Bye Bye 2014... HELLO 2015!!!!

This is the last day of the year! Its amazing to look back and se all the great stuff we did during the year. It has been a great time here in the city, knowing all this moms and their brave stories.

We had parenting mothers, we had turn arounds, and some others who didn´t want to listen to us. But we will still kep praying for their souls, that they find peace. 

I hope that the few weeks I´m going to stay in the city it still keeps being as amazing as until now.

90 DAYS TOGETHER

I have been in New York 90 days. The city that never sleeps, the city of shades. 

I have been working for EMC. I've saved 23 babies, spoken with over 90 women, get to know a lot of people, laughed and cried with them. I have touched lives, but have been touched by many more.

Since day one I have missed not being able to help these women as much as I would like. Though we do very much for them, I would like to do more. We are able to help them because YOU exist and help; with your prayers, your donations and your presence. 

This is not a goodbye, this is a "see you soon" I have loved the experience of helping these babies, these mothers, these families.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

History

 In America an abortion reform movement emerged in the 1960s. In 1964 Gerri Santoro of Connecticut died trying to obtain an illegal abortion and her photo became the symbol of the pro-choice movement. Some women's rights activist groups developed their own skills to provide abortions to women who could not obtain them elsewhere. As an example, in Chicago, a group known as "Jane" operated a floating abortion clinic throughout much of the 1960s. Women seeking the procedure would call a designated number and be given instructions on how to find "Jane".

In the late 1960s, a number of organizations were formed to mobilize opinion both against and for the legalization of abortion. The forerunner of the NARAL Pro-Choice America was formed in 1969 to oppose restrictions on abortion and expand access to abortion. In late 1973 NARAL became the National Abortion Rights Action League.

The landmark judicial ruling of the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade ruled that a Texas statute forbidding abortion except when necessary to save the life of the mother was unconstitutional. The Court arrived at its decision by concluding that the issue of abortion and abortion rights falls under the right to privacy. The Court held that a right to privacy existed and included the right to have an abortion. The court found that a mother had a right to abortion until viability, a point to be determined by the abortion doctor. After viability a woman can obtain an abortion for health reasons, which the Court defined broadly to include psychological well-being.

Last Days

 Today is my second to last day working for EMC as I leave on tuesday. It has been an extravagant pleasure Today Another woman determined to have an abortion. I spent two and a half hours trying to keep her in the office. I also ave her a cup of hot cocoa. I find it highly necessary to help them feel welcomed and loved. As long as they feel you love accept and comfort them they will be that much more susceptible to what you have to say. I showed her to seperate videos which is unusual but I went with what my gut told me and that was to show her both. I told her about her health risks the effects on the baby. She has never been pregnant before she is only 21. Yes we've had younger. But when a girl decides last minute to change her mind about something that she feels could destroy her life forever and takes courage this is the truest form of boldness I've ever seen and this is a type of boldness I have to admire. Pray for her she will be coming back for more consultation as well as texting and calling me.

LET’S SAVE LIVES TOGETHER

As I told you in my previous post, this week we have been giving toys to families in need. The best part of this has been, phoning the women to ask them to come to get some toys for their new born or older kids. Having the chance of knowing how are they and how is everything going while inviting them to come to have some free gifts. It  has truly been amazing!

In EMC each day is a present, each day something new can be learned. Women come to our offices in desperate need of: advice, counsel, knowledge, being listed to, an alternative, financial help, free pregnancy test, free sonogram and sadly, abortion. We do as much as we can and always wished we had done more or could do more, but it’s not possible. Unfortunately, we are also humans who make mistakes and don’t give always 100% because mood, comfort and energy also interfere in this job. If sometimes we don’t do as much as we apparently could, we are not killing babies, we just need an extra prayer.

Thank you very much for your prayers and your generosity with EMC, we all, TOGETHER, are saving LIVES every day!! Thank you for being the hidden side of this organization.

