Nancy Thompson – SW Client Services Director

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7
“Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you: love her and she will watch over you.” Proverbs 4:6

After having their children, clients often get so busy they stop coming by regularly for appointments. Remembering those busy days with a newborn, I completely understand why this is often the pattern we see here at the Pregnancy Care Clinic. Recently though, a young client has been coming in to take our parenting classes, focusing on infant care topics for her newborn.

This client, a first-time mother, wanted to know more about her baby and the video she watched covered a lot of areas: the milestones of physical and mental development to watch for; how to baby-proof your home before he starts moving around; normal visual development, and how to test if that is occurring; and potential signs of autism.
The visual tests described were very simple and easy to do—some things you could take just a few seconds to do as you dress your baby. For example, there was one to watch for strabismus (lazy eye) and other possible concerns. As we viewed the video, I enjoyed holding, watching, and cooing to her baby. I must confess I didn’t see as much content as the young mother did, however, I thought about how important it is to know that your child is well and progressing normally. Early recognition of potential signs of delayed physical or mental development can make a world of difference in how effective intervention becomes.

It warmed my heart to see how proactive this young mother already was in loving and caring for her baby. It was beautiful to see an example of how God put it into women’s hearts to nurture and care for their children. It was a blessing to be with her.

Connie Arroyos – Oak Harbor Client Services Director

“In the process, in the waiting, You’re singing melodies over me. And Your presence is the promise, that I am a pilgrim on a journey” – “The Shepherd” by Amanda Cook

This morning I came in to the office and went to go through my daily morning duties as CSD. There was a magazine on the kitchen table that said “WAITING: When God seems Silent.” I felt like the Lord had put it there just for me to read. The article was on the importance of waiting on God and His perfect timing. Is this a challenge for you? It is for me!
Waiting is part of the process when we have a pregnancy test here in the Clinic. Our pregnancy tests take up to 3 minutes to show results. During this time we try to tell the girls more about the services we offer, ask them if they have any current needs, and what we can do to further assist them if their test is positive. This is also an opportunity to share the hope found only in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We all know we need to wait on what God has for us, but how can we know what waiting looks like? Is it prayer and fasting? Is it reading His word until you have a clear answer? Yes! I believe it is all these things. Waiting on the Lord means our eyes remain focused on Him and what His promises are. Matthew 6:33 says “Seek FIRST the kingdom of God, and ALL His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Part of the wait is trusting that He will be our provider always.

Recently I hear more Christians asking, “How long, O Lord?” (Psalm 13). If you read all 6 verses, you see the hope He offers. “But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me” (Psalm 13:6). When He asks us to wait we can rest in the fact that He already has it sorted out. That is the hope we offer in these waiting moments here in the Clinic. His name is Jesus, and He is the Lord.

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace!” -Helen Howarth Lemmel (1863-1961).

Leah Leise-Lundy – Community Outreach Coordinator

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” Genesis 50:20

The endless barrage of negative press directed at the recent “Heartbeat Bill,” (which makes abortion illegal after the fetal heartbeat is detected) truly breaks my heart. What we know is a clear and beautiful victory for the innocent; many are calling an injustice for women. An ironic statement to make while overlooking the vast numbers of innocent unborn lives that are female. How are these opinions and outlooks changed though? Very rarely is someone changed by our opinions alone. Consider, when was the last time someone’s opinion changed yours? More often than not, we’re truly changed by what we experience and by prayer.

By honoring, empowering, walking and loving women through crises times I choose to fight the darkness one person at a time. I try to be a friend—and at times a “mother”—to those who need truth and real direction, not selling them the lie that by sentencing an innocent life to death all their problems will be over—an innocent life who holds no responsibility in how they were conceived. It is common to hear arguments for abortion in cases of rape and incest. Sadly, what this is ultimately encouraging is for women in crisis situations to follow one act of violence with another. This is not the answer and it does not bring peace or healing to the heart of a hurting woman.

I could go on forever about what I’ve learned while working with real women; how abortion hurts women, the personal testimonies I’ve heard, the statistics, and so on. However, I’ve decided to avoid the risk of being a “clanging cymbal” and fight this battle on my knees, winning this fight by loving each life that I encounter at the Pregnancy Care Clinic.

My heart breaks for those who have bought the lie. I wish I could have told them; I wish I could have shown them a more excellent way. I wish, I wish, I wish. What I can and will do is faithfully serve those who God puts in front of me and pray for them and all those who are in crisis situations. That is how I fight this battle—one soul at a time.

Sue Martell – Nurse Manager

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

What a blessing that God’s mercies are new every morning! I’m sure that there have been times when all of us have wished for a new mercy—a chance for a “do over.” We at the PCC have recently become aware of a “new mercy” we would like to share with you.

Sometimes in the stress of a crisis situation a woman will choose to take the “Abortion Pill” (RU-486) and then regret it. Many who have begun the medical process required by the Abortion Pill now have the opportunity for a “do over.”

For the past several years there has been a medical procedure which, in certain circumstances, can reverse the effects of the Abortion Pill. Until recently there weren’t enough documented successful, healthy, births resulting from this procedure for the medical community to agree to offer it to their patients. Now there are, and doctors have become available to begin the reversal protocol when patients meet the requirements.

If you or a friend or relative has taken the Abortion Pill and regrets it, please have them go to abortionpillreversal.com for screening and a referral to a physician who will begin the reversal process if medical requirements are met. The hotline number to speak with a medical professional is (877) 558-0333. This is a Heartbeat International program.

The following excerpt gives the results of a 2018 study:
Study Shows that Abortion Pill Reversal Works:

Key facts:
● A certain percentage of embryos do survive mifepristone, which is the first pill in the two-pill abortion medication regimen.
● The reversal of the effects of mifepristone using progesterone is safe and effective.
● The case study of 754 patients resulted in reversal rates of 64% and 68%, depending on the progesterone regimen followed.
● Babies born following abortion pill reversal showed no increased risk of birth defects.¹

Thanks for listening and go spread the good news of a new mercy!

¹https://www.azpolicy.org/2018/04/20/abortion-pill-reversal-works/ accessed May 20, 2019.