Last Saturday was a scorcher, but along with the higher heat and humidity, we welcomed the lower abortion numbers. Saturday the 27th there were 13 abortions and for the 20th of June there were 18. The last two abortion days complete the 2nd quarter for 2009, and we continue to see the incidence of abortions being almost half of where they were last year at this time.
Over all for 2009 , the amount of abortions at 104 Babcock have decreased 46% or by 215.
There were no real incidents to report over the past two weeks, but we continue to see the friends and family members of abortion minded women, come over to speak to our counselors and admit they are against abortion but feel there are limited options for their loved ones. Its a testimony of our abortion minded society who puts both, direct and indirect pressure on women with unplanned pregnancies to get abortions. It’s as though they believe pregnant girls and women “who have their entire lives in front of them”, contract some sort of disease, where they become completely disabled and incapacitated, forcing them to put their entire lives on hold.
Please continue to pray for the the abortion minded individuals and to those who perpetuate the lies and rhetoric of choice, and for all of us, that we may resist the temptations to unfairly judge others.
There was another great showing Saturday, and we were especially blessed this weekend to be joined by 8 friends from our Faith Outreach initiative. We estimated there to be 16 abortions, which would’ve been 17 if not for the fact that after looking at her sonogram, a woman high tailed it out of there . To date for 2009, there has been a 50% reduction in abortions for the Saturday abortion count.
We learned that one of the planned parenthood escorts has a compassionate side which he showed to one of our visiting prayer warriors, and that the “rent-a-cop” for planned parenthood is a Catholic who (in his words, but not quoting), is just doing a job to earn extra cash.
We’re not exactly sure when the next abortion day will be, but hopefully we’ll see you out there.
As I arrived at the sidewalk early this morning I was greeted with wonderful news. “One drove off”. There is no better news on the sidewalk than that. What a blessing! A child was saved! This reminds us how very important our presence is. Each person who arrives on the sidewalk comes with a mission. One that God put in our hearts to fulfill through his grace. We come unselfishly and with conviction to be of service to our Lord and savior.
Today a counselor spoke with her whole heart to a mother whose daughter had made up her mind that she was going to have an abortion. The mother came straight to the sidewalk and received a warm welcome. The counselor spoke to her about abortion and then earged the mother to go in and get her daughter. The mother’s tears flowed from her eyes and we could feel her devastating pain. She was truly suffering and our hearts were with her. The counselor gave her some information to give to her daughter and I gave her a rose (letting her know it was from the Blessed Mother) and she was urged to go in and talk to her daughter. I am sorry to say we never saw her come back out. Let us pray for this family as they will need healing that only God can give.
Two young men pulled up with a young girl in the back seat. They sat in their car for awhile and we tried to get their attention. When the girl got out she seemed afraid, as though she had been warned about talking to us. I got a sense that the two guys who brought her there had put alot of pressure on her. This was a classic case of a young girl being coerced by her boyfriend. I can only imagine the mental torment she was feeling. Her boyfriend kissed her and she walked through the door. This is what I refer to as the “kiss of death”. It was his way of reassuring her that she had to do this for him. The sad reality is that if he really loved her he would have never had brought her there. He let her down and soon she will truly understand just how much. As the boyfriend sat outside with his friend, many counselors tried in desperation to give him some information. He would look at his friend and laugh. As a last ditch attempt, I spoke out loud to him,”Please, at least give your child a name before he dies”. “He deserves that respect”. It had no effect on him. His heart was cold. He stood outside laughing and mocking the people that were trying to help his child that was about to die inside. The irony of it all is a sad reminder of how society has become numb to violence and murder, even when it is their own children that are the victims.
A BMW pulled up today with a couple in it. They got out in a huff. She yelled out that she would be playing satanic music while having her abortion. May God open up her eyes to truth and have mercy on her soul.
