"Just wanted to let you know that Ray received the package with the bears.  He distributed the bears to the other soldiers and they were very grateful for the words that were in the bears.  From what I was told this morning, they took the papers and they carry them wherever they go for encouragement.

Just thank everyone for me.  It meant a lot to me but I know it meant a lot more to those soldier to received the words that were written…….  J

God is always good…..  keep them in your prayers.  Today they were on their way to another part of Iraq." 

I just had a conversation with the Religious Ed coordinator/VBS director from my previous church and was telling her about the story (which I can't find the link to yet-- I think it's on the front page of groupvbs.com) about the soldiers getting prayer bears.

She has a son that is a Marine over in Iraq. I suggested she ship them to him and his group. They sure can use some encouragement and reminders that we are praying for them.

I'll send her an email with this link to again encourage her with this idea.

She was thinking of asking a Marine in uniform to attend Mass or the closing service and receive the bears from the children. I think that would be one more way to help the kids connect to how important their prayers are to those serving our country.

Thanks for posting this.