in phase two as most of the buildings are built and equipment is in place. We now need short term and long-term medical missionaries to say “YES” DSC_9862and join us in Egbe.     

C.A.R.E. Africa has grown and we now care for 25 orphans. We still have many applicants that want to join our program but we are waiting on God to show us next steps in this ministry. C.A.R.E. Africa is also exploring synergies with Spring of Life, which is an HIV clinic that evangelizes to the community through HIV testing and counseling. God continues to use us in Egbe as the needs are big.

Screen Shot 2015-08-21 at 4.45.51 PMPlease come out to our open house in Louisville, KY @ Southeast Christian Church on Thursday Nov 5th from 6pm-7pm so we can share the past two years with you through videos and stories of our time in Egbe. There will be catered food, African handmade products, unbelievable videos and pictures even from Cason and Jolie. Our time is short in Louisville and this may be the only way for us to see several of you.

We are excited about continuing with SIM as long-term missionaries in 2016. We were blessed with many financial supporters over the past two years but due to other obligations several have been unable to continue to journey with us financially. We will need to raise an additional $2,500 a month in monthly supporters to make up for the ones that are unable to continue with us. We also have a goal to raise $20,000 for ministry projects, as well as one time fees needed for things like airfare back to the field. We know God will provide and have already booked our tickets back to Egbe for Jan 3rd, 2016. Will you come and journey with us?

Click this link to sign up now and support Miles In Missions.

To become a prayer partner please click PRAYER.

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Screen Shot 2015-08-13 at 4.44.38 PMI am a strong woman. I have never been very sympathetic to anyone’s’ ailments or problems. I persevered through a rocky child hood and it made me who I am today. I continually pray for God to soften my heart so that I have more compassion for people during their times of trouble. I just get up and go and expect everyone else should do the same. Why think about your problems or complain about things when there is this whole big beautiful world out there? I wake every morning excited to see what God has in store for me. I have always wondered why God gave me such a strong heart. Africa has shown me why.

DSC_9946Mom’s in Egbe do not have it easy. It seems eight out ten women I meet are single mothers that have either been abandoned or widowed. Most of them have at least two or more children and are barely managing. Gift, is a widow who has been a part of our seamstress program for over a year now. Her husband died two years ago and she has been managing ever since. At the beginning of 2015 she expressed the need for her four children to attend school. When I went last week on a home care visit to see Gift, I was again amazed at the joy that so many Egbe mothers have in spite of their circumstances. As I watched Favor, her 15 year old son, boil corn over charcoal and tried to get Goodness, her youngest, to sit still for a picture, I asked Gift a few questions.

DSC_0042“How often are you getting to seamstress class every week, so you can graduate soon?”

“I haven’t been able to attend in the past few weeks. “ Gift said quietly.

“What work are you doing for money right now?” I questioned.

“I have had a few brick and stone moving jobs here and there.” she proudly told me.

“How are you able to buy food and provisions for your babies right now?”

“I am very wise with my money, Mummy.” she told me.

“Do you have any family that can help?”

“No Mummy. My father is old and I have lost track of my brothers and sisters.”

DSC_0022We are then interrupted by her youngest son named , Thankgod. He comes running past me with a wheel on a stick. He was laughing and laughing as if his toy was the best toy in the whole world. Gift smiled at him and laughed and then offered me corn that Favor had been boiling. Goodness, her youngest, stared at me as she leaned on Emma eating her corn. I wondered what she was thinking of my white skin? I wondered if this is the only meal they will have all day? I wondered if Favor always cooked the meals? I prayed in my head for God to show me what he wants me to do for this family. I was speechless as how this mom continues to smile, laugh, and love these children and God everyday.

I am also amazed at how I can go home to my revitalized house, eat my dinner with my family that fills my belly, and not think about Gift and her family in their 10×10 room with their boiled corn. How do I sleep at night in my soft bed shipped from the US and not wonder how all 5 of the Jeremiah family fit on the one mattress they have on the floor? Have I become immune to the poverty here? Is it really poverty or is it just a way of life here? My mind can play so many tricks on me and my emotions can get the best of me sometimes. Screen Shot 2015-08-13 at 5.59.54 PMI am a strong woman and God built me for this bush life but I am also weak too. I cannot rely on myself to remain strong but, thank God that I can rely on him. I know God is faithful. I know he loves all his Egbe children both old and young. I know he will always give them what they need. I am only one person but he is all-sufficient. He shows up over and over again for these Egbe Mom’s…..I see it in their smiles…..I hear it in their laughter! Thank you God for making me the way you did. Thank you God for allowing me to see how weak and inadequate I am so I can see how BIG you are. Thank you God for using me!

