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In Touch With LifeSavers
features in-depth accounts of babies who have been saved
and women who have been helped by LifeSavers Ministries, along with
news about upcoming LifeSavers events and other ministry news.
In Touch With LifeSavers is published occasionally, when funds
allow.
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Weekly Ministry Focus
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Volume 3, Number 14
November 23, 2003
Weekly Ministry
Focus
Possibility of tubal pregnancy saves baby's life
Many women decided not to abort their babies last Monday and Tuesday, as God
used the pregnancy evangelism ministry in the LifeHouse pregnancy help center
and outside the Family Planning Associates abortion chamber in Bakersfield to
reach them. Abortionist Kenneth Wright returned for the third week in a row,
killing enough tiny babies to fill two large crates. Because of the
confusion which resulted from so many women changing their minds, this week's
report focuses only on activities of the previous week:
When "Menita," 17, discovered she was pregnant, she feared for the life of her 21-year-old boyfriend. Her older brothers are involved in a gang, and she believed that they would attack her boyfriend if they knew she was pregnant. Menita confided in two of her close girlfriends, and they agreed to help her abort the baby. The girls decided to pretend that they were going to Bakersfield to try out for a modeling job. Menita's brother laughed, mocking "you'll need to lose weight first."
The girls arrived in Bakersfield early in the morning, with plenty of extra time before Menita's abortion appointment. Noticing the "free pregnancy test" banner outside the LifeHouse, they decided that Menita should take another test, just to be sure.
At the LifeHouse, the girls were helped by Terri*, who was in a hurry to go across the street to talk to women entering the abortion chamber. The girls giggled with each other so much, Terri felt sure that Menita was not considering abortion. When Terri offered to show the girls a video about abortion, they refused, saying "that's too sad." Believing that Menita was not considering abortion, Terri let her daughter Amy wait for the test results with the girls, so that Terri could hurry across the street. After seeing the test results, Amy gave Menita a baby gift.
When Menita and her friends noticed Terri across the street, they tried to avoid her. Finding an opportunity when Terri was involved in another conversation, the girls hurried upstairs into the abortion chamber's waiting room, ducking behind a wall so that Terri wouldn't see them.
A few minutes later, Terri noticed a vehicle with its lights on in the abortion chamber's parking lot. Terri informed the security guard, who went upstairs to find the vehicle's driver. When one of Menita's friends came downstairs to turn off the lights, Terri recognized her. "What are you doing here?" Terri asked in dismay. Menita's friend ignored Terri.
Terri called out to Menita, asking her to come out of the abortion chamber so that she could help her, but Menita stayed inside. After examining Menita, an abortion staff member told her to return in two weeks, handing her an information sheet explaining the warning signs of an ectopic pregnancy.
When Menita came out of the abortion chamber, her friends were gone. They had left, thinking that Menita was "safely" inside having her child destroyed. Fr. James Catalano was walking along the sidewalk praying as Menita came out, and he began to speak with her. "Terri, this girl needs help," Fr. James called.
Knowing that an ectopic pregnancy can be a life-threatening condition, Terri wondered "why would they tell you to come back in two weeks if they think it may be a tubal pregnancy?" Terri suggested that Menita should have a free ultrasound at the Bakersfield Pregnancy Center to try to determine whether or not it was an ectopic pregnancy. The BPC agreed to see Menita immediately. Menita asked Terri to accompany her for the ultrasound.
When Menita's friends returned to the abortion chamber, the security guard told them that Terri took Menita away. Terri's husband Tim* was the only one on the sidewalk outside the abortion chamber at the time. "What did she do with her?" the girls frantically asked. Tim explained that she went to the Bakersfield Pregnancy Center.
Menita's friends burst into the BPC furiously, acting as though Menita had been kidnapped. Terri calmed them down, explaining the situation. Carolyn, the BPC ultrasound technician, could not locate the baby either, but she said that although the tiny life may have implanted in the tube, it may just be too early in the pregnancy to see the baby on ultrasound.
After the ultrasound, Terri counseled Menita to tell her mother about the pregnancy. "If this is a tubal pregnancy, you will need to go to the hospital. Your mom needs to know about this," Terri explained. Terri prayed with Menita and her friends, asking God to protect Menita and her baby and to prepare the heart of Menita's mom. Terri gave Menita a "Hope for the Future" Bible as she left.
Menita and her friends drove back over the mountains, returning to their homes in the desert. When Menita finally found the courage to say the words "Mom, I'm pregnant," she fainted.
Learning that the pregnancy may be ectopic, Menita's mom rushed Menita to the hospital, where a doctor examined her, explaining that the baby was not in the tube, but "this is just a normal, early pregnancy." Menita and her mom decided to go shopping, and Menita was drawn toward some "Precious Moments" baby items, beginning to think of what she will buy for her son or daughter.
Late that night, Menita and her mom called Terri. "Thank you for being there to help my daughter," Menita's mother said.
Menita's mother decided that it would be best if she told Menita's brothers herself, hoping to discourage them from reacting violently against Menita's boyfriend. "I have something important to tell you," she said to her sons.
"What is it, Mom," the boys asked, "are you pregnant again?"
As the mother of eight children, Menita had become accustomed to breaking the news about another pregnancy to her children. "Yes, we're going to have another baby" she said.
"Well, that's ok, Mom, we'll be here to help," the boys said.
"Actually, it's not me. It's Menita. So you need to help her through this too," she challenged her sons. Taking their mother's advice, the boys agreed not to attack Menita's boyfriend.
Last Thursday, Tim and Terri met with the staff of a church in Mojave, not far from where Menita lives, hoping to encourage the church to start an Elizabeth League group to encourage Menita through the pregnancy. The pastor invited Tim and Terri to come speak at their church on a Sunday morning soon. Many of Menita's family members have been attending a large Baptist church in Lancaster, but they are interested in visiting the church near their home.
After meeting with the church, Tim and Terri went to Menita's home and met her boyfriend and her entire family. Menita and her family are looking forward to the birth of the baby.
"I can't wait to find out if it's a boy or a girl," Menita giggled.
"Colette" called LifeSavers Ministries, asking Tim for information about abortion. (Terri was not answering the phone because she was at the BPC with "Menita" at the time.) Colette said "I already have four children, and I can't handle another baby." Tim encouraged Colette to talk to Terri, explaining that Terri knows what it is like to feel overwhelmed by another pregnancy. After several conversations with Terri, Colette decided not to abort her fifth baby.
A women drove by the abortion chamber and motioned Tim over from the sidewalk. Fearing that she may be angry, Tim approached cautiously. "Thank you for being here," the woman said. "My daughter was here for an abortion a while back, but she changed her mind when she realized that it really is a baby."
* LSM team members
Scripture
Focus:
Proverbs 3:5-8
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
Pray that God will help you to depend upon Him instead of trusting in your own understanding of difficult situations.
Prayer
Focus
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Thank you Jesus, for every child whose life has been saved, every mother whose life has been touched. Help each of them to remember what You have done, and to give You the glory.
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Draw "Menita" and her family closer to You through this pregnancy.
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Lead the abortion chamber staff into situations where they will understand their need for You.
Ministry needs
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Stroller for a woman who decided not to abort her baby
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Baby booties and socks
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Newborn baby outfits in neutral colors
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Gift bags for gifts to post-abortion women
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