Newsletter April 2019

Dear Friends, Partners and Prayer Warriors,

Our featured baby this month, Lia, in costume for the Purim holiday, is alive because of the courage of her brave mother Anat. It takes courage to continue to protect a life when there is pressure all around to abort. In March, we celebrated the holiday of Purim, when we remembered the fortitude of Queen Esther who risked her life to save her people from destruction by the enemy. This brave woman said, “After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:16). In April, we will celebrate Passover, a time to remember two often forgotten heroines, Shifra and Puah, who risked their lives by defying the Pharaoh's command to kill the Hebrew babies. “The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.” (Exodus 1:17). The Pharaoh's own daughter was a heroine when she saved the life of the Hebrew baby Moses and raised him as her own son.

All of these women risked their lives to protect someone else’s life. Through our grace-based work at Be 'ad Chaim, we have the privilege of meeting

women who are heroines because they courageously chose life despite the tide of personal and social pressures. I am deeply grateful to you for standing firmly with us as together we champion for the lives of the unborn.

With gratitude,

Sandy

Anat & Baby Lia

Several years ago, Anat, a native-born Israeli, was in a relationship with an Arab Moslem and became pregnant. Her parents did not approve and pressured her to abort. After meeting with our counselor, she chose to continue her pregnancy, yet had a miscarriage. In time, her boyfriend, who had become her husband, was arrested and given a life sentence. Anat then found herself pregnant again. Anat remembered the kindness that she'd experienced through Be'ad Chaim when still dating her husband and turned to us again for help. Anat brave-heartedly chose life despite her complicated situation. Baby Lia came into the world in August. Through Be'ad Chaim's Operation Moses sponsorship program, Anat received all of her most necessary baby items for Lia including the crib and sheets, stroller, bathtub and monthly gift cards to purchase necessities such as diapers, formula, wipes, etc. for the first year of her baby's life. Anat enjoys visiting our "boutique" and choosing lovely clothing, stuffed animals, blankets and other beautiful items for Lia.

Anat is torn between her parents’ pressure to divorce her husband and her desire for Lia to have a father, albeit in prison. She recently moved into her own apartment. Anat is grateful that she chose life for her precious daughter, and for the love that she has received through Be 'ad Chaim.

A Miracle Baby: Hila & newborn Baby Avi

Another one of my heroines is 28 year old Hila, a beautiful upbeat and optimistic single mother. When she became pregnant with her son Avi, her boyfriend pressured her to abort using threats and violence. Her father, an Orthodox Jew and ashamed that his daughter would have a child out of wedlock, adamantly opposed the pregnancy, but her mother has been more supportive. During Hila's pregnancy, doctors told her that her son would be born with serious intestinal complications, no rectum and problems with his bowels. She had over 30 different ultrasound and MRI examinations performed by doctors all over Israel. She was told repeatedly that she must abort. She was warned that she would spend months in the hospital with her baby if she allowed him to be born, and that he would suffer. Our “prayer letter team” of thousands around the world prayed weekly for a miracle. On March 6th, Avi was born TOTALLY HEALTHY! The doctors’ response was “Sometimes that happens.” Yes, sometimes – many times – God does the “impossible”.“Behold, I am the God of all flesh. Nothing is impossible with me.”(Jeremiah 32:27)

You are welcome to join our international prayer team and receive our weekly prayer list by e-mail, gathered from our counselors throughout Israel.

Dona & Baby Amir

Dona is a beautiful and brave woman from a Muslim background. She lived with her boyfriend and they had planned to marry. When they discovered she was pregnant, her boyfriend left her and wouldn’t acknowledge his paternity. She found herself in a very dangerous situation as her boyfriend’s family wanted to kill her. For her own safety and the safety of her baby, she had to find refuge in a women's shelter in the north of Israel, far away from everyone she knew. Dona contacted Be'ad Chaim and received the love and practical support that she needed. Her son, Amir, was born in December and immediately needed heart surgery. Dona stayed by his side during the entire month of his hospitalization. Her family has since chosen to love and accept them. Dona says that her family's reaction is very unusual compared to other Muslim families. She was expecting to be an outcast but they have embraced her.

Pre-army preparation course

Our staff had the privilege of speaking with a group of young adults

in an army preparation course. These pre-soldiers were challenged to carefully consider life and death questions. They were asked to think about whether abortion, although legal and government funded, is actually moral. A very interesting conversation ensued dealing with questions such as when is an embryo a baby, does the baby’s life have a right over the mother’s body and other thought-provoking issues. Videos of fetal development and the methods / consequences of abortion were shown. It is a privilege to have opportunities like this to speak to groups of young people about abortion and its consequences.

At the Gardens of Life

During our most recent visit to the Gardens of Life, 18 trees were planted to honor the lives of children who are now in heaven. Tears of loss were shed, as well as tears of relief for comfort and restoration. "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me." (Psalm 51:12) "Repent and turn to God, so that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." (Acts 3:19). Through the planting of a tree in the Gardens of Life, we pray that heavy hearts will find refreshment and restoration. Sometimes, even people who know in their minds that they are forgiven, have yet to let go of the shame of an abortion or the unnecessary guilt that is carried when a child is lost. Symbolically, the Garden is a place to unburden oneself of this heavy weight, placing it in the ground and covering it with new life. "He gives me beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." (Isaiah 61)

Life after a Chemical Abortion

Our hotline counselor received a phone call from Debora, 37 years old, who at five weeks into her pregnancy, had been administered both of the chemical abortion pills (Mifepristone and Misoprostol) which is also known as RU-486. These pills stop fetal development and induce contractions. After taking the pills, Debora fell into a depression, felt numb, and couldn’t eat or sleep. Originally, she had decided on abortion despite her boyfriend’s desire to continue the pregnancy, because she felt that it was her decision. She’d had two abortions in the past, and believed that because she was unmarried and without work, the timing just wasn’t right for a child.

Four days after taking the pills, Debora returned to the doctor for a checkup and was shocked to learn that she was still pregnant and was told that she needed to have a surgical abortion. During the examination, Debora heard the beating heart of her child and was deeply moved. Finding herself still pregnant, she said, “This is a sign.” Recent medical checkups now show a healthy, 12 week old baby with wriggling fingers and toes. Seeing the ultrasound image, Debora was flooded with emotion and shared her joy with her family. Her mother is fearful that Debora would now give birth to a handicapped baby. Wanting encouragement, she shared her story with over 30 doctors but they all said, “I guess it’s okay, but we can’t help you.” Others encouraged her to abort saying that the baby would have problems. Not finding support from local doctors, she discovered an “abortion reversal hotline” in the U.S. and received a great deal of positive input from them and from women who had done what she did, and yet had given birth to healthy babies.

An Israeli gynecologist reported to Be'ad Chaim that he and his colleagues were unaware of the abortion reversal procedure and that Orthodox doctors who refuse to do abortions would be very interested in learning about it. Debora's courage is commendable and is an inspiration. Please pray that Be’ad Chaim would be instrumental in facilitating the spread of the knowledge of this life-saving procedure to the Israeli medical community.