IMG_9965“You’ve got mail!” This is one of the most exciting things to hear in Egbe. When a small package or letter arrives it is like Christmas. We always love to look at the date to see when it left the U.S. When we first arrived to Egbe over two years ago, there wasn’t any mail service. Everyone would ask us where he or she could send care packages. The looks we would get when we told people we didn’t have mail were hilarious. They just didn’t get it that there really was no way to get anything to us in the bush.

Gradually we had friends and family try to send a letter or package and it would take over 3 months to arrive. Now we are seeing it is only taking one month or less. This is so awesome for us! Two years ago if you had told me I would be getting excited over getting mail I would have laughed at you.

bolu5The best part about the mail service is now my CARE Africa kids can receive pictures and letters from their sponsors in the U.S. Bolu was our first recipient and he was sooooo excited. I cannot explain the emotions I had watching him carefully open the envelope so worried he would tear or rip it. Bolu has never received mail before and doesn’t even begin to understand how it arrived in Egbe. Once we opened the letter we read each word out loud together. We looked at pictures of his U.S. Mommy. We touched her children and grandchildren’s faces and he didn’t utter a word. He just sat there in complete awe as if I had just given him a bar of gold. It was one of those priceless moments I will never forget. I am so honored to have been the one to share this experience with Bolu. I am so thankful for all my U.S. CARE Africa child sponsors and the Miles family supporters. Your donations have allowed me to be here in Egbe to share Christ’s love to boys and girls like Bolu through something as simple as a piece of mail.

If you sponsor a CARE Africa child and would like to send them mail or even if you don’t sponsor a child but would love to send a letter or small package for one of them, please feel free to. Cason and Jolie, my own children, would also love to hear from you and I promise any child you send to will write back and send it all the way from Nigeria.

Mail to;
ECWA Hospital Egbe
Attn Patrice Miles C/O (Childs Name)
5 Hospital Rd
Egbe, Kogi State Nigeria.

If you would like to sponsor a child please email me at Patrice.miles@sim.org.

DSC_9795Every Wednesday morning I wake up knowing that prayer rounds at the hospital are in the evening at 7pm. As I drink my coffee and have my quite time with the Lord I think of all the patients at the hospital that I will get to meet and pray with that evening. I wonder if any have not heard of Jesus or what Yoruba greetings I can say to put a smile on their face. Then my day begins. By lunchtime I am already starting to feel the effects of the heat and the many directions I have been pulled since I woke. Why am I so tired already? At 1pm an espresso normally solves the problem and I get my second jolt to finish the day strong. By dinnertime, I am thanking God for Shola, who has dinner ready. I don’t know what I would do if I had to cook as well. 7pm comes so quickly. Why am I so tired? Maybe it is DSC_9805because I didn’t remember to drink water to replace all the sweat my clothes now carry? I sit with my family at the dinner table with my belly full and try to think of a million reasons not to go on prayer rounds. I am so tired and I have given so much already today to so many. I just want to shower this sweat off of me and relax in my PJ’s. Many times my flesh wins and I stay home. This past Wednesday God called me to the rounds. “Come on kids, Let’s go!”

I love our trek to the hospital in the dim hour of the night. There is enough light to see but not enough to watch for snakes. We turn on our flashlights and begin our trek taking in God’s amazing revitalization project as we walk. The new buildings and bright lights are a breathtaking view at night.

DSC_9802We meet our group of prayer warriors in the outpatient waiting area. We split up into male and female groups and then head off to the wards. My group’s first stop is an elderly lady who has eye surgery tomorrow. She is a Christian and tells us she prays 3 hours everyday. We pray with her and bring a smile to her wrinkled face. Next-door is a small girl with TB (Taye). Dr Jen has already starting talking to the patient’s caretaker (Radijat) who is her sister. Before I knew it we are in the middle of witnessing to a non-believer. Jen handled every question great and explained the gospel perfectly. This M&slim believer went from telling us what the K@ran says to wanting to know how she can find Jesus. We spent the rest of the night with her and never made it to another patient’s bedside.

DSC_9518We walked away that night filled with amazement but questioning how we would help these M&slim women come to know Jesus because they couldn’t read anything but Arabic. Suddenly Jolie says, “Mommy I have the Evangi cube from SIM.” My sweet baby girl had been by my side quietly observing and heard everything and wanted to help. I told her it was a great idea and asked her if she would want to come back down after school the next day and share the cube. I expected my shy little girl to say “NO”, but she immediately said “Yes” with a big smile on her face. The next day after school she came running through the door and said, “When are we going the hospital Mommy.” I was completely blown away. I fought tears of joy in my eyes, as I knew it would make her uncomfortable.

