- The girl in the car then went in. As the guy left, I rolled down my window and motioned him over to me; he waved but didn’t come over. A guy with a long beard in a black truck from 6B drove in and is still here. Another couple drove up; a girl in sweatpants got out and went into PP; the guy drove off immediately.
- A girl is walking on Stanton’s back lot.
- I drove over to where we were standing. Her boyfriend was in the car (parked on Stanton’s lot). I got out, asked her if I could give her some literature. She said yes, and seemed open to me talking to her. She seemed anxious – almost tearing up. I gave her a hug and asked if I could pray for her. I prayed aloud as I was hugging her. She said she was just here for an appointment. I pointed out the Stanton card and told her they could help and where it is located. I went back to my car and awhile later she and her boyfriend went in, where they still are. Her name is Paige, if you’d like to pray for her by name.
- Was just leaving. Am in a different parking lot. I think the girl’s boyfriend just went back to his car.
- He just moved car to in front of PP main doors. They probably told him to move his car.
- I drove by again (on my way to another appointment) around 12:50, and the car with Paige and her boyfriend was gone.
Reproductive Healthcare
New Sidewalk Advocates Every Day
Peaceful Presence is the Best Defense of Human Life
Here’s a quick recap on our prayer time at the Meridian Planned Parenthood clinic on Thursday, March 3 from about 12:30 p.m.1:45 p.m.
Scott and I parked in Stanton’s east side property parking space. I believe we were the only prayer warriors for the duration. There were about three cars at any one time near the Planned Parenthood clinic doors.
After only ten minutes a Meridian City officer drove in and talked with us only long enough to ask if we had seen a group with a megaphone earlier in the day. We told him we had not. He said we were okay to pray where we were standing and left. I didn’t get his name.
There were at least three young women visiting the clinic that day. One was dropped off and the other two had someone waiting for an extended period of time for them. Another young woman was picked up and she seemed to be moving with some difficulty. It took her some time to get into the car. Most drivers returned our friendly waves.
The Grim Reaper is Back
And the Police seem to be just as sick of them as everyone else!
Street Sheet
by Karen
Grim reaper family group was out in force, very loud, oh-so-awful –(contact us if you’re interested in the video. We were unable to attach it.) They arrived at 8, left at 10.
MPP escorts were on duty during grim reaper time – 8-10.
It truly was a surgical abortion day… about 4 clients arrived from 8-8:30. It appeared each was there about 2 or 2 1/2 hours, a couple of clients left at about 10:15, another couple of clients left about 10:30. Each had a driver drop them off and come back to pick them up.
10 cars parked on the NW side of MPP appear to be all staff cars. Escorts left at 10 in 2 separate cars, one right by us, the other directly across from us.
A client of one of the other development tenants arrived and stopped and had words with the grim reaper, and then after she parked by the office she was visiting, she stood there a long time with her hands over her ears, then made a cell phone call, and stood there again with her hands over her ears before going into the office.
Turns out that Mary Jo and Scott Dickson were at MPP from 12:30-2:00 and the police showed up right after they arrived… in response to a call from the client made at about 9:45 so it took the police 3 hours to respond… it looks like to me the police are getting tired of quick response to the trouble the grim reaper poses, because by the time they got to the Dicksons, they just “reported in, said thank you, and left”…
And the TV Teens 4 Life were out there praying at 4:00 today. TVT4L Rock!
We need to think seriously about having SA’s and pwp’s out there early, which is when it seems there is the most activity at MPP…
Oh, one last photo of Clint and Orlando a couple of weeks ago — trying to “point out” the strange crossbars on MPP windowing — see the crosses?
Week 5 Street Sheet
Week 5 Street Sheet
by Jo Ann
Joan Shay and I went last Thursday from 10 – 12. I stayed after Joan left until about 12:40 (in my car as I was alone), just in case Brenda was going to be there, I didn’t want to leave her there alone.
When I got there, Joan was already standing where we stood before at the back of MPP. We had no signs and were just standing there praying. There were two PP Volunteer Escorts wearing yellow vests patrolling the PP sidewalk. The Stanton Mobile wasn’t there yet. When the Stanton Mobile did arrive, we just continued to stand there until a representative from Stanton arrived and told us to move.
We moved to where we parked (the front Stanton lot). Then Angie, from Stanton, came (in her car) and told us we needed to stay at least 50 feet away from the Stanton Mobile (at least I think that’s what she said). A little odd, as we had moved long before that.
Also, before we were asked to move, the PP escorts walked a patient (a somewhat older woman – maybe late 30’s or 40’s) to her car which happened to be parked right next to where we were standing. Remember, we had no signs and were just standing there praying silently. We didn’t say anything at first, but finally as she was getting into her car, I simply asked “Are you ok?” She abruptly responded with a Bible Verse (I think it was James 2:13, but it could have been something else) and said “Judge not . . . ” (not sure exactly what she said (James 2:13 is about judgment and mercy, whereas Matthew 7:1 is about not judging so you will not be judged).
