Nice To Meet You!

Hi, I'm Gabrielle! I was born and raised in Lynchburg,VA. I am the middle of three children. My parents instilled in me the value of human life from the time I was very young. However, I only became personally active in the pro-life movement in the past three years. I helped with fundraising at the local pregnancy resource center in my hometown, even helping to organize an annual benefit concert.

In my free time I enjoy playing vollyball, dancing, doing yoga, and singing. I will be attending The King's College in NYC in the Fall. I plan to concentrate in politics, philosophy, and economics. I am so excited for the opportunity to be more involved in pro-life work and learn and grow and help save lives in the Abortion Capitol of America.

Baby Shower of Love

This is my beautiful client from Brooklyn.

She's 9 months pregnant in this picture. At this point she knew she was going to have a little girl. The name she picked out is Makaela. However, she was having a hard time settling on the middle name.

One of her friends, with good intentions, told her that she wanted to throw her a baby shower. She wanted to have an event where all her friends would be there and support this new pregnancy. Unfortunately, life became complicated and her friend was not able to give her the shower she originally wanted.

At this time, God laid on my heart to give her the baby shower she deserved. She has had a rough life. She lives in a society where it is more socially acceptable to have an abortion than it is to keep your child.

Based on these facts, she deserves a far greater event than the shower we were able to give her.

We only wished we could have done more. The people that I work with all came together as a family and made this shower of love happen.

Her due date originally is June 21st. We shall see the exact time the Lord wants this baby to come into this world.

I will keep you posted on that, as well as the final decision on the baby's middle name!

Turns out that some people just need a little help.

A couple came into our EMC Brooklyn Center on Monday afternoon. They were looking for a place to get an abortion, and they were referred to 44 Court St. by a clinic. They were a young couple; married with two young children and filled with such a radiant glow that you knew they truly loved eachother. The man's body language showed that he was not comfortable with the prospect of his wife having an abortion. She had never had an abortion before, and I could see the uneasiness in her demeanor as clearly as the beautiful freckles on her face.

Before they had even filled out half of the paper, I asked them the reason that they thought an abortion was the best option for them. "I don't have any work right now... I just don't see how we could do it," the husband told me. At that moment Linda, the Center Director, felt the inspiration to speak boldly to the man. "Is the fact that you are temporarily out of work a reason for your baby to die?" The man's jaw dropped at her blunt and direct question. He told us that if he had a job then they would be fine and they wouldn't want the abortion. "Is that all? Jobs are easy. Money is material, but this baby is eternal," we told them.

Within the course of a few minutes Linda was on the phone and had this young man interviews and appointments with 3 different employment possibilities. The wife was thrilled! Looking at her face, it was as though a ray of light had suddenly penetrated the darkness of her reasoning and illuminated her mind with real understanding and hope for her situation. Abortion was not a "solution" any longer. In the course of about 10 minutes, this couple went from abortion minded to excited... the fastest I have ever seen! If they had walked into an abortion clinic, would they have been asked about their situation? Would anyone have taken the time to help with the real problems in their lives? Praise God that He always gives us what we TRULY need, not what we THINK we need!

After the Abortion....

Her knees were buckling as she stood on the sidewalk. Supported by her boyfriend, she stood their trying to regain her strength. The hot sun beat down on her; the hottest day we had seen this summer. At this young age, she felt abandoned to recover from the procedure on her own as her boyfriend and his friend attempted to help her. At this same moment Linda, the EMC Brooklyn center director, felt the need to go to the sidewalk. Unexplainable was the reason for her feeling, but obediently she complied. Upon finding this young lady broken after an abortion, Linda knew the reason. She consoled them with words of motherly comfort. "If you need a place to sit out of this heat for a while, you can go to the 12th floor." And then she left them with the choice to do whatever they thought best.

This young lady and her boyfriend came into our center. The paleness of her lips were the first thing to strike my attention as she came to the door. We made her as comfortable as we could, and she slept for a while. She had been allowed to leave the clinic when she was clearly not ready to endure the heat. After she had rested and eaten, we asked her about her experience. She didn't know that there were places that were willing to help her. The boyfriend, upon learning about the process that this girl had just endured, said he would never let that happen to her again. They both walked away from our office feeling love and support. It was a beautiful thing!