Mary Chose Life!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!

     Since working here I have dealt with many mothers who have not wanted to choose life. Jesus was not rich financially he was born in a stable in strips of cloth. Not even full clothing but strips..His mother surely did what she could for him. God does provide even for the poorest of people. Life is not promised to be easy. But it is manageable. While we are on this earth we are storing up treasures in heaven. Maybe some storing up more troubles in hell. Jesus was born this day for a chance for us to have a new birth. That is why Christmas is my favorite holiday. Jesus was truly a gift. Even though he was born in a manger with manure and straw all around him. These other children are also consider gifts. While i was riding with Chris a woman wanted to schedule an appointment for an abortion on Christmas, This truly burdened my heart. You can never know ahead of time what your children may do one day. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

Merrrrrrry Christmas to all of you!

Today is THAT day! A new baby is born, the son of God. It's the day to thanks God all the good stuff we have and the important things in our lifes.

Today is also the day for watching this famous movie.

"If you want to feel rich, just count all the gifts you have that money can't buy"

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Tonight a very important baby is borned: Baby Jesus. He came here to save us, so it is a time for celebration.

This week in the offices we have been delivering gift for those who have it really difficult in life and besides that, chose life before abortion. This has been a great feeling for them and also for us.

This little baby is Shannon, 26 days old and borned 6 weeks early. Her mom, Sonia, came to our old office in Queens, she was 28 weeks, she had already chosen life before abortion, but she had had a risky pregnancy and needed help in finding resources for her baby. Yesterday the hole family came and introduced me to this lovely baby. 
Please, enjoy your Christmas and don’t let anyone sour your Christmas mood. If they do, have forgiveness in your heart, baby Jesus is there today. Listen, be kind, be generous, be comprehensive, be Christ who come to save us.

Hope you’ll all enjoy this couple days and make them Holy!!

THE MIRACLE

For the last three days, I’ve been going to Choices, an abortion clinic in Queens which is very near the office. There, as in Planned Parenthood, there is a line which divides the area into a safe zone and a dead zone, so sometimes the only thing left to do is pray. Being in Choices, I’ve had had the opportunity of meeting Sister Dorothy, the number 1 in Sidewalk counseling; I’ve prayed, I being freezing, I’ve talked to girl who didn’t want to be talk to, but everything has been worth it, because on Thursday, I had my miracle.

I was standing near the entrance and a woman was walking into me, she was alone, and didn’t seem to keen to be there, her name was Judith (she gave me permission to write about her, though didn’t let me take a picture). I started to speak to her, and she was very much into listening to what I was saying, we spoke for nearly an hour (cross the street and went into a breakfast place, to avoid the cold). She told me that she was 13 weeks, so I told her how developed was her baby; she told me that she had just lost her job and her house and had financial problems, so I told her about workforce and the sisters of life; she told me about her boyfriend, who really was fiance, his job, so I gave her our address at the office, and aasked her to came later with him.

I left Choices and arrive to the office, at 12:30 (more or less) Judith arrived with her boyfriend, I showed them the Carol Everett video and gave them all the charities papers. The boyfriend looked at me and said: “I didn’t go with her to Choices, because I wanted to keep the baby. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING ME A FATHER!”

sisters

Yesterday in the bronx...I met a girl who was very insecure I said hey do you want a flyer do you know someone in there? She said yeah my sister. I gave her our address to the office and waited in the cold for her to come back from the store she walked right by me. She never came back.... The
office wentt great though i had a turn around

stay in touch!

