"A terribly sad day "
Family Planning Associates, Miramar Road, San Diego -- Saturday, March 27, 2010
This morning we had 19 prayer warriors, including seven children, along with three sidewalk counselors. It was a horribly busy day. It felt like we were under attack as what seemed like car after car kept pulling into the driveways.
Shortly after arriving, Roger stopped a teen-aged Hispanic woman and her friend who had arrived in a taxi at the main entrance. The girl who was there for the abortion listened to everything and took information, but the nervous smile she gave showed that she did not grasp the full gravity of what she was about to do. The taxi dropped them off and they went up into the mill.
A short while later, Roger stopped a Hispanic couple in their 20s. After going through the abortionist's record, the woman's facial expressions showed deep concern and worry. Roger noted the infant's car seat in the back, and related how much she would love the baby inside her, as much as her other baby, and that years from now they would shudder at how close they came to losing this baby. After more discussion about family and the unique baby inside her, her face gradually turned to smiles as she nodded in agreement that they should leave and go to COLFS on Monday. Yet, all the while, her husband/boyfriend kept a static face, feigning agreement with a slight nod, but not wanting to make eye contact. She seemed convinced for life as they drove in, but instead of driving back toward the exit, they parked and went into the mill. The husband/boyfriend apparently had too much influence.
Upon arriving, Anne noticed a couple parked in their truck and walked up to them. They seemed to be engrossed in a serious conversation and looked noticeably distracted and upset. She approached them and handed them a brochure on the record of the abortionist. She was unable to break through and talk much further, and in a few minutes they exited their truck. The woman was reading the literature Anne gave her as they walked to the mill. About 20 minutes later they left the mill and drove off.
The first car entering the parking lot that Terry stopped had a young Hispanic couple. They took all the information (including the pink rosary chosen from either blue or pink), and a COLFS business card. They drove in and around, and then out and did not return.
The next was also a young Hispanic woman who was exiting, and shared with Terry that she was Catholic and said she tried to talk her sister out of the abortion. Terry asked this young woman, who had so much conviction, to pray to Our Lady of Guadalupe out loud with her (handing her the pink rosary she had chosen), and praying several Hail Mary's together, asked Our Lady to help her get her sister see the truth. Then she encouraged her to back up her truck (from the exit) and go back inside the mill, and try to get her sister to come out. Reiterating that God's love conquers everything, that nothing is impossible to God and to remind her sister of that, and that she herself would be there for her all the way. After further explaining all the assistance available for her sister, "R," as well as alternatives (adoption), the young woman backed up her truck and went upstairs to try getting her sister to come out.
Terry continued to pray for both her and her sister having the abortion. On the third attempt, she came out of FPA without her sister, looked at Terry (who smiled at her), put her head down on the railing, and cried. She did not come downstairs again.
Meanwhile, Anne spoke with a young Hispanic couple who drove up. She asked if they needed some literature in Spanish, but the young man said no, and she began to talk about the record of the abortionist, and asked where they were from. They said Mexico. She asked the young woman how far along she was, but she did not want to answer. Anne asked her if she was Catholic. She said she was, and then Anne handed her a Rosary and told her she was a beautiful woman and she should not go in there. She asked them to please take time to reconsider what they were going to do. They pulled into the lot and sadly went upstairs into the mill.
Soon after, a few more cars passed by Anne without stopping. A young man also came down the steps and she asked him if he was waiting for his girlfriend. He said yes and so she talked with him about the risks she was undergoing, and told him it was not too late to get her out of there. He seemed so concerned, but did not try to get her out.
Then a car with a young African-American couple and an older woman drove up. Anne walked into the parking lot where they were parked and handed the older woman the information on the abortionist. She asked her how she was, and she said "blessed." She explained to her the risks this young girl was about to undergo and gave her information on the emotional and physical risks of abortion. It was then that the guard approached Anne and told her she was violating the law. She moved away and told the woman her name, and that she could come over to talk. They sat in their car for sometime and then the older woman got out to make a phone call. Soon after, the young couple went in and Anne went over to talk with the woman. Anne told her she knew she was a woman of God and that she knew how wrong abortion was. She agreed and said these were not her children and she was very upset about it. She said she knows she is "saved" and that God will forgive her. She said there was no way this girl could raise a baby, and when Anne mentioned adoption, she said the girl would not want to do that. A few minutes later the young couple returned to the car, and the woman wanted to talk with them alone.
