Committed to Christ (Comprometido a Cristo)

According to the Webster dictionary, “committed” means to “to obligate or pledge oneself” and one person that stands out as being committed to Christ has always been our friend Alfonso Avendaño.

In the Fall of 2007, Alfonso said that he wanted to make a difference, he wanted to help those babies in danger of abortion and the only way he knew how was with prayer, prayer, prayer. That Fall during the 40 days for life campaign, Alfonso, Don Manuel and others met in the evenings outside Calvary (Hilltop) abortion clinic and prayed. Other people joined, but there were very few men, so Alfonso came up with a plan.

In the Spring of 2008, Alfonso who is a very active member of the Legionarios’ Regnum Christi asked his fellow brothers to join in. They joined and we started having male coverage during the evening prayer vigils! Two men every evening!

Alfonso continued his prayerful witness outside that abortion clinic on a regular basis, even between vigil campaigns. Alfonso, like many other beautiful persons has been the voice of those babies who never had a voice. He has interceded for the babies, the mothers, the fathers, the abortionists, the nurses, the security guards, for so many. Because of his intercessory prayers, Alfonso has helped to bring a little piece of the Kingdom of God to every one of us. Alfonso has cooperated with Our Lord in bringing the Good News to those persons in need.

We recently received news that after a brief illness, Alfonso went to meet Our Lord in heaven. We lost a true hero, a true gentleman, a friend in Christ. In moments like these, we remember the words of another pro life advocate (Henry Hyde) when he said:

“When the time comes as it surely will, when we face that awesome moment, the final judgment… I really think that those in the pro-life movement will not be alone. I think there will be a chorus of voices that have never been heard in this world but are heard beautifully and clearly in the next world – and they will plead for everyone who has been in this movement. They will say to God, ‘Spare him because he loved us,’ – and God will look at you and say not, ‘Did you succeed?’ but ‘Did you try?’”

Alfonso tried, we know he did, and many babies are alive today because of his intercessory prayers, and those babies who did not make it, I’m sure they escorted Alfonso to meet Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Alfonso, Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.


Your friends for Life!

Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. (Mathew 25:34)

$260 Refund

Today a shower of blessings came to Hilltop clinic. A total of 21 people showed up to pray while we only saw about 7 women going into the clinic. Saturdays are usually big abortion days, but not today in El Paso. One youth choir from Queen of Peace showed up, here is a clip. Or click here, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx6XgxiehSQ No Greater Love

As people were arriving to pray and others finished their prayer shift, a car from Juarez shows up and doesn't want any information. The couple finally leaves, and as they exit I tried offering information and I saw that they had a check in their hands for $260. I asked the woman, "Did you change your mind?" She said, "Yes," with tears in her eyes. I talked to them for a few minutes gave them some really beautiful crocheted booties and a rosary. A men's ACTS group witnessed this and gave them all chills! They were extremely encouraged and promised to come back to pray more!
Friends this is what prayer does, saves souls! 40 Days for Life is a great opportunity to impact people's lives. Thanks to everyone committed to pray to end abortion.

God Sent Me an Angel

We're at the final days of 40 Days for Life and these days are usually the most tiring. As I dragged myself to the clinic to pray and sidewalk counsel, I thought that maybe we won't do 40 Days for Life next year. It's not fun being out there by myself at all. 

After finishing my St. Michael prayer, I soon started my Rosary. A mother and daughter walked out of the abortion clinic. As I tried talking to them, only the mom, Irma, approached me and said that her daughter, Estefania, couldn't do it. Irma told me that last night she was still trying to convince her daughter to not have an abortion. The mother showed incredible faith in God and seemed sure that her daughter would not have an abortion. I gave them all the information and pamphlets and handed her some baby booties some great friends crocheted. This makes it 25 lives saved since September 22! 

Moments later, a truck drove out, and the woman inside was in tears of despair. If you've ever seen this when praying at the mill, it's very disheartening because you know she didn't want to do it, was maybe pressured or just regretted it moments later. 

So while I'm still in awe of the saved baby, sad seeing a crying mom, a young man walks by the clinic, and turns back to ask me how to get to the Cathedral. I tell him and he looks at Our Lady of Guadalupe, sighs, and just stares at her image with so much love. He asks me, "What are you doing?" I said, "I'm praying because they kill babies here." He grabbed one of my rosaries I had on the chair to give out to the women and he said, "Let's pray a rosary then." As soon as he said this, I knew he was heaven sent. We began to pray and I just felt so much peace. I was so happy because I no longer was by myself. As we were praying, he kept staring at Our Lady with so much love and reverence and his face would brighten. He then would then glance at the 8 week baby in the womb poster with a lot of sadness. [One of the main reasons we have the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is because of what the image represents. In the image she is pregnant with Jesus.]

After we prayed a decade of the Rosary, he stopped and said, "I have to go to the Cathedral to pray. I have to make a trip somewhere very far and I won't come back." He then asked, "Please say a prayer for me at 12. I am going now." I then asked, "What is your name?" He said, "I'm just a twin, I have no name." He said bye but I hugged him instead. I told him, "God bless you and I will pray." He looked sad to leave, but content and accomplished. He sighed and walked away. The back of his jacket said EAGLE. 

Minutes later, after wiping my tears and thanking God for sending him, I see 6 beautiful white doves flying across the street in front of the clinic. I thought, "God why 6? Why not a biblical number, like 7?" The instant answer was, "The angel I sent you was the 7th."

What a blessing to be directly encouraged by His Holy Angels! The angels are here to help us and encourage us! Don't be afraid to talk to your guardian angel. They are just waiting to give us good counsel and protect us. 

Hope to see you all next week for the Jericho March. Hilltop clinic October 25 - 31st.  Monday - Sunday. Each day at 6:30pm.  

God bless you and may the Holy Angels protect you! 

Moving Mountains

Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him. Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours. – Jesus Christ (Mark 11:23-24)

It was an awesome day at Calvary abortion clinic this morning. The Glory of Our Lord Jesus Christ was manifested with each life saving event! I believe that Jesus is trying to teach that when we are faithful, many wonderful things can happen. In other words, our faith can move mountains!

Pat was sidewalk counseling this morning, but had to leave for awhile to attend a Funeral Mass, so I went to cover for Pat. As I was handing out information to the women arriving at the abortion clinic, Olivia came to pray. She had been moved to return to the clinic after a long hiatus. I asked Olivia to help me counsel and the first couple she talked to decided for LIFE! First baby saved and I’m sure that Our Lord used Olivia so she would know that she is welcomed back in the front lines. 

Meanwhile Estefania came over to help Sonia and Aria and give intercessory prayer support. I left to run some errands. Right after I left, another baby saved! Praise God for using Estefania, Sonia and Aria!

During the time when these two babies where being spared from abortion, Pat was at the Funeral Mass. She later commented on the timing: “As Jesus' Precious blood was elevated in the Chalice this morning at the Funeral Mass I placed all the babies at the mill in danger of abortion into the Chalice at 10:00A.M. At his time, within a few minutes apart, 2 babies were saved at the mill. Jesus, your power is awesome! Thank you!”

