News from Good News Ministries:
- The miracle seeds of Restful Water Way
- Fundraiser only halfway succeeded: What now?
- Need renewed hope? Chat with me!
- Plus great links to great content!
The miracle seeds of Restful Water Way
About 20 years ago, I drove out of my neighborhood of tightly-packed houses, looking for a place to pray out in nature. The previous years had been the most difficult in my life so far. I was emotionally and spiritually weary. It was Good Friday and I didn’t want to be around noise.
I asked the Holy Spirit to guide me on my search for some personal restoration. Where should I turn? What streets should I travel?
Eventually I found myself at a road called “Park Drive.” Could it be named that way because there was a public park on it? I turned onto it and, a couple of miles later, did indeed find a park. A beautiful river flowed past it.
As I walked along the riverbank, I admired a cute house that had a balcony overlooking the river. It was for sale. I thought, “What if I could buy it and turn it into a retreat house for others who need personal restoration?” But of course it was much too expensive for my budget.
This house on the edge of the park had an Elephant Ear tree (also known as a Monkey Ear tree), which was standing tall next to the river. It had recently shed its fruits, a seed pod shaped like an ear. I picked one up. The seeds in it rattled.
I prayed, “Lord God, let the seeds in this pod represent the seeds of my dream to offer a private retreat house to those in need of restoration like I feel the need for now. We’ll call it the Restful Water Restoration Center.”
A few years later, in 2008, Ralph and I bought a beautiful 2 acres of woodland property at a bargain price. It even had a little creek on it! We designed our dream home for it, and when the county Department of Streets asked Ralph what to name our long, private driveway, he suggested “Restful Water Way.”
Both of us dreamed of how we might share this peaceful place with others. However, by 2012 when the house got built, my parents could no longer live without assistance. They moved in with us two weeks after Ralph and I moved in. We could not open our dream to anyone else. Providing my parents with a wonderful place to stay was the first mission of our house.
My dad passed away in 2020. A couple of years later, Ralph and I physically could no longer take care of my mom, so we found her a good Assisted Living Facility. By then, Ralph and I needed respite and restoration from living with my parents. We began to give our home a refreshingly new look by painting the walls, redoing some of the floors, and repurposing my parents’ bedroom into the GNM office.
Sadly, Ralph got sick before he finished trying to salvage the house into “our” personal retreat. He passed away without ever feeling like Restful Water Way House was his sanctuary from the world.
Shortly after he was gone, the Lord reminded me of the old dream for a Restful Water Restoration Center. My house was going to have a new mission. I had no idea how God would make it happen, but I headed in that direction.
Then one day, a surprise call came from my friend Tina. She asked if I’d be open to the Boy Scouts of our parish doing a project for Good News Ministries on my property. Of course I was very interested!
Last Saturday, organized by Eagle Scout Angel Rivera, they put up prayer stations in a pathway that, long ago, I had forged through the trees in my backyard. It was a very fun event. They did an excellent job. And then they played on the huge fallen oak tree that had been toppled by Hurricane Milton.
Fun coming from disaster — new life from the seeds planted by death — new purpose from great loss. This is how our Good Lord works!
The prayer path’s first event will be a candlelight rosary walk. I’ll ask my local friends to come consecrate the mission of my property with their prayers.
God is unveiling a plan that I can’t see well yet, and its beginnings go back to that prayer by the river with the seed pod in my hand. Watch this newsletter for further developments.
What now?
What if Good News Ministries had to shut down? It’s time for me to stop begging for support. I need to spend the time on other aspects of running this ministry.
But for the first time ever, we raised only half the funds needed. I think it’s because of high inflation rates. We’ll run a Lenten appeal to make up for this. And if that doesn’t work…. Well….
We depend on God, and God depends on the “yes” of faith-filled believers who agree to be generous. Is that you? Please go to gnm.org/donate.
I’d like to emphatically thank everyone who championed the mission of Good News Ministries in 2024. Thank you for helping me get through a very difficult year and for your ongoing support.
Need renewed hope? Chat with me!
You are invited! Meet up with me personally in a Telegram chat room with other members of Good News Ministries.
GNM is offering you a safe, cozy place to visit. This is a well protected, private group. Join the conversation and discover that you are cared about. If you don’t yet have Telegram, no worries. It is simple to set up and start sharing your heart.
Get started now. Click t.me/+2A6K_6ylIUc5MTUx
I’ll be personally checking in often and responding!
Good News Prayer Room:
Use our collection of Catholic prayers designed with your needs in mind. They will give you hope and a stronger connection to God’s love and support. What do you need prayers for today?
Visit gnm.org/prayers.
Post your prayer requests @ gnm.org/post-a-prayer.
Good News WordBytes:
WANT MORE FAITH and HOPE in TROUBLED TIMES? WE’RE HERE for YOU! Choose from a variety of topics on our website of Catholic Faith-building articles. What do you need today?
Visit wordbytes.org.
Explore our Catholic Video Library for Faith Growth
Give yourself a personal retreat day; watch videos from our library of faith-building meditations:
God bless you!
Every morning, I lift up in prayer everyone who helps Good News Ministries in any way (donors, volunteers, prayer supporters, etc.) and all the prayer requests posted on our site. What can I cover in prayer for you? Post your prayer request.
How else can the team and I serve you today? Visit our homepage.
Thank you for reading this newsletter.
Your servant in Christ,
Terry Modica, Executive Director
Good News Ministries
gnm.org
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Knowing God’s Will and Doing it Well
Lessons from the Blessed Mother
Daily Prayers with the Saints