This is a story of how God guides and blesses our work. It was a Thursday morning when the front door chimed alerting the Waterleaf Team of someone entering the reception area. We were not expecting another patient for at least an hour. But here stood a young couple who spoke no English accompanied by a sidewalk counselor. By God’s design, we have a Spanish speaking volunteer on Thursdays.
We learned the couple is from Guatemala. She is 18, he is 25. They have a 6-month- old daughter, and he is unemployed. We also learned she is pregnant, abortion determined, and was on her way to Planned Parenthood for a scheduled abortion when intercepted by the sidewalk counselor and encouraged to come to Waterleaf instead. Our medical team conducted a pregnancy test with a positive result, provided options counseling, and performed an ultrasound.
It is always challenging to serve patients when there is a language barrier and when patients, who are migrants, are leery of their surroundings. However, in this case the ultrasound image transcends all languages and all fears. Here was a 17-week-old baby with a strong heartbeat praying for its life!
After seeing the ultrasound image, the father shared he had a dream just the night before where he saw himself with his daughter and another child. God was showing this father there was a way! When the couple returned two weeks later, we learned there was more to their story which they agreed to share with you, our faithful supporters.
“I called Planned Parenthood and made an appointment for an abortion. I was going to go, but my husband had to travel, and he wanted to go with me, so I cancelled the appointment. Planned Parenthood then told me that the next appointment would be in 20 days, so I said that was fine. After 20 days, I went to Planned Parenthood and was told that they needed to give me anesthesia but not that day. I would have to return in a week. I accepted. After a week, I went back, but I was late. They told me that they couldn’t take care of me because I was late. They said I needed to come back the next day. I got there the next day and was told that I would have to get some shots and to come back the next day because the doctor was not in. I said it was fine. When I got there the next day, the sidewalk counselors were on the street and told me that I could get an ultrasound at Waterleaf. I thought we should go to Waterleaf to see how the baby is doing. After the ultrasound, we started thinking that aborting the baby is a sin, so I shouldn’t have an abortion. I came back to Waterleaf and thanks to your help I feel happy. We are sooo happy, we are going to have the baby. Thank you.”
In a recent follow-up call, the patient is happy, receiving pre-natal care, and revealed it’s a boy!
At Waterleaf, our skilled advocates, nurses, sonographers, and resource specialists see so much, yet this image captured all our hearts with awe for our almighty God. Surely the sonographer’s hand was guided by God for such a perfect image to be revealed to his parents at such a critical time. One can only imagine his prayer at that moment. “Thank you Lord for sending my parents to Waterleaf, so that I may have Life! Thank you for Sheila, the sonographer, who captured me in prayer so my mama and papa can see that I already exist safe in my mama’s womb. Thank you for Jeannine and Fran, the advocate and resource specialist, who translated the words of my mama so everyone would know my story. Thank you Roxanne and Peggy, the nurses, who reassured my mama and papa step by step during our visits. Thank you Lord for the sidewalk counselor who guided my mama and papa to Waterleaf. And thank you Lord for Waterleaf. They showed my parents such compassion and did not judge them but offered them options. Without them, my mama would have ended up at Planned Parenthood and for sure I would not be here safe in my mama’s womb saying this prayer. Amen.
THIS is why we show up every day! THIS is the impact of your faithful support! THIS is God asking us to keep serving in faith! This little guy already knows the power of prayer. As so do we – KEEP PRAYING!