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By Annette Mendoza
The emergency phone call from Rockville Pregnancy Center to was to the point. “We have a pregnant woman who is abortion-minded and speaks only Spanish. Our ultrasound schedule is booked solid, but another center is able to fit her in. Can someone take her to the appointment?”
I was matched with Rosa and called her immediately. It was clear she needed an advocate. After a brief conversation, Rosa agreed to delay her abortion until after the ultrasound. That gave me time to learn more about her.
 Rosa worked as a housekeeper but had recently lost her job. She lived with her brother, who would not tolerate an out-of-wedlock pregnancy. His eviction threat accounted for Rosa’s panicked reaction. The birth father was no longer in the picture. Rosa’s two other birth children are being raised by relatives in Honduras.
When Rosa saw the 3D images of her child, tears formed in her eyes. At one point, the baby turned and faced her directly. After the ultrasound, she was decisive. She would not terminate the pregnancy. Her decision gave me the opportunity to present the adoption option – an avenue that she hadn’t considered before, but is now her intention.
I set about to help Rosa find a place to live. Initially she moved into a maternity home, but its remote location and lack of transportation meant she couldn’t look for a job. Inactivity made her feel useless and unproductive. For a few weeks, Rosa bounced between friends’ homes, always looking for work. Her movements were erratic, and I was afraid she would change her mind and have an abortion. “Call me if you need help,” I texted her. “Anytime.”
One morning, the phone rang. Rosa was in a service station parking lot with her luggage, about an hour away. Could I help her?
My husband and I discussed the situation and agreed that God wanted us to invite Rosa to be a part of our family.
“Would you like to live with us?” I asked Rosa as we rode home. She nodded. We put together a contract that spelled out expectations. Rosa would help care for our children and attend church with us. We would love her, provide her room and board, and pay her a small stipend.
It has touched my heart to be a part of Rosa’s life. I am making a difference not only with providing her food and a warm place to live, but also relieving her stress so she can have a healthy pregnancy. Perhaps most importantly, Rosa recently rededicated her life to Christ. I believe God is using her pregnancy and her relationship with my family to bring her closer to Him.
“God has a plan,” I told Rosa recently. “You and I didn’t cross paths by chance. He’s using both of us for a greater purpose – together.”
If you know someone who faces an unplanned pregnancy, encourage her to call Birthmothers toll-free helpline at 1 (877) 77 BIRTH. She can be matched one-on-one with a Birthmothers Friend who will listen and help.
 Help reach more women who face an unplanned pregnancy when you connect with Birthmothers on Facebook.
Take a moment right now to become a fan on our Facebook page (which acts like a website). And while you're at it, join our Facebook Group, too -- where you can interact online with others in our Birthmothers community!
By joining, you'll help hurting women in at least 3 ways:
 1. When your Facebook friends see Birthmothers information on your Facebook page, then they'll be able to connect more pregnant women to us. You'll help more women be matched one-on-one with a Friend!
2. When your friends see that you're a Birthmothers Friend, you'll help recruit more volunteers to serve hurting women and families. You can help even more when you write a short testimony on our Groups page explaining what being a Friend means to you.
3. When your friends hear about Birthmothers, they'll want to learn how their church can start a Birthmothers ministry and serve women right in their own communities!
If you're not yet on Facebook, just log onto www.facebook.com and open a free account. It takes just a couple of minutes. And you'll start connecting with others online who care about women, children, and families!
As you consider your year-end giving, please support Birthmothers. Your gift an excellent investment. More than 95% women who are matched with a Birthmothers Friend choose life! Your support allows us to match more women one-on-one with a Birthmothers Friend.
It's easier to give than ever before!. Click here to donate by credit card conveniently and securely. You can also mail your gift to 133 Park St., Third Floor, Vienna, VA 22180. Make sure you respond by December 31, 2009 to receive a 2009 tax deduction. Thank you!
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