Summer Bucket List: Volunteering at the iHouse Market

One of my favorite ministries at our church is the iHouse.  This wonderful ministry welcomes international students who come to study at Texas A&M and organizes all kinds of events to help get them settled into the states - conversation clusters, pot lucks, Texas style cookouts, camping trips, etc.  Jason and I really enjoyed being involved with this group before we had Aria, and after she came, life got more than a little busy so we haven't spent as much time with the group. :) I have made some of the most wonderful friends from all over the world through our involvement with the iHouse.

The iHouse Market is a free furniture giveaway for new international students.  It is so much fun getting to make new friends and help them pick out furniture for their new homes!  Since the letter V on our summer bucket list was Volunteer, I knew this would be the PERFECT event for Aria!  My heart was so happy watching her help with moving furniture, talking to the students, and learning about cultures from all over the world.  She served with such a happy heart!

On Friday we went to the church to help move furniture from the storage unit to the church building.  She loved hanging out with the college students from the AFC!

On Saturday, we arrived to the church bright and early and Aria was so excited!

We immediately met some awesome guys from India, Ayush and Atul! Aria even got to accompany them to their house to help deliver the furniture.  They were so incredibly sweet to her and invited her to have some special treats from India.  I felt so humbled by their kindness. Here we are trying to welcome them to Texas and they so graciously shared a piece of their home with us.

We also met a wonderful family from Mexico and Aria had a blast playing with their son.  They played with the basketball and raced up and down the hallway of church.

What a wonderful day!  I am so thankful for the new friendships we made and loved to watch Aria totally in her element.