“All of us want extra gentle in the present day. We want extra positivity. We want household and religion, hope and energy — that is what these tales are all about.”
These are the phrases of SQuire Rushnell and Louise DuArt, co-founders of the Godwinks manufacturers and based mostly in Massachusetts, who shared the next story with Fox Information Digital.
The couple specialise in what they name “Godwinks” tales — and consider that the Lord works in mysterious methods.
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“Godwink is the brand new phrase of the language,” Rushnell instructed Fox Information Digital. “It means an occasion that looks as if a coincidence — however it comes from a divine origin.”
Learn on to see what he means.
Nurtured by prayer & persistence
The Brookwood Group for Adults with Particular Wants lies on 485 idyllic acres, a half-hour west of Houston, close to the village of Brookshire, Texas.
The Brookwood Group for Adults with Particular Wants Educators in Texas, simply west of Houston. Educators have traveled from everywhere in the world to find out how Brookwood has turn into a mannequin of success. (Brookwood)
Educators have traveled from everywhere in the globe to find out how Brookwood has turn into a mannequin of success.
From a low-altitude plane, one may mistake Brookwood for a small school campus. A chapel steeple rises from a gathering of charming brick buildings, linked by orderly walkways and rolling inexperienced lawns, to properties like these in gated residential areas.
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It might be troublesome to think about that the magnificent property of Brookwood Group grew from the seeds of tragedy — nurtured by the ability of prayer and persistence.
The Brookwood story started with its tall and straight-speaking founder, Yvonne Streit, the mom of a severely brain-damaged daughter, Vicki.
Typical knowledge instructed the mother that she’d higher put her baby away.
As a baby, she may neither converse nor transfer.
Typical knowledge instructed the mother that she’d higher put her baby away.
However “oh no, that was not for me,” mentioned Streit.
She discovered specialists who advised that kids with particular wants may do many extra issues than folks thought they might. And that, like everybody else, they “wanted to be wanted” and yearned to have a goal.
Yvonne Streit, left, is pictured along with her daughter Vicki. Streit discovered specialists who advised that kids with particular wants may do many extra issues than folks thought they might — and that, like everybody else, they “wanted to be wanted” and yearned to have a goal. (Brookwood)
Subsequently, after months and years of affected person coaching, Streit taught her daughter methods to grasp, carry and launch an object so as to feed herself.
Years later, when Brookwood was began, the woman’s easy ability allowed her to understand a potted seedling plant, carry it right into a tray — and launch it.
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To today, Vicki Streit reportedly has repeated that course of with over 15,000 crops in Brookwood’s horticultural enterprise.
So she’s considerably contributed to one of many largest annual crops of Christmas poinsettias within the state of Texas.
Like so many issues in life that individuals begin out to do — it usually takes a superb variety of Godwinks to get there.
Yvonne Streit recalled that when her daughter approached the age of 18, it grew to become clear to her that whereas many locations had been instructing particular wants kids, only a few services had been offering life-skills coaching for particular wants adults.
That gave start to Yvonne Streit’s dream of beginning a spot referred to as Brookwood.
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But, like so many issues in life that individuals begin out to do, it usually takes a superb variety of “Godwinks” to get there.
Rigorously articulated plan
An enterprise like that wanted to start with a rigorously articulated plan.
To create the blueprint for Brookwood Group, Yvonne Streit appeared earlier than Rotary golf equipment, church buildings, and chambers of commerce — explaining to anybody standing nonetheless that she wanted seed cash for the required journey and research.
One night time, her husband, Dave Streit, checked out his spouse. Seeing the frustration on her face, he requested the way it went at Rotary that day.
Yvonne Streit, founding father of Brookwood, with a number of group members. (Brookwood)
She shook her head and sighed. “Yet another speech with no takers.”
In her bedtime prayers, she choked again tears, she mentioned later.
“God, I do know you positioned this want on my coronary heart. And I used to be positive you had given me the ‘Go’ signal. However, did I misunderstand you?” she prayed. “As a result of I’m able to throw within the towel.”
A person was standing there with an envelope. He mentioned, “Right here’s $10,000 so that you can research the concept of Brookwood.”
The following morning, she received up and placed on the face that many placed on typically. On the surface, it alerts to the world, “I’m good” — however it’s actually hiding emotions of disappointment, fear or concern that exist on the within.
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When she received to the workplace, a person named Frank was standing there with an envelope. He mentioned, “Right here’s $10,000 so that you can research the concept of Brookwood.”
She was flabbergasted.
Then a couple of minutes later, her assistant mentioned somebody had simply referred to as and was “sending over a verify for $7,500.”
An aerial view of Brookwood’s central campus in Texas, close to Houston. Streit had been able to throw within the towel — till a exceptional collection of occasions came about shortly after her pleas to God. (Brookwood)
What?
Then, at 10 o’clock, St Luke’s Church phoned. The church was sending a verify for $25,000 “to review Brookwood.”
And at 11 a.m., the Barrow Basis referred to as: “We’re sending you $30,000.”
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Streit couldn’t consider it. She now felt a string of hope, all stemming from her heartfelt prayers of the night time earlier than.
It was $72,500 value of Godwinks — and undoubtedly giving her the “Go” signal.
Lengthy into the long run
Right now, the Brookwood Group is dwelling to greater than 250 residents.
Some people paint pottery in stone casting that’s then displayed within the present store, which seems prefer it belongs within the pages of a house and backyard journal.
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Different residents are servers or assistants within the kitchen on the Brookwood Café, a well-liked luncheon spot for the backyard golf equipment of Houston.
Right here, reservations are really useful.
After 24 years, Streit turned over the every day operations to her daughter, Vivian Shudde, herself the mom of a particular wants baby.
Brookwood in Texas maintains a big horticultural enterprise. (Brookwood)
For the previous 17 years, Shudde, with a level in particular schooling, has overseen a powerful growth of the Brookwood campus, developed a succession plan and secured the evolution of the Brookwood Group philosophy lengthy into the long run.
“Our imaginative and prescient is to vary the way in which the world thinks about adults with disabilities,” the group’s web site notes.
Now, a brand new 20-minute docufilm produced by Crescent Moon Productions, “A Joyful Place – The Brookwood Group,” celebrates the tradition of pleasure that springs from all those that go to the Brookwood campus.
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For extra particulars and historical past — together with a view of the brand new movie — anybody can try the Brookwood Group’s web site at www.brookwoodcommunity.org.
A number of tales about Brookwood are included in “Godwink Christmas Tales,” a e book by SQuire Rushnell and Louise DuArt, whereas Yvonne Streit’s e book, coauthored by Jana Mullins, “Everyone’s Acquired A Seed to Develop,” describes Brookwood’s story.
Rushnell and DuArt are additionally engaged on a brand new e book due out subsequent yr. Anybody can study extra in regards to the Godwinks tasks at www.godwinks.com.
