Conversations with Barnabas-Elfu Moja
So today we are interviewing Lynda S. who makes 99.95% of all the bears we will be talking about. This one will be more interview style since it was done via email. I am also going to try and include some of my personal memories as one of the bears she made along with pictures.
Barnabas (B): When did you start making the prayer/mission bears?
Lynda (L): It all started in 2010
B: Did you have a pattern to get you started?
L: Well I first took the pattern used to make that first bear but it started with something called a magic circle which was something I had trouble with. So, I set out to find a pattern that might show an alternative way to get the job started. I needed a pattern for a baby blanket also so I went to Hobby Lobby to look for that too. You know when the devil throws an obstacle in your path, the LORD will show you a way around it. The secret here is that you don’t give up. There at Hobby Lobby, I found a small booklet from the Bernat Yarn Co. that not only had a baby blanket pattern, it also had a bear pattern. The Bear Pattern. The moment I saw it, I knew that was the one. I felt the HOLY SPIRIT say, “That’s the one.” (Like the moment that Samuel was told that it was David that he was to anoint to be king. One of those kinds of moments when you just know that you know.) It was not by chance.
B: I was not the first bear you made?
L: No. The first bear (Timothy) took about 8 hours to make and I just loved making him. I couldn’t wait to make another and so I did! And then made another. The rest is history. He was put in a Bids2Help Kids auction at the church and your dad purchased him. I actually did not know it was your dad who got him until I saw a picture of the two of you later.
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| Timothy (Lynda's first bear) and the first bear by someone else (now you know why she is the bear expert) |
B: How long does it take you to make a bear today?
L: Today it takes me about 2½ - 3 hours to make a small bear. It takes up to 5 hours to make the larger prayer bears that are given out at the Prayer and Healing Service and to the GAIHN Children. I put dresses on the girl bears and each bear gets a hat & backpack. Those accessories take more time. (Editor note: Working 8 hours a day, 5 days a week it would take almost 2 years to make 1000 bears)
B: Why are they called prayer bears?
L: While I make each bear, I pray for the child (or person) who receives it. I pray for GOD to comfort them, bless them, heal them (emotionally, spiritually, and physically) and protect them from evil. It’s a lot more than just “cranking out bears.” I get to invest a little of my time praying and doing something for someone I may never know, or meet, or see…all to the glory of GOD.
B: So the bears have gone on some interesting trips over the years?
L: The Bears first trip abroad was with the MUMC Tanzania Mission Team June 2011. Bears were given to the children at the preschool in Yulansoni Valley and some were also given to the children in Mama Rosa’s Orphanage in Singida. That same summer, bears went with the MUMC’s Peru Mission Team who were going to do work for Scripture Union to help the street boys in Peru.
Since then, they’ve gone to Peru 3 more times (Urubamba in 2012, La Merced in 2013, and Puerto Alegria in 2016) with the mission teams. They are in Haiti and Guatemala. They went with individual missionaries to these places. Some are in Germany. They were given to Cadence International Missionaries, sponsored by our church, to use in their outreach to others. Many have been packed in Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes and could be anywhere! Worldwide!
Three of the big prayer bears are now in the hands of children who were released from ISIS in Northern Iraq in the fall of 2016. I just love that! These children truly are children in crisis!
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| The bears asking to be adopted and sent to Tanzania |
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| One of my first speaking engagements. The sermon on the wall to motivate my fellow prayer bears into mission service |
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| One of the first trips to Peru |
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| Tanzania orphanage |
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| Even Missionary kids love the bears |
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| Tanzania |
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| Me with Miguel in Peru |
L: One story that I think is so special is the one about the two young ladies from Denmark. You met them at your hotel in Arusha and they, although non-believers, went to church service with you. Later, before they left, you gave them a bear. This is a story of hope. Hope for their future. I believe that the LORD knows who will get each bear. HE is a GOD who is very intentional. Someday, when they look at that bear, they may remember something that you said to them or something that they saw or heard at the worship service and call out to GOD to show HIMSELF to them. You just never know what GOD can do or use to bring someone to HIM. GOD is so good!
B: The bears are not just for international purposes right?
L: That is correct we also give them out to many local groups. On the local front, we have bears available for people to take as a tangible expression of JESUS’ love from our monthly Prayer and Healing Service held at MUMC. These bears are primarily for children, but if an adult would rather hug a bear than wrap up in a prayer shawl for comfort, they are welcome to have one. Bears from this service have been sent to children in Alaska, Texas, California, North & South Carolina, Tennessee, Illinois, & Pennsylvania. These are the only destinations that what I am aware of at this time!
Bears have been given to the Greenville Fire Department and Greenville Sheriff’s Department to provide comfort for children who are in distress or in a crisis situation. Bears have been given to children who, with their families are guests in our church through the GAIHN program helping homeless families get back on their feet again. Bears have also been given to boys in the Generations Group Home.
B: What is the purpose of the bears?
L: I’m not sure that there is just one function of the bears. The obvious would be to bring comfort and a little joy into the lives of those receiving them or put a smile on the face of someone who has nothing. Our church has a mission statement “Touching Lives for CHRIST.” I think that is what the bears do. They touch lives for CHRIST.
B: Any advice for groups that want a prayer bear ministry of their own?
L: I’m not sure what advice I could give to groups that may want to try this. You need to love to make them and be called to do it. Once you have the willing spirits, finding places, and people to give them to is the easy part.
Some of Barnabas' favorite memories
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| Visiting the set of Your Carolina on channel 7 |
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| hanging with friends in Singida |
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| making friends with Twiggy the Twiga the eyeglass spokes giraffe |
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| hanging with new peace corp volunteers and Elfu Moja at one of our favorite restaurants |
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