I filled the 5-6 pm time slot today and want to share something. A young woman approached the vigil area and slowly looked around at our signs and then picked up a pamphlet and started reading it. I decided to go up to her and ask her if she knew about the 40 Days for Life. She said that she had heard about the campaign through a brochure received in the mail from 'Crossroads Family Ministries in Burlington, USA." http://www.crossroads.ca/index.html
She said that she had no computer at home and would not have known about this campaign except for this brochure. She was surprised that it was taking place in Ottawa and so I gave her some information on the whole campaign along with info on our mid-point rally while she wrote down the dates. She provided feedback by saying that if we ever do this again, we need to ensure that consideration in the advertising of the campaign is also given to those who don't have computers. She suggested church bulletins, billboards in senior citizen homes, posters in and around the City limits, etc. I explained that this was the first time that a Canadian City hosts this campaign and that we welcomed feedback to ensure a better campaign the next time. She then asked if the 40 Days for Life included life issues such as euthanasia and if not, then perhaps it should. I reassured her that I would pass on her message, questions, suggestions to the organizers of the campaign. She then asked me if she could pick up a sign and join us in prayer for awhile and of course I said yes.
To continue with this story about this same young woman. A male tourist approached me and started to ask me a question about the right of parents to choose to abort a severely handicapped child who would bring nothing but anguish and heartache to Parents. He went on to say that he had friends back in his country who had such a child who is now grown and consuming all of the Parents time and energy into their old age. He said that had they had the technology then that we have now, perhaps his friends would have aborted their child. Before I had a chance to speak, the young woman who I referred to earlier, heard the conversation and jumped right in to say that her brother is severely handicapped and that he deserves the right to live just as much as anyone else. She further went on to say that rather than our Government paying for abortions, they should be introducing health care programs to help families who have children with disabilities. Needless to say, she had other good arguments on this subject. She had an answer for every question asked and left him and I speechless. When all was said and done, the man thanked her and then went on his way. I don't think it was a coincidence that she stumbled across our campaign on this night. I see that she was at the right place at the right time to address this tourists question on aborting children with severe disabilities. Without a doubt, she knows this subject first hand as she lives with it every day. She will no doubt help with the conversion of many who remain unsure about the right to live if you are diagnosed with a disability while living and growing in your Mother's womb. Thank you Lord for sending us yet another great soldier to help with this battle. - Sue L
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