The percentage of women that have multiple abortions is anywhere from 33 to 50% (depending on which report you read). This number is too high. It is a cycle that unless something changes will continue. This lovely girl that we meet after her first abortion, will not be one of these statistics. Pro-life is much more than educating those in crisis pregnancies. It must include educating post-abortive women as well to prevent them from falling into the snare of multiple abortions.

The Real Heros

We are working right on the frontlines of this epic battle with 40 million casualties and counting. For this reason those who are actively involved in or passively observing our work will often sing our praises and commend us for our incredible example of faith and selflessness. While I appreciate the needed support, I feel that such admiration is in fact misdirected. As much faith as it may have taken for me to move away from my state and step outside of my comfort zone, that is nothing compared to the trust and courage it takes each one of these women we work with to make the decision to keep their baby. Against the culture, against friends and family, sometimes even at a risk of life and livlihood as they know it, they carry out their valient yes for life. I believe they are the true heros (or rather Heroines) and as much as I miss the country, they make New York City a beautiful place to me. They are the hidden flowers in this concrete jungle that God is pleased to show himself through. Don't forget to pray for them and for us, as well as offering these young women support and encouragement if you ever have the blessed opportunity of meeting them and their children.

Let me tell you a story...

Had an appointment for an abortion.
Not even possible that I conceived.
The doctors said it couldn't be.
Medicaid cancelled the day before.
Plan B...Another center.
No help there. No where to turn.
The end of the road.
Need something. someone. rest.
To the church to find a prayer.
Met a nun who prayed and listened.
Referred to people that want to help.
Hope... is it possible?
People really will help?
Will they do all that they say they will?

This is the thought process of one of my clients. Her story is real. Her struggles are true. After having three abortions in the past two years, she didn't believe that there were people out there that wanted to help her. Truly help her. She has been hurt and let down by men, friends, family... everyone. Why would she believe that there was hope?

But after all of these amazing signs that God has given to her.. she has allowed herself a glimmer of hope. Just a little bit... and we, at the EMC center in Brooklyn, will hold on hope. I will try my best to give this girl support, friendship, love and hope!

"More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." Romans 5:3-5

Picture of a mom that chose life!

A short time ago I was out at Dr. Emily's abortion clinic with a fellow pro-lifer. Three girls walked into the clinic and while I tried to talk to them, they seemed generally disinterested.

Within the next hour however, they must have exited the clinic because the next time I saw them they were talking to my friend and headed to our sonogram bus!

The details of the turnaround bear similarities to most - she was alone and scared even though she had friends to support her, and we were able to help and show her the baby via ultrasound. I am really excited that we have this picture to prove the happiness of choosing life - the very day she had scheduled to destroy her baby!

God Bless EMC and all of the volunteers and staff that make this possible.

Abortion or Parenting? Not The Only Choices!

Six and a half weeks and asking about the pill. She had a surgical abortion and hated it, so now she wanted something better. The pill is actually much worse. Women are forced to see the baby when it comes out dead. They must make sure everything comes out. If it doesn’t, they have to have the surgical abortion anyway.

I shared information on the pill, and South Bronx Center Director Liz shared information on adoption and birthmothers. She started to cry. She knew the baby is a living growing human. She knew it would be killing her child. And so she decided to choose life. However she is considering adoption. This is the first client I have met who considered it an option. Most of the time a woman decides to parent. This woman will be going to talk to a adoption counselor, and see if it is the best thing for her baby.

As she left she told us, “I had an appointment for an abortion on Monday, but my friend sent me here.” Talk about just in time!

I Will Remember

I had a beautiful moment the other day! I was relaxing from a very hectic day when all of a sudden my phone rang. It was one of my clients from the previous week. She had called to thank me and tell me that I was right, her greatest fear involving her pregnancy was no where near as scary as it had seemed!

That fear was her mom! How would Mom react? Would Mom be ashamed, upset, or disappointed? Would Mom ever speak to her again? This is why she had been considering abortion. I encouraged her to tell her mother because after all, her mother loved her so much! As it turns out, while her mom wasn't happy that her daughter was pregnant, she wanted to support her throughout the pregnancy. Mom would be there for her! This beautiful young lady had gone from being distraught when she entered our Center, to peace of mind and a better outlook on the future.

Then she did something that I will remember for a very long time. She said, "My mom wants to talk to you." A little taken aback, I agreed. A new voice came on the phone. "Heather I just want to thank you for being there for my daughter! I am so glad that she landed in the right hands!" tears began to roll down my cheeks as she continued, "So many kids these days are pressured to abort and I go against abortion all the way! I go against that all the way! Thank you so much I am so thankful that she landed in the right hands!"

