300 DAYS IN THE DESERT - 300 DAYS FOR LIFE

El Paso, Texas is in the middle of the 8th 40 days for Life campaign and today marks our 300th day for Life! 300 days of peaceful prayer, witnessing and giving hope to those in most need.

During these 300 days, we have witnessed the Hand of God in so many wonderful ways. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ ever present guiding us and giving us strength. We have seen moms decide for LIFE some 260+ times! Those are the ones we know off, because we believe this is only the tip of the iceberg of the real number of babies spared from abortion! We have seen thousands of people humble themselves by standing out in front of the local abortion clinics praying for LIFE. Praying for LIFE to the Giver of LIFE! We have guided and comforted post abortive women by referring them to help resources. We have seen hundreds of people turnaround and not go into the clinics because of our prayerful presence. Women have stopped to show off their babies and thank us for being there. We have seen about a dozen security guards quit their job not wanting to continue to escort those babies to their deaths. We have seen about a dozen nurses quit their job, not wanting to continue to work in those awful places of death. We have seen fathers change their minds and rescue their babies against all odds. We have seen grandparents rescue their grandchildren when all hope seemed lost. We have seen moms walk out saying yes to LIFE and we have seen how the weigh of the world vanishes from their shoulders in front of our eyes.

During these 300 days, we have seen true miracles like the time a father decided towards the end of the abortion day to save his wife and child. Finding out that she was last for the abortion procedure because the babies were twins. These were the very first two babies spared from abortion during the first campaign in the fall of 2007. Or that time that we had been asked for prayers for someone wanting to abort. As it turned out, the abortionist at the time of the procedure did not find her baby in the ultrasound. Twice her Gynecologist found the baby in the ultrasound and twice the abortionist failed to find the baby at the abortion clinic. We believe that the Angels of Our Lord hid that baby giving the young mom enough time to reconsider and choose LIFE! Or that time on Ash Wednesday that a young lady sat in her car weeping and unsure of what to do. Later she told us that she believed that she saw two Angels and what looked like St. Francis praying for her. Needles to say that she kept her baby! Or the baby that survived the chemical abortion! Or the glorious day when ALL SIX Planned Parenthood clinics closed in El Paso! Or the countless women that received the Grace of courage to reject those pressuring them to abort. Present everyday Our Lady with her intercessory prayers for the babies and their parents, showing us that Her Heart beats loud and clear with love for all Her children. St. Michael the Archangel protecting us, always.

During these 300 days, our prayer warrior Kim found her vocation as a Poor Claire. Our best and most experienced sidewalk counselor Esperanza (SP) could no longer help out due to an illness and had to retire. Alfonso, our most faithful prayer warrior whom we are dedicating these 40 days for life is now in Heaven interceding for the little ones.

During these 300 days we have seen the worst and the best that human beings are capable off. Despite of everything, or perhaps because of what we have experienced as a faithful community, we have learned how to love with a kind of love that can only be described as divine. A love that does not judge, a love that does not tire, a love that wants all to be saved, a love that wants all to know Christ.

As to the planning and organization of our 40 days for life campaigns in El Paso, Mother Teresa of Calcutta best described it when she said, “We, the unwilling, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, for so long, with so little, we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.” If during these 300 days for life, a single soul has been shown the beauty of the Kingdom of God and how attainable it is, then all effort has been worth it.

All for the Greater Glory of our Creator!

For Life!

Miguel

So by their Fruits You Will Know Them

The Holy Spirit will work through you at any moment, just as he did with us today. Today is the Feast Day of Saint Joseph, the patron saint of fathers, and the protector of Jesus and Mary.

Pat saw a car coming into the clinic parking lot and urged me to go over to the sidewalk. She gave me some liturature to pass out, and I approached this young man as he was getting out of his car. His wife/girlfriend stood back in the distance. The young man was holding a precious, beautiful baby girl with soft curly black hair. I said, "Good morning, how are you?" "Would you like to take some information?" To my surprise, he started walking in my direction. I handed him the information and told him that he was so blessed with his child, as I ran my fingers through her little curls. I then asked him if his wife/girlfriend was pregnant and he said, "yes." I then told him that the pregnancy help center would do an ultrasound for them free of charge, and that this place performed abortions and was not very family friendly. His wife/girlfriend then walked over to us and told him, "Let's Go!" I said, "goodbye and God Bless you!"

As they were walking towards the clinic gate, Pat briefly spoke to the young man and gave him a rosary.
They were not in the clinic very long, less than 10 minutes. Pat approached them once again and spoke with them briefly. Meanwhile, I stood on the sidewalk praising God with the other prayer warriors. By the grace of God they chose not to abort their precious baby. This was further confirmed when they stopped to kiss each other before they entered their car. I knew that God had already worked in their hearts, and it ended with a kiss.

What made them change their minds? The most, simple love of our Lord Jesus Christ saved their baby! He worked in their hearts, and He used a simple plastic rosary with his image on it as His instrument. They told Pat - that as they were entering the clinic; the nurses told them to throw the rosary away in the trash can! This bothered them, so they left the clinic in haste. Praise God!

"Beware of false profits, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them. Matthew 7:15-20

We thank you Jesus for saving this precious baby from the evils of abortion. We continue to pray for this little family, and may they continue to grow in faith and love, imitating the holy family. We also ask for the intercession of Saint Joseph, to protect this beautiful family.

Sonia Rand

Spring 2011 Campaign fliers

Click to enlarge 

Graphic Images Save a Child from Death

Today is the 2nd day of 40 Days for Life. I know that some of the sidewalk counselors and I thought this morning, "Lord, when are you going to start saving some babies!" So after a long morning of prayer, just before leaving, a young couple of about 18 years old arrived. I introduced myself and her name was also Gaby. I asked her if she was thinking about abortion. She said, "Yes." I showed her the information and said, "This is what they do to the children," and showed her the graphic images of the "Did you know?" pamphlet. 

She ran to her car and started to cry - a lot. Her boyfriend came over and I gave him a rosary and told him, "Your baby's heart is already beating out of love for you. If you pray, you will never have to go through an abortion...ever." He thanked me and they went inside the clinic. 


Moments later they came out and stayed in their car for about 15 minutes - longest 15 minutes of my life. My friend Karen offered them an ultrasound and it seemed like they snapped out of it and started leaving. I approached their car and asked her how she was feeling. I then asked her if she was keeping her baby. Still sad, she said yes. She asked about the ultrasound and I gave her a pair of baby booties. I tried to help lift her spirit and assured her she was doing the right thing. She finally smiled and thanked us. 


Those long hours in the sun paid off! 


I know that many people don't agree with showing graphic images as a way to help save lives. However, this is a perfect example that it is necessary for people to see the truth. We need to put a face to what the sin of abortion is and for women to confront their reality. I remember 2 years ago when I shared this story with you, What does it mean to be a soldier for CHRIST?, I posted that the father of a baby was greatly affected by the graphic image and it played a big role in choosing life for his family. 


We shouldn't be afraid of these images. We need to spread the word and show it to our friends. Below are links to pictures and videos. 
I hope this story encourages you to join us praying at the clinics. God bless you! 


- Gabriela 


Graphic Images: http://www.priestsforlife.org/images/index.aspx
Abortion video with Eduardo Verastegui (actor from Bella): http://www.massmediamail.com/durarealidad/  (scroll to bottom of page)