My grace is sufficient for you.

Hi!  My name is Stephanie. I am from California and this is my first week at E.M.C.  Where to begin?  I arrived in New York City on Saturday.  Maggie met me at the airport and we rode the bus back. It was interesting watching people out the windows.  Pedestrians here are crazy!!  Sunday morning I woke up and discovered our water heater had stopped working.....Cold showers are healthy for you anyway, right?   The Church I went to is only two blocks down which is so nice.  I can hear the bells ringing throughout the day which makes me happy. :)  I went downtown with Cristina later that day.  We went to Chelsea and looked around then we headed over to St. Patrick's on 5th Ave so she could go to mass.  While she was in church I walked down 5th ave to Central Park.  I didn't have much time but from what I saw it was beautiful! 

      Since then I have had two very full days at the Bronx office and I can already tell you that it is hard!  I wake up in time to go to the 7:30 mass down the street.  I get back in time to have breakfast and make lunch before heading out to the metro stop.  If I catch the express then it is a straight shot to the stop that is by the office. I unlock and turn on all the lights then say some prayers for guidance as I try to read some informative Pro-Life Counseling literature before any girls come in.  Cristina was with me yesterday and only three girls came in who needed counseling but I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed as she  showed me everything that needs to be done.  Today I opened by myself and due to circumstances was alone for, what felt like, forever.  Dear Lord help me.  It was hard and stressful to be the only one between a girl and an abortion especially as unequipped as I feel I am. Once Esther got there it got better.  I would basically sit in on the counseling  session while she handled it so I could observe and learn.   I had five girls one after the other from 9:30 till about 2 then it was quite.  Esther talked with me and answered any questions I had then she told me she was going across the street to get something.  Of course, no surprise here,  as soon as she left the door bell rang.  My stomach sank and I felt sick as I thought of having to counsel again by myself after no official training but that of the day.  I let her in and she told me she wanted a pregnancy test.  I gave her the form to fill out and my heart lifted as I saw her check the box that said if it was positive she would keep the baby. It did such good to my heart to see her excitement when she saw the positive test result.  My spirits lifted as she oohed and awed over the baby modals we have on the table showing the different trimesters.  She was so excited and awed when I told her that at 4 weeks pregnant her baby's heart is already  beating. 

     Yes, the day was hard.  I was overwhelmed and felt completely out of control but that seems to be the theme of my life, God, taking the feeling of control away so I have nothing left to do but run to Him. God, giving me opportunity after opportunity to be patient and to let go and let God.  But I have hope because I  know that through my weaknesses I am made strong! 

" Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong." ~ 2 Corinthians 12:8-10