I will remember that moment the next time a deathscort yells in my face as I sidewalk counsel. I will remember that moment the next time I find out that one of my clients didn't choose life. I will remember that moment the next time I feel like my efforts are unsuccessful. I will remember.

Praise God!

Meant To Be

Her story is amazing! She found out she was pregnant three months after giving birth to a little boy. Scared and confused, she set up an appointment for an abortion. After she asked the bus driver to tell her when to get off, she fell asleep. She was headed to an abortion mill, but ended up with me!

She woke up, and the bus driver apologized for forgetting her! He told her to get off the bus and cross the street, then get on the bus going the other direction. When she was waiting for the bus, she commented to a stranger about how things seemed to get in her way. The stranger guessed she wanted the abortion, and pointed up. Our “Unplanned Pregnancy” sign looked liked just the place to go.

As she was walking up the stairs she was thinking to herself, “they’re killing babies here.” When she came in the office, she started to fill out the intake form. We started to talk. She gave my day a huge lift! This woman knew what she wanted, she wanted to keep her baby. She just didn’t know there were people who could love her through the decision.

The Center Director Liz pulled out a paper to show her, and she started flipping through the binder it was in. She read through almost the whole thing. She knew abortion is murder, she knew she would never be the same afterwards. She didn’t know it could kill her. She didn’t know it could make her three month old (yes, three months old and she was pregnant) little boy an orphan. She didn’t know it might make her sterile.

This is what I live for. Seeing women who know in their hearts learn in their heads. Seeing them turn from Abortion Minded, to Parent Minded! Knowing her little boy will have a sibling like a twin. And knowing her heart is safer.

Plan B, Not God's Plan

She came in to ask about the Plan B for her friend. This girl is attending a catholic high school. This young teenager had heard someone speak about the Plan B, however she didn’t think anything of it at the time. Now she found her friend in a scary situation, and immediately did what everyone says is best.

I am so glad she came into our offices instead of going somewhere like Planned Parenthood! If she had gone to a pro-abortion group, they never would have told her the truth.

“If one reads the patient information package insert for regular hormonal birth control (remember, emergency contraception is a mega-dose of the regular birth control pill), one will find that the side effects of hormonal contraceptives include:

• Cerebral hemorrhage (bleeding into the cranial cavity)
• Melasma, which may persist (skin discoloration; usually dark, irregular patches)
• Mesenteric thrombosis (blood clot in the major veins that drain blood from the intestine)
• Hemorrhagic eruption (bleeding eruption)
• Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
• Hemolytic uremic syndrome (kidney failure and low platelet count in the blood)”

This information is a shortened list. To see the full list go to http://www.morningafterpill.org. These are all complications that we are more than willing to share, but the pro-aborts refuse to tell the girls. This girl gave us all big hugs when she left, and she thanked us for telling her the truth.

Princess-Cut Diamonds

Beautiful. Fit for the finest wedding rings and most elegant jewelry. They remind me of the description every girl deserves and exactly what we are trying to help them realize about themselves. They are all princesses and their value is incomparably more than all the diamonds in the world.

It is so hard for women to believe that though, especially coming from the circumstances which bring them to our door step. Today was a day rare to even our New York City centers. I was sent to Brooklyn for the first time, working at the first EMC center, with a director who has been doing this work for 12 years. Today we had the second rape victim in all her years of experience. Our Lady is the most frequent intercessor here and I mentioned some of her great work before. Some actions are just too evil to comprehend, especially when you’re dealing with them face to face. TV, movies, news stories…they can be horrible, but, at least for me, I think they always maintained a certainly level of surrealism being that they were happening to other people in other places. Now I’m here, where these things happen every day and where these women are bringing the reality of it directly into my life.

