“I had my abortion at [the] young age of 16,” shares Rachel’s Vineyard-Twin Cities retreat participant Victoria. “It’s not just something that you do and move on with your life. I tried that….From the outside, it looked like my life was normal, but inside there were places that I couldn’t go to in the city because of the memory of it….”
“[Abortion] is often something that’s confessed on a deathbed,” she continues. “…so many people…say ‘I wish I’d have [attended a Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat] sooner.’ ”
Victoria encourages people suffering from abortion-related wounds not to wait. “I am so grateful I gathered the courage to go on the retreat because I received very deep healing. I felt totally loved by God, totally forgiven by God.”
Attending the retreat also brought Victoria back to the Catholic faith. Raised Catholic, she’d stepped away from the faith, but experienced the beauty of the Sacraments again while on retreat. She began reading Scripture more, which brought her back to the Church. “Our faith is full of the truth,” she discovered.
Having experienced the immense healing of Rachel’s Vineyard firsthand, Victoria decided to become involved in volunteering with the organization. “My impetus…is the freedom it all gave me. We have [retreat attendees] as young as 14 and as old as 80. People come back to God and to the truth of what happens in an abortion. They come in with heads bowed…and leave…full of life and love. It’s incredible to be part of that healing experience,” she shares. “[Rachel’s Vineyard] has made such a difference in my life. It’s all been so affirming and so real. It goes right to your heart!”
The CSAF is honored to partner with Rachel’s Vineyard-Twin Cities in walking with those affected by abortion, and in supporting life and strengthening the Faith. Thank you to the donors who give in support of the 20 Designated Ministries and their recipients. Together, we are helping heal the wounds of abortion!
