now and then...

When I started working at the pregnancy center 12 years ago, we would see our clients for a pregnancy test and then, a few months later when they were about to have their babies, we'd see them again and help them fill out an application for a crib from another pro-life organization and hand them a baby layette, which had clothes, diapers, blankets, bottles, etc. These days, when a client has a positive pregnancy test, we invite her to have an ultrasound, then she can start our education program to earn things like a stroller, high chair, changing table and participate in our prenatal and parenting classes. At the end of her pregnancy, we give her a layette and work with her to get a bed for her baby. Now, there are many opportunities for a client to come to the center and interact with the staff and volunteers throughout her entire pregnancy. This is part of the reason our client visit numbers are up so much. (Another reason is that word of mouth is our largest referrel source.) We've become very, very busy as a result. While it can be wearing at times, I am thrilled that we have so many opportunities to give witness to Christ's love.

I've never been one to focus on the numbers. What I see before us is each client, not a number. It's hard to be compassionate toward a number. These are real people with real stories to tell us and with great challenges in their lives. If we can help them in some small way, we do. We try very hard to be Christ-like in our interactions with clients. I know clients understand this. (They tell us AND many have become interested in becoming Christians as a result!) I believe, even when they don't show it, they are grateful. Of course, we who work at the center aren't there for the thanks. We're there to love our clients, one at a time.