Later when Pat had returned to the abortion clinic from the Funeral Mass another mom decided to keep her baby! Praise God, this was the third baby in one day!

Pat continued her efforts to save the new security guard from the regrets of working at that place of death. He proceeded to tell her that yesterday (Friday) a young mom approached him and told him that her boyfriend wanted her to abort, but she didn’t. She was expecting twins! The guard told her to do what her heart was telling her to do. The boyfriend is a military police officer, so the guard told the boyfriend that if he forced the young mom to have an abortion, she could press charges against him. That he should set his head on straight. The boyfriend broke down in tears and realized his mistake. Those baby twins were saved from abortion!  Our Lord used the security guard to save these twin babies! Although these last two babies were saved a day earlier, we counted them today when we found out. 

A sixth baby that we found out about today was saved by Our Lord through the help line, 915-564-4444. These six babies, plus the other 5 in the first 4 days of the 40 Days for Life prayer campaign make 11 babies and their parents spared from abortion!

The icing on the cake was when a nurse approached Pat, gave her phone number and told her that she had quit! She is now looking for another job.

Please offer prayers for the babies, their moms, the security guards, the nurse and all those faithful persons that proved that in fact mountains can be moved with a little bit of faith.

--Miguel

Day 2 - Singing in the Rain!

Tropical storm Georgette did not stop Louisa who arrived first at the mill from Juarez in a t-shirt and capris.  In the pouring rain while being completely soaked and saying, "It's cold,"  she received pro-life information, a rosary, and a miraculous medal. At this time Miguel was being drenched in the rain, but praying the rosary for Louisa's change of heart. 

About 11:00A.M. she came out of the mill with her friend, hurried to her car in the sprinkling rain, said she was keeping her baby, and received her gift with a big smile and with a reminder that we are praying for her.

 

In the rain, Abbie hurried into the mill  while hearing some heartening, pro-life words from me.

 

When she ran out of the mill in her t-shirt and pants in the drizzling rain, she said with a smile that she was keeping her one-month old baby.  She also said,"I don't like this place," after being encouraged to use pro-life medical services.  She received only a soggy, blue rosary- blame it on Georgette!

 

This is what happened, "Singing in the Rain," while I got some exercise running after the mothers!! 

 

Pat

 

Day 1 of 40 Days for Life

It's difficult to express the joy that comes every time 40 Days for Life begins! And it is even more difficult to describe the feeling every time a child is saved from death! That was the case on this first day of the national prayer campaign. This is probably the world's largest prayer campaign ever! 
 

But this is such a big deal. 
  

Two lives were saved today. 
   
Imagine that you're at a pool with your family or friends. You're having such a great time, or maybe you're busy cooking up some food for everyone. There are a bunch of kids in the pool and you realize that one of them is drowning. The kid could probably die because he can't swim. He can't scream either because he's drowning. What would be the right thing to do? Actually, you don't even question that, you automatically jump into the pool and try to get him out. After seeing you jump into the pool, someone else follows to help you out. Someone in the crowd says, "I know CPR," and the child is breathing again and finally safe.

Same thing goes with these precious little infants. We sometimes need to stop what we're doing, and sacrifice our time to help save a human being. Just like the drowning child, the unborn baby can't scream for help. They need our assistance. We need to jump in our cars and get to these places where many die. And when someone sees what you're doing, they will hopefully join you also and jump into this life-saving campaign. 

Please pray for Vivian and Pauline. These are the mother's that chose life today. They changed their minds because someone was involved in showing them the truth and saved them from "drowning." Pauline's friend talked her out of it. Vivian's partner was there for her. The sidewalk counselors provided the information. And 30 prayer warriors that prayed at the clinic that day made the biggest impact with their prayers.

Security saved! Praise God!

A man went over to our table and extended his hand to me while I was at lunch with my friend Fletcher. He held on to my hand for a long time and finally said, “Do you recognize me?” Somehow he looked familiar, but for a few odd seconds I couldn’t tell who he was. Then it came to me, it was Juan the gardener/security guard from the Calvary abortion clinic!

The last time I had seen Juan was on day 16 of the Spring 40 days for life campaign. Thursday March 4th of this year, a mare eight weeks ago, but Juan looked so different now than before. He is as skinny as a rail, his face a bit twisted, his speech is blurred, and his movements are slow and painful. Juan had suffered a stroke.

I have no idea how long Juan had worked at that abortion clinic. At first he was the gardener and the one who trained the new security guards, but they wouldn’t last very long, so more and more he would cover for them until one day they bought him a baseball cap and a t-shirt that read “SECURITY.” Juan took pride in getting the women into the abortion clinic by any way he could. I won’t go into all the different methods he used as not to give any misguided soul any ideas, but suffice to say that Juan was good at what he did. Juan was more than a security guard; he was an escort and took pride in escorting hundreds, possibly thousands of women and their babies to their death.

People go peacefully to pray outside that abortion clinic; To pray for the babies and their parents, for the conversion of the abortionist, the clinic staff and Juan. Juan knew this because he would stand a few feet from us. Countless times we prayed for the conversion of Juan, he was mentioned in countless Rosaries and prayers. And he remained the most faithful of clinic employees. Juan was very entrenched in his ways and only by the Grace of God will he ever change.

Then Juan disappeared and there was no way of knowing exactly what had happened to him, at least not by asking the other clinic workers. So today when Juan came over we talked for awhile and although I did most of the talking because of his speech problems, he made it clear that Our Lord had shown him that he had one opportunity to change his ways, that he is now closer to God and that he realizes now the evil of what goes on at the abortion clinic. Juan is a changed man and you could see it in his eyes. We hugged and he kept holding on to my hand again when I went over to his table to say good bye to him. I offered that if he needed someone to pray over him to let me know and I will find him good people that can do that. I told him that a lot of persons had been praying for him.

Today I was again given an opportunity to see how prayer works. Today, I saw my reflection in Juan’s eyes. Today, I saw my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ walking amongst us. When a mom decides for LIFE, we text the other sidewalk counselors: “Baby saved, Praise God!” Today we saw a security guard saved, and we Praise God!

For Life,

Miguel

Pray with great confidence, with confidence based upon the goodness and infinite generosity of God and upon the promises of Jesus Christ. God is a spring of living water which flows unceasingly into the hearts of those who pray. -- St. Louis de Montfort

Easter Challenge

During Lent, we participated in the 40 days for Life campaign. We then had Holy Week and saw Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ rise again on Easter!

Are we willing to continue participating with Jesus during the Easter season? Participating with Jesus during this time is to understand that for 40 days after Easter Sunday, Jesus is amongst us until His Ascension. Will you be able to see Jesus in the person sitting next to you in class, in someone asking you for a prayer, in a mom that is having a crisis pregnancy, in a dad that is afraid to become a hero to his baby, in the nurse who hates working at the abortion clinic but is afraid to leave, in the person who prays next to you on the sidewalk or even in the person who hates what you stand for?

Yes, Jesus is amongst us right now! Perhaps He will walk with you or share a meal like He did with a couple of His disciples on the road to Emmaus? Are you willing to walk with Jesus during the 40 days of Easter? Will you recognize Him? Or will you need proof like Thomas did? Are you willing to follow Jesus and go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature?

