A Comparison of Two Days in the Life of Crisis Pregnancy Center-East by Sherry Overbey

July 1, 2012, Day 1

I arrived at the center to get things situated for the ultrasound scheduled this morning. I proceed to remove the screen around the ultrasound, empty the garbage (Our volunteer housekeeper had surgery and could not come.), opened the curtains, turned on lights and got ready for the day.

“Hey, Sherry! “came the greeting , as Karen our sonographer , came through the door. We chatted a little and had prayer. This signaled the beginning of a new day.

There was only one ultrasound scheduled for today. It was at 9:30 am. The client showed. She was supposed to be 19 weeks pregnancy according to her period calculation, but in reality she was 30 weeks. She had taken a pregnancy test with us the week before.  This client had never been to the doctor. Karen and I both encouraged her to get to the doctor quickly. She was thankful we were here to help her. By the way, she was going to have a little girl. The picture was pretty obvious!  Karen left after she finished writing her report for the U/S.

I touched base with my volunteer for the afternoon. Her grandmother was sick. She takes care of the volunteer’s baby. My volunteer was struggling to find someone to keep her baby. I suggested since we only had one appointment that I would take care of the client.

Pastor Jeff Taylor dropped by to bring the rest of his church’s baby bottles. At other times throughout the day two more churches would bring baby bottles.

Johnsie Burchfield comes the very first Monday of the month to pray with me. She brought Martha Wilson with her today. Johnsie’s topic for her devotion was “Joy.”  The one and only client, who was scheduled for a 2:00 pm appointment and her brother, came during Johnsie’s devotion. They were 40 minutes early for the appointment.  They sat in the waiting room while we had prayer. After they left, I saw the client. She is a regular. We did some “catch-up”. I got her baby things that she had requested. She thanked me and left.

There were a total of eight phone calls made to the center during the duration of the day. Most were scattered throughout the day, but it never fails that one or two calls come during prayer time.  Today was no exception.  After the client left around 2:35, the afternoon went silent. During those times, I pray. I clean. I organize. I read. I wait.

“This is the day the Lord has made.” He planned it. He orchestrated it. He blessed it. I would not have it any other way!

 

July 2, 2013, Day 2

My volunteer on Tuesday was on vacation today. Knowing she was going to be out, I always schedule clients a little further apart, so we can talk without our time running into the next appointment. At the start of the day, I had a client scheduled at 9:30am and 10:30am.

As always when I arrive at the center in the morning to begin the day, I open the blinds, turn on some music for the clients to listen to as they wait, do a quick run through to make sure everything looks topnotch for the clients and any visitors who might drop by.

As I was seeing the first client at 9:30am, the phone rings and another client is calling needing supplies for her baby. She lives in Stanley, but is in Belmont at the moment. She wants to be seen before she heads back to Stanley. I told her to come to the center, but she would have to wait while I saw a client. She agreed this would be fine.

While I was counseling with the first client and giving her a pregnancy test and verification of pregnancy for Medicaid, the client that called earlier arrives. I give her necessary papers to fills out and return to the client in the counseling room. While there with her, I hear the front door open. I stop counseling to see who has entered.  A grandmother walks in needing information about CPC. She had seen the sign out front. Her granddaughter is 17 and pregnant. She is due in November. So while the one client is in the counseling room and the other client is filling out papers in the waiting room, I proceed to give the grandmother information that she is seeking. She thanks me and leaves.

During this time, the phone is ringing from different people with different needs.  One caller needed a car seat, another needed information concerning who could help with her rent and utilities, still another caller need an ultrasound appointment, several calls were for baby orders, pregnancy tests, and maternity clothes appointment. Google even called with an advertisement for a free listing of services.

The first client left happy. She had received a pregnancy test, verification of pregnancy, brochures on pregnancy, ways to stay healthy, a good dose of the Gospel, and prayer. Her evaluation of our services was excellent.

After sending the first client on her way, I proceeded to counsel the second client. She is presently using our services and needed more baby supplies.  Her baby was born with a birth defect. He must have major surgery. She needed someone to talk with about her struggles. Her boyfriend and father of the baby lost his job a month ago, and now their car is broken down. She just started college. This is her first semester, but is now worried that she may have to quit. She knows an education is the only way out to a better paying job. I sat and listened and felt her pain. She claims to be a Christian, but is not serving the Lord. She knows she should, but just doesn’t do it.

