Thanks to your dedication and sacrifice, we’re just about 48 hours away from wrapping up a successful 40 Days for Life campaign! So much good has been accomplished over the last six weeks. It’s time to reflect, rejoice, and rest.
However, there’s still work to be done. Women will continue to walk through the doorway of death at 933 Liberty Avenue . While we can slow down to catch our breath after the intense sidewalk coverage of the campaign, let’s not quit on them altogether.
The relatively new 40 Days for Life 365 program started up so volunteers could maintain a prayerful presence outside PP in between campaigns. A shorter schedule, aiming only to cover business hours at the clinic, makes it a little easier to fit in with all our other responsibilities. Prayer warriors will once again be there Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 7:30 to 4:30 starting next week.
If you recognize how important it is to continue this work of mercy, please join us from time to time. You don’t have to make a regular commitment (although we’d love that, too!) Just email Jen at pghsaland365@gmail.com to let us know when you can be there, and we’ll keep an eye on the schedule to make sure no one is ever on the sidewalk alone.
You have been SUCH a blessing to the community during this campaign, reaching out with hopeful alternatives and the love of Christ. Thank you for all your sacrificial efforts. We pray that God will use us to END ABORTION!
-Jen
A great way to feel more comfortable and confident in defending Life is to attend Sidewalk Advocates training, where you’ll learn the most effective ways to change hearts and minds on the subject of abortion. The next session is on Saturday, November 6th. Please email Jen at pghsaland365@gmail.com for time, location, and registration information.
SIDEWALK REPORTS
7-9 AM +++ Barbara and Richard
Anton came early and prayed and prayed. Diane and Tom, genius floor managers, arranged our supplies. Our regular accompanist, Bill, had our back. Shift manager Bill and his wife brought a dozen donuts. A lovely light drizzle and no women going into PP for abortions – this sorta felt like a better Friday. So many short sweet moments with kids going to school and kid-at-heart older people walking to and fro in front of PP–completely unaware that babies, who have no one in that building to ransom them, are dismembered and killed in the frigid site. One man walking by told me to, “Go home.” “I will,” I said. “Now,” he said. “No,” I said. I smiled pseudo sweetly. Kim and Kathy arrived.
Peace.
Barbara
9-11 AM +++ Mark and Kathy
Daniel and his mom were with me both hours. They drove from WV. Sidewalk Advocate Kim was there too. A man passing by donated $50 to our cause. God bless him!
Kathy
About three or four women entered, none accepting resources. One driver of a vehicle dropping off a PP patron accepted a yellow card. He made the attempt to contact his friend about alternatives, but to no avail, at least during my shift. I grieve the loss of life today.
I offered prayers during the remainder of my shift.
11 AM-1 PM +++ Katie and Nikki
Oh my, what a shift! I think the devil is really ramping up for our finish line on Halloween! The shift started out with a nice surprise. Katie and I thought we would be alone for our two hours, since there was no church or individuals signed up on our schedule, but when I arrived I was greeted with at least 8 members from St. Margaret Mary parish in Moon Township! They were committed to come for the entire 1-3 shift, and had advertised it in their bulletin, and got a great turnout! We didn’t know about it, but it was great!!! These soaking wet prayer warriors never missed a beat for the two hours. They prayed non-stop! Katie and I kept our eyes out for abortion-bound couples, and happily there were none that I saw! A couple of women went in, but it didn’t appear that they were doing abortions, at least during my shift. It was very quiet. Then…all Hell broke loose…literally. Just as my shift was ending, at 1pm, seemingly from nowhere, we were swarmed with colorful-haired teenagers. They wanted to argue with us and mock us. We tried at first, because of their young age, to reason with them using love. After about 30 minutes, they kept getting more and more vulgar with their language and sexual behavior and talk…so we just started to pray. Many of them had satanic symbols and markings on them, and the girl who seemed to be in charge kept saying that she has sold her soul to the devil. It was like something out of a horror movie. You know how it seems that the most frightening things are when something that is SUPPOSED to be harmless and innocent (like a child, or a child’s toy)…becomes possessed…that is much more scary than an obvious villain character? Think the scene from The Shining, with the two twin children who kept repeating “REDRUM”…or the movie “Chuckie”…that was what this was like. These poor children, probably no older than 15 or 16…are so lost in darkness and have given themselves up. Please storm Heaven with your prayers for their deliverance. Elaine arrived for the next shift at 1:00, but there was no way we could leave her…so Katie and I stayed till almost 2:00, after the disrupters left. It is a good reminder that the devil hates what we are doing, so never come unprepared. I was SO thankful for my rosary! Keep your spiritual armor on!
Nikki
What pro-life looks like on a rainy day
1-3 PM +++ Elaine
As I was reading today’s scripture passage from today’s devotional for the 40 Days for Life campaign, Matthew 5: 43-44, (You have heard it was said, “You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.) it reminded me of today’s vigil. As I was walking towards the vigil, I saw a group of misguided teenagers who were trying to harass the vigil participants who were already there and continued throughout the beginning of my shift. I tried to respond to their comments with love and patience during the encounter. I realized the reality of their brokenness when one of them said she wishes she were dead all the time. PLEASE REMEMBER THESE TEENAGERS IN YOUR PRAYERS. Let us continue to respect life at every moment!!
Elaine
3-5 PM +++ Val, Mike, and Christine
The 3-5pm was very solemn but prayerful. Despite the wind and drizzle we had a couple rays of bright sun–they shined right down on us. I couldn’t help but imagine it was for our holy priests that joined us during the hour of Mercy. Praise be to God for Fr. Jeremy and Fr. Cassian offering their time, prayers and blessings. Also a big thank you to the many devout parishioners from St. Joseph the Worker.
Christine
5-7 PM +++ Pat
First of all- Barbara, you crack me up.
Secondly, and more importantly, Nikki, Katie, and Elaine…. I’m so sorry you had to deal with this. So awful. But at the same time, are we really surprised? Ya know? The devil tries to get at us, but he’s just an ass. Nikki, you are right that we need to always be prepared, and never to be alone. Thank God for all of you warriors.