This girl, who was the victim of rape almost four months ago, has kept the secret of her pregnancy to herself most of this time. Then the neighbors started talking because they noticed her stomach. They are starting to bother her. Many of them know what happened and ridicule her for being pregnant…they will even more if she keeps the baby. How do they know? Because it was one of them who did it…and he filmed himself doing it…and he put it on youtube and Facebook to show. off. To show off what he did to her! Police? Too corrupt to do anything about it. Even though there is video of the whole thing…

We prayed. Our Center Director, Linda, she is a prayer warrior. It’s amazing that all the religious images around don’t scare people off sometimes. I was in the back having lunch and she starts calling for me. She says the girl is here, the rape victim, and tells me to pray to the Blessed Mother right now. I asked her name and she took me out to meet her and get her name. I went back to praying. Then they were in the ultrasound room looking at the sonogram. A perfectly developing baby! I know Linda is praying hard. Every time she leaves the room I hear her praying to Jesus for help. We are watching the baby and the girl and her aunt are still wavering on what they want to do. Understandably, the girl is having a very hard time facing the idea of bearing the child such a terrible experience. Then, Linda tells the girl to put her hand on her stomach and ask her little baby to hold her hand. Kind of strange right? But sure enough the girl moves her hand to her abdomen and starts trying to coax her child to hold her hand. We are all waiting and encouraging. As we watch in amazement, the little unborn baby begins to lift up a hand in the darkness of the womb towards her mother’s! Then, she lifts up her other one. Unbelievable….to our great astonishment, she then lifts of both her feet as well!! Now, as Linda pleads for the child’s life to the mother and aunt, the little 15 week old baby is reaching for her mother with all her limbs! A little later, when Linda asks the girl at what point she new for sure she would have to keep it, the girl said it was when her baby was reaching for her – she knew then she couldn’t leave it.

But her decision to keep the child does not turn her life into a happy fairytale. She is living at a shelter, her very close sister is also pregnant, and if she keeps the baby her attacker is going to consider it bragging rights in the neighborhood. Linda recognized the need to get her out of her situation and also the importance of keeping her with her sister. Keeping the two of them together almost turns their coinciding pregnancies into a blessing. After bypassing the usual red tape, Linda was able to get them placed together in one of the homes run by the Sisters of Life.

After the girl left, there was much rejoicing and thanksgiving. Heaven was rejoicing! Linda reiterated how rare it was for a girl to have a turnaround (change her mind about having an abortion) in just one visit, so how much more for a girl who coming from a traumatic rape. Are we surprised that God is such a miracle worker? We shouldn’t be. There can be miracles if you believe.

Apprehensive No More

While sidewalk counseling outside of Doctor Emily's Abortion Clinic, I had the experience to speak with abortion-minded clients. While numerous young women simply walked by disregarding the options I offered, there was one couple who listened to what I had to say. After gaining their attention, I informed the couple of the abortion alternatives which E.M.C. offered. When listening to their complaints of the baby, I sensed the apprehensive attitude they had toward the abortion procedure. When I gently inquired about this, the response was brief and concise. The male was willing to submit to the female's want for the abortion, but then mentioned the parental disapproval of both their parents.

After speaking with them, I thanked them for their time, and told to call one of our centers if the situation called for it. The couple then strolled inside of the clinic, but thirty minutes later they walked back out in the direction towards their vehicle. As they pulled out, the male smiled and waved, while the female gave another counselor a smile. The initial instinct I had was that the baby was aborted, but then another counselor informed me of the fact that the couple most likely kept their baby.

After work I prayed for that couple and their baby. The grace God gave me allowed for me to do the life-saving work accomplished that day. What the Pro-Choice advocates do not understand is that despite being ignored by many, the fact that we could save the life of one baby gives us the inspiration to continue the work of Our Lord.

Faith and Freedom

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the Faith and Freedom Conference in Washington D.C. This inspiring organization identifies with the values and issues in America, especially the battle regarding the right to life and the promoting of the pro-family stance within American society. From various speakers, such as Congressman Alan West, came the resounding idea of not forgetting the origins of the American people, and the values that set our nation on the path to greatness. The call to be strong in the defense of our morals, to uphold our Constitution and to never fear in the unveiling of our Christian faith. President Reagan once referenced the United States being a light of liberty and freedom to all other nations, and if our light were to die out, then so goes the hopes of democracy to other nations.

Another impressive speaker, Michelle Bachmann, passionately advocated for the ideals of the modern American woman. As the mother of five, Mrs. Bachmann defends the right to life and the institution of the family, especially the sanctity of marriage. The defense of marriage has been yet another battle fought by stalwart conservatives, such as Representative Bachmann, who, beginning in 2003, had pushed against the tide to redefine marriage. However, with her intense work and that of like-minded individuals, the definition of traditional marriage won out in an overwhelming fashion.