Anyway, I started to politely say, “I’m not judging, we’re just here to help,” but she closed her car door and that was it. I don’t think she heard my response. The escorts said nothing, just went back to continue patrolling. Strangely, they went in shortly after we moved to the front Stanton lot, and never came back out.
On another subject, I was thinking we really should have a vest like the PP escorts do. I found this one with 5 pockets for $14.49 on Amazon: Misslo 5 Pockets High Visibility Zipper Front Breathable …. Yes, it’s neon yellow (just like the PP escorts, but then Sidewalk Advocates’ logo is the yellow sun), though it looks kind of greenish to me. Just a thought.
God bless,
Jo Anne
Are you called to peacefully save lives and help mothers-in-crisis at the abortion center?
- Every day in Ada County, three children are lost to abortion. (1,089 in Ada Co.)
- In Idaho, the number of abortions reported by Idaho H&W in 2013 was 1,353.
- In the United States, we lose about 3,500 children every day to so-called “safe and legal choice.”
- Since the 1973 Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision – that translates to over 56 million children who have lost their lives.
- Each time this happens, it means another mother, father and family wounded by a choice they will never be able to take back.
At times, does it seem to you that the tragedy of abortion feels overwhelming…. ?
If you can no longer ignore the ache in your heart when thinking of these innocent lives lost in our community each day, then we ask you join us for a training to learn more. Discover what we’re all about and why this ministry is seeing miracles happen every day.
If you would like to answer the call to speak up for God’s precious children in the womb, won’t you consider joining us at the next training?
Each training, on DVD from SAFL, is comprised of 4 1-hour sessions and a workbook for participant interaction..
During last summer and fall, and in 2016, 30 prayer warriors have trained and we are “on the sidewalk nearer the doors of MPP”.
Our next training will be in two sessions of 2 hours each on March 11-12, 2016, at Cloverdale Memorial Park, 1200 N. Cloverdale, Boise:
- Friday., March 11, 7:00 pm
- Saturday, March 12, 8:00 am
The cost of these two training sessions will be $10.00 and includes the workbook. There will also be available a 13-pocket expanding file with materials for 13 subjects that are included in the training — for those who complete the training and wish to have these materials available as well, there is a cost of an additional $10.
Once you take the training, you may decide to become an active Sidewalk Advocate (SA) – or not – or just to become a prayer warrior partner of another SA.
To sign up for the training or to ask questions about this program, contact us!
Street Sheet ~ A Report from our Sidewalk Advocates
Emily Naugle and Joan Shay were stationed as sidewalk advocates at Meridian Planned Parenthood Friday, 12th of Feb., 2016, 10:20a.m.-11:05 a.m.
We observed 4 female patients enter and 3 exit during that hour of time. Emily was holding a sign that read simply:
There is Help.
There is Hope.
At about 10:45, a Meridian city policeman drove up alone and spoke with us. We explained who we were, what we were doing (and not doing), and that we had permission to stand on Stanton property. I gave him the name of the officer with whom Karen was in contact. He explained almost apologetically that they have to respond to all calls, but he could see we were doing nothing wrong. As we spoke to him, a female patient wearing loose comfortable clothing exited the front door. She had parked near us. Joan smiled and waved at her; she waved back and got in her car. The officer left without going into the building.
The blinds of a window at the back of the building dropped loudly and suddenly. Emily had noticed that someone was watching us speak with the policeman from that window. Is it just our imagination…or did Planned Parenthood staff just use the police to provide an escort of distraction for that patient to get to her car?
Another patient exited soon after and stared at us for awhile from near the front door. It seems our presence and the policeman’s presence were being openly discussed to patients inside. Joan
Transitioning to Sidewalk Advocacy
Many of our readers are loyal 40 Days for Life Prayer Warriors. Many of our Prayer Warriors bemoan the fact that staying on the public sidewalk keeps us away from the vulnerable women entering the abortion facility. Being a trained sidewalk advocate offers a solution to this.
It is important to pray for the children that are in danger of being aborted. It’s important to pray for the people that would choose to do that to them. And it is important to pray for the people working and profiting from this death sentence. Our prayers are compounded when we allow people to see us praying. It reminds them that they too need to step up and doing something about the holocaust in our community. Offering a public, peaceful prayer witness forces people to notice and think. Abortion exists because good people refuse to think about it. It ‘depresses them’ ‘is none of their business’ ‘too big of a problem for us to deal with alone’.
But that’s just it we’re NOT alone!
Don’t give up on praying! If you are interested in adding another aspect to your work for the unborn Contact Us at Idaho United 4 Life to get trained as a Sidewalk Advocate. Here’s a report from two of our Advocates.
Street Sheet
by Joan Shay:
Karen Simkins and Joan Shay were stationed near Meridian Planned Parenthood (on Stanton property north of PP) Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016, 10:20a.m. to 12:25 p.m.
Working from prior information that Thursday is one of their surgical days at Planned Parenthood, we observed that females were leaving the building 1.5 – 2.0 hours after arriving, wearing loose clothing and moving slowly.
We were surprised to see at least 2 patients were driving themselves home!