I have a challenge for you! Keep a log and write from now until The Ascension of Our Lord every time you encountered Jesus. Try it and you will be amazed of how close Jesus Christ is to you!

Peace be with you,

Miguel

Calvary

There is a Crucifix that we bring to Hilltop abortion clinic and we place it on a stand in the mornings. The Crucifix is a graphic reminder of Our Lord sacrificing ALL, so that we may have a chance at salvation. It reminds us of why we are there, and why we refer to the hilltop abortion clinic as Calvary.

In reality all abortion clinics are in many ways like Calvary. Similarly to how Jesus was sacrificed violently, many children will be sacrificed in a violent manner. Like the good thief who repented on the last possible moment, we will see moms and dads repent from wanting to abort their babies. And like the bad thief, we will also see moms and dads reject life. We will see people supporting abortion and ridiculing us for being there, just like Jesus saw people ridiculing Him and uttering all kinds of vile things against Him. We will see people praying for the babies and their parents in their hour of need just like at Calvary, Our Lady, St. John and the Holy women prayed in front of the Cross. We will see the abortionist arrive and know that he will soon be using his instruments of death. Just like the soldiers drove those nails and that lance into the Flesh of Our Lord and Savior.

This morning while placing the Crucifix on the stand, 3 birds landed on the roof of the abortion clinic and started singing beautifully. It was like they were inviting other birds to join them in a choir to sing praises to Our Lord Jesus Christ. Soon several other birds joined them. It was a beautiful sign on a beautiful day when parents would change their minds on abortion. As many as four babies were spared this morning. Two babies for sure and two more very good possibilities. Being the feast of St. Joseph, we credit his intersession and noticed that babies’ fathers were also involved in those life decisions.

Tonight, please pray for all those babies who are in danger of an abortion and for their parents that Our Lord send His Angels to protect them from the temptation of abortion.

For Life!

Miguel

Media Visits Us at the Abortion Clinic

Here is a link to the media report on a Pro-Life RV that parks in front of Hilltop almost everyday. http://www.ktsm.com/news/pro-life-rv-turning-heads. Thanks to News Channel 9 for this report. 

I want to encourage you to post a comment at the bottom of the article. It is a good chance at dialoguing with those who are in favor of abortion.

The report included someone who says abortion should be ok in the case of rape. According to the Guttmacher Institute, cases of rape or incest accounted for 1% of abortions. Rebecca Kiessling, a product of rape, says,

"Have you ever considered how really insulting it is to say to someone, "I think your mother should have been able to abort you."? It's like saying, "If I had my way, you'd be dead right now." And that is the reality with which I live every time someone says they are pro-choice or pro-life "except in cases of rape" because I absolutely would have been aborted if it had been legal in Michigan when I was an unborn child, and I can tell you that it hurts."

That says it all. Just because of the way she was conceived doesn't take away her value. Read her story and the letter her biological mother wrote to her, http://www.rebeccakiessling.com/Rebeccakiesslingswritings.html. Visit Rebecca's website, www.rebeccakiessling.com and learn more about her speaking engagements and talks. 

Don't forget to write a comment at the bottom of the news report! Don't stay silent! 

Sidewalk Counseling

My name is Cristina, and I am a sidewalk counselor outside of the abortion clinic called Reproductive Services. I am thankful to be called to the service of God’s precious women, children and men. This ministry had taught me to love, to give and to not judge.

Love is a word that sometimes is misunderstood. Love means many things, but to know what it really means, we have to start our journey in love, our journey with the love and our journey for the love. “God is Love” 1 John. Love without the other has no meaning, it has no purpose and it is worthless. Love means to desire and to look for the best for the other. It is to walk together, to support and to let the other come into your heart. It is to invite the other into your heart, into your time, into your mind, into your all. There is no place for arrogance, no place for envy or pride. There is no place for selfishness. In the sidewalk counselor ministry we love the girls. We give them our heart, even if they judge us or curse us. Love the one who is crying; love the one that is angry; and love the one who is alone or the one who comes with many friends. Love the fathers who cry or the ones who don’t know what to do. Love the fathers who are angry and are forcing their girlfriends to have an abortion. Love them all. Love the little children that are voiceless; love the ones that need love and support. Love those little ones that are inside their mother’s womb waiting for only a yes that will bring them LIFE or waiting for no that will bring them DEATH. Love that little precious ones that are there without having the opportunity to defend themselves. Love the abortionist; love the nurses that maybe don’t know how hard abortion is going to be for the woman. Love them all. Love the ministry. Love Jesus Christ in all of them.

This ministry has taught me also to give. Give not only if we have a lot, but also give all we have. Sometimes we want to give if we have to spare, or we want to give when we feel ready to do it. But what I have learned is to be willing to give. It doesn’t matter if the only thing you have to give is a smile. God works miracles when we give; it does not need to be a lot. I have been giving what I had to this ministry since I stared.

Oh God! But what did I have? I had a lot of insecurities, a lot of wounds and fears. I don’t mean to say that I don’t have it now, but it is how I was when I started going to pray and sidewalk counsel at the abortion clinic. I started doing what I knew to do – pray. Then with the help of one sidewalk counselor, I started talking to the girls. Now, after eight years working as a sidewalk counselor, I still feel I do not have a lot to give. But I give my all. God is the one that works with the little that we have. I know it well. If you only have fifteen minutes, that can be enough. If you only have your smile, do it! Give it as service to the good God, he is waiting for your YES. There are many people out there waiting for you. Give yourselve to the Lord.

In this ministry it is important to remember not to judge. Do not judge. We cannot help the other if we judge; we really don’t know the other person’s heart. We really don’t know anything about the other. We only stand out there at the abortion clinic to love and to give our hand and heart to those women in crisis. If we judge, we fail. Our mind would be too busy thinking in their life, making a story out of nothing. Then we lose the miracle and the wonderful work of discovering with them, their life, their struggles and their fears. Each woman has a story; so each woman is different. Wait for them to share with you.

Being a sidewalk counselor has changed my life and has taught me a lot. God is out there working with us, changing our hearts and converting us to be ambassadors of LOVE, LIFE and TRUTH. May God bless all sidewalk counselors around the world and make us holy and worthy to His call for his beautiful mothers, fathers and little precious ones.

- Cristina

Miracle of LOVE

On Thursday, March 4th, it was a nice and warm day. Two of my good friends and I were planning to go eat at a local restaurant. All of us are sidewalk counselors. One of us, Esperanza Bustillos or “Espy” is one of the best sidewalk counselors that I have ever met. (Esperanza means "Hope.") She had a stroke one year ago and is now in a wheelchair. She talks with difficulty, and many times she cannot complete a word. But some of the words that she knows are, "God is good."

