It’s great to be married!

Annie and I are back from Africa and are enjoying the early days of our married lives. Despite my beloved bike being stolen and Chicago temperatures’ feeling like the inside of a pizza oven… life is good. God has been incredibly good to us. We have a cozy apartment down in the city across from the Tastee Freezz, which helps on these sweltering summer days.

We loved our wedding even tho we didn’t get to have a petting zoo or do any country line dancing like I hoped (…not really). It was pretty incredible to stand up there with Annie at my side and see so many faces we love and know from so many different circles and from all over the world. It really is unforgettable to have had so many of you share those moments with us… and dang some of you can dance; others get a gold star for effort.

We had a sweet honeymoon and work trip in Africa. Apart from the parasite-amoeba-bacteria Annie contracted… Africa was just great. We got to travel around a bit. We had alone times together and spent time with ministry friends and family. There really is no way to show everyone who made our wedding and honeymoon possible, how grateful we are… we are forever indebted to your kindness! We hope you can share some of the adventure and memories with us on our personal website (www.allanandannie.com). To see pics from this very awesome chapter in our lives click here.

The brand new Vito donated by Mercedes Benz

I like what I am Learning-
Partnerships- “Many people do care, they just need to get the vision and have an opportunity to bring what they can to the table”… is a lesson that I am slowly learning. It can be hard work building a non profit like this from the ground up and I confess to being discouraged sometimes…but I know the vision is powerful and the mission is good. In sharing this vision and challenging potential partners along the way I am surprised who comes along and gets involved when they “get it” and bring what they have to the table. Mercedes Benz South Africa stepped up to the plate when they decided to support Africa Revolution with the ongoing use of a Vito bus for our computer training program running in various townships throughout South Africa.

Our crew and donors at the hand over of the Vito at the Mercedes Benz headquarters in South Africa.
The program seeks to develop community members by training them in basic computer skills which in turn will open up avenues for job opportunities in the future. Thanks to the Lord, through Gabe and Rach over 120 people have received basic computer skills (word processing etc.) and 5 trainers will continue the program once they return to the States, making this a successful sustainable program. I just received their OFFICIAL “what we did in Africa” REPORT and it’s staggering how God has used this couple… not just in what they have done but the amount of people they touched and the lives they have changed forever. Thanks Gabe and Rach for bringing what you have and more to the table, thanks too Mercedes Benz!

Gabe and Rach at Graduation with one of their students.

AR things to look forward to this Summer

Yard Sale- Get involved in our Summer in the City Yard Sale to benefit the victims of a multiple shack fire that has sent community members seeking help from one of the churches we are serving in South Africa.

Bike Drive- Collecting bikes to support churches HIV Home based Care initiatives.

Art Benefit- Participate in our end of Summer Art Benefit for Africa.

Pray for the Revolution
As we seek out more staff and people to get involved, ask God to bring along called and willing individuals to grow the ministry. Pray for Annie and I as we pursue serving the Lord as a married couple and remain faithful to this mission. Ask the Lord to continually give us wisdom and provision as we direct Africa Revolution. We feel a renewed sense of dependence on Him… this is good! (p.s. There is a prayer gathering for AR the first Sunday of every month at 10am at our place for those of you who would like to join us.)

We love you guys... take care.

allan

Last Thoughts
“Where there is no vision, the people perish…” Proverbs 29:18