Sunday, 17 February 2013
Saturday, 16 February 2013
Day Four
Excellent article by Vincent M. Rue, Ph.D. titled "The Hollow Men": Male Grief and Trauma Following Abortion can be read by clicking this link.
Friday, 15 February 2013
Day Three
Wow, was it ever windy today! Thankfully the wind wasn't blowing across a school field covered in snow! It's been green here for weeks. Thank you, Lord, for small mercies!
I started my shift just after noon today. For a short time I watched a bald eagle fly over and around the hospital.
There wasn't a whole lot of traffic but some people waved and honked at me. One lady parked her car across the street and said hello and commented on how windy it was. More than half the people that drove by ignored me. This is pretty typical for a day at Mills Memorial.
Sadly, today is the day abortions are done at Mills Memorial Hospital by Dr. Lani Almas. Let us pray for her to experience a change of heart.
I started my shift just after noon today. For a short time I watched a bald eagle fly over and around the hospital.
There wasn't a whole lot of traffic but some people waved and honked at me. One lady parked her car across the street and said hello and commented on how windy it was. More than half the people that drove by ignored me. This is pretty typical for a day at Mills Memorial.
Sadly, today is the day abortions are done at Mills Memorial Hospital by Dr. Lani Almas. Let us pray for her to experience a change of heart.
Thursday, 14 February 2013
Day Two
For those wounded by their participation in abortion, the door to healing often feels like crossing an abyss of great fear: fear of judgment, fear of being torn apart by pain, by self hatred and rage at those who hurt and abandoned them and manipulated them in their time of temptation.
During these forty days let us pray for all who have participated in abortion and with love call them to healing and reconciliation. Source
***
I have several friends who aborted their babies. For the most part this was only mentioned once in conversation and from then on it was an unspoken fact that it would not be brought up again. I don't know if it's because they were not affected by it, or experienced delayed grief long after we lost touch, or it was simply too painful to ever discuss again. I am sure as we hold vigil at Mills Memorial some women (and men) will drive by and perhaps remember their own experience with abortion. When we hold vigil at Mills Memorial we are not there to condemn them. We are there to hold out our hand in friendship. Sometimes it's easier to tell a stranger about your involvement with abortion than to tell a trusted friend or family member. Or perhaps our signs will lead them to the 40 Days for Life website or to Rachel's Vineyard. Maybe this vigil is Step One in a 10 or 15 or 100 step plan to healing. This is why our visible presence at Mills Memorial is so important.
Behold, I make all things new. Rev. 21:5
Wednesday, 13 February 2013
Day One - Part II
I went to my first shift for the Spring 2013 40 Days for Life campaign today. The weather was so nice! Two years ago I remember standing in freezing rain that was blowing in sideways. This was a welcome change!
I was at the hospital during my lunch hour and there was a fair bit of traffic but most people just ignored me even though I was wearing my 40DFL sign. A few people did wave.
A police car drove by, made a U-turn and parked. I wasn't sure if he was going to come and speak to me but he just went into the hospital. That was a relief. I wasn't afraid to speak with him but I would have been sad if he told me we were too close to the hospital.
And basically that was it for today.
Don't forget to fast during 40DFL. It doesn't have to be food either - you can fast from time on the internet, time watching TV, your favorite specialty coffee, or even sleeping in that extra 10 minutes.
I was at the hospital during my lunch hour and there was a fair bit of traffic but most people just ignored me even though I was wearing my 40DFL sign. A few people did wave.
A police car drove by, made a U-turn and parked. I wasn't sure if he was going to come and speak to me but he just went into the hospital. That was a relief. I wasn't afraid to speak with him but I would have been sad if he told me we were too close to the hospital.
And basically that was it for today.
Don't forget to fast during 40DFL. It doesn't have to be food either - you can fast from time on the internet, time watching TV, your favorite specialty coffee, or even sleeping in that extra 10 minutes.
Day One
40 Days for Life is merely an invitation. This campaign cannot happen without a response from people like you; and that leaves just one question:
What will God do over these next 40 days in your community … and will you be part of it?
It is our hope that you will join hundreds of thousands of others who have taken this journey of prayer and fasting … peaceful vigil … and community outreach.
See you at Mills Memorial!
What will God do over these next 40 days in your community … and will you be part of it?
It is our hope that you will join hundreds of thousands of others who have taken this journey of prayer and fasting … peaceful vigil … and community outreach.
See you at Mills Memorial!
Sunday, 3 February 2013
FAQ about 40 Days for Life
Question: What is 40 Days for Life?
Answer: A peaceful, prayerful prolife vigil that is taking place at 261 hospitals and abortion clinics around the world from Feb. 13, 2013 to March 24, 2013. The on-site vigil at Mills Memorial is the centre point of the 40 Days for Life campaign in Terrace. A steady presence of pro-lifers at the hospital expresses our level of commitment to ending abortion.
