Sunday, March 21, 2010

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

Monday, March 15, 2010

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! 

Monday, March 8, 2010

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

Sunday, March 7, 2010

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.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

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

Friday, March 5, 2010

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.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

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. 

Monday, March 1, 2010

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