Another young woman got out of her car and when she was offered help she flipped everyone off. One of our counselors said that she appreciated that she was pointing to God and we would pray for her. That is always a tough situation but one that can be dealt with in a clever way. It helps us to not take it personally. After all, they have no idea what they are really going to face once they go inside those doors. They have been coached into thinking that we are bad but eventually they do learn the real truth. I am guessing at that point, they realize that we really were trying to help them.
I watched the Planned Parenthood escort and the “security guard” mocking me for bringing roses and offering them to the women. It saddened me that the men were incapable of seeing why each woman deserved a rose. Their hearts hardened to the reality of what was happening around them. They could not see that each woman would be facing a horrific, life changing ordeal. The beautiful life growing inside her was going to be put to death. Why shouldn’t she be offered a rose? When I think of roses, I think of the sacrifice that our savior, Jesus Christ, made so that we may be saved. The rose so beautiful with thorns of grace. The red in the petals representing the blood shed so that our sins would be forgiven. The thorns representing the crown he was made to wear as he was mocked. What a better gift to give to a woman to remind her of Jesus and his sacrifice? It is a perfect representation of our savior’s love for them.
Some angels wear wings of silken white and golden robes so grand. Some walk the earth in blue jeans and lend a helping hand. If angels had a job description it would only consist of one task: Do the work of love.
A peaceful prayer vigil today turned “bad” when members of the Unitarian “Church” showed up to protest. Not to worry though, God was present and on the job. The Unitarian church members were in disarray with homemade signs that didn’t make alot of sense. One sign saying PRO ROE. What do you think Norma L McCorvey (ROE in Roe vs. Wade), who never had an abortion but gave her baby up for adoption, would think about that sign? In 1995, Norma L. McCorvey announced she was an advocate for the pro-life movement (specifically, Operation Rescue), and campaigned to make abortion illegal. She said one day she was sitting in a Operation Rescue office looking at the fetal development poster. Her exact words were, “The progression was so obvious, the eyes were so sweet. It hurt my heart just looking at it.” “It’s like blinders just fell off of my eyes and suddenly I understood the truth-That’s a baby!” McCorvey realized she was wrong all those years about abortion. It was clear to her that abortion is wrong. She was baptized and later confirmed into the Roman Catholic church in 2005. With God there is ALWAYS HOPE. And for the ignorant who stand up and defend abortion, I pray that one day their blinders will fall off their eyes to see the truth. Even when I showed a protestor a picture of an aborted baby, he could not see the baby. I explained to him how a baby is cut into pieces in the mother’s womb and then evacuated. The picture and my words had no effect on him. He said it was just an operation like any other operation. My response, “It is not like any other operation because a baby is murdered.” The saddest part of his presence there was that he brought his young daughter who held a sign that said, “MY BODY, MY CHOICE”. One day this young lady may find out the hard way how wrong she and her father were today. What a tragedy that would be…
The abortions being done today were way up. It almost seemed as though they are recruiting in women from other areas. It is rare for a black woman to show up at this clinic but today there were at least four. Even at 11:00 am women were still going in. One incident that really stood out in my mind was a very angry black man that walked behind his car to stare us down. His eyes reeked ”abuse”. We must all pray for the woman who was with him who had an abortion. No doubt, she is in a very troubled relationship. Another man came out several times to smoke a cigarette behind his car. The “police” patrol stood over next to him to talk about each of us. As though it would be reassuring to him while his baby was being murdered inside the abortion clinic. Ironic isn’t it, that the people who come with good intentions to help are considered bad in their eyes.
The good news for today was an adoptive mother walking down the sidewalk with a baby boy she had rescued from being aborted. Praise God for this beautiful soul! And at one end of the sidewalk was a mother holding a sign that said she had considered abortion 27 years ago but decided not to…a picture of the baby that was saved was on the sign. And at the other end a mother holding her dear little one and a sign she had made in defense of babies. She was hammered by an “atheist” about her beliefs but she stood her ground. How beautiful it was to see the very youngest (little children) of the pro-lifers standing before God with their signs, “She’s a baby, not a choice!”. Amen, dear children. Amen!
