10 Jan “We did this as an act of love.”
A word from Rick.
One of my favorite parts of my job is meeting Wheeler’s volunteers, supporters, and friends. People join us for so many reasons: perhaps a loved one was helped at Wheeler, they’ve been touched by our mission to serve their neighbors, or maybe it’s to honor someone they love. Hearing these stories moves me deeply, and makes me all the more thankful to have a front row seat to what God is doing for and through people at Wheeler Mission.
Here’s a story I hope touches you as much as it’s touched me. The Fazle family is a truly special group of volunteers, serving in honor of a loved one who passed. Their loss has inspired them to give and serve.
The Honey Bun Boy
By: Ruqaiya Adam
On Saturday, November 3, 2018, my family provided hot meals to the homeless men of Wheeler Mission. We did this as a family–we did this as an act of love. We shared what we had on behalf of my brother, Taleb Ibn Fazle. It would have been his 46th birthday. Briefly, I want to tell you my brother’s story.
One of the most vivid memories that I have of my brother was from the time we lived as small children on the island of Galveston, TX. Our father owned a small convenience store. We lived in the back of the store. There was an orange tree in the backyard.
Popular items in that store were honey buns. No one loved them more than my younger brother, Taleb Ibn Fazle. He could not wait for their arrival. Those orange brown culinary delights, individually wrapped in clear smooth plastic, were a magnet for my younger brother. So many honey buns! Too much temptation for a young boy to resist! Before you know it, Taleb would be helping himself to one, two, three…you get the picture. He was eating the store’s stock and wasn’t paying for it! As the big sister, I tried to stop him, but our father wouldn’t. He probably found it all amusing.
A legacy to honor.
I wanted to share this delicious memory with you. Taleb would grow up to be a handsome, brave, and generous man. He married a wonderful woman, having two children. I see the best of my brother in his son and daughter. He earned his bachelor’s degree while serving in the US Army. He would travel and live all over the world and would still come home to visit his mother and siblings.
His legacy lives on in his children and in our charitable efforts. We inspire to do good in honor of that honey bun loving boy. We want the good people of Wheeler Mission to look forward to future hot meals just as my younger brother, Taleb Ibn Fazle, looked forward to those honey buns. God bless you.