Blog # 3: Students for Life

     I had been thinking for quite some time to create a pro-life group at my school. I got even more inspired at the Youth Rally for Life and I decided that I was going to make one. However, the fire of the rally went away and I forgot about my idea. The idea returned to me when I received an email to participate in the Pro-life Chalk Day. The Pro-Life Chalk Day did not inspire me to start the group but rather it led me to a link to Students for Life. 

     Students for Life inspired me to begin the group because they offer a lot of help to students that are pro-life. I was very excited because they could support students with things like workshops, flyers, guest speakers, and even financial assistance. The main idea I liked them was because they would give me a more direct path to follow and a format for the group I was to create. I was so excited and after doing my research I was sure that I had to make this happen. I messaged my two closest friend and told them what I was planning to do and they completely gave me their support. Then I realized that this was a really good idea in my head but in reality it would be a lot more work than what I thought. 

     I knew that the main obstacle would be to overcome the controversy faced by the school. I knew of a teacher that was in charge of a club called Rebels for Christ and I decided that he would be a good choice as an adviser. I needed to make sure that I had some support from a teacher in order to make it happen. I had procrastinated a while and I finally made the decision to go talk to him on Thursday because he was having his regular Rebels for Christ meetings. I received so much support and positivism from him that it really made my day. He gave me absolute support and said it would be wonderful to have a pro-life group on campus. After school my friend even went to pick up the necessary paperwork. 

     The next step is for me to contact Students for Life and see if I can gain their support to make our group official. After that I need to begin spreading the word around campus to encourage people to join the group. Once that is settled I will get the signatures and turn in the paperwork to start the club. I have a lot of work ahead of me to make this work. 

Blog # 2: National Pro-Life Chalk Day

     On February 6, 2014 National Pro-Life Chalk Day impacted many sidewalks with their pro-life messages. I learned about this event through an email and I decided that it was easy, cheap, and something that could really have an impact. I go to a public school in which the worldly desires overcome those of morality at times. I knew that leaving a pro-life message on the floor would at the very least awake the issue of abortion in some students' lives even if just for a second. I first made sure to research my legal rights in order to avoid an unpleasant confrontation with the school.
     I gathered my chalk and my friends and headed out to my high school on February 5th at around 5:30 p.m. to begin chalking. It was a pretty thrilling and exciting experience to feel like we were doing something different for a change. It felt good to stand up for what I believed in. We avoided chalking on the campus but we made sure to write on the most heavily walked sidewalks around school. We did a lot of small drawings but we also did some big writings. We all left feeling pretty accomplished that night at about 7:30 p.m.
     I could barely sleep that night imagining what would happen the next day! Overall we did not hear any comments about what was written on the sidewalk. I had honestly expected to hear a lot more talk about the chalk on the campus but I heard none. Then the unthinkable happened; it started to sprinkle and later to rain. It hardly rains in Anaheim and I was honestly disappointed to have the rain wash away our work. My dad brought up my spirits by telling me, "Even if you impacted one person, it was all worth it." He was right. I know that we made a difference and in the end that's all that matters.The school better prepare themselves to see our writing soon!

Blog # 1: Youth Rally, 9 Days for Life, and Diaper Drive

     My pro-life activism has increased ever since I attended the Youth Rally for Life on January 18th. I would like to start off by saying that the Youth Rally for Life was a wonderful experience. There I learned the importance of activism. Kristina Garza, director of Campus Outreach, challenged us by telling us that it was not enough to say that your pro-life. I was able to gain a lot of information as well as get in contact with a lot of Pro-Life organizations. I also got the chance to listen to the beautiful voices of the Jacob and Matthew Band live for the second time! I was glad to see a good amount of youth from my church St. Justin Martyr attend. I know they enjoyed it as much as I did!

     The same day that I attended the Youth Rally for Life I also began the prayer vigil 9 Days for Life. 9 Days for Life was a prayer vigil from January 18th-26th. The vigil could be done via email, internet, or an app. I downloaded the app and each day came with a dedication, prayer, reflection, and an act of reparation. I particularly liked the act of reparation because each day it challenged me to do something new. For example, some of the things I chose to do were learn about a 20th century saint, pray a rosary, clean a room without being told, or say a special prayer. It felt good to do prayer for a change as it is crucial to the pro-life movement. 

     In an effort to challenge the youth at my church I asked a very special favor of them. I am part of a leadership core team at my church which is called Anchor. During our weekly Tuesday meeting I asked each to bring a pack of diapers. I could tell by their faces that it was strange so I quickly explained that it was to help support the Pro-Life Clinics. Pro-Life Clinics were created to help out women whom had once considered abortion. Simple things like diapers are necessities for women with newborn babies. Providing diapers can aid them by reducing the cost of diapers. I am hoping to have a van full of diapers to drive to the clinic soon!

Week 9: Almost There, Youth Rally for Life

     The day is almost here! I have been waiting for the Youth Rally for Life for months and months! I know that the Right to Life League of Southern California has done a lot to prepare for this event and I give them my deepest thanks. The speakers, the music, the testimonies, and the youth are all expected to be wonderful and I know that they will exceed my expectations. However, I have learned from past experiences that nothing is ever what it seems. Every single one of the religious conventions and retreats I have attended have turned out to be completely different than what I expected. Therefore I expect the same results from the Youth Rally for Life. 

     Part of me can't help to feel anxious and a bit nervous. Nervous because I'm not sure what will happen or exactly how things will turn out to be. Anxious because I have been waiting for this event for a long time. However, almost everything is ready for this Saturday. I have the youth representing St. Justin Martyr Catholic Church, transportation, registration, and video camera ready. All that is left is the last few applications and an SD Card for my video camera. I am so ready for whatever awaits me at this encounter and may it help in my fight against abortion!

Week 8: The Right to Life League of Southern California

      The Right to Life League of Southern California is an education and service organization dedicated to the support and protection of unborn life. Founded in 1967 they have done a marvelous at dedicating their time and efforts at defending life. Their purpose is to support women with unplanned pregnancies but rather than doing it through abortion they do it be establishing medical clinics, pregnancy centers, maternity homes, and educative services for teens.  I truly admire the work that they have done.

     I had not heard of them until a couple months ago when the Youth Minister at my church St. Justin Martyr handed me a flyer she had received. She knew what my mission in life was and she was willing to support me in whatever I needed. She left me in charge of organizing for our church's youth group to attend the Youth  Rally for Life on January 18, 2014. I was thrilled to be able to organize this. The date is approaching and I need to begin organizing and promoting for this great event.

     The Youth Rally for Life is a great opportunity for anyone interested in being pro-life or learning more. There will be a lot of fun events like speakers, music, testimonies, and so much more. I really hope many people will attend. I can't wait!

Week 7: A Letter to My Aborted Sibling by Dave Andrusko

     Unfortunately many times when mothers abort they forget to consider the impact the abortion will have on their future children. Some mothers even fail to realize that they could never again have children due to damage by the abortion. It is hard for anyone to understand that their mother that gave birth to them would've killed their unborn brother or sister. 

      Dave Andrusko is the editor of National Right to Life News and an author and editor of several books on abortion topics. He describes the mourning he feels after finding out that his mother aborted through a letter titled "A Letter to My Aborted Sibling: I'm Sorry You Were Never Loved". 

This is the letter:

She was 15 when your life started, 16 when your life ended. She said no one told her you were more than a lump of tissue. I’m sorry for ignorance.

Your father would be 57 now. She said he doesn’t know. I wish she told him. I wish he fought for you. I wish somebody fought. I’m sorry for secrets.

You would have been my half sibling. 14 years older than me. She took you from me before I even existed…before I could do anything. I’m sorry for unfairness.

You would have been 34 years old. You would have more than likely been married and have your own children. I would have nieces and nephews, you would have a family. But you weren’t even given a name. I’m sorry for abandonment. 

Maybe when my other siblings were telling me lies and devaluing me, you would have spoken truth. Maybe you would have stood up for me when no one did. I’m sorry for life being devalued.

Is it possible to miss someone you’ve never even met?…because my heart longs for you. It longs for you to have life. I’m sorry for death.

I wish you could have come to my graduation, I wish I could have gone to yours. I wish we were friends. I wish I could call you right now. I wish we could share all of our joys and griefs. I wish we were at least given a chance.

I’m sorry for selfishness.

It’s just so unfair for you…for us. How could she have killed you? How could our grandmother drive our mother to the clinic so that they could murder you? I’m sorry for silence.

I miss you. I love you.

I’m so sorry no one loved you

Full story available at: http://www.lifenews.com/2013/07/07/a-letter-to-my-aborted-sibling-im-sorry-you-were-never-loved/

Week 6: Getting Informed

     Unfortunately I have not been able to get involved in any pro-life movements due to my busy school schedule. Therefore, I have been feeling like I haven't been drifting away from the real purpose of my project; to encourage and educate others. During my last event I felt like I lacked knowledge about the pro-life movement. I have therefore decided to get informed more before I fully get involved in my project. Getting informed is crucial for me because I know that there will be a lot of people that will be opposed to what I believe in so I need to be prepared to defend myself properly against those people.

     I have decided to read Why Pro-Life?: Caring for the Unborn and their Mothers by Randy C. Alcorn. This book was given to me a while ago during my very first pro-life event way back in May. This book gives factual answers to the abortion debate. It includes interesting topics like "What Makes a Human Life Meaningful", "Is Abortion Really a Women's Rights Issue", and "How Can I Help Unborn Babies and Their Mothers". This book clearly examines the pro-life position and it helps people who are in the middle of the abortion debate as well as encourage those already pro-life. I really encourage everyone who is interested in the pro-life movement to read this book. 

"To change our culture, it is not enough to say that we are pro-life; we must explain why we are pro-life. This is an excellent resource that does precisely that."
                                                                                                            -Fr. Frank Pavone