What an eventful summer it has been! Our refugee guest arrivals have been much more steady, we’ve had beautiful connections with many of our former guests, and our campus has grown with the addition of our first cabin. The most recent family to make their way through Abba’s House was this beautiful family of 5, who came to us in June from a remote camp in Meheba, Zambia. Kalanga and her four children thrived here at Abba’s House, thanks to an amazing team of volunteers who poured into them day after day. Early in August, they transitioned to an apartment in SW Houston, and shortly after the kids started school. Soon, Kalanga’s mom and sister will be joining her from Zambia, and shortly after she will begin her first job. The whole process has been a bit overwhelming for them, since they came from such a remote area. But, they are gifted and determined and will ultimately do well.
Our new guest quarters!
We are super excited about our new cabin, which is 99% done and will soon be put into use as we provide a safe space for our arriving refugee families. It is a simple and cozy two bedroom, one bath cabin sitting adjacent to the main house. As God provides resources, we look forward to adding cabins #’s 2 & 3 sometime in the future. Recent generous donations from churches like Bayou City Fellowship, Community of Faith, and Salem Lutheran allowed us to build this cabin without any fundraising appeal. But, if you’d like to help out with some of our final finishing touches, here’s a link to some of our cabin finishes wish list.
Upcoming Events/Opportunities
Interested in getting more involved? We have a number of opportunities coming up.
Sat. Sept 10 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. is our monthly Community Dinner Potluck. Whether you are a long time part of the team here at Abba’s House, a brand new curiosity seeker, or a former guest of the house, we’d love to have you join us. Bring a dish to share and come on out.
Mon. Oct. 3 from 9:00-11:00 a.m. is our next Volunteer Orientation and Training. The addition of our new cabin increases the likelihood that we will have multiple families here at once, so we are making a push to add to our volunteer ranks. If you are a woman with some availability on weekday mornings, we especially need you! Come check out this amazing opportunity to get hands-on involved with our refugee guests from around the world.
Final Thoughts
One of the beautiful parts of each family’s journey is watching how each family bonds and connects with two or three of the Abba’s House volunteers. That friendship continues on as the family settles into their new apartment and begins American life. With our most recent family, several of our volunteers kept close tabs on them as they navigated a very difficult school enrollment process. They helped them get their necessary vaccinations, taught them how to ride a city bus, took them to a couple different Congolese churches, and made sure they had the right uniforms for the first day of school. It is a beautiful example of the body of Christ doing what we are supposed to do — caring for another part of the body that is in a uniquely vulnerable spot. It brings such joy to watch these “everyday missionaries” make such a difference in the life of their newfound friend. It is a truly rich experience for all. We need more of you! If you are in the Cypress area and are open to serving in this way, reach out to us. We’d love to get you started.
Abba's House 