Anne called Terry, who was at the main drive, for assistance. By the time Terry arrived, the woman was on her cell phone demonstrating in body language that she was not going to talk. When she drove back to the exit alone, Terry told her to stop, holding up the pamphlet on blackgenocide.com entitled "KlanParenthood." The woman did not want to talk, but she took the information and drove toward the exit reading the pamphlet. After a while, she drove out.
Another young African-American woman, "R," at the exit driveway, told Terry her twin sister "R" (who was 17 or 18 years old) was upstairs having an abortion. Terry asked this young woman if she, herself, had an abortion before, and when she acknowledged she had, she asked how this made her feel now. The young woman admitted she felt horrible and said that her sister would not do anything until her mother came. Terry informed this young woman of all the help available for her sister (and herself as having had an abortion) as well as the alternatives. The young woman told Terry she would send her mother to Terry when she arrived.
Terry then spoke to a young Hispanic couple ("D" and "O"). After giving all the information on the horrific reputation of the abortionist, effects of abortion as well as all the alternatives, they asked her if COLFS did abortions. Terry explained that COLFS would never do anything that would harm a young woman and that every abortion causes irreversible harm, explaining, in detail, what she meant. "D," who had been crying when they drove in, looked up and right at her. She then asked "D" how she felt about having this abortion. Before "D" could answer, "O" said it is what "they" wanted to do. Terry asked them how long they had been together. "O" told her nine years. All the while the young woman. "D," never stopped crying. The boyfriend, "O," was the one insisting "this had to be done."
Terry then asked them what the urgency was. "O" said "none of your business." She then asked them why, after nine years together, they hadn't married yet. Not wanting to give details, "D" shared with Terry she had one abortion already, but not with this man. Before she could answer further, her boyfriend "O" said , "We're doing this!" Terry saw wavering in "D's" eyes, but it was obvious "O" was in control. "O" then got out of the truck and went around to the other side, put his arm around "D," and escorted her toward the stairs. As he did, Terry said, "You don't have to do this 'D.' There is so much help for you now. Give yourself a few days to think about this irreversible life-changing decision. The feelings you have now, 'D,' only get worse. Please let us help you."
Roger stopped two Hispanic women in their late 20s. The driver took the flyers and held them closed in front of her, while moving her head forward to keep Roger from making eye contact with the passenger. After the driver quickly hid the picture of the 6-week-old fetus from the passenger, Roger reached in and pulled it out from behind the flyer he gave to the driver, to show it to the passenger, who looked nervous, explaining how developed the unborn baby was at this stage. Before Roger was able to talk further, the driver, while smiling, stated that they were not there for an abortion, but to visit the furniture store. She stuffed the flyers out of sight and drove in. They parked, and walked toward the front door of the furniture store. As they approached the furniture store, they walked right past the door, and went up the stairs, and into the mill.
He then spoke with "M" and "J," both 17-year old high school students. After reading the flyer on the abortionist's litigation and probation history, "M" couldn't believe that the state Medical Board still allowed the abortionist to practice . When asked if her parents knew they were coming for an abortion, "M" said they did, and were not happy about it. Roger went through all of the reasons not to have an abortion, and the regret they would feel later, and they were finally persuaded to do nothing today, and to call COLFS on Monday. They agreed and left.
Upon leaving late that morning, Anne walked into the parking lot with Peggy, one of the prayer warriors. She pointed to a cab with a young girl entering. This was apparently the first girl Roger spoke with who arrived in a taxi earlier in the morning. They ran as the cab was leaving and gave this poor young woman information on Rachel's Hope. She looked so sad. Our hearts were so heavy with sorrow that this young woman was so alone, left in a cab after just taking the life of her child. Please pray for the three women who chose not to have an abortion, and for all of those who gave in to whatever pressures drove them to take the lives of their babies this morning. This was a terribly sad day at FPA.