Esperanza has brought not only hope and love to many people outside an abortion clinic but also inside an abortion clinic. During her time as a sidewalk counselor, she brought hope and love to all people she met. As a sidewalk counselor for more than 12 years, she knows very well how things are praying outside an abortion clinic. When she would speak to a girl seeking an abortion, she knew very well what to say to them as they faced their unplanned pregnancy. Espy has helped save many mothers, fathers and babies from abortion. She has also helped many women to heal from abortion. I have seen miracles happen through Espy’s work outside of the abortion clinic. She has been always ready to talk, to hear or guide women to the right places. She has given her life to the pro-life ministry. She has loved the other sidewalk counselors that would stand with her day by day. Espy has shown love to those that walk by the abortion clinic and always had a smile for all people that passed by. It ranges from the workers that come every day to their office in front the abortion clinic; to Ricky who is a child that walks every day to go to school; and the garbage disposal workers that come every Friday. All of them know Espy. She has been a sign of hope and love to the people outside the abortion clinic.

Espy has also meant a lot to the people that works inside the abortion clinic. She has learned how powerful love is. Love transforms. She has loved the abortion clinic workers. She always says, “With love,” and “Love is the way.” She has given a smile to abortion clinic workers and even hugs. Not just that, but she has been there to listen to the clinic workers as they shared their personal problems. The clinic workers know that Espy loves them and that she prays for them. This did not happened in a blink of an eye. It has been planted by God, cultivated by God and accepted by Espy. There are so many stories to tell you about Espy’s work as a sidewalk counselor, but for now, I want to share the most recent one.

Because of the stroke, she has not been back to the abortion clinic for a year. During that time, the abortion providers have asked us countless times about Espy’s health. Every time I see her, she asks me about all the nurses, and the abortionist too. I know that Espy loves them deeply. They also have been very worried about Espy during all this time, but now, after more than a year without having the opportunity to see each other, Espy wanted to go to the abortion clinic to say hi to them. We parked outside of the abortion clinic, in the place where Espy used to work and give all her heart and time. I then called the clinic administrator and let her know that Espy was outside waiting to see all of them. I noticed that there were two cars parked in the parking lot. There were “patients” inside the abortion clinic. So, I thought that they were going to stay inside the abortion clinic because they were busy.

To my surprise, the workers walked outside to meet us! Espy with all her heart wanted to give them a hug and a kiss, so she did it, and they did it too! Espy was crying and they were crying too. Espy with so much effort tried to talk to them and said, "Hi, hello, how are you?" Her simple cry was a cry of love. The workers were absorbed in this love. They embraced Espy and gave her many kisses. There was love in the air, in their faces, in their words, in their eyes. They gave her many hugs, hugs of love and respect. The abortion clinic director, the one that used to fight with Espy and the one that used to tell her, “Go home,” now told her, "Espy we miss you, when are we going to see you outside again?"

Can you imagine that?! Can you picture this? This was a miracle; A miracle of love. This was the fruit of many sacrifices and many years of showing love and receiving love. Espy gave her life for the unborn, for the pregnant woman, for the abortion providers. Espy learned God’s word so well, “God is Love." Espy is still working; God is still using Espy to show His love, His mercy, His power. Espy is an example to all of us that want to follow God’s plan. She is an example that God is working. God is teaching. God is transforming. God is converting. God is alive inside those places of death. God is alive in Espy! May God bless Espy and the abortion providers that they together with us see Jesus one day face to face!

Cristina

P.S. Feel free to comment below thanks.

Calling all Angels

Last Monday it was a particularly difficult day outside the hilltop abortion clinic, because of all the distractions in prayer caused by the clinic staff. So Tuesday morning, I asked in prayer for Our Lord to send in His Angels to help us out.

While praying, I imagined how Angels might come down from heaven. How do they move between the spiritual world into the physical world? Does this transition cause something like a sonic boom?

As I was praying, I saw a white VAN full of home schooled children that had come in to pray. As that VAN went by, I remember a picture that a friend had shown me of an air force fighter breaking the sound barrier. Here are the Angels, I thought! God is sending his most precious asset in the world to pray for those precious ones in danger of abortion!

A few minutes later more kids showed up to pray, sing and show a sign that read “Honk for LIFE.” It was a beautiful sight! The kids counted the “Honks for LIFE” and I believe it was 613!

Ever since that day, we have seen moms and dads choosing life for their children just about every day. Perhaps we should learn to follow the advice that Jesus gave us in Mathew 19:13-15 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

For Life!

Miguel

Day 16 - Prayers are heard!

Yes, our prayers for His precious unborn babies are heard, regardless of where we are!

A dear sidewalk counselor and friend of mine sent me a text message asking me to pray for a woman who was in the abortion clinic and her friend was trying to convince her not to get the abortion. I work from my home and I took a little break just to pray. I lit two candles, one for the woman and one for her precious baby, and I asked the Virgin de Guadalupe to intercede for us. I also asked my daughter to pray as well, as she drove home from work.

As I was deep in meditative prayer this thought came to me - I pictured this tiny precious little life swimming happily within it’s mother’s womb. This baby was jumping for joy and was so happy to be safe and warm. I begged and pleaded to God to please spare this dear little heart from the pain of being aborted. I prayed that the Holy spirit would touch the mother somehow and that she would change her mind. I also prayed that the friend would say something or do something to convince this mother to keep her baby.

To my surprise, about an hour later, my prayers were answered! This tiny precious baby that I pictured in my mind was still swimming happily within it’s mother’s womb. This precious child was created by God to do great things and it will live to jump, play and swim! Thanks be to God! What a joyful day this is!

Yours in Christ, 

Sonia

Jeremiah 1:5
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.

Day 14 & 15 - God is in Control

The reflection for day 14 of the campaign is:

"Pray that we will have faith to realize that even now our Lord can bring an end to abortion." 

For the past few days I've had this thought that God will end abortion. He needs us to fight. The victory is already there, Jesus died for our sins. We are winning this battle against death. LIFE triumphs! We need to finish the race.
This is the 6th 40 Days for Life in El Paso. We've seen great miracles. All the Planned Parenthood's in El Paso are CLOSED (I think it's the PRAYER & FASTING that did it!!!) Even though planned parenthood in El Paso did not do abortions, they did abortion referrals and offer birth control and condoms.

The reason I love 40 Days for Life is because it is hope for our nation. I don't know much about politics, but I do know of God's power and strength. I know what God can do through us to end abortion. I've seen with my own eyes the miracles that God works. I've seen transformations in many people who are already practicing Christians growing in their relationship with Jesus Christ. I've seen conversions. I've witnessed healing. And all this because they chose to come out to a death camp (just like the Nazi holocaust) and prayed. Are you willing to offer 15 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour of prayer outside one of these abortion clinics? You WILL impact an eternal soul. 

It might feel a bit discouraging praying outside the abortion clinics, especially when you don't see the fruit of your sacrifice. But we need to continue to be faithful. Many abortion clinics are getting shut down nationwide. Many abortionists are getting their license suspended like this doctor, click this link for details http://bryankemper.com/2010/03/02/636/ 

I have a lot of hope for El Paso - Where no more women and men will have to even think of abortion when an unplanned blessing arises. Where people will choose the path to healing from past abortions. Where people will choose Jesus Christ and accept his gift of salvation. I want to invite you to listen to this amazing song. It's called God of this City by Chris Tomlin. Great meditation for today's blog. God bless you and please comment at the bottom and share your thoughts with us. 

Greater things are still to be done in this city.
You're the Lord of this nation. 

