Meeting the Neighbors

When we had the idea of this new adventure, we knew that somehow, we would want to be involved with the people around us, to meet them, find out about them, and, in some way, share Christ's love with them. Why else would be living here?

So, as we have had opportunity, we have met some of our neighbors.
The first ones we met are Kristen and Dan, and their daughter Lilya. They live across the street and two doors down. It just happened that they started going to Cottonwood about the time we bought the house, so it was easy to meet them and to have a sweet connection. Besides that, they are both super sweet and their one year old is precious. EASY.

Then, another couple up the street in the next block also started going to Cottonwood. Sheryl and Jerry are wonderful people we have enjoyed getting to know. Again, EASY.

A few weeks ago, on a nice Sunday afternoon, we went  for a walk with the purpose of meeting neighbors. So, next door, we have Mike and Heather, who have a blended family with young adult kids, teenagers, and a four year old. The house they bought was also a "fixer-upper" and they are working hard on it, inside and out.

Down from there, we met Glenda, probably 30 something, who was working in her yard at dusk. She bought the little house which was built in 1940 and is remodeling. She lives there with her significant other and her 11 year old daughter.

A few doors further down, we have Wanda, probably in her 80's, a very sweet, hard working woman who showed us her vegetable garden. We sat on her porch and visited quite a while.

Two doors down from Wanda are Mike and Frances, who just moved here from Virginia a few months ago after retiring. I don't know what they did in Virginia, but it involved going to parties in Washington DC, and functions at the embassies. They miss the social life of DC, but came here to be close to their daughter and grand son.

We also met Absara and her toddler while we were walking last night. Absara said that she walks to the play-park every day and her daughter "swings, swings, swings." I was so glad to meet Absara because I had seen her walk by, but had not been where I could run out and meet her. After we talked, I knew she was not from here, but could not recognize her accent, so I asked where she is from. She is from Nepal. She moved here a few months ago with her husband, who is working with his brother in Proctor. There is nothing in proctor but a convenience store and two liquor stores, but there are farms and ranches in that area. Absara said that they came here because life was very hard in Nepal. It was hard to have money to buy food or to have a place to live. They were able to come here because of the lottery. She is glad to be here, but misses her family very much.

I am super excited to get to know Absara and her family.

We are planning to have a big neighborhood party in the back yard sometime, maybe in June. I am praying that God will use us to minister to these, and to help us to "love our neighbors as ourselves".