John,

Abortion advocates insist that state-level laws protecting unborn children won't work because women will simply travel for abortions.

Some will--but many women will arrive at their out-of-state abortion appointments and find a 40 Days for Life vigil waiting for them.

That was the case for a young South Carolina woman who drove to Asheville, North Carolina, for an abortion.

"On Saturday morning, I prayed that the Lord would save just one baby inside the facility that day..." wrote Juliana, the Asheville campaign leader, "...at the very least."

As Juliana's vigil shift ended, it looked like her prayer would not be answered--at least visibly--until a volunteer shared that he had some big news!

The vigil participant noticed that a woman driving into Planned Parenthood's driveway appeared apprehensive, so he struck up a conversation with her over the fence.

"This teen mama from South Carolina had traveled here for an abortion and walked into Planned Parenthood," Juliana reported. "But she came out shortly thereafter having made the decision to save her baby's life."

As the expectant mother drove back to South Carolina, Juliana and her team closed their vigil hour by praying for her and her baby--and by praising God!

Santa Teresa, New Mexico

Texas has some of the strongest laws protecting unborn children in the nation...while New Mexico has absolutely none.

That makes the border between the two states an abortion hotbed. After Roe v. Wade was overturned, abortion facilities from throughout the Southern United States moved just inside the New Mexico state line.

"One [woman] had traveled from San Antonio to Santa Teresa, crossing state lines in search of an abortion in New Mexico," wrote Southwest Coalition for Life CEO and longtime 40 Days for Life leader Mark Cavaliere.

But this mom's story has a happy ending, as Mark noted that prayers of 40 Days for Life participants played a role in redirecting the woman to a pregnancy help center, where she saw her baby on the ultrasound, chose life, received the support she needed to head back home, and got connected with a San Antonio pregnancy help center!

"We must do more to reach out to these women before they leave Texas, addressing their fears, offering them hope, and providing them with life-affirming health care," Mark added.

Lancaster, California, and Manhattan, New York

40 Days for Life leaders and volunteers are crossing state lines too--but unlike vulnerable moms, they're not changing their minds about abortion.

"My husband and I recently traveled to New York City from California," wrote Mary Anne, who co-leads the 40 Days for Life campaign in Lancaster, California. "We reached out to the local 40 Days for Life leader, Laurie, to let her know we'd be dropping by her campaign to pray at the Planned Parenthood late-term abortion center on Bleecker Street."

Laurie made sure a vigil participant was ready to welcome Mary Anne with open arms. "A passionate young 40 Days for Lifer named Bernadette jumped on the subway to meet us, welcoming us to the 'Big Apple,' and joining us in prayer!" Mary Anne reported.

His mother said to the servers, "Do whatever he tells you."

--John 2:5

Lord Jesus, you have used water for wine and mud to make a blind man see. Please use me as your instrument on earth. Let others feel your compassion when I encounter them. Let your work be done through my hands. Please let me especially care for mothers and their unborn children with the faith that always desires to lead people to your side.

For life,

Shawn Carney
President/CEO, 40 Days for Life