Day 13 - Visit from an ex-clinic worker

Today, we saw six patients go inside the abortion clinic. Three accepted our information pamphlets. One of the persons that accepted our information left within 5 minutes. Please pray for these and all persons tempted by abortion.

A nurse that used to work at the abortion clinic came by twice to pick up some things. She stopped to let me know that she was very happy to have left the abortion clinic. She was happy that she didn’t work there anymore. She was all smiles and looked very happy. Praise God that she left that awful clinic! Please pray for her, so that she will never be tempted to work in a place like that again.

I remember the days when the security person was not working they would send this nurse out to escort patients inside. She saw us praying for countless hours and she knew that she was also in our prayers. This woman told us she got this job because it was the first place that would hire her instantly. Her husband had just been in a car accident and they needed something quick. She would tell us often she didn't like working there. She always greeted us with a smile but didn't look happy to be there.

Abortion clinic workers need to know that we love them and that we pray for them. They, like those children who are aborted, are children of God. She knew we loved her and never judged her.

Please continue praying for all those persons who work in the abortion industry. Pray for the abortionists and supporters of abortion, that they may have a change of heart.

For Life!

Miguel

Rock for Life Concert coming up!

Rock for Life is coming up soon! We are extremely excited about this event! Pro-Life shirts will be available for sale, i-pod raffles, food and excellent music! Come out and join all Christians united praising the Lord and thanking God for the gift of Life!  As the flier says, LIFE ROCKS! It really does! Hope to meet you there.

Don't forget, free admission with a baby item! These items will be donated to the pregnancy help centers of El Paso. God bless you and have a blessed day of the Lord.

Gabriela

Day 11 - The Armor of God

Today was day 11 of the 40 days for life campaign and another baby was spared from abortion, Praise God! The babies’ father was instrumental in helping save his own son. This happened after he spoke with one of our sidewalk counselors. Please pray for this couple, that they may find many blessings now that they have opened themselves up to the gift of LIFE!

Now I would like to talk about the armor of God and what it means for us that pray and sidewalk counsel outside of abortion clinics:

Have you noticed how fish can spend their entire life in the ocean and the saltiness of the water never penetrates them? You can eat any ocean fish and it’s not salty! Unless of course, you add salt when you cook it!

Similarly, as persons who spend time outside abortion clinics in peaceful prayer or sidewalk counseling, we are exposed to all kids of ugly things, but somehow that ugliness never penetrates us. That ugliness never becomes part of us. On the contrary, the more we love those parents and their unborn children, the clinic workers and the abortionists, the more protected we seem to become!

The ugliness that I refer too comes in many different forms. Those forms are spiritual, emotional, physical, mental, etc. Examples range from family or friend rejection to what you are doing. Or maybe insults by persons driving by, the clinic staff or the clients. Or perhaps, witnessing that a woman is being forced by her partner or parents to abort. A couple telling you that they already have too many kids and decide to abort this one. Or maybe, observing a couple counting money that would be used to destroy their child. It could be something as sad as watching how someone locks away their maternal instinct and decides that her baby would be too inconvenient to keep at this time. Doubts about what you are doing when the world just doesn’t care. Excuses, for not going to pray, difficulty concentrating in your prayers while at the clinic, etc. But these fade away because of the love you feel for those in need of your prayers, or those needing a helping hand, or the knowledge that they are not alone because you are there for them. Throughout all of this your armor remains intact and nothing seems to penetrate it.

We like to refer to this as putting on the armor of God. In Ephesians 6:11-13 we read:

Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground.

How then should we put on the armor of God? I believe that Jesus gives us the tools with the Sacraments. We should also use the sacramentals given to us by the Church and attend Mass frequently. In other words, we need to be and stay closer to Our Lord. We need to do everything possible to remain in His Grace by steering away from sin in our lives!

In Christ!

Miguel

Day 10 - Break the record?

A total of 4 lives were saved today! It is so hard to describe the feeling. But while at the abortion clinic today I remembered something that could help describe perfectly how it feels when a LIFE is saved.

A few months ago while in NY/CT area, I went to the soccer Gold Cup championship game between Mexico and USA. I was rooting for Mexico, but don't get me wrong, I love the USA too! The stadium was packed, everyone was excited and Mexico won that game 5-0. After the 3rd goal, the whole stadium chanted, "CUATRO! CUATRO! CUATRO!" Which means, "FOUR! FOUR! FOUR!" You could feel your heart beating quite fast and your blood rushing, hoping and praying for another goal to secure the win. 

Everyone cheered on with all their heart, and then GOAL! We were all extremely euphoric, jumping up and down, giving high-fives, hugging your neighbor etc. The score was now 4-0. The crowd then started chanting, "CINCO! CINCO! CINCO!" And again that same feeling of your heart beating and then again, another GOAL! 

I found this video online that can show how it was. It's a bit silly but I know you'll understand.

 

This is exactly how I felt this morning. I received a text message from Cristina, a wonderful sidewalk counselor from the other abortion clinic, letting me know that 3 babies were saved (2 of them are twins!) You just want to jump in the air and shout and thank God for those lives. I know its a different setting than a soccer or football game but its worth the shouting and rejoicing! It's an indescribable joy. I was out there with Vanessa when the 4th life was saved and I wish all of our pro-life friends were there to rejoice with us! I felt like screaming, "CINCO! CINCO! CINCO!" as I remembered the soccer game.
The face of this young woman was so joyful, I knew right away she had changed her mind. She was at the clinic with a friend of hers, who I'm sure talked her out of it. The friend mentioned to her, "God will provide!" with a smile on her face. I'm thankful for great friends like that!!

Now, can you imagine how heaven rejoices? If only we could see the angels and the communion of saints. Isn't that an amazing thought?


Gabriela
**Side note: Please pray for Helen

Day 9 Surprises

This day was definitely full of surprises!

We have a poster that says, "Pregnant and scared? Had an abortion? Call 915-564-4444." A car drove into the clinic driveway asking about the poster. There were three women in the car and they mentioned that one of their sisters had already had 3 miscarriages and was very angry with God. We gave them information and they were very grateful. We gave them all rosaries and reminded them to pray for the babies and for the sister. I suggested to them to talk to the sister about seeking healing. They drove by a few more times smiling and thanking us.

Shortly after a very nice black truck drives in. To my surprise it was a former clinic security guard! I was so happy to see him. We gave each other a big hug! A few years ago when he was the guard, we would talk about life and it's struggles. We would talk about family. He has a daughter and a girlfriend. He would constantly tell me he hated working there and that it was difficult finding a new job. He finally got himself fired. I would tell him often to pray, and to ask God to help him find a good and dignified job where no blood money is involved.

After he was fired, I think the security guard company probably went through over 5 guards because they all just hated working there. The guards were treated horribly and they would complain of boredom. There hasn't been any security guards in over a year.

This young man, now has a great job, he has beautiful new truck, and feels like he can really provide for his family. I remember clearly telling him, "Once you leave this job, God will bless you!" And he has.

