Never mind all that political nonsense

here's something real.

It's all theoretical until you're actually meeting real people. This is a pair of emails I received yesterday and today.

"A woman's right to choose" I believe the popular euphemism has it...

----- Original Message -----
From: R. C.
To: HJW
Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2008 11:15 AM
Subject: Urgent prayer request

Please pray for a fifteen year old mother of a pre-born baby whose parents have booked an abortion for her this Tuesday. She is 4 ½ months pregnant and just told her parents on Friday. They booked the abortion the same day! She and the baby’s father do not want to have an abortion. The girl’s mother says she does not want the abortion either. The baby’s grandfather is worried about the family’s reputation in the family and community. He also thinks giving birth may harm their young daughter.

The family has agreed to meet with me to look at information that the doctor did not give them and maybe cancel the abortion. Please pray for me and for the family that they will make the right decision for their daughter and let their grandchild live.

----- Original Message -----
From: R.C.
To: HJW
Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2008 10:38 PM
Subject: Update to prayer request

L. and I meet with N. ( the 15 teen year old mother of pro-born child), her boyfriend (also 15 years old), and her mother for 2 1/2 hours this afternoon. Her father had left home until we were gone because her did not want to meet us.

They looked at the information, talked, cried and her mother said they told her nothing when she called to book the abortion. When she asked questions they told her to look for answers on the Internet. N. cried and said she did not want to go against her family's wishes. Her father is angry and her 21 year old sister will not even speak to her. She is worried about her friend's reaction. She has exams this week and has to study.She does not want the abortion but her father is insisting.

Her mother listened as L. translated the details of how abortion could hurt N. physically and will hurt her emotionally. She said she is going to cancel the abortion appointment and talk to her husband about the dangers of abortion for a young girl and about the development of the baby. She was shocked about the abortion techniques and said twice that she is now a Grandmother. The mother said she will not be frightened by her husband.

But her husband sounds like a very dominant father and husband who could easily over power them. Even though N. and her mother talked of coping with school and caring for the child I know that the father can over ride their resolve and demand an abortion. Tomorrow I am going to look into options at school and a place for her to live if necessary. I told her she can live with us.

I don't know if they were just being polite by saying that they will not go for the abortion on Tuesday.

Please keep them in your prayers.