During the 2 hours we were there, 6 patients went in and 5 came out. By watching who came and went, it looks like scheduling is arranged to allow about 3 patients per hour, staggered for the visiting doctor’s convenience. There would be waiting time, prep time, and maybe allow a doctor in with a patient for 20 minutes? Recovery time would be anywhere from 30-60 minutes? This is only our theory, based on what we already know about medical procedures. We welcome being corrected on these points.
One slow-moving woman emerged and got in a vehicle near us, so Karen greeted her. After entering her vehicle she didn’t immediately drive away. Karen realized she wasn’t well, and stepped over to check on her. The woman had her truck door open and had vomited on the pavement. She said she was okay, just lost her breakfast.
An AmeriPride van pulled up at one point and delivered a very small bag to the building. AmeriPride is a uniforms and linens company.
A professionally dressed woman in a silver minivan parked and entered the back of the building carrying a tote bag and a messenger style bag (like for a laptop). She was a few feet away, but didn’t acknowledge us. Another woman with dark hair exited from the rear and waved and smiled at us after Karen waved at her. These occurred around noon. The office had been open since 8 a.m.
I (Joan) have participated with 40 Days for Life for a few years, praying on the sidewalk along Franklin Road. This time, as a Sidewalk Advocate, I could actually see the people going in and out…..a teenager with her mother, a black couple, women alone, a Hispanic woman picked up by a Hispanic male who hugged her when she shuffled out. It was a real heart wrencher knowing that while we stood outside, inside at least 3 little lives were extinguished. The people coming out each had their own stories of personal anguish and confusion. The knowledge of that made it more real for me…and more urgent to pray, intercede, educate, be on the sidewalk, and not give up hope!
One of Our Own Receives Jochebed Award
Each year Right to Life of Idaho honors a local volunteer at the March for Life. Jochebed was the mother of Moses. You’ll recall how in the book of Exodus we are told that Pharaoh fearing the growth of the Hebrews ordered that all the young males be killed. Jochebed hid her son Moses and thus saved his life.
The Jochebed Award represents current day pro-life heroes that exhibit this same bravery. The 2016 Jochebed Award was presented to founding IDunited4Life member, Karen Simkins.
Karen tirelessly works behind the scenes in most life affirming events and organizations in the Treasure Valley. Karen’s involvement began with a generous donation of a car which was raffled off. Funds were used for several great works including bringing Jason Evert, chastity speaker to Boise.
If Karen is not leading a pro-life program, you can get she’s coaching from behind the scenes. She’s a member of St. Mark’s Catholic Community in Boise, Idaho and the Respect Life Ministry there. Karen also works to link all Respect Life Ministries in Idaho through “Idaho Catholics Respect Life” together with another founding IDunited4Life member, Joni Krakau.
Karen Simkins has been instrumental in bringing 40 Days for Life to Boise and currently volunteers with Sidewalk Advocates for Life to train Sidewalk Counselors.
Idaho United 4 Life is proud to have Karen Simkins on our team and congratulate her accomplishments for life.
Events to Commemorate Roe v Wade
March for Life – Boise
Friday, January 24, 2016
Ramona Trevino speaks at St. Mark’s Church, 7960 W. Northview, Boise, Ramona will give her testimony, answer your questions and sign her book “Redeemed by Grace”. Let us know you’ll be there at mysignup.com
For three years, Ramona worked as the manager of a Planned Parenthood abortion-referral facility in Sherman, Texas. In the Spring of 2011, thanks to the inspiration from a local Christian radio station, the prayers and public witness of a 40 Days for Life campaign, and through God’s grace, Ramona reclaimed her walk with Christ and resigned her position at Planned Parenthood, which resulted in the clinic closing.
A dessert-coffee-tea reception and book signing, Redeemed by Grace, will follow. This is a FREE event but donations will be gratefully accepted.
Saturday, January 23, 2016
11:00 am Life Mass at St. John’s Cathedral sponsored by St. John’s Social Justice & Idaho Catholics Respect Life
1:00 pm March begins at Julia Davis Park
Rally on the steps of the Capitol Building with featured speaker, Ramona Trevino.
Events Around the Country
First Ever Walk Northwest! Spokane, Washington is the location of the first annual Walk Northwest on January 16th. Featured speakers are: Walter B. Hoye II, Kathy Gonzales, Frances Mack, Rebecca Taylor, and Katherine Thrasher. A group from the Treasure Valley will be travelling to this event. Reply to this message if you are interested in joining them.
Walk for Life West Coast San Francisco is where this event takes place. Multiple related events are happening from Friday, January 22 – Sunday the 24th. Speakers included Emmanuel, David Daleiden, Uju Ekeocha, and Pastor Clenard Childress. A group from the Treasure Valley will be travelling to this event. Reply to this message if you are interested in joining them.
National March for Life, Washington DC. In addition to Silent No More testimonies and visits to your representatives listen to: Matt Birk, Sue Ellen Browder, Jim Daly, Dr. Margarite Duane, MD, Jewels Green, Nathan Grime, Caitlin Jane, and Shawn Welcome.
Links to more information on all these events can be found on our community calendar. No matter the event you attend, please share your experience and pictures with us! Email: IDunited4Life@GMail.com.