Another surprise came around. It was almost noon and I was about to leave when an old friend showed up! She happened to drive by and decided to pray. So we ended up staying for another hour. In her prayer she would say, "God, please save a baby!!!" My first reaction was to think, "The abortionist just left, he already did all the abortions. We'll just wait 'til they come out from recovery." Then I told myself, "I have faith, it can happen!" When one lady came out I approached her car to offer her post-abortion information. She did not look like she had an abortion, so I asked her, "Did you change your mind?" She said, "I didn't do it." I smiled at her and me unconvinced, I asked another way, "Did you go through the procedure?" She said very undecidedly, "No, but I might come back." I told her "Don't come back here, can I give you a gift?" She said, "For what?" "For your baby!" She smiled and I gave her a gift. I told her again not to come back and that abortion can harm her. I asked her to pray and that we would be praying for her too. She smiled and left. Please pray for her!!

And the final surprise! I was just notified a few hours ago that baby #4 was saved at the pregnancy help center, House of Hope at about the same time as baby 3. God is good!! And God is faithful! Please pray for these women and their babies. God bless you!!

Day 8 – 40 Days for Life - El Paso

Today was an exhausting day! When I got to the clinic, it was full of cars and not a spot available except for the nurse’s parking space. When one car would leave another would pull up and take the available space. It went on the entire morning until 11:00 am. On Wednesdays the "security guard" is not at the clinic so it made it much easier for myself and Gaby to counsel the women going in even though none of them took the information, except for one couple wanting a pregnancy test but went to House of Hope instead. One woman drove up after the couple. I walked behind her car as she drove into the parking space ready to give her the information to hopefully turn her away. As she pulled into the parking space, she opened the door and saw me standing in the alley. She quickly closed the door and remained in her car for about 10-15 minutes. After the amount of time she quickly got out of her car and walked into the clinic. After about 3 minutes inside the clinic, she came back out, got in her car and drove away. She did not take any information but it seems like she went in to look for someone since she was only in there a short amount of time. 
After the lady left, a while later the doctor showed up to perform surgical abortions. As he was driving up he saw our poster of an abortion gone wrong at the clinic a few months before, he just laughed and continued driving in. Once the doctor finished, as he was driving away he gave Gaby a thumbs up. For what reason? We will never know.
As long as abortions are being performed, as long as babies are being killed, we can't stop the prayers. Not only for the babies but for the conversion of the doctors, nurses and all who participate in abortion! For they are not our enemies, they are blinded to the truth! When I first started going to pray at the clinic I thought that everyone who worked there was an enemy. I would get cursed at, thrown the middle finger and told to go home by them. One random day the nurse said to me, "If you had an abortion you need to forgive yourself and be healed, because Jesus died on the cross for you and me so stop coming here." Little do they know as they were telling me this I was praying for God to bless them and change their hearts.
A prayer I usually say for the abortion workers at the clinic and for all around the world is, "Lord, bless theses nurses for you know them far better than I do. For even if they are doing wrong and killing your children they are still your children and they belong to you. Soften their hearts so they may see us praying for the mothers, fathers and for them. We don't like what they do because it goes against you but we love them because you call each and every one of us to love just like you love us. Give them love, mercy, compassion and understanding that they may see us praying and turn to you." Amen! Please continue to pray for them and for us. God Bless You.


In HIS Service,
Vanessa

Day 7 – 40 Days for Life - El Paso

I would like to announce that today another human being was saved from being killed! I do not know the details yet of what happened but please keep a very brave mother named Natalie and her unborn baby in your prayers.

Today at the clinic it was a cold yet beautiful morning. There were snow flurries and it was just a beautiful sight. We saw a total of 5 women arrive to the abortion clinic. Today I prayed the Stations of the Cross with meditations by St. Padre Pio. His writings amaze me each time and I think about all of his sufferings and the persecution that he suffered from the evil one. Padre Pio was blessed with the 5 wounds of Christ Crucified so he knew pain and suffering pretty well. Padre Pio loved God so much it's so mind blowing. He says, "I have no wish whatsoever to have my cross lightened for it is a joy for me to suffer with Jesus. When I contemplate the cross on the shoulders of Jesus, I feel myself strengthened, and I exult with holy joy." He knew to share all of his sufferings with Jesus' sufferings. That's what I'm learning to do while at the abortion clinic which I like to compare to Calvary. What we suffer on our daily lives does not compare to what these babies suffer through abortion. What we suffer in our daily lives does not compare to what Jesus Christ suffered on the cross for our salvation.

Persecution is inevitable at times and it includes some sufferings - waking up early, fasting, standing in the cold, standing out in the hot sun, cars driving by and screaming profanities at you and the list goes on. To this list I want to add the clinic worker giving me the middle finger. Now if we convert all these "attacks" and "sufferings" to love, it becomes love when we unite them to Jesus' sufferings. There are times when I get flipped off and I feel great love for that nurse. I bless her and I translate her profanity as a hug.


On Monday it rained quite a bit. Knowing that God is in control of the weather, seeing this rainbow told me many things.

Rainbows have constantly been a reminder of God's promises to us. It also reminds me of hope after the storm. A rainbow forms when the sun shines onto rain like in the picture. A beautiful and colorful rainbow forms with the darkness in the background.


That is exactly what we see at these abortion clinics. Darkness in the background. But when we least expect it God shines the light and we see the beauty and value of life even if we are being persecuted or are suffering because we know that we brought light to this place and know that someone was touched by Christ. This is when sufferings and persecutions become sweet and joyful because you know that through Christ you made a difference in someone's life.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help

This morning I received a call from Lupita, who had decided to keep her baby on day 1 of the 40 days for life campaign. She and her baby are doing fine! The reason for the call was to ask me to be on the lookout and to call a young woman by the name of Elizabeth whom she had met and was scheduled to have an abortion this morning. Please note that all the names we use are pseudonyms and not the person’s real name.

I spoke to Elizabeth on the phone and she told me that she has three children. We established that in reality she has four children, one of whom is on the way. Elizabeth is six weeks pregnant and after a long conversation she told me that she would think about what she would want to do. Elizabeth ended up not going to her abortion appointment that was scheduled for 9:00 a.m. Praise God! And please, keep Elizabeth in your prayers, so she is not tempted to have the abortion.

Another extraordinary thing that happened by coincidence (Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous -Albert Einstein) is that I found out that a lady that had decided to keep her baby during the Fall 40 days for life campaign and is now around seven months pregnant and is doing fine. Please keep her and her baby in your prayers. Below, please find what was written on the log back on October 9th 2009:

“Have you seen the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help? How Jesus as a child runs to His mother’s arms for consolation? Do you remember when as a child you ran to your mother’s arms for consolation? This morning after praying/counseling at the clinic, I placed Our Lady (the one we take to the abortion clinic) on the center table at home, got on my knees and hugged her. I needed to be consoled like a child needs to be consoled by his mother. Let me explain:

A lady that I will call Alejandra as a pseudonym parked on the street in front of me. She went into the clinic to abort. A few minutes later she came out saying that she wants to keep her baby. I started talking to her and giving her the information we have. I even gave her a PAS (post abortion syndrome) pamphlet so she can read on the trauma that abortion causes on women. She started crying and told me that her husband was pressuring her to abort, that she was scared. She was happy and scared for her baby, but wanted to keep it. She asked me to pray for her husband. That’s when Nurse Irma appeared. This nurse is the daughter of the co-owner of the abortion clinic and she continually harasses people. We both told her to go away and Irma kept insisting on knowing what I was telling Alejandra. Alejandra told Irma that I was talking to her about God, but Irma kept at it. We waked to Alejandra’s car and Irma followed us wanting to know why she wanted to abort. Irma used a mixture of truths and lies on Alejandra. She told her to pray about it, but also told her that there are many children not loved, that babies aborted don’t feel pain, because in her own words, “nobody remembers when they where in their mother’s womb, so if you can’t remember then you don’t know if something hurts." It can be intimidating and disturbing how the evil one fights for each and every child and how Alejandra had decided to keep her baby, and he came after her using nurse Irma as his instrument.