DSC_9517We went down and put a mask on Jolie to protect her from the TB and entered the room. Through an interpreter we found out that Radijat had accepted Jesus that morning after a dream she had where Jesus came to visit her. We were so excited to hear her vivid dream and that Jesus was now a part of her life. We asked if Jolie could share Jesus with her little sister, Taye and she said yes. Again I fought back tears as I watched my 9-year-old share the gospel to a small thin sick girl. I heard her talk about sin and heaven and how Jesus is the only way. She had no fear and spoke with confidence as the interpreter repeated everything in Yoruba. Once she was finished she handed Taye a teddy bear and gave her the cube. We told Taye she could take it with her to share with her family back home.

DSC_9520Thank God for prayer rounds! So many times I am too tired for God but thank goodness he is never too tired for me. I came to revitalize a hospital so the Doctors and Nurses could have a safe place to spread God’s word. I am simply God’s hands and feet backstage that just gets everything ready for the superstars. He puts people in my path everyday to show me I am a superstar too. Today was one of those days! I never would have thought he would use my blonde sweet baby girl to grow his kingdom at such a young age. He can use you too if you will let him. Come and join our team in Egbe. Please prayerfully consider coming to serve short term or long term in Egbe. If that isn’t what God is leading you to, then consider financially supporting our family as long term missionaries and/or becoming one of our prayer partners. God’s isn’t looking for your abilities he is looking for your availability!

 

DSC_9529Currently Radijat and her sister Taye have been discharged from the hospital but cannot pay their bill which is over N100,000 ($500). If you feel led to help with the bill email me at Patrice.Miles@sim.org

Click Egbe Hosptial to ask more about volunteer and mission opportunities.

Click Miles In Missions to support our ministry in Egbe.

Click Prayer Partner to become one of our prayer partners.

 

We Are Home!

Posted: May 2, 2015 by Patrice Miles in Egbe, Miles In Missions, People of Egbe

DSC_1739After 3 days of travel, 3 airplanes and a bus ride, we have arrived home in Egbe! We now know that our delay in the U.S. was God ordained. I don’t think we realized how exhausted we were after 18 months in the field, until we were actually forced to stop and rest an additional 2 months in the U.S. We were able to spend that additional time resting and focusing on our family, our marriage and God. We were also able to connect with several more friends and family members that didn’t make it into our one month visitation marathon in February.

IMG_8959Thank you to everyone that hosted us, fed us, donated to us and encouraged us. We truly felt loved and encouraged over the past 3 months. The time in the states helped us realize the need to rest and refuel so you can be your best for God and your ministry. Our time home in Egbe has already shown us how much more we hear God and can do for God when are cups are full.

 

IMG_8955Attached are a few pictures of the joy brought to so many from the donations we received. It was absolutely overwhelming for us when we arrived home to boxes of donations lining one of our rooms. While we were in the U.S. two containers arrived in Egbe. With these donations and the donations given to us while we were in the states, people’s lives were truly blessed.

DSC_9061We love you all and will be back at the end of the year for home assignment. We will spend 2-3 months meeting with supporters and hosting events for our transition from short-term missionaries to long-term missionaries in Egbe, Nigeria. Our family prays you will continue to support us in this new chapter as long-term missionaries with SIM and Egbe. See you at the end of the year!

 

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airport18 months ago our family left the United States and landed on Nigerian soil. God has gently used us to help host over 100 construction and medical volunteers, say good bye to three Samaritan Purse pioneer missionaries, say hello to 7 new long term missionary families, completed work on a new pharmacy, OR, CSR, men’s ward, maternity, X-ray, laundry, 3 missionary houses, 5 containers unloaded, started a new guesthouse and  a Wednesday Women’s Fellowship group. C.A.R.E. Africa came alive and over 20 children are in school now, 5 women are learning a trade and 2 women were helped to start a business. From rashes, Mosquitos, Lenny malaria x5 and Cason x2, cotta (Nigerian cold), dog dying, 110 degree temperatures, Mosquitos, bombs in JOS and Abuja, tearful goodbyes, stomach problems, Mosquitos, bank robbery and shootings, DSC_0239road robbers, Mosquitos, nail boys, Ebola, hospital gates stormed, fighting and did I mention Mosquitos, we survived.  Everything was completed giving God the glory and lives have been changed and his kingdom has grown. He gives us small peeks every now and then of his big picture for Egbe Nigeria through open doors in ministry, national workers voices of gratitude, lives given to Christ, relationships built with Nigerian leaders, miracles at the hospital and deeper relationships with other missionaries . These small glimpses keep us going in a culture that is not our own.

DSC_0020We will be home in less than week and we are so excited! We have been gently used and God knew when this date was being planned that we would need this time with friends and family to refuel. While we are home we need your help. In less than a month we need to collect a lot of items to take back to Egbe. Can you look around your house and see if you have any of these gently used items that you could donate to the people of Egbe.

