One of my favorite ministry stories is of “Carlos” and “Rosa”. They came to the Hebron mill in Charlotte in 2004. I was sidewalk counseling that day, saw them and motioned for them to pull over to talk. He was driving and was happy to take my information. Rosa, however, was not. Carlos did not want to abort their unborn child. He had even been to a Crisis Pregnancy Center and had their brochure and fetal model in his glove compartment! She had not gone there with him. She was determined to abort.
He listened to my pleas, offers of help and proclamations of truth. He painstakingly translated my words into Spanish for Rosa. I told him that she most likely needed his affirmation of her and his commitment to her and their child. At one point he even proposed marriage to her right there in front of me! She declined it, however. About an hour into our conversation, I could visibly see her change. Her expression softened, as did her heart. Victory was won for this child!
It was, however, a seemingly short-term victory. She changed her mind again and made another appointment, this time at a different Charlotte mill, one a friend of hers had been to before. I remember well the late night phone call when Carlos called and begged me to pray. He called his pastor and got him involved. Rosa, once again, softened. This time for good!
Months passed and I spoke with Carlos many times. I was sad that I couldn’t speak with Rosa directly, but the language barrier was too great.
I invited them to a shower at my home. At the time, I was showering 5 moms all together. They cheerfully came and brought a bi-lingual friend to help translate. They also brought Rosa’s mother, who Carlos was providing and caring for.
We all enjoyed a wonderful dinner together. They received many wonderful baby gifts and were greatly blessed and encouraged. Rosa was genuinely happy about this baby and she radiantly glowed with joy! She told me over and over, through the translator, how excited she was and how glad she was we were at the abortion center and that she had chosen life. Grandma was happy, too!
At the shower, the Gospel was presented (and translated) and Carlos accepted Christ as his Savior! We prayed with him and it was such a joyous event! Their living arrangement was specifically addressed at this time. He was told that he could not continue living with Rosa and call himself a Christian. He married Rosa a couple of weeks later! Rosa soon followed with her own commitment to the Lord and profession of faith!
Their child’s life was saved and their souls were saved! It usually doesn’t get much better than that…but keep reading and you’ll see that it does, this time.
Their baby, “Carl”, was born, healthy and whole, a few weeks after they got married. I traveled about an hour south to see him as a newborn. I saw them a few times in the first year. He was about one year old in this picture.
The most amazing and incredible news is that Carlos has become an associate pastor of a Spanish speaking church in his area! He is now preaching the glorious Gospel! The day I met them in front of an abortion clinic 8 years ago, I could never have imagined all that God had planned for Carlos, Rosa and Carl. He is good, far above and beyond all that we can ask or think! He is good!
Sheryl Chandler
Truth & Mercy Pro-life Ministries