These battles are part of the war the secular society has waged on the ideals of conservative America, that is, the ideals our great nation was founded upon; Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. It is the disregard for these inalienable rights that has led to fight which our generation will be a vital part of. We must stand for the dignity of human life, from the defenseless baby to the protection of the sacrament of marriage. It is under the leadership and inspiration of leaders, such as Representatives West and Bauchmann, that my generation is correctly informed so that we too can participate in the restoration of a moral society.

We are LIVE... from Boston!

This past week was a little different than the normal grind here at EMC. I had the honor of being interviewed on a pro-life television program called Life Matters stationed out of Boston, Massachusetts. The host of the show, Brendan O'Connell, was very interested in hearing about the internship and all of the work that we are able to accomplish here in New York City.

It was a little nerve-racking to be on a television program, but it was very good! I spread the Gospel of Life in a way that I don't normally get to. I was able to share about my journey to the Big Apple from little 'ole Kentucky. But most importantly I was able to talk about the work that EMC does every day. I told stories about women that have came through our doors seeking abortions and left with a plan, a friend, and hope!

He was interested to know about the amount of education that goes on in our centers; something of which I have the most passion for. I love to teach the girls about the basic anatomy of their bodies, the process of pregnancy, and the specifics about abortion. These are the things that I will take with me to the next step on my journey... to the high school classroom.

I am overjoyed to let the viewers of the Life Matters program in on the value of this internship experience. The work that I have done has made a difference, in my life and many others. Young adults can make a huge impact in the pro-life movement, and EMC offers one way for people to do that. The program will be shown around the country over the next few months, and will be posted on this blog soon... stay tuned!

Breaking a Fatal Pattern

It was a cold morning in New York City. I was standing on the sidewalk at the back intrance to Dr. Emily´s Abortion Clinic. They walked swiftly down the street in an attempt to rush past me, on their way in. Later I found out that they had been told on the phone to avoid the pro-life people outside.

She was in the parking lot leading the way, and halfway to the clinic door when her boyfriend stopped to talk to me. I asked him if she was pregnant and going in for an abortion. He said yes, and I motioned for her to come over and chat with us. He wanted to keep the baby and said he would be there for her. She was post-abortive and was ready to repeat the fatal pattern.

We talked about fetal development, the abortion procedure, and the humanity and dignity of her unborn child. We talked about the struggles that would lay ahead if she kept her baby and the fear that she harbored within her heart. She cried, and we hugged. She had a lot to think about. I invited her to accompany me to our South Bronx Pregnancy Center because she no longer wished to be at the clinic. But she wanted to go home. We parted with an exchange of phone numbers and her promise to call me later in the day to visit the center. I could only pray that she would contact me. 

Imagine my relief when my phone rang and I heard her voice on the other end! We met that afternoon at our Center in the South Bronx and spent hours talking about the different options available to her. In the end she left with a free sonogram appointment and a new outlook on life and her pregnancy. She was leaning much more towards parenting than she had been that morning as she rushed past me so quickly.

The Truth of Human Sexuality

Today at Dr. Emily abortion facility I had a long conversation with a few young women who were there with a friend that was getting an abortion. As usual on Saturday, there were many clinic escorts and it was difficult to maintain conversations but eventually the girls came and spoke to me.

According to them, neither one of them would get one (an abortion) themselves, but thought it was the decision of every individual person to make. One reason why they, like many others, think abortion should be available is that they cannot imagine a world in which only people were open to children would have sex.

But as I tried to explain the simple idea that those having sex should be open to children a sort of light-bulb seemed to go off. One in particular nervously laughed but after pressing further she admitted it made sense. Beside making the intellectual point I also had a feeling that something resonated with this young lady.

So many ills would be cured if all people could practice this sort of common sense.

Hidden Joys

Okay, so the picture doesn’t seem to fit a blog about women with unplanned pregnancies. But as I was walking along, I spied this small flower amongst these big plants. If I wasn’t looking, I would have missed this joy. Isn’t it amazing how the pieces of the puzzle all fall together when we watch carefully?

After she walked in, I started by finding out about her life. Where does she go to school? What is her boyfriend like? What does she want to do if she is pregnant? The usual things I have to learn to help her. Yet none of those questions could explain the glow on her face. The hope in her eyes.

She was scared. She didn’t think it was a good time to have a child. But she looked at me in horror when I asked her if she wanted the abortion. She wanted this child she might be carrying very much, there was no way she would even consider it. We watched some informational videos, I showed her some info on STDs. After awhile I helped her with the pregnancy test.