I will be leaving in a few weeks. I am aiming for January 1st. I spoke with Chris Slattery and have been proud to work here. It has truly been an experience. Later this week we will be taking all moms to see the hobbit and give them Christmas gifts. I can't help but think soon I'll be gone. I'm glad I came the work was not in vain. So far since I have been here 33 moms have decided to keep just from my obedience in doing what God told me to do and come here. Anyways a couple days ago a girl came in she left undecided she was illegally here no social security anything. She needed a place to stay had an abusive bf she was trying to get away from and already had two abortions. She needed housing so I got her in touch with good counsel homes she has an Appt with them tomorrow. Well an interview. I hope she gets it she's worried because she has no social security. I told her to stay in touch with me and we have been talking I also invited her to see the hobbit this friday

Newspapers

Handing out Newspapers is hard. Its cold and sometimes it rains. News get wet. You have to wear them under your umbrella. One hand you use to hold the umbrella and the other one to hand out the papers. People pass and ignore you, and others are very pleased to get those news. We give out like over 100 to 180 umbrellas a day. So people can get a quick information about abortion staff, information they would not get in another way. 

So its important what we do, and we have to stand there outside. We use to stand outside the most part of the day. First we go in front of the abortion clinics, and then we go and hand those papers out.

You always smile and say, Have a nice day!!!

THE AMAZING RESCUE

I was very impressed by a woman who came in on Monday. She is 36, from Guyana, between her poor English and mine, we had a little problem understanding each other, but by speaking slowly and wanting to know what the other one was saying, we manage.

When I went to the front desk in Queens’ office to fetch her, I saw that she was accompanied by a friend. I asked for which one of them was the counseling, when they told me that it was for Miss B, I asked her to go to the restroom to have the pregnancy test done. Then, Miss B and I went to the room and I ask the visitor to sit in the waiting-room.

While completing the intake form, she told me that she was determined to get an abortion done. She had only been with her boyfriend a month, she wasn’t working and lived with her parents. Then I asked who the person who had come with her was, and she told me that HE was her boyfriend. I was shocked; I thought he was a she! When I had overcome the shock, I asked him to come in and I showed them both a Carol Everett DVD, Then together, we discussed abortion’s side effects and how easy was to get an abortion here. He seemed to be very much into abortion, and she seemed to be having her doubts about it.

As I couldn’t say anymore, I told them about the importance of a sonogram no matter what decision they were making and gave them an immediate appointment for one in Brooklyn. Before they left I also told them that in EMC we don’t perform abortions, but they agreed to go to Brooklyn anyway.

That very afternoon Miss B called me: they were keeping the baby! Her boyfriend had pushed to keep it and she agreed. She was very pleased and happy. She just wanted to thank me!

RU 486

Today we are talking about the famous RU 486.

Roussel Uclaf did not seek U.S. approval, so in the United States legal availability was not initially possible. The United States banned importation of mifepristone for personal use in 1989, a decision supported by Roussel Uclaf. In 1994, Roussel Uclaf gave the U.S. drug rights to the Population Council in exchange for immunity from any product liability claims. The Population Council sponsored clinical trials in the United States. The drug went on approvable status from 1996. 

Production was intended to begin through the Danco Group in 1996, but they withdrew briefly in 1997 due to a corrupt business partner, delaying availability again. Mifepristone was approved for abortion in the United States by the FDA, in September 2000. It is legal and available in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Guam, and Puerto Rico. It is a prescription drug, but it is not available to the public through pharmacies; its distribution is restricted to specially qualified licensed physicians, sold by Danco Laboratories under the trade name Mifeprex.

Medical abortions voluntarily reported by 33 U.S. states to the CDC have increased as a percentage of total abortions every year sinc3 the approval of mifepristone: 1.0% in 2000, 2.9% in 2001, 5.2% in 2002, 7.9% in 2003, 9.3% in 2004, 9.9% in 2005, 10.6% in 2006, and 13.1% in 2007 (20.3% of those at less than 9 weeks gestation),  AGuttmacher Institute survey of abortion providers estimated that medical abortions accounted for 17% of all abortions and slightly over 25% of abortions before 9 weeks gestation in the United States in 2008 (94% of nonhospital medical abortions used mifepristone and misoprostol, 6% used methotrexate and misoprostol). Medical abortions accounted for 32% of first trimester abortions at Planned Parenthood clinics in the United States in 2008

Some of the risks are:

                                                                                                  

•          vaginal bleeding or spotting

•          cramps

•          pelvic pain

•          vaginal burning, itching, or discharge

•          headache

•          tiredness

•          difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep

•          anxiety

We are volunteers. Are they?