To all who continue to be in support of the innocent may God bless you with his boundless love and peace. For he who knows God is a light in the world. Praise be to God!
The truth, as stated in Revelations 22.12-22.15: “See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to one’s work. I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
On Saturday, 15 women presented themselves to the “clinic” at 104 Babcock for an abortion. Please pray for the babies who lost their lives, for the women who lost their motherhood, and for the fathers who lost their fatherhood.
HOWEVER, an extraordinary thing happened….we witnessed Life #31 being saved at the clinic. A crying young woman came to the sidewalk counselors. She told the counselors that she was eating across the street when she saw our signs (the signs that all of you were holding!). Her family was pressuring her to have an abortion and her mother scheduled her an abortion TODAY, Monday…In her own words, “I know I have a baby inside me.” She was just looking for other options. The counselors told her about Allied Women’s Center is she had an appointment TODAY at Allied vs going to the abortion clinic! So, Praise God & Please pray for her.
Take 5 minutes to listen to this 12 year old talk about abortion, it will fire you up! Her name is Lia. She’s a 12-year-old seventh grader that recently decided to make a courageous stand in her school by giving a persuasive speech on the topic of abortion. Even when her teachers strongly encouraged her to choose a different topic, she decided to stick with what she felt passionate about. Let’s pray for more outstanding young Pro-Life activists like Lia!
More follow-up from today on the sidewalk…
Please pray for Christian & Whitney– they are both in college, worried about the future. Christian tried to talk his girlfriend Whitney out of having the abortion, by 2 pm, he still was not able to. Please pray for them, their struggle has just began.
Please pray for the souls of the aborted babies, 4 “containers”, really coffins were taken away today by the stericycle “medical waste” truck.
Well, what weighs 6 lbs, 4 ounces?I’ll get to that…first, let me tell you a story.Last June, a young girl in a Lexus with a middle aged man drove up to Planned Parenthood at 104 Babcock.It was Saturday, and of course an abortion day.The man went into Planned Parenthood, the girl stayed in the car. As she sat there in the car all alone, she stared at the signs that said “Free Help…1-800-395-HELP”.The man came back to the car, she refused to get out, they conversed and they drove away. Later that week, SACFL found out the girl had called the number she saw on those signs.She asked for legal help, her father was forcing her to have an abortion.Operation Outcry and other ProLife legal agencies got involved to help her, court cases ensued, her father continued to push….but, that 14 year old girl chose life.Last Friday, Jan. 30th she delivered a healthy baby girl, 6 lbs, 4 oz.
Praise God!Thanks to all of you that hold signs and pray….It is making a difference!!
It was another 40 degree cold day at Planned Parenthood. The day began with a single counselor and then by 7:45 there were two. But by 9:00, the sidewalks were flooded with Pro-life supporters. The procession arrived with the Knights of Columbus in the lead and prayer began. Each prayer rang out beautifully and with such grace from the mouths of each dedicated prayer warrior. God’s people had arrived and were armed with a powerful message. Two young people stood directly in front of the entrance holding a banner of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Knights of Columbus were adorned in full dress. The rosary was being prayed loud and clear by men, women, and children. The sky was a bright blue and the sun broke through. Peace surrounded Planned Parenthood for all to see. The eyes of God were upon those who had gathered to speak for the innocent who were dying inside.
Today we counted 13 cars. Ten of those were abortions. Three left within an hour so we are assuming these young ladies did not have abortions. Two left with small purple bags in their hands. The one that left the clinic that stays in our minds and our hearts is a young lady who was open to listen to one of our counselors. She walked right over to our dedicated and compassionate counselor and received information. The young lady explained that she had a one year old baby and was pregnant. She had no husband or boyfriend to help support her. She was alone until she found our counselor who gave her hope and an ear to listen. Thankfully, she walked out of the clinic after only a short time. Please pray for her so that she may find comfort and support in her time of need.