I will never forget the look on her face when she saw the test results. So many women are relived, some are scared, some are resolute. This woman was disappointed. She knew it would be hard to be a mom right now. She knew all the reasons she should be relieved. But she wanted a child, even though it would have been an “unplanned” pregnancy.

Women like this one, are the ones who light up my world. The ones I don’t expect, and could never plan into my life. But if I wasn’t looking, I would have missed this joy.

Faith at Work

Why are we here, fighting day in and day out for the lives of unborn children and the dignity of their mothers? Because this is God's fight, His cause. We are on his side in the war that is waging against life. If he is the one who is leading us to action against the attacks on his children, it only makes sense that all those who profess to be his followers are taking his side in this battle. But, sadly, this is often not the case.

There are many ways that we as Christians can fail to respond to his call to stand up and take the straight and narrow road for life, most of which are entirely socially acceptable. The area that I see a particular deficit as I am talking to these girls and hearing all their hopes and fears is in the support from Christian community and family members in their critical situation. Many of the girls are religious in some way, even attending church regularly with their families. To me, that sounds like the perfect situation for a community disposed to gather in support of their sister in need and fight valiently for a precious life. Instead, what I most often hear, is that it is that very Christian community that the girl fears the greatest amount of rejection and isolation from. Her practicing parents? She fully expects them to throw her out of the house when they find out. Either that or they want her to get rid of the child to save face in their church.

What's going on here? For those of us who proudly proclaim our pro-lifeness with bumper stickers and intellectual arguments, how can we then fail to embrace the girl who is facing a life-changing decision and needs nothing more than unconditional love and support in order to save the life of her child? Thankfully, the girls are often wrong about how much support they will receive from their parents. But if they have had such experiences so as to come to expect rejection from those they love and look up to most, it gives us reason to pause and consider our own consistency in faithfulness to God's cause.

Due Date: 06/ 21/ 2011...!

This girl, is inspirational.

She is one of our clients from Brooklyn. Linda, who is the director of our center in Brooklyn, has been working steadily with her.

She was raised in a home with much love from her father,but where money was not something the two of them shared as much. He suffered through many times watching his daughter not get the things he wanted to give her.

But she expressed to me, "Abby, when I was growing up, it never mattered how much money we had. My father's unconditional love for me has given me the strength I have today."

She is a medical assistant, is still having her daughter, and is still continuing to pursue her dreams. She knows it's going to be tough, but she is ready to take it all on.

She knows what it feels like to experience the emptiness of abortion. She said it was the lowest and loneliest time in her entire life. But this time, however, her heart has changed.

She is due June 21st. And is looking more beautiful than ever ! Please pray for her delivery.

She's Keeping Her Baby !

Two months ago, a girl came into our center who recently discovered she was pregnant.

She was having all sorts of problems at work with her pregnancy. She came to us for help on this.

I asked her how important her baby was to her. She responded, " I don't want to do this. I don't believe in abortion, but-"

We discussed her options. She told me the pressure she was getting from the people at work. There was definitely an abundant amount of opinions being forced upon her. She also felt like she didn't have anyone supporting her if she were to keep her baby.

These were real problems.

She left our center that day, still undecided. This past week, she came to get a sonogram and prenatal care with us because she is keeping her baby!

She's not expressing her beautiful smile as much in this picture because she had a lot of abdominal pain this day. Please continue praying for her.

Strangers

I signed into my facebook the other day, and had quite the happy surprise. A notification that a friend had posted on my wall. But it wasn't just any friend, it was one of my clients! She left the sweetest of words! They lifted my spirit and brought tears to my eyes. I thought I would share them with you!

"It's absolutely incredible, the effect a total stranger (LOL) can have in your life in just one day. Thanks girl. You are so amazing!!!!!!!!!!!"

I think that this quote is a reflection on our organization. Sometimes I stand in awe at the amazing things that happen with EMC! The number of children saved and lives changed. It stands in real contrast with the abortion industry that is filled with so, so much destruction. Then I remember the hypocrisy of a sign that is posted out back of Dr. Emily's Abortion facility in the Bronx.

"FOR YOUR SAFETY:

- Do Not Talk To Strangers

- Come Inside the Gate

CALL 911

IF YOU FEEL IN DANGER"

When I first started working with EMC, I used to wonder why Dr. Emily's put that sign up. Now I understand. It seems to me that their purpose in this matter is to scare their clients. To stop them from talking to us, the sidewalk counselors, the people offering real help. What a sad contrast.