We are volunteers, but really are they? I don´t think so. It´s early and cold when we used to arrive to Planned Parenthood. We triy to speak with a lot of girls, but they zoomed from our side of the line to the other as if they actually knew which line it is.

We are not necessarily in favor of calling demonstrations, however, we can´t in any way support the abortion,We are peace-loving organization devoted exclusively to a noble cause, the gift of life.

Any reference to the use of abortion, therefore, foreign to our philosophy, And sometimes.

Sometimes the only thing on our hands, is to pray for his babys and her mothers.

Day

Of 7 woman who wanted to have an abortion, 5 ended keeping the child, and one wants to look for adoption plans. The seventh one, was taken away from the mother out of my office, because she found out that we do not make abortions. The month I have been here, I've spoken to aprox 15 woman, but mostly they come undecided, even they say they came for an abortion. But it´s not me who saved those children, it`s them, because they keep it. This mothers are going to have the child not me, it's them who are going to give him food and an education, not me. I'm only the last voice they might hear, but it's them who make the last decisions.

Today this changed. I had two clients who wanted to have an abortion, and finally get one. I tried to do my best. I was really sad. People might say that we did something wrong, that we are worthless, but that's not true. It's not me who was there in the conception, and it's not me who is going to kill that child.

We have to know that every single mother who wants to keep it is quite a miracle. Even if only one woman would keep it, it has been worth to travel the whole way from Spain to the US. We are not here for money, we are here to save lifes.

Another day another victory!!!

Yesterday while on the phone with a girl I was counseling last week. A girl called me. We had told her housing is available for her. That all she had to do was say she wanted to keep her child...she was saying how inconvenient it was. I said and how often is a mother truly ready for a pregnancy. Your a sweet girl with a kind heart. The heart of a mother you already have two children and they've blessed you. No mother should ever have to make the decision to kill or "terminate" her child. She cried. I gave her tissues and a hug. I gave her my number and she called saying please get me the housing I know what's right and you guys have woke me. The guilt has been weighing me down so much when I came in there my mind was made up. Thank you for changing my mind sharing the truth and being my friend! She also said we were right that she don't need a man to raise a child. 

A TRIP TO REMEMBER

First of all, I want to say sorry for taking so long.

Last weekend, Teresa and I went to DC to a congress. Before speaking about it, I wanted to reread all my notes and so I've done!

We arrived on Friday. The lecture was on Saturday and we had free accommodation, but couldn't log in before 5:30 pm, so we took our luggage and went sightseeing. DC is a great city! small, wide, quiet. Washington is the Memorials city.

On Saturday we attended the Leadership Institute Women's Leadership training. I have to say it was great. it was divided into four lectures:

1. The generational difference and how to manage it.

most important thing for this is to be empathetic and know that there is a difference, as it's not the same dealing with a person with whom there is 5 years difference than with one with whim we have 40 years difference.

2. Knowing how to be a leader behind a leader. How to be the one in charge without have been given that role.

3. The consistency between the person we are and the one we create online. A key for this is to create different accounts, a personal one with a different name and the professional one with the same name that we use.

4. Creating a story based on specific moments our lives, to reach the goals we want to achieve.
For each lecture a different woman spoke. The four of them were amazing.

Here I leave you a picture of my favourites memorials

Farewell New York

          I arrived New York two months ago. I came for helping mothers, I don't know if I have done everything I could, but I am proud of having worked in EMC. I remember my first day in EMC, I dindn't imagine that abortion was a problem so important in The United States of America. I have talked with a lot of girls, they always want to have an abortion because they are alone or they haven't got money, most of them are very young. This is the real situation.

