Mission to Magaden Update 1

Recently I received the latest newsletter from the Archdiocese of Anchorage about their Mission to Magaden. In it was an article that shared some more details about an event that Fr. Michael Shields had shared when he was on Sunday Night Live with Fr. Groeschel. This event was the birth of a boy named Misha (Russian for Michael). Misha was born 4 July 2006 at 7 pm. Misha is a very important symbol of the pro-life work they are doing in Magaden.

Misha's mother, Olga, was an unwed mother with 1 son. At 21 she found herself pregnant again by her live-in boyfriend. He gave her 2 options, abortion or he would leave. She was in a very diificult position. What happenned was not unusual, as the article points out, since most young Russian men don't seem to want to take on the responsibilities of fatherhood. I'll share what happenned next in Fr. Michael's own words from the newsletter.

"Olga came to me in tears & frightened. She had been to the clinic where women have abortions& she couldn't go through with it. I was overjoyed when she came to me for advise & told her we could help her to give life to her child."

To help her during the pregnancy they had to buy medicine, provide maternity clothes, set up a room for the child, seeing Olga was fed well etc. & of course now that Misha is born there are ongoing needs to be met for his care & raising.

Being pro-life is much more than what the media & groups like Planned Parenthood try & present it as. Pro-life is not just oposing abortion. Again to share what Fr. Michael has to say in a 2nd article in the newsletter: "We need to offer an alternative for those who struggle financially so they can have the child & still live with some dignity."

In this 2nd article Fr. Michael talks about another important ministry of The Nativity of Jesus Parish. This is to offer healing for those women who have had an abortion. Part of this ministry is to offer retreats for those dealing with abortion's aftermath. This is another area that those who are pro-abortion try to deny or downplay.

How widespread is abortion is Russia? Fr. Michael says that government statstics say that for every 10 live births there are 13 abortions. In the sharing about 1 of the healing retreats this truth is proven in a way that is very devestating. At this retreat the women were asked to light a candle & name the child they aborted. The 5 women lit 47 candles.

As I said, abortion providers do not want to admit to the devestation that it does, not only to the child who is murdered, but to the mothers & fathers of those children. More info on this damage that is done as well as where to get healing if you or someone you know has been involved in an abortion can be found at such websites as the Priests for Life, Rachel's Vineyard, Silent NO More, & Life Issues Institute, Inc. links at the right. These groups will help anyone involved in abortion to find the emotional/psychological healing they need. But even more important, they will help those people to find the spiritual healing needed. No person is beyond God's love & forgiveness. These groups want to see that the whole person is healed, emotionally & spiritually. Part of that healing is to be reconciled with God. They live out Jesus' call to share the Gospel message that He came to set the captives free that is a part of every Christian's responsibility in living out their faith (Luke 4:180.

Another way to help is to support these groups & others like them financially. Because of the poverty in Russia, Mission to Magaden relies on the donations of us here in America. You can donate by mail or online.

By mail:

Mission to Magaden

Archdiocese of Anchorage

225 CORDOVA ST

ANCHORAGE AL 99501-2409

Mission Newsletters & online giving:

http://www.archdioceseofanchorage.org/stewardship/magadan.html

Please help out as best you can by praying for the Mission to Magaden as well as however you can financially. & keep praying for an end to abortion. Support those groups who are working to end abortion, provide alternatives & post-abortion healing financially & by being involved in the various activities they sponsor. Support pro-life candidates. Write to your representatives. There are many lives out there that need your help so that they will be saved.