Answer: A peaceful, prayerful prolife vigil that is taking place at 261 hospitals and abortion clinics around the world from Feb. 13, 2013 to March 24, 2013. The on-site vigil at Mills Memorial is the centre point of the 40 Days for Life campaign in Terrace. A steady presence of pro-lifers at the hospital expresses our level of commitment to ending abortion.
Q: How did 40 Days for Life start?
A: 40 Days for Life emerged in 2004 when a multi-denominational prolife group in College Station, Texas sought to invigorate their prolife endeavours at the local abortion facility. This dynamic movement has spread rapidly over the past seven years to encompass most Canadian provinces, the USA, Australia, England, Ireland, Spain and Poland.
Q: Why 40 days?
A: It's a number of biblical significance - Noah was transformed by 40 days in the flood, Moses by 40 days on the mountain, Jesus by 40 days in the dessert and the Disciples by the 40 days following the resurrection.
A: It's a number of biblical significance - Noah was transformed by 40 days in the flood, Moses by 40 days on the mountain, Jesus by 40 days in the dessert and the Disciples by the 40 days following the resurrection.
Q. Does someone have to pray at the hospital every day for 40 days?
A: We aim for a presence at the hospital every day but that does not mean any one individual has to be there every single day. Some people come out for an hour or two each week. Some are there more often.
Q: The 40 Days for Life campaign has a 3 pronged approach of prayer, fasting and community outreach, defined as follows:
A: We aim for a presence at the hospital every day but that does not mean any one individual has to be there every single day. Some people come out for an hour or two each week. Some are there more often.
Q: The 40 Days for Life campaign has a 3 pronged approach of prayer, fasting and community outreach, defined as follows:
Prayer keeps us rooted in the fact that it is our desire to carry out God's will. We can pray formal prayers, spontaneous prayers, or meditate on the daily devotionals that are published at www.40daysforlife.com
Fasting is a sacrifice that helps us reach beyond our own limitations with God's help. Fasting is not a Christian diet; it is a form of physical prayer. You can fast from food, TV, alcohol - anything that separates you from God.
Community outreach is accomplished by our constant vigil. It's the most visible component of 40 Days for Life. It is prayerful witness to the hospital's patients and employees, and to the community, that evil is in our midst and that with God's help, it will be defeated. All people of faith and good conscience are given the opportunity to visibly show their support throughout this transforming event.
Q: How does one sign up?
A: You may email terrace40daysforlife@gmail.com and we will contact you.
Q: Does a participant need to bring a sign?
A: There are 10 signs available bearing the 40 Days for Life logo and website address. If a person is not comfortable displaying a sign they are encouraged to join us regardless – we need their prayers!
Community outreach is accomplished by our constant vigil. It's the most visible component of 40 Days for Life. It is prayerful witness to the hospital's patients and employees, and to the community, that evil is in our midst and that with God's help, it will be defeated. All people of faith and good conscience are given the opportunity to visibly show their support throughout this transforming event.
Q: How does one sign up?
A: You may email terrace40daysforlife@gmail.com and we will contact you.
Q: Does a participant need to bring a sign?
A: There are 10 signs available bearing the 40 Days for Life logo and website address. If a person is not comfortable displaying a sign they are encouraged to join us regardless – we need their prayers!
Q: What is the code of conduct?
A: We are not permitted to park on the hospital grounds or keep vigil there – we must stay on the sidewalks.
A person acting in a violent or harmful manner immediately and completely disassociates themselves from the 40 Days for Life campaign. We will not threaten, physically contact, or abuse any hospital employees or patients. We will not obstruct sidewalks. 40 Days for Life discourages the use of graphic images.
We are there to pray. If passersby or motorists wish to approach us we will be happy to answer questions and speak with them.
Q: Do you really think this campaign is helpful?
A: YES. While we may never witness any women leaving the hospital after cancelling their abortions our presence there is still crucial. For instance a woman experiencing a crisis pregnancy may be considering abortion and happens to drive by the 40 Days for Life vigil. It's unlikely she will stop to talk to us but she'll probably read one of our signs and hopefully be inspired to visit www.40daysforlife.com
A: YES. While we may never witness any women leaving the hospital after cancelling their abortions our presence there is still crucial. For instance a woman experiencing a crisis pregnancy may be considering abortion and happens to drive by the 40 Days for Life vigil. It's unlikely she will stop to talk to us but she'll probably read one of our signs and hopefully be inspired to visit www.40daysforlife.com
The information she reads there may help her choose life for her baby. Last year many people expressed their thanks that we were there - perhaps we are strengthening their own pro-life beliefs which in turn helps them to help others who are unexpectedly pregnant.
If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at terrace40daysforlife@gmail.com
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