October 20, 2011
Since we only have one umbrella, we had decided that Iris would use it and I would sit in the car and pray. After realizing that Ann, who was praying when we arrived was planning on staying an extra 1/2 hour or more, I asked to share her umbrella so we could all be out there together. A short time later a car drove out with two young black women. They did not stop on the way in and it did not look as if they would stop on the way out but Iris tried again to hand them some resource information. As they passed by Ann and I, we smiled and waved to them. They stopped and backed up the car to read the new signs on the lawn announcing ultrasounds in Ypsilanti (Family Life Services) and Ann Arbor (ArborVitae). I asked if I could help them and they pointed to the signs and asked if they could go there and get an ultrasound. I said yes and I would give them a copy of that information to take with them. I asked Iris to put some information together while I talked with the two women. Ann continued to pray fervently a few feet away. We talked about many things: choosing a clinic that offered many of the same services as planned parenthood but did not do abortions, the life long regrets of abortions, emotional and physical consequences of abortion, the alternative options to abortion, and our willingness to help them in any way we could so would allow her baby to live. We could see the one woman with the (abortion) papers in her hand and she really did not seem convinced that abortion was really what she wanted to do. She seemed unsure and worried about what she was going to do. Both women were open to conversation and Iris joined us with a lot to offer both in literature and encouragement. Iris ending up writing my name and phone number down for them and we said if they had any questions or needed any other advice on how to get help that they could call us. I have to say, Thanks be to God! that they almost seemed happy and certainly relieved when they drove away.
God bless the person who placed the three new signs out there. "Ask to see the ultrasound" and the other two signs with the address and phone number for the clinics offering ultrasounds. I believe that all five of us had an encouraging moment!
Sally
This is so encouraging. I emailed both Pregnancy Helps Centers about this but found out that they cannot divulge any information to respect the privacy of their clients. Nonetheless, let us pray for this woman, that she see the ultrasound of her baby and seek help to choose another alternative from abortion.
Paul