Christmas news!

So much has happened over the last few months - the team had an excellent visit in July which included a sports day for several classes at St Mark's School. Term has now ended for St Mark's and the results of the November exams are eagerly awaited in the New Year.The pastors, their assistants and all the wives thoroughly enjoyed three and half days brilliant bible teaching which really encouraged them. The widows project has been a great success and nearly all widows have now been supplied with a piglet or pig. Recently one widow has bought herself some iron sheets for her house after selling a piglet or two.

Another fantastic craft sale took place in November raising £4000 - thank you to everyone who supported it.

Another opportunity not to be missed! This Friday 11th June

Let's Go Italian is holding a Charity Shopping Day on Friday 11th June, 9.30-2.30 at 31 Sixty Acres Rd, Prestwood. 10% of sales will be donated to local charity, An African Dream. If you can't make it along, mention AAD in the additional info box at the checkout online and 10% of the value of your order will be donated to this worthwhile charity.
See http://www.letsgoitalian.co.uk/ for details of their products.

Come and enjoy browsing the delights of Let's Go Italian whilst raising money for AAD.

You can also raise funds for AAD by buying cards, buy them at Just Cards Direct and An African Dream will get 10% http://www.justcardsdirect.com/

Prestwood 10k

A fantastic team of 6 took part in the Prestwood 10k on Sunday 16th May raising funds for An African Dream - the final figures are yet to come in as sponsor money is still being collected but the total so far is over £355 - a big thank you to Rick, Alex, Chris, Sharon and Richard. And also to Dennis who did it just for fun!

May was an incredibly busy month!!

Only just catching up with all the events of last month, closely following the success of the Spirit of Prestwood was the now famous garage sale - mainly famous for the shocking weather it tends to produce! There was no rain (which was what I prayed for!) however considering it was in May it was freezing but having got past the cold weather an awesome £600 was raised on the day and a further £240 at subsequent toddler groups where I lugged the large amounts of left overs!! - thank you so much to everyone who supported the event both by donating and buying!! The money will go to support the team of 18 people visiting the work of An African Dream in July.

It's garage sale time again! Sat 8th May 10am - 2pm

Following the success of previous years there is another garage sale on the horizon. Saturday 8th May at 33 Lodge Lane - please come and support this event which will raise money to support the team of 10 people going out in July to visit the work of An African Dream. It poured heavily with rain from beginning to end last year so please pray for warm spring sunshine this year. If you would like to donate any items please bring them on the morning of the sale - thank you so much.

Find out more about An African Dream!

On Bank Holiday Monday, 3rd of May, An African Dream will be doing face painting amongst other things at the Spirit of Prestwood Fete (Prestwood Common, off Nairdwood Lane). There will also be lots of other attractions to enjoy including:

‘May Queen’ • Hog Roast • Live Band Hip Hop dance
• BMX Play Zone Beer Tent • Teas • Coffee • Raffle • Games

So if you are local to Prestwood do come and join in and say hello.

Vision Day

Last Saturday morning around 30 people gathered to discuss and think about the vision for An African Dream. The morning was led by the Rev Malcolm Duncan and proved to be very challenging and thought provoking - it is likely there will be another day in the future to see where God is leading this ministry.

She did it!

The amazing Tracy did a phenomenol abseil 200ft down the Avon Gorge in Bristol on Sunday 18th April in memory of her little boy Charlie and in the process raised over £400 for An African Dream - thank you to Tracy and to all those who sponsored her.

Pastors attend Leadership Seminar

Last week Pastor Lumika and his wife Rebecca together with two other pastors attended a two conference on leadership and ministry that took place at Jinja. Pastor Lumika was absolutely delighted and telephoned to say that they had learnt lots and were keen to hold a seminar for other pastors in order to pass on what they had learnt.

An amazing woman is doing an amazing abseil ....

On 18th April my friend Tracy will be abseiling 200ft down the Avon Gorge - what a brave girl.
If you would like to find out why and/or sponsor her please take a look at her just giving page:
http://www.justgiving.com/Tracyabseilafricandream

Please do support her doing this incredibly brave event - thank you so much.

Developments on St Mark's site

Dennis and Rob who visited the work of An African Dream in November found much to be encouraged about. The long awaited administration block is now up with its roof on - it had certainly come a long way since we saw the foundations only in place back in July.
Also the dining room has now got a roof so that orphans can eat in a sheltered out of the sun or the rain.

A new year, a new term for St Mark's

January 2010 marks the beginning of the 4th year that St Mark's has been open. Term begins on February 2nd and we anticipate that there will be at least 35 new orphans starting at St Mark's this term. Also we await the results of the Primary 7 pupils exams which were taken in November.

Married couples seminar

120 couples attended a 3 day conference at the end of December to encourage them in their married life - this is an annual event Bishop Lumika writes 'They enjoyed very much the teaching and eating'. An African Dream was delighted to support this event by providing funds for those attending to eat - many travel long distances to seminars bringing their bedding with them and sleeping in a church during the days of the seminar.