I had such a great time in Galveston, TX this past weekend!
I went back to the town I grew up in to help out our church by cooking some BBQ for a fundraiser but it turned into so much more. This turned into a BBQ event! There were so many people that came out to share in the food and fellowship. The building is not the only thing that has been rebuilt. There is a brand new spirit of love and joy and everyone can feel it. It is such a happy place!
Rev. Chester Makowski and his wife Mary have set the tone for this miraculous turnaround and their infectious spirit is touching everyone in the community. St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church is once again a place to be!
Rev. Chester Makowski and Bigmista laughing it up. Photo by Groovehouse
While I was there I was blessed with so many friends, old and new, that came out to serve in whatever way they could. Ernest Ramirez, Ed Rios and Junior of the Drillin & Grillin BBQ Team brought a huge pit and stayed up all night cooking with me.
Ernest Ramirez of the Drillin & Grillin BBQ Team working on the chicken
The guys from Pitmaker LLC also generously lent us a pit to cook on. It even had lights and a siren on it!
Bigmista and George Shore of Pitmaker, LLC
Officer Patrick Mullins of the Galveston Police Department was my right hand man for this event. Besides working in the kitchen he did all the little things to make this event work like driving me to Houston to pick up one of the pits or running to the store to get the things I forgot. (And I always forget something!) Patrick is one of my classmates and football teammates. He was awesome and I would have him on my team anytime!
Officer Patrick Mullins of the Galveston Police Department volunteering his time.
There were too many people to name but so many people helped to make this event special. None worked harder than my mother Pat Tate. She has tirelessly (ok she’s really tired but she keeps going) worked on this event and it’s success is due in large part to her. Love you Ma!
Yes my Ma still tells me what to do.
Oh yeah. I guess you want to see the food, huh?
Combo Plate. Photo by Houston Foodie
Katherine Shilcutt of the Houston Press wrote a great post about the event that you all should check out. Click here for the post.
I’d like to thank everyone who came out to support our church by volunteering their time or buying some BBQ. This was a great event and I hope the Community Garden will touch some lives in Galveston.
Neil, my friend, the food looks great – I am sure you all were a blessing to many people. What a great group of people. I didn’t know you were a Texan, too – no wonder I like ya
Oh, and your momma looks like she’s about to spank you. You’d better behave.
Sounds…well… Delicious! Hope to see you and mrs before Xmas
Bonding through bbq – once again, inspirational stuff.
Neil, thank you so much for all you did and thanks also to your wonderful friends that volunteered and worked tirelessly. I love ya!
Neil:
How can we ever thank you (and Morgan and your wife Phyllis) enough? Thank you for sharing not only your time and talents, but also all of your friends by feeding everyone on Saturday and helping to feed others in the future with the community garden. It was good to have you home. Blessings, Fr. Chester+
I don’t even know you but words cannot express how much I and I’m sure others appreciate your love for the Lord and for St. Augustine. I haven’t been there in years and years but went there as a youth minister on a mission trip about 13 years ago and my heart broke over and over again at this beautiful place in dis-repair. I felt that the Diocese abandoned it. I called, complained, cried, begged and pleaded for it to be not only restored but for there to be a full time preacher to minister to the community and restore the church to pews full of love for Jesus. I painted there, I cleaned, I bought a new mailbox (small but precious and needed), led a vbs for a week there and left a portion of my heart. God bless you. God bless Father Makowski. Love, a cradle Episcopalian Larissa Williams Botik
If you think think 2010 was an awesome event just wait until March 17, 2012. There will be many more Who’s Who in BBQ in attendance, live music, a raffle, ladder fire truck, moon walk. It will be a block party you won’t forget.