Bruiser. That’s what Jeremy named him. It was years ago, but I will never forget it. Yes, my youngest son took the money that his grandmother gave him for Christmas and bought a pygmy goat. Why couldn’t he have bought a video game or a CD? No, he bought a goat. And Jeremy loved Bruiser. The problem was that we didn’t live on a farm. We lived in Seattle. And you can’t keep goats in the city. Or at least you are not supposed to do so. Bruiser made too much noise to keep outside. So we had a goat living in our house. I learned a lot about goats living with Bruiser. I learned goats like to climb. Yes, Bruiser wanted to be on the highest spot around him which was usually my head when I was sitting on the couch watching television. I found living with a goat to be quite annoying. While we were in New York City listening to Jeremy sing at Carnegie Hall (just had to throw that in there to qualify myself as a bragging parent), Bruiser died. It was very heartbreaking—especially for Jeremy. But it didn’t really change our lives that much.
When I was in Turkana recently trying to help with the big drought, I found myself among a very nomadic tribe there. If I were to ask them what they do, I would probably get one of two answers. They would say, “I make baskets.” Or they would say, “ I herd goats.” And if I got the second answer and asked, “Where are your goats?”—They would have to tell me that the goats have died. Goats are not annoying to the Turkana people. Goats are their livelihood and give them not only sustenance but also purpose. When their goats die, it changes their lives a lot.
Have you ever heard the story or read the book about Beatrice’s goat in Uganda? The story even made it to “60 Minutes.” The gift of one goat from a non-profit organization not only sustained her family but also allowed Beatrice to realize her dream of attending school and eventually college in the United States. Giving a goat can lead to great things. But for most people who receive a goat in Turkana, it is simply one of the first steps to staying alive.
I got to be the first to pump water on our new well in the desert of Africa. It took us awhile to get the water to flow, but when it finally did we were ecstatic. The people started dancing and jumping for joy (see my previous blog on what to do when you hit water). And in just a few minutes as I was looking at the flowing water, guess what I saw? Yes, a bunch of goats had found the water and were drinking like crazy. It was like a sign from God to me. If we can just get the water here, the goats can live. And the goat herders can herd goats. And families can have milk. And livestock can be bred. And people can start finding some hope in this famine where it hasn’t rained in five years.
And that’s why I love the students at West Texas A & M in Canyon. The Buffaloes are the best. Let me give them a shout-out. In the last four years, these students have coupled a fundraiser called “Give a Goat” with an activity on campus called “Shackathon.” The students all come together in the middle of campus and build houses out of cardboard to show solidarity to the poor people who have to live this way every day. And then they sleep in them. Campus ministries from many kinds of different churches work together and show unity by coordinating this incredible effort. During the process they give their money and raise funds to buy goats. The previous three years they gave over $50,000 to give goats in Sudan. This year the goats are going to Turkana. We don’t have our final tally, but we are already going to give between 200 to 300 goats in this famine area. Goat herders are going to be given a goat! I love this. I love college students who have learned to think globally and then do something about the problems that exist. These students are not only learning about the poverty in this world, but they are also determined to make a difference. If you would like to show solidarity with them, there are still more goats needed there. You can go to CRF’s website at christianrelieffund.org and give a goat.
We have the place to buy them. We have the person ready to purchase them. We have the truck to deliver them. We have the herders ready to receive and raise them. And we even have the water so they can live. Let’s give a goat.
