by Debra Braun, Education Director
On June 11, volunteers Tom C., John T., and Kim S. were watching for incoming traffic outside the Whole Woman’s (WW) abortion facility in Bloomington. I went down to the sidewalk to be closer to the front door when calling out to people entering and leaving. At one point, a young man came out to his car and then came over to me when I held up the literature and invited him over.
He took the information and said he didn’t agree with the abortion, but they were “so young” (he’s 20). I told him of the help available and really urged him to talk to his girlfriend and give her the literature. I showed him the tiny, 8-week fetal model but he declined to take it. I had to leave soon after he went back in to take a shift at the Uptown PP, but I thought about him the rest of the day, hoping that he had had the courage to try to save his child’s life.
The next day, I was at WW again when this young man stopped to talk to me. He said he was back to pick up something he had forgotten at WW the day before and told me they had decided to keep the baby! I asked what changed their minds, and he said, “You did!” He was still concerned about being young and not having much money, including not even having much gas in his tank right then. I gave him a little cash for gas and referrred him to the pregnancy resource center nearest him, gave him my business card for any additional help and direction, and told him I think he will be a good father.
I offered the fetal model again and this time, he took it, looking at it carefully. With emphasis, he said, “My heart fluttered when you showed me this yesterday.” He then explained how he went in and convinced his girlfriend to leave. “I can’t believe I almost did this (abortion),” he added. This story is a good example of Laura’s point in the above story. Had I not run into him the next day, we would not have known about this baby being saved! Thank you, Lord, for giving us these glimpses of the results of our time on the sidewalks!