Churches, campus ministry help internationals make Aggieland home

COLLEGE STATION —The Texas A&M University Baptist Student Ministry and College Station-area churches join together to bless the international students who come from around the world to Aggieland each fall.

During the Great Give-away, international students can visit the BSM and claim items to start making their apartments into homes. Since they arrive by plane from all over the world, most only have their clothes and little if anything in the way of household furnishings.

Rebecca Hernandez, associate director of Baptist Student Ministry at Texas A&M University, views the Great Giveaway not only as an opportunity to help international students furnish their apartments, but also as a chance to show them God's love in action. (PHOTO/George Henson)

International students are allowed to claim one large item—a couch or dining set—one set of dishes and two medium-sized items—chairs or a bookcase. They may help themselves to as many of the smaller items—such as towels or home decorations—as they want, said Rebecca Hernandez, associate director of the Texas A&M BSM.

"We have students who get up very early in the morning—some sleep here all night—to get ready for the giveaway," she said. "When-ever we come—and we get here early—there's already a line that's been formed."

Most years, the event, which started almost 10 years ago, draws about 150 to 200 international students.

"They always leave happy. They get lots of things they need—lots of things that are useful," Hernandez said.

"Our churches make this all possible by bringing this stuff for us. We could not do this without them."

Since the vast majority of the international students lack vehicles, volunteers deliver the items to the students' apartments.

"The delivery volunteers really have some of the most unique opportunities and conversations with people," Hernandez said. "While they have the international in the car with them, they are able to get to know them a little better and explain more of why we are doing what we are doing, and they also invite them to the Bible studies and lunches we have.

"They probably have the hardest job but also the best part of the job, because they get to talk to the internationals one on one."

In addition to providing the items that are donated and helping with deliveries, volunteers from churches also help with a pre-event inventory and talk with the international students while they wait in line for their turn.

"It's one way we can help churches connect with the international students who are here—to see the needs that are here and also the opportunities that exist. We really do have the nations coming to College Station," Hernandez noted.

While the 6,000 international students who attend Texas A&M come from many countries, Hernandez said, China is the most represented, followed by India. Other countries seen in lesser numbers at the giveaway include Taiwan, South Korea, Mexico, Turkey, most South American nations and, in increasing numbers, students from the Middle East.

The BSM also seeks to minister to the international students through English classes. Bible studies follow the classes, and many choose to stay to study Scriptures.

"There's nothing like sitting in a room with someone and realizing they are reading the Bible for the first time," Hernandez said.

The internationals receive a lot of tangible goods, but what often makes the largest impression is the love they receive, she noted.

"I remember one couple—they were from China—and they had their stuff delivered to their house," Hernandez recalled. "The wife, Summer, was so blown away. She was like: 'Why are they doing this? Why would they give us all this stuff and then deliver it to our apartment?'

"Her husband told her, 'It's because they are Christians, and they are serving their God.'

"She was really impacted by that and started coming to Bible studies because she wanted to know what makes these people different.

"That's really the reason we do this. It's a way we can share life with them, and hopefully that becomes being able to share Scripture with them and a meal with them. All those different things, but it starts with this—being able to have a comfortable home here for the few years they're in College Station.

"They come from places in the world most of us won't have an opportunity to go to, but we have an chance to get to know them and invest in their lives while they are here."