In the Streets of New York City

Before coming to New York City I was afraid of all the need and brokenness I would encounter and that everything I had would be needed in order for God to work powerfully in their lives. Since being here, it is certainly true that all is required. It's hard to allow that to happen, but when a person comes into your life who truly has no one, you can either shy away from their need or fill it. When a young woman comes in who is terrified of her pregnancy and no one will help, no one will give answers or support or tell her she can do it and you present her with all those things she will cling to you like a lifeline. Because you are: for her and her baby. She relies on you for hope, for encouragement, for direction and for love.


She shows up in your office for an abortion and doesn't seem to want to hear anything you say. You don't know what to do so you just look her in the eye and love her and say we are hear to help you with anything you need. And you mean it. Then she leaves and it's in God's hands. Prayer is what's needed now, by you and everyone else. Suddenly the next day she sends a text asking for a job. I don't know what to do but I say I'll call some people. Hang in there, don't worry, it's going to work out. From there an open line of communication is created over the next couple weeks. Suddenly she says she is thinking of keeping her baby. When did that happen? But she won't have a place to live. As she puts it, she'll either "have to kill my baby or sleep in the streets."

We continue to work on it. Calls are made and arrangements put in place. She is very worried and getting pressure from boyfriend and mom to abort. She is moving every week and up late worring. Through it all, she says she wants to keep, no matter what everyone else is saying, but she doesn't know how it will work. She comes for a sono and we set her up with prenatal. She has plans now to live with a relative. But does that mean the relationship is over? No, she is still pregnant, scared, has no idea what to do and is being stressed out by her mom. So who does she go to? The only one who came into her life offering to serve and help her: me. She told me I am her guardian angel. I told her she is a blessing to me.

The story does not end here, but God has been brought into this situation and as with every circumstance we encounter here, we do our best and trust him to take care of everything much better than we can.