          I always have been pro-life, but I didn't know the size of this problem till I came to New York. I will never forget New York. Thank you very much to EMC Team. I am proud of have belonged to it. I hope EMC keep working defending the life, I only can pray for them, but I will come back if I could.

Last week

                               

So for personal circumstances, I have to return to Spain sooner than I expected so this has been my very last week with my EMC coworkers. I cannot be more happy for this month and a half that I have passed here. I am very pleased for all the mothers that I have helped, even the ones that decided to not carry the pregnancy to term because the mayority of them at least sat down and listened to what I was saying and I am calm knowing that I have explained them the options that they have: abortion, adoption and parenting with their advantages and disadvantages. I have tried to be very delicate and comprehensive with their personal circumstances, not judge them, even when it was really difficult; but over all, I am happy to have listened to them and have explained them that they are not alone, that they cannot make a decision if they dont have all the information and that there is always hope and love if we find at least one person who is willing to listen and help.

Thank you EMC, you have done it again.  

                                    

THE JEWISH COUPLE

Today has been one of those days when everything seems to be on the wrong side. The office was as slow as dead, so I spent my day reading a manual we have at the office and watching a couple DVDs about abortion.

At four, when I had lost every hope of having anyone coming, a girl showed up. She came with her husband, they we both Jewish and this could be said just by looking at them. He was dressed in a black suit with white shirt, no tie, a high hat and a beard. In Spain we don’t see this kind of things, as there are very little Jewish people. I asked the man to wait in the entrance and I went into the room with the lady.

She was 26 years old and they had been married for a year, she has had 2 miscarriages and was worried that anything could be wrong with the pregnancy.

The amazing thing about all of this is that when I asked what was she planning to do with the pregnancy, she said: “Keep it of course! What else could we do?”

The Bisexual who was undecided

                                                 

Today at the Brooklyn office I had a client who was really undecided about wether to keep her baby or not. Just like many of the women that I see everyday, the difference was that her main problem was her bisexuality: she was pregnant from her exboyfriend but now she was with a girl and the relationship was different, so she needs to make up her mind: she already has a child and if she keeps on dating this girl she is not gonna have any more kids so she has a big dilema there. 

But what really helps me, is to see that being prolife or being in favor of parenting, isn't something that entails just the catholic movement, is something universal, that people with very different backgrounds can feel identified. So I just hope that this girl does the right thing so that she could be a great example among her other lesbian or bisexual friends. God bless diversity! 

Our present, their future.

As I told in the previous blog, she asked me "Can I do pregnancy test? How much? And i answered, “obviously we do it and it´s free”.

She is only 16 years, but despite of his youth, she shows more assertiveness than her cousin and she confirmed us that if the result is positive, she will have the baby.

It is not easy to show courage, but knowing that a baby is coming to the world, that provides extra strength that allows to face any adversity.

Finally she did the pregnancy test, and the result was positive. She smiled, and she looked so happy, and the next Monday she will back to the office for the sonogram.

With great effort of all people who works and collaborate in EMC, every day we have the opportunity to see the happy expression from future moms. The greatest incentive for volunteers like me who comes from Spain.

Our last battle, the first battle for a lot of babies

          We live our life knowing that we are fighting in a battle against the death, we know that we can't win that battle, we only can extend it. We have a nice privilege, we can live our life, we can decide how living it. I sometimes forget that I am lucky, I have a grat family, I could study, I have friends, but there are people that think that babies don't have that right.

           Fifty four millions of babies hadn't got that right during the last forty years in The United States. Could you imaginate how many doctors, firefighters, enginieers or politicians have been killed? Now we never know it. We teach to children how important is studying or working out, but we don't theach them that we are killing millions of babies every year.

