23 Mar March 2020 Newsletter

Posted at 17:18h in Newsletters by rwc

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RWC’s Response to COVID-19

The Rockville Women’s Center is taking all precautions to ensure that our clients, volunteers, and staff remain healthy and safe. RWC is no stranger to crisis management. Our purpose is helping women manage life’s adversities when they are facing an unplanned pregnancy. So using our experience and skills, we are managing through the challenging time of this outbreak.

We cannot tell you how to feel, but we do understand that fear of the unknown can appear real. Here are a few tips:

Every crisis creates new opportunities; think outside the box.
Turn off any form of media that is fanning the flames of fear.
Seek facts from a credible source and do what you can to remain healthy.
Get the facts. Gather information that will help you accurately determine your risk so that you can take reasonable precautions.
Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands.
Use hand sanitizer.

Remember, our best days are in front of us, not behind us. We are in this together. Most of all, the God of our hope is our strength and source of peace.

-Steffi

See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come,” Song of Songs 2:11-12 (NIV)

We didn’t have much of a winter in Maryland, but I am glad that it’s over. I always look forward to daylight saving time. The dark, cold days of winter for some can feel heavy and hopeless. Everything around seems lifeless.  Those with no shelter or proper clothing are at risk of hypothermia due to their exposure to the harsh cold.  Hypothermia is a medical condition that occurs when the body loses heat faster than it produces resulting in a dangerously low body temperature. When one’s body temperature drops, the heart and nervous system cannot function. Mental confusion is often experienced. In severe cases it may even lead to death.

With spiritual hypothermia, the same is true. People whose hearts are cold, grow colder and harder resulting in spiritual confusion.  Fear, isolation, and an overwhelming sense of heaviness linger.  This is how many women facing unplanned pregnancies come to us. They feel alone. Helpless. Cold. Confused. Exposed to lifelessness.

But, at RWC each woman is wrapped in the warmth of the Spirit of God and sprinkled with love from the Gospel.  Her weary soul finds rest and allows her to truly consider her decision. God brings life into hopeless situations. He gives her beauty for ashes and the oil of gladness for her mourning (see Isaiah 61:3). He turns her pain into joy. He turns her winter into springtime and times of celebration.

Leila is 29 years old and well into her pregnancy. She is in a relationship with a man who she did not see as her future husband. Leila is a professing Christian who stated that having a baby outside of marriage was going to be a problem for her. She had many concerns about keeping her baby including feelings of shame and judgement by her Christian friends. In her mind, the best solution was to terminate the pregnancy because no one would know. She had one prior abortion and mentioned that she never thought she would find herself in this predicament again. She also mentioned that she already had an abortion appointment to terminate her pregnancy.

Leila sat in the counseling room crying. She was scared, sad and disappointed that she was now in a situation having to terminate a second baby. She claimed that the father of the baby wanted her to continue with the pregnancy to keep her in their relationship. She had support from her boyfriend to make the best decision she felt appropriate. Although an abortion was her plan, she discussed possible options to adopt or carry to term.  While she waited in the counseling room to do her sonogram, she processed the information she received. It was a lot to consider.

She entered the sonogram room, laid  on the exam table and patiently watched the tv monitor. The sonogram revealed that Leila was 18 weeks and 4 days into her pregnancy. This was a surprise as she realized that she was further along than expected. She said the heartbeat made “it real”. Her fear turned into concern for the well-being of the baby considering she had no prenatal care. She became emotional and concerned about having an abortion as she questioned the fetal development.  She requested photos and agreed to return for a follow up visit after discussing her choices with the father of the baby.

Leila returned the following week for her follow up appointment and mentioned that she had a talk with the father and together they decided that she would not go to her scheduled abortion. She said that her appointment with us made an impact on her decision and that they were both excited now and looking forward to having their baby.

We followed up with Leila a month after her first visit and she was so happy to hear from us.  She had shared the news with her mother and surprisingly the conversation went well.  Her sister also is a big support for her.  Leila is doing well and now under a doctor’s care.

*Name has been changed to protect patient privacy

During the past few weeks we have been researching our history here at RWC. We wondered about the men and women who started this work and how we have the honor to carry this work forward. Then we had two visitors stop by our office to drop off donations. What made this visit such a treat was the fact that one of our visitors, Mrs. Margy Gole, was a part of the first team to serve at Rockville Women’s Center in the 80s. We had the opportunity to give Margy and her daughter Dale Brant, a vision tour and shared about the ministry. It was so sweet to see the joy in her eyes reminding us of God’s faithfulness to His servants. We are blessed to be a part of her legacy!

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land,” 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)

Our heart at RWC is to do the work of God with His power. We know that He has placed us here to bring His Kingdom to our community. You are invited to join us the first Friday of each month at RWC to fast and pray for the ministry and our community. God is on the move and we want to move with Him and see our community transformed!

Call us at 301-770-4444 if you have any questions.

RWC needs you to volunteer! Join us on Monday, March 23, 6:30-8:00 pm, at 12530 Parklawn Drive, Suite 170, Rockville, MD for an information session. Some opportunities are sonographer, patient advocate, family advocate, and graphic designer. Most opportunities require a commitment of no more than 6 hours one day a week. Come to the session to learn more. Please contact LaToya, at [email protected] to let us know to expect you.

RWC is an exciting ministry where lives are being saved on earth and in eternity. We are looking for a licensed LPN or RN with a heart to serve in a Christ-centered ministry to join our team. This frontline position provides support and information to help women make life-affirming decisions. The ideal candidate must have active listening and counseling skills, strong computer and organization skills, and be able to communicate with people in crisis on the phone and in person. Responsibilities include setting and confirming appointments, entering and analyzing data, overseeing and managing pregnancy and STD testing, conducting medical call backs and patient follow ups, and training and supervising volunteers. Part-time, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 24 hours weekly.

Submit your resume and cover letter to La Toya Ormsby, [email protected].

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