All of the events of today were recorded by KENS 5. We are grateful to KENS 5 for their support of our Pro-life mission. We hope that the news cast today will touch many hearts and bring many more to the sidewalk to pray for our dearest children: the innocent and the unborn.
It was beyond cold today at Planned Parenthood. We were faced with 40 degree weather and people walking into the clinic with their backs turned to us and to God. Desperately wanting to get their attention our dedicated counselors yelled out to them. But, their ears and their hearts were closed off to us. It is heartbreaking when the door closes and you feel all hope to save a baby is gone. The fate of the child is sealed by the hands of evil inside the clinic.
There was a young man inside a car in the parking lot. He had come to Planned Parenthood with a friend to “help her”. One of our very dedicated counselors stood outside the car patiently and with perseverence. He did not give up and miraculously the young man finally got out of his car to listen to what he had to say. Praise God! Thank you to this counselor for his persistence! The young man explained that his friend had already made up her mind and that he couldn’t do anything to change it. They had driven quite a distance to come to the clinic. He said that he had two children of his own and that his friend also had two children. Apparently, her husband had left her and she felt that she could not handle taking on another child. Several counselors had gathered around him by this time and everyone put in their own words to try and convince him to go and get her. He said that Planned Parenthood would not allow him to go inside because he did not have his ID with him. He also said she did not have a cell phone so he couldn’t call her. A counselor asked if she had family that could perhaps talk to her. Every effort was made to try to get her out of the clinic. There is no doubt that this young man was touched by the compassion that was pouring out to try to help this young woman. A counselor gave him information about Post Abortion Syndrome and we stressed to him that she would need help after having the abortion. We told him to please make sure she got counseling. One of our counselors said to him, “Next time please DON’T help a friend.” “Please don’t bring her here.” He got the message and I know that he will think twice if anyone else asks him for such a favor. A counselor handed him a rosary and asked him if he was Catholic. He said no and that he didn’t go to church. But, not to worry, a seed was planted today and with prayer and faith will one day grow. Dearest counselors please pray for this young man that he saw the compassion and love of God through us and his heart will be changed forever. As far as the “friend” goes, she came out after only one hour. We can only hope that her mind was changed and she will NOT have an abortion. I hope that the young man and his friend will have a long talk on the drive home. May God speak through him and give him the perfect words to say. A precious life depends upon it.
After counting the cars and not including “the friend” there were approximately 14 abortions today. We can only find comfort in knowing that the beautiful souls that were taken from this earth today are now in the loving arms of God in heaven. His grace is with them and with those who spoke up for them today.
Thank you to all the counselors who braved the freezing weather and glorified God with your dedication to saving the innocent. May the peace and love of God be with you all!
Christina
“All the things of the universe are perfect miracles, each as profound as any“
It was estimated that the abortion numbers for a single day tied at an all time low of 15 on Saturday, matching that of September 20th of 2008. We’re thankful to everyone who came out, especially the handful of dedicated individuals who, despite dressing for spring time weather, endured hours of prayer on a surprisingly bone chilling morning.
Overall, it was a fairly uneventful morning as far as interactions between our side walk counselors and Planned Parenthood clients. There was no escort presence for the second straight week, although we did get a visit from an “off duty” Planned Parenthood volunteer who chatted with us a while. The next abortion day will be next Friday.
Cathy shares a post-abortive experience which occurred last Saturday @ Planned Parenthood.
A post-abortive woman named Nichole came and talked to me and some of the others on the sidewalk. We gave her information and encouraged her to call for help – and we all encircled her and prayed together right there on the sidewalk. I don’t know if I said the right words in that prayer. I guess only God knows the heart and the Spirit speaks.
It is so rare that a post-abortive woman actually comes over. She was in shock, and we could see that she was physically and mentally hurting. Looking back, I wonder if I could have helped more. Could I have offered to take her for coffee…or give her a ride somewhere…or just be with her longer? Sigh. We do what we can do and what comes to us at the time. Please pray for her. She is heavy in my heart right now.