As Alejandra was leaving I placed my pro-life rosary on her hand and told her that I will be praying. Irma wanted to grab the rosary from Alejandra, but she clinched it, got on her car and left with tears rolling down her eyes.

That’s why I got home and ran to my Heavenly Mother’s arms. The fight against abortion is about helping the souls at risk of eternal damnation. It’s about bringing hope to those parents who are scared. It’s about bringing the Kingdom of God within anyone’s reach. God in His infinite Mercy takes care of the babies and when one baby is saved, well that is another soul that will glorify his Creator and will praise and exalt Him above all forever!

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the Divine Power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who wander throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.”

For Life!

Miguel

A Lion in a Cage

This is a meditation on the motherly instinct to protect their child:

If you are considering an abortion, your God given instinct will want to come out and protect your baby. You might be tempted or pressured to lock that instinct inside of you. Please let it out! If you don’t, an internal struggle will tear you apart. That “tearing apart” is one of the reasons we see persons who have aborted with symptoms like depression, suicidal thoughts, alcoholism, drug addiction, inability to maintain relationships, difficulty bonding with surviving children, etc.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen once said that “The Catholic faith is like a lion in a cage. You don’t need to defend it – you simply need to open the cage door.” Following that line of thought, the maternal instinct is also like a lion in a cage. If you are struggling with the temptation to have an abortion – you simply need to open the cage door to your maternal instinct! Once you do that, you will feel like the weight of the world has been lifted off your shoulders and you will see things in a different light. Your problems might not be over, but you will find that by opening yourself to the Will of God, He will always be there for you!

If you are the mother of a young lady who is pregnant, your maternal instinct will be to protect her. If your idea of “protecting” your daughter is to guide or force her into having an abortion, then consider the consequences aforementioned. In a misguided effort to protect their child, we see many mothers driving their daughters into abortion clinics.

For Life!

Miguel

Day 4 – Spring campaign 40 Days for Life - El Paso

Today we saw nine patients go to the Schuster abortion clinic. Two of those patients by the Grace of God, decided to turnaround and leave without even going into the clinic! Your prayerful presence made a big difference! Praise God!

An additional three patients that had arrived dressed for abortion (loose clothing) left early enough that we believe that they left without having aborted their babies. Because we didn’t have a chance to talk to them on their way out we don’t know the exact reasons why they left. Possible reasons are that they changed their minds, that they made an appointment for another day, that their pregnancy test was negative etc. Usually when a person has an abortion the pain on her face, the sadness in her eyes, how she curls up into the seat of the car and her demeanor tells the story. Plus they normally leave with a white piece of paper with instructions. These three persons did not have those visible signs.

The other four patients had possible chemical abortions. When a pregnancy is in the early stages, the baby is chemically destroyed using an abortifacient named Mifepristone or RU486. For additional information on the RU486 and educational articles on abortion follow this link: http://www.priestsforlife.org/articles/index.aspx

Gloria who is one of the abortion clinic owners mocked us as she arrived by moving her hands in a manner similar to how a priest would when giving a blessing. I was holding the Crucifix at the time and facing her. A few minutes later she came out to scream at us, but her face showed fright instead of showing anger like it usually does. Please pray for Gloria and all the clinic workers; that they can find a change of heart and a true conversion. Like the mothers and their babies, abortion practitioners also need our prayers.

On a lighter note today 27 prayer warriors came to the clinic! The women beat us (again!) by one with 14 vs. 13 men. The knights made their presence known this morning. Praise God that more men are beginning to visibly support life!

For the greater Glory of God,

Miguel

Day 3 – 40 Days for Life - El Paso

What a busy day! It was heartbreaking to see 25 cars arrive to the abortion clinic. It is hard to tell who's there for what. Since Planned Parenthood in El Paso closed, many women are coming to these abortion clinics for STD testing and birth control. We have to assume they're all there for abortion so that we may sidewalk counsel. I think 3 women accepted the information.

I want to share with you some videos from youtube. They are great! This first one tells us that the baby's heart inside the womb begins beating at 3 weeks and 1 day from conception.

Click on this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0WNRR-epPI

This next video shows clinic workers (a nurse and an abortionist doctor) from Planned Parenthood lying about the humanity of the baby - completely contradicting what expert scientists have shown us. 

This is so wrong! Women are lied to at these abortion clinics all the time! To learn more about the development of human beings visit www.ehd.org and to learn and support investigations as in the video above visit www.liveaction.org

Friends, let's continue to pray and fast to end abortion! If you would like to sign up for the prayer vigils please visit www.40daysforlife.com/elpaso and click on Vigil Schedule. Being physically present at the abortion clinics is just like the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene and St. John did. They were at calvary, at the foot of the Cross, at the moment of Jesus' death. God bless you and please pray for us.

Gabriela

El Milagro de Guadalupe

Day 2 – Spring campaign 40 Days for Life - El Paso

El Milagro de Guadalupe (The Miracle of Guadalupe)

There is a spanish television program called “El Milagro de Guadalupe.” I don’t know where the stories come from but what I’m about to describe to you is truly a “Milagro de Guadalupe.”

I received a call this afternoon from Lupita, the woman who decided to keep her baby yesterday, day one of the 40 days for life campaign. She said I was her angel and she calls me angel. When I gave her my phone yesterday, I told her that my name is Miguel Angel, and not to forget it, “Miguel Angel.”

She told me that she is 12 weeks pregnant and that she already feels her baby move inside of her. This will be Lupita’s first baby! She told me that her abortion was paid for by her sister in-law and that her baby was scheduled to be killed yesterday at 8:30 a.m.

Lupita described that while sitting in her car, she saw me on her mirror and then saw Gaby praying. That she felt like we were a couple of Angels. When she saw us, she felt “Alivio y iluminación” (healing and an illumined). Lupita went on to describe how the nurse who was acting as a security guard kept enticing her to go inside the clinic. The nurse would say, “Don’t listen to these people, walk inside with me,” and “Eso que traes es una carga para ti” (that thing you are carrying is only a load on you). Lupita then told me that she saw a priest dressed like St. Francis and that it reminded her of the Church she goes to. She said that she thought, “I can’t do this to my baby.”

