I was honoured to have been invited to be one of the guest speakers at the NAL conference in Durban 3 weeks ago, a conference organized by Doctors for Life with the intention of uniting South African pro-lifers, pro-life activists and pro-life organizations. I shared my testimony and personal experience of being in a crisis pregnancy and spoke about the importance of knowing the locations of the local crisis pregnancy centres and baby safe boxes in the local community and around South Africa so that women who are in a crisis can be given options- options other than abortion. Because let's face it, the culture of the time we live in pushes the abortion agenda as the solution to crisis pregnancy and abortion is so easily available since the legalization of abortion 20 years ago.
Most people know where their local abortion providers are but not where their local crisis pregnancy centres are located, so if we are truly going to make a change and live a proactive pro-life lifestyle then we need to do more than just tell women in crisis not to go through with abortion- but actually help them and walk a road with them and present them with better options.
I believe with all my heart that women deserve BETTER than abortion and if abortion is about women's rights then women deserve a better solution to crisis pregnancy; a solution that is not destructive or damaging to a woman's physical and mental health.
Study after study shows that abortion increases the risk of breast cancer by up to 30% and that abortion can cause future infertility problems.
Post abortive psychological conditions include PTSD, depression, suicidal tendencies, eating disorders and self harm tendencies.
I doubt very much than any woman WANTS to abandon their baby or have their baby aborted- both abortion and baby abandonment are desperate acts that come from a place of feeling like there was no other choice and no other way out.
I also shared about the baby abandonment crisis in South Africa and tried to raise awareness around the shocking statistics that show that up to 63% of the babies abandoned in rubbish bins and drains and fields are in fact botched 3rd trimester abortions. Women and girls in crisis need to be educated and informed that the posters and stickers found on lamp-posts and rubbish bins that promise a safe and painless abortion are dangerous and illegal.
Xolani Klaas, a pastor who was conceived out of rape, shared his story of how his mother was encouraged to abort him but refused. He shared his story of how he struggled with his identity because he did not know who his father was. His turning point came when he realized that his Father is in fact the Father of the universe and his name Xolani, means to be still.
"He says 'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10
A gynecologist who is one of the board members of Doctors for Life shared her experience of being a pro-life gynecologist dealing with the issue of patients asking her to perform abortions and how she tries to encourage life to expectant mothers in crisis.
Pastor Rusty Thomas, an American pastor from Texas who preaches the pro-life message, shared his convictions and preached about the spiritual aspect of abortion and what the Bible says about abortion and child sacrifice. It was a powerful and thought provoking message. Rusty is also the national director of Operation Rescue/ Operation Save America.
I got to meet so many amazing people, each one making an impact in their local community; preachers, crisis pregnancy help-line facilitators, Doctors for Life employees and volunteers, and those involved in local Christian radio stations.
The conference was actually on the same day as my birthday, which is also Dominics birthday- he turned 8 and I turned 31 and it was so exciting to be doing what I love so dearly: human rights activism for the little humans on the other side of the womb, on my birthday!
I am also so grateful that we got to spend our special day in beautiful Durban as it is our favorite destination in South Africa because of the lovely weather and natural beauty but also because Ashley and I met in Durban and are both from Durban, so Durban has some sentimental and nostalgic value for us too.
Ashley took the children to the bird park and to Essenwood flea market while I was at the conference and afterwards we went for a long walk on the beach and got pizza and milkshakes to celebrate our special day together as family.
Since my near death experience of almost dying after childbirth because of undiagnosed placenta accreta and almost bleeding out completely, I am very emotional on the birthdays of the people I love most because the reality is not lost to me that I was almost not here to celebrate these days with my husband and children.
I am at a loss of words to express just how grateful I am to still be here and the gratitude overwhelms me daily.
On Sunday 1 October we went to the beach again and Ashley and the kids swam in the ocean while Quade and I played in the sand. Because we live in Cape Town, my children don't get to swim in the ocean too often as it is too cold, so this was such a treat for them and they loved every minute of it!
At 2pm we headed to Gateway shopping centre to the National March for Life.
This march is the only national pro-life march here in South Africa, where people from all over South Africa come to join in unity and stand up for the rights of the most vulnerable person in our society; the unborn.
There were around 900 people who attended the March and Pastor Rusty, Pastor Klaas and I got to make a speech at the beginning of the march.
We marched around Gateway shopping centre and over the Millennium bridge. The march did disrupt traffic and there were mixed reactions from the onlookers- some people would hoot and cheer- others would shake their heads and refuse the pro-life literature and pamphlets that were being handed out.
The march was so well organized that there were even water stations where marchers could get a drink of water as Durban is very hot and humid in October and it didn't take long before we felt very thirsty and hot!
It made me feel so proud to be an activist for the human rights of the unborn as we marched side by side, with the passion and love for the unborn as our mutual reason for marching.
If you are passionate about pro-life and are wanting to connect and network with other pro-lifer activists and organizations I strongly encourage you to attend the NAL conference next year. The NAL annual conference takes place on the first Saturday of October and the annual National March For Life takes place on the first Sunday of October at 2:30pm outside the Gateway Shopping Centre. I also want to encourage and urge people to come to the march and stand together and take a stand for the rights of the unborn!
Contact Doctors for Life for more information.
I look forward to the conference and march next year!
