| Journey to Restoration ™ |
My name is Joneen and I had this plan for my life and I was workin' it. Four years of high school, four years of college, graduate, get a job in retail management, move up the corporate ladder to become head buyer of a company and live in NYC. That was my plan, and some of it I was making up as I went along, but by 20 it was pretty much right on track and then the condom broke…
I don't remember where the building was, maybe downtown? I think there were people out front handing out brochures and yelling stuff - but I don't remember. I had on a pink velour pants suit, black leather riding boots and a black tweed coat (I majored in fashion, I always remember clothing details). It was December 1, my mother's birthday, it just worked out that that day was the 8th week. I filled out a lot of forms and I talked to a counselor. I'm not sure of our conversation, but it ended with a very graphic video.
Let me give you some of my back-story. I don't make excuses for my decisions, so indulge me. I was 13 when I knelt by my bed and said, "God I know I should go to church and stuff, but I want to live my life and have fun and when I'm older I'll come back to you." I had no idea that that one decision would lead to December 1, 1990 when I would get on my knees again and this time say, "God I know what I'm going to do is wrong, but I can't do this [ have a baby] and I know you'll forgive me…"
I was a 20 year old college senior. I started school 3 - ˝ years earlier an idyllic 17 year old. My first college boyfriend, I believed him when he said he loved me and I thought we would get married. Married with a fab career - that sounded like the perfect plan. Yeah - marriage thing - didn't happen; and somewhere between 17 and 20 I decided I would never marry or have children but would only focus on having a great career. When I thought that that option was about to be gone, I panicked. I rationalized that if abortion was truly wrong it would be against the law. I went through all the pros and cons of having a child. That's how I made all important decisions - list the pros and cons. And there I was, in some building somewhere in Cleveland wearing a pink velour pant suit, black leather riding boots and a black tweed coat.
There was no medicinal smell; in fact other than the chatter of the staff it was quiet like a library. My nurse explained the procedure, "It's like an exam with just a little discomfort, oh you don't have anesthesia? You better hold my hand…" Hmm, that was way more graphic than the video and literal gut-wrenching pain is not a little discomfort. I didn't feel relieved afterwards, I felt nothing. Absolutely nothing. It was like a switch flipped and it didn't flip back on again until a day in 1995 when I was sitting on the floor at work straightening shorts- I worked in retail management. I started crying - bawling- and I said out loud "my daughter would have been four years old today."
Journey to Restoration ™ Bible Study is an 8 week class; open to any woman who has experienced abortion and is having difficulties dealing with the emotional aftermath.
In this bible study you will participate in:
-
Weekly reading assignments
- Personal exercises to reinforce the reading
-
Facilitated group discussions
"I knew I needed help. I needed a change in my life and I was tired of living with the self deteriorating secrets of my abortions…I was at my breaking point. I learned through my post-abortion [study] that I could be restored. I could live again and walk with my head held high to be a light to other women. Today I am able to speak about my abortions with no guilt or shame." Marla T., Journey to Restoration™ graduate
Classes are held at:
Pregnancy Care Center
7196 Mount Zion Boulevard
Jonesboro, GA 30236
(770)477-1501
To enroll in an upcoming class:
