My name is Sofia Morales. I pursued a double-major in Intercultural Studies and Nursing. This internship was my final class of the Intercultural Studies Program, and it was been a wonderful – and occasionally, mundane – experience. Wonderful because most of the women who come into the clinic chose to keep their babies – they are even excited about the prospect of a little one! I have been allowed into the ultrasound room and have seen women get their first, somewhat grainy look at the little life in their womb. It was a beautiful experience to see those tiny hearts pumping and the little bodies bobbing around in a safe, warm place.
It was also mundane because sometimes packing bags and sweeping floors was not the ideal image of changing a community or saving a life. But the disciples did not see any point in Jesus washing their feet either, did they? Yet that story has become an iconic illustration of humble, Christian service.
Perhaps the greatest understanding I have come to while serving at the clinic is the importance of having maturity and kindness with every woman (or girl) who walks through the door. Some clients were happy and excited. They were there for their baby. They sat through hours of educational information, schedule weekly appointments to talk to their counselor and made every effort to prepare for motherhood.
And there were others…the ones who were there only for themselves. They were there because the CPC helped them with the last three children. No, they had not married their partner yet – they will if they make it to year ten of living together, because that is proof that things will work out. No, they were not interested in educational materials, counseling, or anything else. But yes, they do want supplies. At first, in my arrogance, I was irritated. Make it a fair trade, I thought. At least listen to the information on STDs…fetal development… nutrition! It’s for you! It’s for your baby! We don’t get anything out of it! But time and again, they came and they went. And time and again, the staff at the clinic treated them with dignity and their choices with respect. It was a valuable lesson.
The women who came to clinic were from all backgrounds. They ranged from teens in high school to mothers in their thirties. They were every color, creed, and personality. Some appreciated the prayers we offered to God with them, others looked around uncomfortably, as if praying means Jesus will walk in to join us. Between all of them, they had only one thing in common that we can help them with: we could pray that Christ would open their spiritual eyes. That Christ would crush their hearts of stone and give them hearts of flesh. That they would see that the cycle they are trapped in is a prison because they have turned from the freedom that Christ offers. Please pray for them. Please pray that God gives those at the CPC the opportunities to share the Gospel with these women, to tell them of the forgiving, encompassing love of God for His children. We were all broken at some point, and Christ reached down and scooped us out of the mud of sin. Please pray that He does the same for them.