"Drugs n stuff"

Today I had another turnaround. She had two baby girls from her past boyfriend an 8 month and a 2 year old. Now she is 12 weeks with another blossoming beautiful baby. She got married recently. This I thought was great. I was like she's happy laughing and married perhaps she already wanted to keep and is looking for support. WRONG. Her husband is deep into drugs... And he ran away with some of her money. She has no idea where he is.. She wants to divorce him but can't find him. She wants the abortion never had one. This man has scarred her... She was already abandoned by her mother when she was 9...poor girl.. And all she has now is her aunt. I explained to her there is no good or positive side to abortion.. She would be traumatized. She spoke of how hurt she was after a miscarriage she had in the past. I did convince her to keep. Thank God. We spoke of how she wanted a future it was explained to her this child  right now only has 1 chance to a future and only her the mommy can give her child that. She left still happy and smiling I gave her my number and told her I wanted her to see me as a friend not just another person.

Adoption Leaning

Last day I had a very special client. M.S. came for an abortion. She is single, works as security staff, 36 years old and with two children who where almost 20 years old. She admit that she had no idea about what an abortion was and how it was done. I taught her what an abortion is, we saw a video of the procedure explained by a former abortionist and ended with some little fetus models. She was aproximated 10 weeks pregnant. At the end, she was convinced about "I´m not going to kill my baby!!!" But she also said that she was unable to keep it. I get impressed when she asked about adoption.

I called Natalie of the Bethany Adoption Organisation and told her about M.S. I let them be in touch, and from now own they are looking forward. Bethany puts parents and mothers together, the mothers can choose what kind of adoption they want, and have many books.

About Bethany...

 Bethany is a non-profit organization which seek for the well-being of the pregnants. Their councellors are professionals in the field of help and adoption.

 A good choice is always the one you make with all the information about the issue. Make sure you are not deciding anything before going throught the reasons and realities of each alternative.

A Bethany counselor will help you find your own answers and repect your decisions. No matter what you decide, their services are completely free and confidential.

Nowadays the adoption is continue being an unknown election. People understand abortion and people understand what parenting involves, but people does not know exactly what adoption is. Here there are a few questions that can help you to answer yours about adoption, if you need more information, do not hesitate in contact Bethany services (EMAIL: pregnancyhelp@bethany.org).

1. How can adoption be a good choice for my baby and me? If you are not ready to be a parent, you can still give your baby life by choosing adoption. CHOOSING LIFE IS ALWAYS THE BEST CHOICE!!

2. Can I choose the family for my baby? Yes! Most agencies have many adoptive couples who have been studied and approved. You might also want to choose a friend or someone who has been recommended to you.

3. How much will my child know about me? Regardless of the type of adoption plan, you will want to provide social and medical history for your child. If you develop an adoption plan that includes ongoing contact, your child will know about you directly, this is called: Open adoption. But there is a large range of adoptions: open, semi-open, close and confidential…

4. Can I get help with medical and living expenses while making an adoption plan? Assistance with medical and living expenses is available through many agencies. In many states, you will not need an attorney and also most agencies provide services to you at no cost. Usually those costs are paid by the adoptive family. 

Step by step.

Every day we go to the EMC office with renewed illusion to know what amazing story we´ll discover that day, and who can receive our help.

Two days ago we went to Planned Parenthood (I´ll talk about it coming soon) and after that to Brooklyn office. I was thinking about leaving when a group of four young girls arrived. One of them had been in the Bronx Office looking for an abortion. She came to do a sonogram, she was pregnant, twenty three weeks.  I thought after that she´ll change the opinion. Perhaps she was nervous, maybe she didn´t understand the situation, but she kept the same opinion in spite of had a baby with five month and a half on her belly. 

Finally after a long conversation she decide to come back another day, maybe she ´ll realize the situation, she is pregnant and she has a baby with feelings that will born in three months.

When she was leaving, her cousin ask me, “can I do a pregnancy test?” How much is it?” Of course, you can and is totally free. 

(To be continued).