Raoul

Raoul is currently working as a web developer for CareerJunction . His interests include drumming, listening to nearly any type of music, creating "techno dance" music, debating the merits of Linux and open source software versus proprietary software, and creating websites like this one. He attends Holy Trinity Church, Gardens, where he drums for and coordinates the worship team as well as meets their audiovisual needs. Raoul also likes programming in his spare time, and works on a free church presentation software application called OpenLP.

Raoul lives in Muizenberg, where his home is located a few minutes walk from Capricorn Beach.

If Raoul could be any fictional character he would be the muppet "Animal" because he says, "That's who I resemble the most." His favourite "Animal" moment is "Eat drums! Eat drums!"

Hannah

Hannah is Raoul's gorgeous, intelligent, but most definitely crazy (she has to be if she's married to Raoul!) wife. She is also mother to their son Zak, and Keena and Merlo, their adopted children (ok, so they're cats!).

She enjoys singing and drama, and has toured twice internationally with the Continental Singers all around the USA, Canada, Spain, and Switzerland bringing Christ to people through song. She also listens to almost any type of music (indeed, a wider range than Raoul!) but cares not a fig for computers and technical things.

If she could be any fictional character, Hannah would be "Christine" from The Phantom of the Opera because, she says, "Then I could sing like an angel and still be with Raoul." Her favourite "Christine" moment is when when she sings "Think of Me."

Us

We met in July 2005 right around Raoul's birthday on Christian Forums when he responded to my ad for a penpal.
15th of July, darling.
That's right...he's always the one who remembers the dates- here and I thought that was supposed to be my job.
Isn't it fortunate for us that it's not!
Ok, ok. Anyway, we met on the 15th of July, 2005, and talked off and on until I left in September for a three month tour with the Continentals. I honestly didn't expect him to really remember me at all when I came back in December, since we didn't talk all that much.
Of COURSE I remembered you! I never forget my friends.
I know, but I was surprised! Remember, I didn't know you as well then. He remembered me a lot better than I remembered him. I mean, I remembered his screen name and that we had talked a bit and gotten along well. Much to my chagrin though, I didn't remember his real name.
You didn't remember my name?
Ummm....no...that's why I asked you to spell it a while later- so I could get your name without being obvious about forgetting.
That's horrible! I can't believe you forgot my name! Quite clever of you though...
I felt terrible about it, especially since Raoul was so excited about seeing me again. At any rate, from that point on, Raoul and I became really close. He was always looking out for me and giving me advice, and I was always encouraging him and trying to cheer him up, especially about not having a girlfriend at the time. He started referring to me as his "little sister", and was always pointing out our age difference- with me being eight years his junior. I always hated that and told him the age difference was no big deal.
And why did you hate being called my little sister?
You love this part don't you?
No I don't! I just like teasing you about it!
I had developed a crush on Raoul, and hated to be told he viewed me as a sister, though I never thought anything would come of my crush- what with the distance and his obsession with our age differences.
Obsession? Come now, it wasn't an obsession... I just initially didn't feel comfortable with it! Obviously we're both past that now. Besides, you're much more mature than your age. I always say you seem like you're 23.
That change of heart came about in April, and we both started praying about starting a relationship. On the 25th of April, 2006, we started "going out"- or however you would call it online. From the start neither Raoul or I wanted to get into a relationship at all unless it was something that would lead to marriage, so that was something we were in constant prayer about. We had friends, family, and pastors, as well as ourselves praying, "Lord, if this is not Your will, please show us and part our relationship." As time went on though, God kept opening doors and bringing us closer together than ever.
One of the things that is such a confirmation to our relationship is the way that both of us are on the same page spiritually. Both of us want God as the center of our relationship, and that's the most important thing.
With that confirmation from God, we became engaged, and despite the fears and doubts, had the blessings of both our sets of parents. I moved to Cape Town in the beginning of May 2007, and we got married in September.
And we're living "happily ever after"... or something like that!
So, that's how we met and the condensed version of how we got to where we are today.