 

CareAfrica_logo_v1_tag2_flat-01Boys items for ages 12-16
-Clothes
-Soccer wear
-Soccer cleats
-White Socks and Boxer Briefs
-Sandals, flip flops, tennis shoes.
-Belts
Girls items for ages 13-16
-Everyday dresses, skirts, shirts
-Sandals, flip flops and dress shoes
-White Socks
Back packs
Wrist Watches
Laptops
Tablets
Oxford Dictionaries

We would also like to get some t-shirts printed for C.A.R.E. Africa if anyone knows of an affordable place. Contact me at patrice.miles@sim.org if you have any of these gently used items you would like to donate. Or if you would like to donate directly to our ministry click Miles In Missions, missionary #040380.

10408141_1716672908556954_5092199233753583452_nC.A.R.E. Africa’s Etsy Store is up and running! https://www.etsy.com/shop/CAREafrica Almost all of the items have made their way back to Louisville, Kentucky and are waiting to be shipped out to a new home.

Everything is hand made in Egbe, Nigeria. There are four beautiful girls that make our beaded jewelry. Seun, who is a single mother. Remi, is a widow with 3 children. Felicia, is a young single girl trying to make ends meet. Last but least is our newest addition Abigail who is also a single girl.

10636854_1726048147619430_8165663666469171368_oAll our cow horn, coconut and calabash items are currently made by Emma. He is in the process of training the Home Care boys on how to make these amazing pieces. The cow horn is from Fulani cows. The calabash is taken from trees in Egbe and dried and then cut into pieces for earrings. The coconut is taken from the Miles kitchen. We eat a lot of coconut so we have a lot of coconut shells J

DSC_0571A few different people in Egbe sow the bags and purses. Toyin, is an orphan and he also does a lot of the tailoring for the men on the compound. Janet, who is our compound seamstress, has an apprenticeship program. She trains women over the period of a year how to sew. These women in training sew our bags for us currently. Gift who is our only member in our seamstress program is a widow with 4 children. She is learning at Janet’s 3 days a week and then comes to CARE Africa on Saturdays to sew our new patchwork material for the purses.

All of these children of God plus our Home Care kids come together every Saturday to work on the items for the Etsy store while also spending time in God’s word. All of the members are paid the moment they complete an item so they can support themselves throughout the week. We then send the items back to the US through visitors that come to Egbe. Once they arrive in our hometown Louisville, KY, my friend Diana Beville puts them on the Etsy store. Once an item is purchased she ships it to wherever it needs to go.

10676221_1709188602638718_4128179935287055497_nPlease support the women, men and children in our program by purchasing some of the items as gifts for Christmas or for yourselves. All items will reach you before Christmas. Please pray for our store to find a place in Egbe too. We will be testing the Nigerian market at the end of January at an annual ECWA conference. We need your prayers.

Christmas or for yourselves. All items will reach you before Christmas. Please pray for our store to find a place in Egbe too. We will be testing the Nigerian market at the end of January at an annual ECWA conference. We need your prayers.

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Adamo in School

Meet Iyabo, a F$lani business women. Two of her daughters happened to be at a football match and met Emma, my partner with C.A.R.E. Africa. When C.A.R.E. Africa started, Emma remembered one of the girls, Adamo, We registered her in our home care program. Adamo and her family are a Yuroba F$lani family. The Father has many wives and is in the bush with the cows. He rarely visits. When he does come home there is no support given to the family. With 5 children to take care of, Iyabo, like many abandoned mothers, is struggling.

Picture Inventory Spreadsheet

Picture Inventory Spreadsheet

Iyabo has a store, but it doesn’t provide the income to sustain her family. We wanted to help her but in a way that would not hurt her later. We wanted something sustainable. We sat down and talked about what product she is selling and what product she is not. We quickly analyzed her business and found there were several items she wasn’t making any money on. There was also many that she was making great money on. We got rid of the non money making product and focused on what was moving . The next step was to teach her how to keep inventory and track expenses and income.

Emma explaining how to use the spreadsheet.

Emma explaining how to use the spreadsheet.

This was a lot harder as she does not know how to read. We came up with an inventory in an excel spreadsheet with pictures. Once we showed her the chart and how to use it, she was very excited and said no problem. We will be starting week one with her on Monday. I am so excited to see what happens. I am sure that we will find product she said moves doesn’t. There will probably be mistakes in the inventory count, but we will tweak it every week until we find out what works and what doesn’t. I never thought I would be teaching business in Africa but God did. He prepared me through running my husbands construction business and my own real estate business. Now I get to use those skills to watch his kingdom grow.

Iyabo and her store.

Iyabo and her store.

Please pray for Iyabo and her family to come to know Christ. Pray for God’s wisdom with C.A.R.E. Africa on how to help the people of Egbe, Nigeria.