About a year and a half ago the Lord lead the Rouse House in a slightly different direction. We began building what is now Here There and Everywhere through our extremely supportive church (Ridge Church) and pastor (Chris Brown). Over this past year God has done great things and has allowed us and Ridge to give and serve the community of Piney Grove more than we could have imagined.

One of the highlights for us through out the year is an event we do for multiple needy families at Piney Grove Elementary called the Christmas Store. It is our version of blessing families with the necessities and wants during the Christmas holiday with the purpose of bringing hope into their hearts and homes. This year we were able to help some struggling families and single moms in bigger ways than we would have even planned: power bills were taken care of, a single mom’s gas was turned back on so so her 4 children could take showers and have heat, cars that were not running are now working well, and eviction notices have been stopped. A pinnacle for me was when I recieved a call from a struggling single mom that attended our Christmas store. She share how she wants to teach her children more about Jesus and what we believe because they have never known church people that cared so much like we did. She said that her children are asking questions about us and Ridge Church because, “there is something special about those people that helped us out. Why would they do this for us when we don’t even go to their church?”

For Lara and I we found ourselves most proud when we heard a mom talk about how amazing all of this is and that this is just what people at Piney Grove have come to expect from us and Ridge Church.  All of the time, energy, effort, planning, prayer, and sacrifice we have put into this project is starting to show some lasting fruit, and it is good fruit! Take moment to watch for yourselves what a few families said in their own words. Christmas Store 2012

Thank you to all of you who have and are currently supporting Lara and I along with Ridge Church as we strive to make a difference for His Glory Here There and Everywhere!