The Weapons We Fight With

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

2 Corinthians 10:4

When it comes to advocating and supporting our HOOs while they live through hard times, we MomsHooPray are tough. (Think Xena Warrior Princess tough, just without the mean face!)

Since the start of the pandemic, we fought together for our Hoos. You might say we battled tooth and nail with our bare hands.

— Last spring we prayed for all students — in particular, our 1st-year students who were suddenly forced out of dorms. And for our 4th years who were unable to celebrate the traditional graduation joy of walking the lawn. A Doodle card campaign to congratulate our entire group of 4ths quickly filled up, connecting card senders with new grads.

— Spring prayer requests were shared in confidence via email with those who chose to participate.

— Once we realized the tremendous burden placed upon our graduated HOO nurses in the Covid battle, we assembled a list of our “Hoo and Hoo-Related Health Care Workers” and circulated it for our moms to pray over. Many moms sent notes or care packages to encourage these Hoo Health Care Workers.

— Rising Class of 2024 students, their dorm and day of move-in were submitted upon request by their moms, then adopted by upper-class MomsHooPray for prayer on Move-In Day.

All of the above happened without the benefit of in-person meetings or our year-end dinner celebration. We all missed those events—but we did not let that stop the main goal of our group—supporting each other and our Hoos in prayer!

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2

— At the end of August, NoVA MomsHooPray kicked off our 10th year of prayer—in person in the MPC parking lot and continued there until Balls Hill Road traffic became too noisy. So NoVA MomsHooPray pivoted once more and began to meet in a quiet suburban culdesac.

— Zoom MomsHooPray launched in September, gaining several out-of-state and working moms who never would have been able to join in person. (truly a silver lining of the Covid constraints)

— Care packages were assembled by both NoVA and Zoom MomsHooPray, (the latter pulled their package contents together with a little help from Amazon, Costco, and the Charlottesville MomsHooPray who gathered at Darden Towe Park to assemble huge bags of assorted goodies.

Both NoVA and Zoom MomsHooPray prayed fervently that all students on grounds would be able to stay until Thanksgiving break. They did—praise God.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Romans 12:12

— Over the long Winter Break, prayer requests were compiled and shared with those who participated.

— Finally, in February, the in-person NoVA MomsHooPray resumed meeting, bundled up and thrilled to be together face to face.  I’m calling these rock stars the MomsHoo’Pops – short for popsicles 🙂

NoVA Moms’ Spring 2021 Schedule can be found HERE.

— Zoom MomsHooPray began again in February on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and continued to add new moms—including this website’s 125th follower, Charlottesville mom of 2 Hoos, Tessa Sansovich.

Zoom Moms’ Spring 2021 Schedule can be found HERE.

We are hopeful, once it is deemed safe, that we can meet in person for summer celebrations both in NoVA and in Charlottesville.

If you know a Class of 2025 mom who might like to become a fellow prayer warrior for our Hoos, their friends, UVA faculty, and fellowships, please forward THIS LINK and have them officially declare their interest in joining the ranks of the few, the brave, the faithful.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Ephesians 6:10