I can’t figure out how Lupita was able to see the Franciscan Priest (Fr. Luis), since there was a wall between where Lupita was parked and where the priest was standing in prayer. He never walked around the wall to where Lupita could see him, but somehow she saw him! I asked Lupita if she realized how many people where there praying for her and her baby. She said that she never realized how many until she was leaving. She also told me that she recognized a few people from her Church. "La que canta," (Lorena) and other ladies from her church.

Lupita again said that the Franciscan priest she saw there (Fr. Luis) made her think that she needed to go get her ashes (it was Ash Wednesday), and that she did afterwards.

Lupita said that as she was leaving, she saw how mad the lady who honked at me was. That made Lupita mad witnessing how that lady was so mean to me. Lupita said that Gaby gave her a rosary and a gift and that Gaby is an Angel, that she will never forget our faces.

As we continued talking, Lupita told me that she goes to Guadalupe Parish on Alabama St. I said, “O my God, do you realize the number of people, including the priest that where there were from Guadalupe?” “La Virgencita must have put them up to this, so you can see how your Church supports you and your baby!” She cried at realizing how her Church community had been moved to be there, precisely on that day and at that time. Lupita added that she is very devoted to Our Lady of Guadalupe and San Judas Tadeo.

She also described that she is under tremendous pressure from her sister in law and the father of her baby to have the abortion. Unbeknownst to us, a few minutes after Lupita had left, her sister in-law arrived at the clinic looking for her. After the sister in-law realized that Lupita decided to keep her baby, she threatened her to “go kill that baby herself” and the father of the baby said that he did not want to have anything to do with Lupita. I told her that no one can force her to do something that she does not want to do. That the baby is a very special gift from God and the proof is in all the people there giving her prayers and their support.

She said that she can’t believe how women kill their babies and she asked me if anyone else changed her mind about having the abortion. I told her that there was a possible turnaround but we did not know for sure. She asked me if people mistreat us like she saw yesterday, and I told her sometimes they do, but you and your baby and all the mothers and their babies are worth it!

She told me that her “Prima” (cousin) was very happy that she had decided to keep her baby. The cell she was using was lent to her by her cousin. I told her “You see, even people that you know are supporting your decision to keep your baby!”

Today, at Our Lord’s pleasure, He gave us a glimpse of what happens “behind the scenes” how a woman in a crisis pregnancy feels, how a woman being forced to abort feels helpless and needs our help. How our prayerful presence makes a difference. How abortion clinic employees try to entice the women to go inside where they can confuse them further.

On 9/11 when people all over the country felt fear and uncertainty, we flocked to our Churches because at Church we felt safe. One day God willing, the same will happen with anyone who is pregnant and scared, or feels pressured to abort. Today by the Grace of God and I’m sure by the intersession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Lupita’s Guadalupe Church was moved to be at that clinic on that day and at that time!

For the Greater Glory of God!

Miguel Angel

Day 2 – 40 Days for Life - El Paso

It was a quiet day today at the clinic. We saw a total of 4 women go in today to the abortion clinic. None of them took our information. All women were gone by 10:30am. Hilltop was covered all morning long in prayer and there was no sign of the abortionist. 

I think a highlight of the day was when Gloria, the abortionist nurse came out and told me, "Hi Sexy!" I laughed because I didn't ever expect her to say something like that. I am used to her giving me the middle finger on a daily basis and whenever she doesn't give me the middle finger I miss her attention. Gloria later told me to have a dozen children. I told her I would. Quite funny.

Yesterday was such a blessing especially after witnessing a woman change her mind. Today we found out that she saw a Priest praying at the abortion clinic which she took as a sign that she should not have the abortion. So thank you to the Priests who showed up to pray at the clinic! But it wasn't just any priest, coincidentally (well, we know with God there are no coincidences) her parish Priest was one of the Priests that was present yesterday morning! Furthermore, her parish community was there to support her in prayer and neither of them knew that!

It's a beautiful thought knowing that God puts certain desires in our hearts. Desires like wanting to pray outside a building where many babies are killed. It's a beautiful thought to know that God chose us on that one day to pray for that woman especially. I want to invite you to not ignore those desires in your heart. Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you in your desires especially when it has to do with defending life. Let us continue to pray to end abortion and fight for what we know is right.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for choosing us on this day to serve you. Thank you for that opportunity to reach out to others. Thank you for allowing us to be your soldiers. You're the general, show us the way. In Jesus' name AMEN!

Gabriela

Day 1 – 40 Days for Life - El Paso

It was a beautiful and warm morning for the kickoff day! We didn’t know how many people to expect, and Our Lord sent us 50+ prayer warriors. What a sight!


Just as people started arriving to pray, a woman "Lupita" arrived for her abortion appointment. Her car windows were closed and she did not take our information pamphlets. Lupita was playing at full volume a heart break song in Spanish, but stayed in her car. She kept playing the song over and over. From time to time, she would lower the volume and use her cell phone. Clearly, she was in distress and crying helplessly.


Meanwhile the vigil participants started arriving. I asked Virginia, one of the prayer warriors who was there to please help coordinate the persons by asking them to pray in front of the sidewalk. When Alfonso arrived, he handed out signs to the vigil participants. Everyone was praying for Lupita who was sitting in her car.


Lupita stayed in her car in what seemed like an eternity, but in reality it was close to two hours. Gaby and I alternated waiting to sidewalk counsel her in case she got out of her car. At one point one of the abortion clinic nurses approached her and attempted to entice her to go inside the clinic. Gaby told the nurse to ask her if she needed to speak with a priest (there were 2 priests on the sidewalk). The nurse was nice and let her know. Thank God, that Lupita remained in the car.


Finally Lupita started to back out of her parking space. I thought, "Praise God Almighty, she is leaving!" As I stood waiting to talk to her, one of the clinic owners drove in and honked her car at me really loud. This startled Lupita and she drove back into her parking space. I prayed, “Please Lord; don’t let her go inside the clinic.”
As the clinic owner drove past her, Lupita backed out again and I got to talk to her a bit. With tears in her eyes she told me, “I want to keep my baby.”
We talked a bit and she gave me her name. I mentioned to her, “Do you realize how many people have been praying for you and your baby?”
You see, up to this point Lupita had not seen how many persons had been praying so close to her. She had gotten there just before the bulk of the people started arriving. And all the time she was sitting in her car the vigil participants had been out of her line of sight.


As we talked some more, I gave her my name and cell in case she needed to talk. I also gave her the literature we normally hand out. Then out of the corner of my eye, I saw the clinic owner heading our way. I told Lupita, “You should leave now; they are going to try to get you to go inside the abortion clinic.”


Lupita understood and nodded, then drove off, but not before she stopped and talked to Gaby further down the alley. They talked for a good while. Gaby gave her a rosary and a baby gift.


The one thing that made the difference between life and death in the life of Lupita and her baby is that YOU took the time to pray. YOU took the time to show Lupita that there are good people out there who care for her and her baby. Yes, your prayers are helping to change hearts! If you are praying from home, from your work or are out there in front of the abortion clinic, your prayers are being heard.


For the Greater Glory of God!
Miguel
Pro-life El Paso/Cruces/Juarez


P.S. We had a turnout of about 33 people at the candlelight vigil tonight. We sang praises to God and thanked God for all the blessings of the day. Thanks to all who showed!