“Today we all need more light. We need more positivity. We need more light. Family and faithHope and strength – that’s the essence of these stories.”
These are the words of Squire Rushnell and Lewis Duarte, co-founders of Godwinks Brand and based in Massachusetts, who shared the following story with Fox News Digital.
The couple specialise in “Godwinks” stories – and they believe God works in mysterious ways.
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“Godwink is a new word in the language,” Rushnell told Fox News Digital. “It means an event that seems like a coincidence — but you know it comes from a divine source.”
Read on and find out what they mean.
Nurtured by prayer and perseverance
The Brookwood community for adults with special needs is located on an idyllic 485 acres near the Village of Brookshire, Texas, about a half hour west of Houston.
Brookwood is a community for adults with special needs in Texas, located just west of Houston. Educators travel from around the world to learn how Brookwood has become a model for success. (Brookwood)
Educators from around the world have come here to learn how Brookwood has become a model for success.
From a low-altitude plane, one might view Brookwood as a small college campus. The steeple of a chapel rises from a cluster of attractive brick buildings, connected by orderly walkways and lush lawns, much like homes in gated residential areas.
It may be hard to imagine that the fabulous wealth of the Brookwood community grew from the seeds of tragedy — which The Power of Prayer And perseverance.
Brookwood’s story began with its tall and straightforward founder, Yvonne Straight, the mother of her severely brain-damaged daughter, Vicki.
Conventional wisdom advised the mother that she would be better off giving her child away.
In her childhood she could neither speak nor walk.
traditional knowledge was cited Mom thinks she’ll be better Put your child away.
But “oh no, it wasn’t for me”, Strait said.
She found experts who suggested that children with special needs can do more than people think. And that, like everyone else, they “feel needed” and want a purpose.
Yvonne Strait, left, is pictured with her daughter Vicki. Strait found experts who suggested that children with special needs can do more than people think – and that, like everyone else, they “need to belong” and crave a purpose. (Brookwood)
Then, after months and years of patient training, Strait taught her daughter how to grab, pick up, and release an object to eat food.
Years later, when Brookwood began, the girl’s simple skill allowed her to grab a potted plant, lift it onto a tray, and drop it.
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To date, Vicki Strait has reportedly repeated that process with more than 15,000 plants at Brookwood’s horticultural enterprise.
Hence they have made a significant contribution to one of the largest annual crops Christmas Poinsettia in the state of Texas.
Like many things in life that people start out doing – it often takes a fair amount of godly effort to get there.
Yvonne Strait said as her daughter approached age 18, it became apparent to her that while many places were offering education to children with special needs, very few places were providing life-skills training for adults with special needs.
This sparked a dream in Yvonne Strait to open a place called Brookwood.
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Still, like many things in life that people start, it often takes time A good number of “Godwinks” to get there.
a carefully crafted plan
Such a venture needs to begin with a carefully crafted plan.
To create the blueprint for the Brookwood community, Yvonne Strait appeared before Rotary clubs, churches and chambers of commerce – explaining to everyone present that she needed seed money to make it happen. Essential Travel Read more.
One night, her husband, Dave Strait, saw his wife. Seeing the disappointment on her face, he asked her how it was today at Rotary.
Brookwood founder Yvonne Strait with several community members. (Brookwood)
He shook his head and sighed, “Another speech that no one will listen to.”
He later said that tears welled up in his eyes as he prayed before falling asleep.
“Lord, I know you put this desire in my heart. And I was sure you gave me the sign to ‘go.’ But, did I misunderstand you?” she prayed. “Because I’m ready to give up.”
There was a man standing there with an envelope. He said, “Here’s $10,000 for you to study the Brookwood idea.”
The next morning, she woke up and made that face that many people make sometimes. Outwardly, it signals to the world, “I’m fine” – but it’s actually hiding feelings sadness, worry, or fear which are present inside.
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When she got to the office, a man named Frank was standing there with an envelope. He said, “Here’s $10,000 for you to study the Brookwood idea.”
She was astonished.
Then a few minutes later, her assistant said someone had called and was “sending a check for $7,500.”
An aerial view of Brookwood’s central campus in Texas, near Houston. Strait was ready to give up — until a remarkable series of events occurred shortly after her prayer to God. (Brookwood)
What?
Then, at 10 a.m., a call came from St. Luke’s Church. The church was sending a check for $25,000 “for the Brookwood study.”
And at 11 a.m. the Barrow Foundation called: “We’re sending you $30,000.”
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Strait couldn’t believe it. He now saw a ray of hope, which arose from his heartfelt prayers the previous night.
it was $72,500 worth of Godwinks – and of course giving him the “go” signal.
very far into the future
Today, the Brookwood community is home to over 250 citizens.
some person Coloring pottery in stone foundries It is then displayed in the gift shop, looking like it was taken from the pages of a Home & Garden magazine.
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Other citizens are servers or helpers in the kitchen at the Brookwood Café, a popular lunch spot for people on the go. Garden Club Of Houston.
Reservations are recommended here.
After 24 years, Strait handed over daily operations to his daughter, Vivian Schudde, herself the mother of a child with special needs.
Brookwood is an important horticultural enterprise in Texas. (Brookwood)
For the past 17 years, with a degree in Special Education, Schudde has overseen the impressive expansion of the Brookwood campus, developed a succession plan and secured the growth of the Brookwood community vision into the future.
“Our goal is to change the way the world thinks about adults with disabilities,” the community’s website states.
now one New 20 minute docufilm Produced by Crescent Moon Productions, “A Joyful Place – The Brookwood Community” celebrates the culture of joy that pervades all who visit the Brookwood campus.
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For more information and history — including the new film — one can visit the Brookwood Community website at www.brookwoodcommunity.org.
Many of the stories about Brookwood are included in this “Godwink Christmas Stories,” Squire Rushnell and Louise Duarte’s book, while Yvonne Straight’s book, co-authored with Jana Mullins, “Everybody’s Got a Seed to Grow,” tells the story of Brookwood.
Rushnell and Duart are also working on a new book coming out next year. One can find out more about Godwinks projects here www.godwinks.com,
