amy0b87982ac418
bluewatergigi
dbeville
Patrice Miles
Lennyby Emma Salako
At this time in my life I have come to understand that following one’s dream and achieving it is never easy. To achieve that “burned in your heart” dream, it must come with sacrifices.
Such sacrifices may involve friends, family members and yourself. Total abandonment of yourself for the dream is necessary. Sacrificing yourself requires self discipline, self control, patience and long-suffering. Prayer must be the foundation and the altar upon which your dream and your sacrifices are built.
The dream within me is bigger than myself! I will not allow what people think or say about me stop me from, Dreaming, Hoping, Believing, Striving, Developing.
When you have a dream do you allow people’s thinking to stop you?
That means that what they think or say about you is more important than your dream. You must remember the dream is not for you but for those who it is going to impact. Lives will be transformed through your prayerful perseverance to achieve the dream.
Achieving dreams isn’t based on the money in my bank account, but the riches in my heart towards seeing lives impacted and transformed. Achieving dreams is not based on education, family background or about who you know. It is about believing in yourself, striving every day and not giving up.
You don’t need anyone to approve your dreams. The right people will come alongside you and help you grow it. That is where I am today – working with the most loving, caring, gentle souls who believe in the dream called C.A.R.E Africa. We prayerfully Believe, Hope, Strive and Follow where the dream takes us each day.
There is Black Friday, Cyber Monday and then #Giving Tuesday! Two years ago we were struggling with getting our kids to and from the C.A.R.E. Africa center for A.W.A.N.A. and other programs. We started a bus campaign and raised $10,000. It wasn’t enough to get a bus but it did get us a minivan. Our minivan has been a huge asset over the past two years. From bringing teams to and from Egbe from the airport, to transporting the kids all around town, to making needed shopping pickups in Ilorin and taking our secondary school kids to University visits. This vehicle has blessed us abundantly 
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.
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 
This..fully describes how I felt after three days..lol! 
With the wonderful Harrars! 
Miles In Missions 