We have reached the midpoint in our Fall 2012 40 Days for Life Alexandria campaign. As we prepare to work and pray more vigorously in the second half of the campaign, we have lots of encouraging news from our vigil volunteers to motivate us to renew and redouble our efforts on behalf of life!
From volunteers:
1) "On Thursday afternoon, I got to the Duke St. site around 2:50 p.m. to pray. I hadn't signed up, but wanted to pray, as I had some free time before working a night shift that day due to the vice presidential debate. There were two people who were already there: one man and one woman standing next to the driveway. The woman had a banjo, and as I got to where they were, a car came out of the parking lot and the people inside started talking to the woman. She started talking to them, and from what I gathered, they wanted any pamphlets/information that we had. According to the woman with the banjo, there was a young woman in the back who was taking down the number on one of the signs. We took this as a good sign that the young woman was considering not having an abortion."
2) "Last Friday at the Duke St. vigil, a volunteer was holding one of the large pink signs that says,
Women deserve better than abortion. Talk to us - we can help."
A man stopped his car in the driveway and said he really liked the sign and that he knew of many abortions, and the women all say that there is not enough help for them, that the government does not help enough. The volunteer gave the man one of our leaflets and showed him the phone numbers and addresses for pregnancy help centers and adoption services, and told him that these were not government agencies and that the women would get help there. He was very pleased to learn that and said he was going to spread it around to people he knows.
A few minutes later, a cab driver stopped and said he knew someone who was thinking of getting an abortion, and he asked what kind of help there was. The volunteer gave him a leaflet, pointing out the pregnancy help centers, adoption services, and that even medical help could be given by pro-life doctors if a woman could not afford it. He was thankful to learn about that, and he said he was going to take the leaflet to the woman right then, and he drove off.
Sometime later, a lady walked by and was offered a leaflet. At first, she wasn't interested in taking it, saying that she was a grandmother, but the volunteer said that she could pass it on to others. The lady said that she is a nurse at Georgetown Hospital, and they have social workers there who help people with crisis pregnancies. The volunteer said that some counselors encourage women to get an abortion, but that the ones listed in our leaflet encourage them to choose life. Suddenly, the lady's eyes lit up and she seemed very excited to take the information on that leaflet with her to the hospital!
Hopefully, some babies' lives will be saved as a result of these conversations." Each of our individual efforts count, and each of us is desperately needed to stand in peaceful, prayerful vigil outside the abortion clinics as a sign of love and hope for the women of Alexandria and their preborn babies! Please renew your commitment to life and stand up for the women and children of Alexandria!
Access the vigil calendars
here.
