When the volunteers in Cluj-Napoca, Romania arrived to pray one morning early in the 40 Days for Life campaign, they found something unexpected ? pro-abortion graffiti on the side of the Dominic Stanca Clinic.
While they were a bit concerned, they did what they came to do ? pray ? and tried not to pay too much attention to the paint. The graffiti artists weren?t much for originality ? the messages read ?my body, my choice? and ?keep your religion off my body.?
Still, Julia ? one of the local leaders ? said the words ?are right above our volunteers? heads, so people are very confused when they pass by and see our signs and the graffiti at the same time.?
Some of the 40 Days for Life participants got the idea to paint over the graffiti. Once word got around, it wasn?t long before someone offered to donate the paint ? and volunteers scheduled a work day.
What followed was an amazing sight. ?We had volunteers, more than a handful of them, who spent over 12 hours in the street painting or praying, depending on the need,? Julia said. ?We had the Greek-Catholic bishop come out, in scrubs, to help and to pray! We had priests and seminarians out there painting, cleaning and scrubbing.?
The all-volunteer crew wore t-shirts with the message, ?We?re building a culture of life.?
Once the job was completed, Julia said the building was cleaner than it has been in as long as anyone could remember. Everything was in tip-top shape for the campaign?s closing event, which was attended by around 200 people.
?The director of the clinic came out to thank Dan and I personally and he stressed how much he appreciates the fact that this was such a civilized and peaceful vigil and that we kept our word about the painting job,? she said. ?He was truly impressed with the way the volunteers carried out the vigil and condemned the hooligans for the graffiti.?
The local media also took note, with one newspaper giving the group a ?hats off? salute for the peaceful conduct of the campaign ? and of course, the paint job.
?God has certainly turned that unpleasant circumstance into a big blessing for the whole campaign and for the city,? Julia said. ?The painting would've cost a few thousand euros but we had absolutely everything donated. Everyone agrees ? Cluj, in many ways, has witnessed a miracle!?
She described the city?s first 40 Days for Life campaign as ?a perfect recipe for bringing a community together and for saving and transforming lives. Glory to God for all things!?
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May 12, 2015
40 Days for ... Paint!
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