Others came and got flyers and info – one mom with 2 other kids yelled at me. We all prayed for her, too.
It was great to see so many people out there praying today. There were several whole families who came to pray. One little boy asked his mom, “Why aren’t they in jail if they kill children?” There it is. The truth from a child about children. Seeing so many families becoming active leads me to think that doing the spring 40 Days Campaign is the right idea. You were right when you said – United We Stand.
Thanks to Cathy for her caring and sharing. Lets not forget the mothers of aborted children and pray for their reconciliation and healing. As another resource being added to our side bar of Life Links, here’s AfterAbortion.Org
On what ended up being a strange and emotional day, we had an estimated 22 abortions for the 1st abortion day of 2009 . The day, which started with a strange fog that continuously ebbed and flowed throughout the morning hours, brought with it an unusually high amount of Planned Parenthood consumers who chose to share their stories and emotions.
There was a gentleman who asked us what we would do if one of our daughters were raped. He was informed that despite the theory of an abortion some how helping rape victims, it has been shown that abortion actually adds to the trauma of the rape.
There was a mother who brought her daughter to Planned Parenthood to get “a pill”, because she was “only” 4 weeks pregnant. The mother opposed surgical abortions and considered them morally wrong, but believed RU-486 was like taking a contraceptive, not an abortion. She spent a good deal of time with our side walk counselors who shared information on the stages of child development and RU-486 abortions.
A gentleman spent time with several of our counselors explaining how his wife, who came from a family with 19 children, demanded getting her 4th abortion so she could complete medical school. Initially this man was argumentative and oppositional with our counselors, but ended up crying about his wife’s decision to abort and took the information offered to him.
So many different stories and reasons for abortion, all of which took precedence over the right to life of the most innocent of all human beings. We have more stories and video interviews to share for a different time. God bless all of you who support the pro-life efforts any way you can.
We are adding the testimony of Christina who goes into much more detail of the above events, as well as providing a personal testimony of why she chooses to go out to the sidewalk of Planned Parenthood.
Saturday was a rough day but the hope that maybe, just maybe we saved one baby keeps me going. I had an extensive conversation with a mother, who’s daughter was in the clinic. She told me how she regretted having an abortion years ago. She was very young and afraid to tell her mother. I could relate, as I have a young daughter, who faced the same situation. Thankfully, despite my daughter’s fear she chose to have her baby. The result is our beautiful grandson who we absolutely adore.
I pleaded with the mother at the sidewalk, to the point of begging her to go in and get her daughter. I told her that was her grandchild that her daughter was carrying. She had a very important question for me, “When does “it” become a baby?” Thankfully, Amber was there to tell her the baby (at four weeks) already had a heartbeat. She was taken back by this and it really made her think about what was truly happening. I pray that my words and Amber’s words touched this mother. I pray that her daughter will choose not to take the “abortion pill”. I pray that it wasn’t too late to save this young women’s child.
Another challenge my husband and I faced that day was with a young man who had brought a rape victim to the clinic. He came straight to me and asked, “How would you feel if someone violently raped someone you care about?” I told him my daughter was sexually assaulted and I understood that she was in pain. I showed him a picture of my daughter and my grandson. His tone changed from anger to curiosity. I talked with him about my daughter. I told him how much my daughter loves her son and that each day she wakes up and is thankful for him. Despite all of the pain she suffered she would do it all again to have her beautiful son. I continued on and kept his attention. My husband added in that we were not there to judge but to speak for the babies who’s voices can’t be heard. He explained to him that each child is a miracle and blessing from God.
By the end of our conversation with this young man I explained to him that the young woman who was having the abortion would need help. I gave him a pamphlet about Post Abortion Syndrome and he eagerly took it. I told him her pain would not be over because the pregnancy was terminated. I told him that she would feel a great loss and an emptiness. I informed him of some of the symptoms of post abortion syndrome and asked him to please make sure she got counseling. So I pray that this young man will get her the help that she will need. It would be a tragedy if two lives were destroyed.
