Older neighbors @ new home making our life Hell. How do we respond as believers

I am beginning to grow concerned for my children’s safety and want solid Christian advice. Need help navigating some Christian conduct

We moved to a new home and have only been here for a month. It has become evident that our neighbors are very unwelcoming, unhappy we are here, and we seem to be dealing with the beginning of harassment. 

We moved to a short cul-de-sac of 10 homes off of a rural country road near woods and lakes. This cul-de-sac seems to be almost entirely older retired people. From what I can gather, they are unhappy we are young, unhappy we have kids, and unhappy we have a large dog. They are pretending this is a 55+ with an HOA. 

We have received an anonymous letter that we should be ashamed of how we treat our dog (we kennel her when we leave the house because she has destructive separation anxiety). I had a man come knock on my door cursing that I should not walk my dog along the country road in the drainage ditch. He threatened to have my dog taken by animal control and after that call the cops. I did my due diligence and called four offices - zoning/permitting, public works, two people with animal enforcement, who then sent me to the sheriffs office. Even though it was not my intention, a sheriff was nearby and went to talk to the man stating I’m allowed to walk my dog there because it is a county road. 

Today when I got home, there was a paper left on my doorstep from a low-quality magazine type website with highlighter all over it stating that what I was doing was illegal. Do I pursue to live peaceably and just obey the demands to walk my dog in circles around my VERY tiny house and very tiny yard? Or do I pursue justice and keep doing what I am doing because I am breaking no laws? The line between either living peaceably or instead pursing justice has always been difficult for me to discern. Another neighbor also yelled across the yard that cops supposedly came to knock on our door the other day, but didn’t tell us why and we haven’t had any follow up regarding that. 

While we were first looking at the house, one of the neighbors found our business on FaceBook from the sticker on our car and started messaging us tons of things trying to get us to not purchase - “It’s a 55+.” (Lie) “There’s mold.” (Lie) “The toilet doesn’t work.” (Lie, but there is damage in the bathroom and we intend to gut and remodel). The granddaughter of this woman said, “I’m not allowed over there because my grandma thinks you will kidnap me since you didn’t listen to her about the toilet.” ….what….(?) 

My Husband works a fishing charter, so he leaves extremely early and we homeschool, so we are home a lot.

How in the world do we navigate this? We have only been here for a month. How do we balance living peaceably without simultaneously allowing harassment in front of our three young children? How should we handle this?

A: A simple way would be to contact a lawyer and have him write a cease letter and then copy and mail it to them all. Include a letter from you saying "you really wish you didn't have to get your lawyer, we were happy to find this property, and we want to be kind to & get to know our neighbors. And as Christians we care about your souls, we hope to share Christ with you when possible, and do will pray we can all get along as good neighbors. Ps. If you have any prayer requests we would be happy to pray for you. Please let Jim know. " and have your husband sign it.

It is best if you can find a lawyer in your church or whom your pastor knows, so they (can look up all the issues these folk are bothering you about but also) can help give you godly counsel on how to handle each of these issues that may reoccur and similar matters these folk lob at you in the future. 

Then respond as a Christlike light in the neighborhood. If you hear someone is ill, injured, died, birthday, anniversary etc do a good towards them then. If you grow food at home and end up with too many of xyz or chicken eggs, make a blessings bag and leave at their doors with a note. If his charter is self owned, maybe invite the neighbor men (along with the pastor and a cop 😉) for a Saturday day morning fishing outing once, free, to connect. Make a packed lunch for them so your husband can brag on you and pastor can bless and thank for the food. His job gives you an opp to talk about Christ the fisher of men. Also send a Christmas card with a good tract. Also, If your husband gets extra fish while out fishing, bless the neighbors with a BBQ fish fry Saturday in back yard or front yard, &/or invite them over on a sunny but cool day for a porch fish soup lunch with bread. They all seem to be retired, and available 😁. 

I would install security cameras, for kids safety and yours, but do put a password on the cameras! There's a huge website that live feeds all wifi cameras that don't have passwords and it's insane and creepy, has a huge following, is organized by subject and locations, and should be illegal. (See below)

Also get an No Tresspassing sign. Only the ones from official county office hold up in court apparently. 

If you have a back yard, don't let the kids play out front. Keep them in the back. If they ride bikes out front only allow if you are out supervising them. And they need to have a serious understanding of respecting neighbors; not causing problems, being kind, and have outside manners; not being loud and screaming pain in the rears! No one wants kids interrupting their peace. People want to read in peace, sit in peace, nap in peace, eat in peace, and sleep in peace (when ill or not feeling well). 

Do get, learn, own a gun so you can protect your family should any of them be real nutters who attack you or break in to harm you. Teach your kids about guns and safety and seriousness. It was normal thru early 90s in school to have gun clubs. And even 6 year old had bb guns. They were taught well, valued life, understood it's proper and last resort usage, and there were no problems. It's better to have and not need to use, than not have and need to use to protect your family's lives. 

Do keep walking your dog and enjoying your neighborhood. Dont let them make you a hermit & control you. Do carry a taser or mace while you are out, and your phone/watch phone. Do put a tracking chip in your dog at the vet, in case one of the neighbors criminally breaks in to "free" or kidnap your dog. Do let your husband know when you go out to walk the dog and when you are safely back in the house. Tbvh it would be good to have a tracking app for your phone(s) connected to your husband's phone too in case a neighbor is a nutters and something happens. You can open the app or wherever it allows you to "send location now" while your out so you can send it if you feel somethings off, being followed, esp a vehicle, or whatever, for your comfortability and in case something really happens. 

Tbh I would still practice these things if you all get a bit chummy (when your husband is home) when you kindly interact with neighbors. Cuz you really can't trust people anymore, no matter how long you've known them.

And if you don't have a fence around your yard, get one installed, including an automated drive in gate for vehicles. And keep all gates & garage shut at all times. Eventually they'll get over yall being there. Many grumpy old folk don't like change. Once they realize your better than some partying, lgbt flaming hair, druggy weed smoker they'll act better or leave you alone at least. 

I would suggest if you have church folk over for fellowship or Bible study, that you alert them to the neighbors not being friendly, and ask they carefully park in areas & ways that will cause the least problems with them as possible. 

Hope these ideas help. 

God bless

Home camera stuff

https://youtu.be/qAQX8nQcpEc?si=b47aBGB6D6HIGBia

https://youtu.be/u-JVS1yTKp0?si=an_xNoG04mVT-x3Z