While counseling with the second client, the third client comes. She called yesterday for an appointment. She has never been to CPC. She saw the sign out front and thought we might be able to help her and her almost three week old baby. Again, I gave her paper work to complete while I finished with the present client.   We were able to meet all the needs of the second client and then some. She said on her evaluation, she would not change a thing about our center.

After the third client’s paper work was completed, I began the counseling session with her. She and her boyfriend are Christians. They attended Elevation Church for awhile, but now attends Core Church in Mt. Holly. Her boyfriend works. She worked at Presbyterian Hospital in the sleep testing department before the baby was born. She plans to return in August. They are just having it hard right now making ends meet with one income.

Again, while speaking with this client, another walk in client comes into the center wanting supplies for her baby. She was told she would be seen but it would be approximately 20-30 minutes. She said she would return. I continued to counsel with the third client.  It had been no more than 5 minutes after the third client left then the previous “walk in client” came back. Her order was filled and after counseling with her, she left.

Again, the phone is continuing to ring during all this time.

While I am writing all my notes for each of these clients, another previous client dropped by to visit. We have helped her with her baby’s needs since he was born. He is now 9 months old. His daddy is stationed at Norfolk. The client and her husband were married shortly before he enlisted. Then shortly thereafter, she became pregnant. He was in training and often away from the base. She stayed here in the Mt. Holly/ Belmont area to be near her parents and his. She never took much from us. In fact, more often than not, she would visit the center to talk and bring a few things her baby no longer needed. It could be clothes, formula, cereal, etc. I personally think she was lonely and just needed someone to talk with her. She used the items she gave us as an excuse to come by.

Today was different. Today she brought her husband to the center to meet me. They were on their way back to the Norfolk base. She wanted to say hello. It was my blessing to finally see this precious couple together for the first time. They did not have their son with them. Seems grandpa and grandma were going to keep him for 3 days before bringing him back to his parents . This would give this couple a few days to be alone. The client’s husband will be deployed in October.

Another good surprise was that during the visit with this couple, one of our board members dropped off Baby Bottle money. Seeing that I was in conversation with this couple, the board member did not stay very long. I would have loved to have had the opportunity to spend a little more time with my friend.

Did I mention the phone is continuing to ring?

After the couple left, I again sat down to do my paper work. I hear the door open and a woman has come to drop off donations. She has more items in her car. I asked if she needed help. Her reply was, “Yes.” I followed her to her car to get bags of clothes. While out in the parking lot, a client, her boyfriend and her baby stroll into the parking lot. They do not have a car. She asked if it was time for her to come back for supplies. He boyfriend informed me that they were 4 days short of six weeks. (Clients can return every six weeks.)  I told them to come on in to the center. I carried the clothing bags for the woman. I gave her a tax donation slip. She was interested in volunteering. I gave her information before she left.

The couple filled out the paperwork. He had applied for disability and was approved. They were delighted about that. He had also gotten a job as a roofer. They were thrilled with that. The couple had moved out of their trailer and into a house. He said they were the happiest they had ever been. I took this opportunity to ask about where is Jesus in all of this. He began to tell me his story. I have spoken to her many times about Jesus, but not been given the opportunity to explore with him. We discussed. He listened. I listened. He talked. I talked. He did claim to have gotten saved long years ago. But since then, drugs, jail, rough living, etc., had about done him in. He did not make a rededication today, but he has some things to think about. I was able to give them baby supplies and a bigger stroller. Theirs was way too small for their almost one year old. You would have thought I gave them a new Bentley! I sent them on their way happy, happy, happy!

It is now way past 3:00 pm. Time for a potty break. (Oops, maybe a little TMI?) I sit down to do my paperwork on the clients. I begin, but realize I am a little hungry. I leave a “Gone to Lunch” sign on the door and proceed to the nearest convenience store.

Upon my return, I do finish my paperwork.  I write this report for the board meeting. It has to be done today. It is now 4:45pm; time to start closing up for the day. This has been a whirlwind of a day.

“This is the day the Lord has made.” He planned it. He orchestrated it. He blessed it. I would not have it any other way!

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