Please pray for these young people and always remember to keep your hearts open to hear the pain that others are suffering. Compassion should be a priority when dealing with others. Each of us has our own testimonies and that is why God has put us on the Babcock sidewalk. We are fulfilling God’s purpose for us. To show others of his unconditional love.
Thanks to Christina for her selfless efforts for the unborn and their parents on Saturday.
Thanks to all who came out this morning. Father Will was among the group of 18 (or so) of us who prayed in front of Planned Parenthood on the 2nd day of Christmas. As of 10 this morning, we estimated there were about 13 abortions. We had a couple of young men speak to our side walk counselors, one being only 1 year removed from high school trying to convince his younger girlfriend to leave the abortion clinic – we have yet to hear the outcome. Please keep Andrew and Alissa in your prayers.
It’s amazing how far we have come over the past 12 months. The final numbers for 2008 (including 28 abortions last Saturday) abortions @ 104 Babcock is estimated to have decreased about 20% from the beginning of the year to the present (we averaged the exponential trend line, quarterly data, trimester data, and a rolling week average differential). We’re hopeful that this trend will continue into the new year.
We also had one our favorite planned parenthood “escorts” discreetly taking pictures and video of us this morning. As far as I know, they haven’t pulled this since last December – when it was done in a more aggressive and angry manner.
We wish all of you a Merry Christmas and prosperous and happy New Year.
Please read a comment left by, in my opinion, one of the most faithful pro-life individuals in the city of San Antonio. If anyone has the excuse of not having enough time it could be Cathy – yet she is always out there on the sidewalk. Many times through out this last year – by her self. If anyone has spent anytime alone on the sidewalk, they know how daunting a task this can be. That is to say nothing of everything else she does for “life”, that may go unnoticed and unappreciated.
There are some days that are much harder than others, and Cathy shares one of these days with us . Please pray for Cathy and for others like her that do so much to protect innocent life and healing for those in most need.
Today was a hard day for me at the Babcock sidewalk. I spoke to a man who was holding a woman closely as they came out of the clinic. She looked so hurt – so devastated. I spoke as kindly and softly as I could to offer post-abortion materials. The man turned to me in anger and said that their baby had died – they did not abort it. They very much wanted this child. I tried to tell him how sorry I was for them and that we would be praying for them and that we were only trying to help. I don’t think he could really hear me. He said we should be careful of what we say to people and that I should get away from them. I have been in sorrow for this couple all day long, and I ask for your prayers for their healing and their grief. Here is yet another reason why we need to speak tenderly to one another. We have not walked in their shoes – we cannot understand their pain and situation – but we can pray and we can be a voice of kindness and compassion.
There were several post-abortive men who spoke rudley in their pain and anger today. There were people from the donut shop who yelled pro-choice slogans. But there were a few who stopped and listened to the counselors and took information. For these, I am grateful.
David Bereit sent a note today with the blog address for 40 Days showing the photo of a child saved from last year’s campaign. I really needed to see that today. What a beautiful gift. It is worth all the standing a praying if even just one child – one mother, or one father – is saved.
May God’s blessings be yours.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.
Cathy Nix
It was another cold morning last Saturday, where 30 women went through the Planned Parenthood doors to get abortions, and thanks be to God, 2 women left the clinc with babies intact. One of these women had five children and felt she could not handle another. She went so far as to pay for the abortion, before your prayers converted her heart to have the unconditional love a mother naturally has for their unborn children. She spoke to one of our side walk counselors who consoled her and also provided her with some resources and other helfpful information.
As the holidays approach, the turnout on the sidewalk has continued to thin out some. We are so thankful for the faithful who continue to come out, as well as those who privately pray for the pro-life efforts. We are making a difference. We will be putting up some more videos as well as some end of year statistics this week. The next abortion day will be this coming Friday.
