Can you believe it? Exactly ten years ago tonight, October 13, 1998. It was a Tuesday and myself along with Pat Patterson, Bruce Agness, Jack Selman, Mark White and Houston Flake loaded up 75 sack meals into the back of Pat Patterson's green mini-van and headed out onto the streets of Austin with our eyes and ears and scout Houston Flake.
That is Houston on the left and me on the right. Houston passed away to our Lord back in 2002; he had bladder cancer. What was unique about Houston is that he was born in the same year I was; 1955. But he was born to homeless parents and he himself spent most of his life living on the streets. Two beautiful Lay Missionaries of Charity women, Laura Campbell and Elinor Reese met him in the early 90's on the streets here in Austin. They loved on him and over the years became close personal friends with Houston. Sometime around the time we were brainstorming Mobile Loaves & Fishes (can you imagine 5 white guys from Westlake Hills thinking they were going to go out and feed the homeless) these wonderful ladies helped get Houston a job as a custodian at St. John Neumann Catholic Church where we all were parishioners.
Thank God! We really did not know what we were doing in terms of actually going out onto the streets to serve. Houston became our eyes and ears. He along with my four other founding brothers went out on that awesome first trip ten years ago. Then in 2000 Houston contracted cancer in his bladder and just like that he was gone. I feel that it is as if God had planted him for this purpose of being our guide even if it were only for a moment; to hold our hands and walk us through a wall of spiritual predjudice and fear. Thank you Jesus and Thank you Houston!
Beginning on the left that is Pat, me, Mark, Bruce and Jack. Pat was and is our scrounger; he can get anything at just about anytime for the best price. Mark, well he is a social worker here in Austin and is very gifted and understands people in some very special ways. Then Bruce; he is who I shared the idea with the first time and said "I'll put five hun into it", meaning $500. He hasn't stopped giving yet. One of the most generous people I have ever met. Now Jack; Jack is a lawyer and Jack guided us through all of the legal maze of setting up a non profit. Jack has a strong business sense. All of these men are my closest friends. I call them my brothers from another mother.
Outside of our Lord the greatest partner one could have is my wife Tricia. She is truly my best friend. She is the first one I shared the idea with and I was with her and another close friend Mary Ann Simmons when the vision happened. Mary Ann was telling Tricia and I about a ministry in Corpus Christi that she and her husband Clint participated where several churches would come together on cold winter nights to take needed supplies out to the folks that lived on the streets. Providentially it was at that moment that the image of a catering truck entered my mind as a distribution vehicle to take stuff to the folks on the streets; to go where they are and to serve them with love and the abundance of God.
So here we are today 10 years later. WOW! Now 16 trucks, 12,000 volunteers now having served about 1.5 million meals located in five cities in four states. What a birthday. To all of those who have volunteered in any way by the giving of their time, talent and treasure I can only say THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU! You are truly awesome. Share some love today...you have sure shared a lot of love over the past 10 years.
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