Last night after dinner the boys and I were in the kitchen when we heard someone trying to come in our front door. I went to the door and saw it was just the neighbor’s little boy trying to come in, as he often does. Most of the time he just walks around the back of the house and enters through another door. When I opened the door he said with a confused look, “your door was locked?” I just smiled and said come on in.

He then began his sells pitch for a fundraiser his school was doing. He had to get 23 people to sponsor him at certain amounts ranging from R1 to R23 ($.07 to $1.64) and he was hoping that I would be one of them. Of course I would be one of his sponsors but I asked him to tell me what the fundraiser was all about. He didn’t really know but it was something to help his school out. Come to find out his motivation was the cool prizes he could win if he was one of the top fundraisers. We gladly took one of his top spots.

He then let me read more about the fundraiser while he joked around with Mac. I read through it and then something caught my eye that I have never seen in any single school fundraiser! I saw the prizes and one especially got my full attention. Come to find out I had bought a ticket to the drawing and I want to win that 3^rd place prize!!!

You will never guess what it is.

First place was a wine cooler…not the drink but a portable cooler for wine 🙂

Second Place was a TV…we don’t even have internet or satellite set up yet so I wasn’t too interested.

BUT third place was the grand prize for me!!! A GOAT!

That’s right, it said a GOAT! As if a goat was just any old, normal prize. I have seen iPads, phones, popcorn, carwashes, tv’s, books, gift cards, and much more for prizes, but I have never seen a GOAT as a prize! How cool would it be to say you won a goat! I have always wanted a goat and now here is my chance.

My excitement quickly went to full max! I asked the neighbor boy how he could ensure I win the goat. I told him I always wanted one and said, “wouldn’t it be so cool to have one in our back yard like a dog?!?!” He then looked at me with that same confused stare as he did when our front door was locked and he couldn’t just walk right in, and said, “it’s just the meat man. It’s not alive.” The tone of his voice and the way he said it was priceless. It was like he was saying, “Calm down man. You’re acting crazy like some idiot.”

I could feel my bubble pop as this little boy looked at me and tried to bring me back down to reality. I can always count on Greyson though. He quickly came up with a brilliant response to his dad’s downward spiral of emotions and said, “well, we will just have to have the biggest and best braai in history for all of our friends to come enjoy!”

It’s not as cool as having a baby goat walking around in my back yard but it would still be pretty cool to win a goat (of any kind) from a school fundraiser!

So we made it through the first week of school! We have one child that loves school and misses it about half way through the summer (Mac). We have another that dreads the thought of waking up everyday and going (Grey). With them starting a new school we really didn’t know what to expect but so far so good. Grey, the one we worry the most about, came home from school the first day and said it was heavenly. After we picked our jaws up off the floor we asked him why. He said that his teacher was so nice and doesn’t give out homework or at least she doesn’t this first week of school. We are hoping that he still like her next week when she loads him up with homework. Mac obviously loves it and is already making friends while he is trying learn who all is a “walker” and where they live.

“Walker” – we do not use this term in the same manner as zombie like creatures from the show The Walking Dead even though this is exactly what comes to mind every time the boys tell me about a new walker they meet. Walkers are kids in the neighborhood that live too close to the school to be assigned a bus…they have to walk. Our kids are walkers and we think that it is the coolest thing. I tell people that it feels like we live in a storybook. Who walks to school with their neighbors! So cool!

While walking in the morning with our kids we spend time talking, praying for their day, and praying for our neighbors. We truly believe that God has great plans for this community, the school, and the people here, so we ask daily that He will do a great work among us. We also ask that God will give the Rouse House favor and influence as well as opportunities to love and serve those here. We know that influence will likely come as we have a chance to serve them more. We have been thinking about ways we can get to know others since that seems like the obvious first step in living missionally. This morning it hit me! Walk to school and talk to those we see along the way! Sounds simple enough but it actually works!

This morning after I left the boys I saw a family that was leaving for school too. They live on the corner between our house and the school so we see them each morning. I have tried to talk to these guys a few times but they never seem interested…I still wave, smile, and say hey…Lara and I were joking the other day because I waive at everyone I see in the neighborhood. I told her I want to be known as the crazy guy that is constantly waving and saying hello…Back to this family on the corner. I saw that their fridge was sitting out by the street this morning. I asked if it broke and if they had another one yet but they don’t. I asked him if he would be interested in a new one if I could find it for him and with a big smile he said, “Oh yea. That would be great.” We then quickly introduces ourselves.

This little moment this morning may not seem like much but I know that it is a start. All great things in this world had to start somewhere and I believe that they probably started with a quick hello. The RouseHouse may have big dreams, passions, and prayers for this community but we know that we have to start somewhere. Today it could be simply helping a neighbor get a new fridge, tomorrow it could be cutting a neighbor’s yard, next month it could be coaching a boys club after school, next year it could be leading a small group through the bible in our home, and before we know it God can have done something amazing here in our neighborhood. Something that last for years and even generations as we focus on caring for people and their families. It is a HUGE as, even overwhelming when we think about all of it, but today we are just going to keep walking to school, smiling and waving, and being the kind of neighbor that Jesus would probably be until He says He is finished with us.

What kind of neighbor are you?

Do you know your neighbors by name?

What if we went out of our way to meet those around us and find ways to serve them? I would love for you to leave a comment on how you are going to meet and serve your neighbors!!!

Romans 15:2 The Voice

2 Each of us must strive to please our neighbors, pursuing their welfare so they will become strong.

neighbors

I want the GOAT!

New neighborhood, new school, new opportunities

Romans 15:2 The Voice