Stories from the Street

Some of our devoted Sidewalk Counselors share their front-line experiences as they stand as the last sentinals for life outside the Five Wounds of Dallas -- the five abortion centers located in Dallas.

The day was just ... well miraculous. We had two turnaways at the late-term abortion center. The first was a woman who had prayed amidst 5 attempts to get to the abortion center (missed 1 appointment, didn't hear alarm 2 times, got lost on the 4th trip). On the fifth attempt – the day we met her – she had walked over a mile from the train on Walnut Hill. It was so very cold. Upon arrival, she saw the Baptist Church and that stopped her. One of our male sidewalk counselors saw her standing there just staring at the church.

The mother turned around and her daughter was no longer there.

As sidewalk counselors at the vigil site were preparing to leave, a young girl approached and went directly to one of the men with the remaining group who were still praying.

She was petite, young (a sidewalk counselor later learned 14 years old), wearing boxer shorts and an oversized ...

"Do I... um... I was wondering..." barely audible, expression void, big beautiful eyes briefly looked up and then back down at the sidewalk, "I was just wondering... if I have a choice."

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For weeks CPLC sidewalk counselors had been reaching out to Mel, a security guard at an abortion center. A conversation here, a religious gift there, and many, many prayers behind the scenes, added up to a stunning outcome. Our sidewalk counselor Rachel explains:

A couple weeks ago, we saw Mel* with a rosary, so Tom (another counselor) gave Mel one of the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet handouts. That day he was carrying around the rosary and reciting it the entire morning back and forth through the parking lot. I specifically remember Tom saying "That rosary is going to mess him up BAD" . . .

The "lunch hour" 12-1 vigil at Planned Parenthood was also remembered in prayers by those outside the Robinson's abortion center (another busy day... about 34 clients).

A man was sitting in his parked car across the street from Robinson's ... for some time.

He was later approached by one of the sidewalk counselors. He said he had taken his wife for a doctor's appointment elsewhere, and God was telling him to "Go pray". So he left the doctor's office and drove up Record Crossing to "Go pray".

When he saw the sidewalk counselors at Robinson's, he realized it was an abortion facility and parked his car. He sat in his car, prayed the rosary and then for a time stood outside his car praying.

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As sidewalk counselors emerged from cars, a large number of folks (strollers, adults, kids in tow, elderly...) slowly came walking down the sidewalk and joined. They gathered across the street and sang soft prayerful Christmas carols between praying decades of the rosary. Others came to join them. The empty manager was on the sidewalk, and sadly there were a number of abortions this Christmas Eve.

But there was also at least one turn-away (that we know about) ... Thanks be to God!!

There was a turn-away at Southwest late-term abortion center today. The couple was lost and asked directions to the "women's surgical center."

"Well we don't actually recommend people to go there..." And caught up in a Spirit of expectation of Christmas, "Are you pregnant?" (Yes. 3 months) "So God has given you this baby as a Christmas present!!!!?"

A sidewalk counselor (speaks only English) stopped an expectant mother (speaks only Spanish) coming from the parking lot across the street at Robinson's.* A guardian angel (or two) held them both as Seraphim was called over (not The Seraphim who are the angelic ministering servants of God; but the sidewalk counselor, Seraphim, who prays daily for about an hour at various abortion centers before he goes to work). Seraphim (speaks Spanish and English) made his way across the street. He greeted the mother with a warm smile and respect. It took an exchange of about 3 or 4 sentences and off they went, as he escorted her to the nearby women's pregnancy center for help.

We were all so joyful. And then the truck came...the truck that fetches "the boxes" from the abortion center...the truck that has "medical waste" written on it.

The driver exited the truck to retrieve "the boxes" from the side door - the same door from which the women are wheeled-out after their abortions. The boxes were loaded into the truck. It took awhile. Some were heavier than others.

"Unless you become as little children," Our Lord said, "you cannot enter the Kingdom of God"

1) Mother of a little girl (all sparkles) was dropped off at Routh. The paternal grandmother was given literature and encouraged to call and tell her to go to the nearby crisis pregnancy center. The mother walked out of Routh. When she was in Routh, she asked for someone to talk to her (she just needed someone to listen to her), but she was given the "hard sell" instead.

And who do you think was credited as having convinced the abortion-minded mother who received the "hard sell" to change her mind?? ...

Pro-Life Boot Camp busses (2 busses... over 100 Boot-Campers and staff) arrived at Robinson's, as did Robinson himself (arrived at the same time).

A seminary student gave Holy Water to each pro-life boot camper, splashed the building (on the side of a neighboring storefront with permission) and prayed there for awhile. (Dear God, more priestly vocations like these, please!!)

A clinic worker came out, got in her car, directed the car out of the parking lot, rolled the window down and told one of the Boot Camp chaperones, "I'm quitting..."

....and we had 2 women leave the clinic, who are considering abortion or not, please continue to
Pray, Pray, Pray!

My day began shortly after sunrise in a back alley behind an abortion mill. The alley was muddy, and the clinic was surrounded by a fence with two entrances. The first thing I noticed was that this clinic was in a prominent place on the freeway in Uptown Dallas, one block from my boyfriend's church. No one I've talked to at the church knew this was an abortion mill. It's not marked as such. These places of death are all around us...you just may not know.

Today there were more turnaways (a first for this SWC) than there were abortions at Robinson's. Increasing hot temperatures (90+ real feel 100 +), we become soaker hoses. As quickly as water is siphoned in, water leaks out the pores. Both days, as we (this SWC at least) whined about the heat, asking Jesus for help, we were granted umbrellas of clouds, slight breezes, cooling tears and gentle kisses of water fell from the sky. And yesterday... we also met Aunt June*.

Elizabeth* a week or so ago had already taken her little sister (Mary* aged 18, did not want to abort her baby) to one of the women's counseling centers. Their mother (pray for this lady) got wind of Mary's unplanned out-of-wedlock pregnancy, set-up an appointment at Robinson's, drove Mary there, paid for the sonogram and blood work... which was in progress. Elizabeth in the meantime was scrambling to stop her mother from this... coercion to abort. Elizabeth had already offered to help with finances, diapers... whatever (she works and has children of her own); but their mother was not listening and unbending. Elizabeth called Aunt June, and Elizabeth did not know if they/she would arrive in time... didn't know if the abortion had already taken place . . . .

Convert-to-Life

Stories from the Street

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