On the Front-line

Confrontation has been a major issue throughout the history of man. However, in regards to the Pro-Life Movement, the confrontation of which I speak is of a different nature. It is a spritual confrontation. I experienced this silent opposition for my first time outside of Dr. Emily's Abortion clinic in the Bronx. There I was, a young man who was attempting to side-walk counsel women, in a last defense effort to save their babies.

For those who have never had the humbling experience of standing outside of an abortion clinic, take it from someone who has. It is one of the most intense feelings, be it due to the escorts who try to prevent you from counseling or the fact you are standing forty feet away from the site of countless murders.

Between counseling and handing out brochures, I would silently pray the Rosary or read from the Imitation of Christ just to keep me focused on the mission. It was emotionally stressful watching women stroll into the clinic, not knowing all the risks, and hobbling out in a painful fashion.

However, the EMC interns were not alone. Two amazing individuals came to pray out back of the clinic and gave me emotional and spiritual support, as well as the three ladies in the front of the building. This beacon of light was faint, but it was present. Through every cloud, light will shine forth and despite how faint that light may be, we must always follow God, even on the front-line.

My NYC Homecoming

It’s been almost two years since I’ve been in New York, working as an EMC intern. My return to the Big Apple has been much anticipated for many reasons, the greatest of which stands at about two feet tall, with big brown eyes and a smile that steals your heart in seconds.

Today, I met my first miracle baby.

Like so many others that we are blessed to meet, this little bundle of joy almost didn’t make it here.

I met her mom almost exactly two years ago. She walked into one of our Bronx offices at eighteen years old, a week away from high school graduation, and also two months pregnant. The father of the baby had been shot and killed just a month earlier. While still mourning the loss of her boyfriend, she now had to face a crisis pregnancy—alone. Luckily, EMC was there during her hardest moment.

I had the privilege of being able to walk with her during this time. As we talked and got to know one another, what was originally the reason she wanted an abortion became the reason she wanted to keep her child. This baby was all that she had left of him. What originally seemed to be her biggest problem, turned out to be the joy she needed to overcome all the pain in her heart.

During her sonogram, she heard that little heart beat for the first time, and there was no turning back. She knew she had to carry this pregnancy through for herself, for her baby, and for the memory of her boyfriend. She understood her options, the challenges that lay ahead, and the support available to her. She made a choice for life, and she sure is glad that she did.

As a counselor, there is no feeling more incredible than finally meeting one of your babies. After over a year of updates and pictures, being able to hold that little child in your arms is a joy beyond all expression—a joy that brought me all the way back to NYC. To see the fruits of all the labor and love poured into EMC is such a source of encouragement for the work that is still to be done and the lives that are yet to be saved.

It never ceases to amaze me how God calls our lives together. How a nineteen-year-old girl from Florida comes to cross paths with two lives one thousand miles away could only be through divine intervention. Suddenly this little life becomes such a big part of your own life. You might as well kiss your heart good-bye. When you know, you know—and let me tell you, this is love.

With God's Help

Being pro-life takes on a whole new meaning here. It’s one thing to go to the March for Life or vote for pro-life Presidents and another to actually be face to face with these women and their life changing decisions. Most are not simply dismissing their child as an inconvenience; most are in such incredibly difficult and confusing life situations that I can only be amazed at the courage it takes for them to make the decision to keep their child. Often we are the only ones on their side. Recently I was in the Bronx and one client said that if she only felt like she had one person supporting her, she could consider continuing her pregnancy. She had parents who were both christian pastors...which is better than most but she still felt sure they would reject a pregnancy out of wedlock.

We can't solve all the problems these young women bring to us, in fact we are often only able to offer them one thing: the value of choosing life. Does that mean their lives will be perfectly put back together because they have chosen to have their child? No. In fact, we and they realize that having a child will change many things for them and probably make it harder to move forward with their plans and dreams. But what it will give them is God's help, because he offers them a gift and they chose to accept it, even with all the challenges. When we cooperate with God, he works things out for us in a way we could never imagine or plan for. And that is what we reveal to the ladies who come to our door. We aren't promising a quick fix or anything like that, we are promising that by choosing life for their child they are choosing God and that he is always faithful.

I have been hearing all sorts of miracle stories about this choice of life and am excited to be involved in these beautiful histories myself however God desires.