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Option Ultrasound Directors

This area is for Pregnancy Resource Centers wanting to get started in the OUP program or needing information pertinent to the program.

Because of You

A Heart Turned to Truth
Because of You

"Several years ago my drinking brought my family to the brink of despair."

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Jolene's Baby

by Jana Elliott

Jolene (not her real name) telephoned our pregnancy resource center. She was more than two months pregnant and considering an abortion. When we told her that we give abortion education but did not provide or refer for abortions, it became apparent that she didn't want to visit a counselor.

"Is it free?"
Nonetheless, she continued to share her heartbreaking story. I was compassionate and truthful as we always are. But now Jolene needed an ultrasound to determine if the pregnancy was viable. Jolene asked incredulously, "Is the ultrasound free?" With a grateful heart for God and His provision through our supporters, I replied, "Everything here is free."

After hanging up, I prayed and asked the Lord to bring her to the center. The client was left in His hands, for we never know which woman will come and which one will be hindered from reaching our doors — which one will choose life, and which one will harden her heart in order to go through with the abortion.

God's Goodness
In God's goodness, Jolene showed up. A confirming pregnancy test was taken, and abortion education was given. We agreed that there was no easy solution. She needed to understand that the baby growing inside her was real —l not just a blob, but her child and a child of God. She poured out her heart. I read a portion of Psalm 139 aloud:

For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.

We considered the probable regret Jolene would suffer after an abortion. Then we discussed looking into the face of her child some day. Did she think she would regret making a decision for life as she gazed into the eyes of her baby? Then we performed the ultrasound. The technician’s expert hand brought forth an image, one so clear, so resoundingly obvious, tears welled in our eyes.

"Can you believe it?"
"Oh, there's a hand ... look, you can see all his fingers ... one, two, three, four, and the thumb, see .. . it's behind there.” The technician continued to point out all the baby's perfectly formed parts and you could even make out facial features. Then we saw something truly amazing. The baby's thumb proceeded to land squarely in his little mouth. "He's sucking his thumb! Can you believe it? Aww. He's really sucking his thumb!" Jolene wiped away tears.

The baby resumed a little dance in the womb, arms and legs moving with purpose and undeniable life. Finally, it was determined that the pregnancy was further along than previously thought: 14 weeks. The baby was only a few inches long, but perfectly formed, though still under the threat of abortion.

Heart Shift vs. Head Shift
In the counseling room, Jolene’s tears flowed, mixed with confusion and grief. Her heart had made a shift, but her head wasn't quite there. At that moment, Jolene allowed me to pray for her. She left without a clear answer to her dilemma and without giving consent for future contact. She had so much more to think about: She would be facing the probability of a difficult pregnancy, an altered path in her education, a forced future with a man she had decided to leave behind and a heart-wrenching decision about parenting versus adoption. Thankfully, she also needed to consider her faith and the reality of what she had just witnessed in the exam room.

Incredible Privilege
I was reminded of the incredible privilege and responsibility of loving these hurting women, and the weakness in my knees reminded me to give Jolene to the Lord again. Please pray with us that the truth would be remembered and held tightly by abortion-minded clients. Pray that ultrasound pictures women take home will tug at their hearts each time they view them. Pray they won't let go of hope. Finally, pray that God would bless and multiply those who agree to be instruments of that hope by supporting the Lord's work in pregnancy resource centers.

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