By Sarah Zimmerman, Assistant Editor

Ana Teresa Enriquiz was on her way to schedule an abortion when she saw the sign for the Crisis Pregnancy Center in Oklahoma City. She memorized the telephone number, but kept driving. The abortion was scheduled for Saturday morning. Friday, the 23-year-old called the Crisis Pregnancy Center in tears.

"Though it was closing time, they said if I would call a cab and come to the center, they would pay the cab fare. When I got there, I don't remember what they said. I think I talked most of the time--and cried. I didn't think there was any way possible that I could keep my baby. "They helped me find a place to live and gave me maternity clothes and baby clothes. If it wasn't for Sylvia, Gabriel wouldn't be here."

Ana referred to Sylvia Boothe, former director of the Crisis Pregnancy Center who is now coordinator for abortion alternatives for the Home Mission Board. Gabriel is Ana's 8- month-old son. He's a lively, affectionate child who was almost aborted.

Ana's story actually begins several years before Gabriel was conceived. Ana spent most of her life in Seattle, Wash. She is one of five children born to alcoholic parents. She said she has been taking care of herself since she was 15. For seven years she was involved in drug traffic, and she began selling drugs when she lived in Phoenix for two years.

While in Phoenix, she met the man she later married. He was a citizen of Mexico who was also involved in the drug business. When they got in trouble with the law in Phoenix, they decided to move to Mexico and get married. After they were married, her husband began to abuse her. Ana tells about one incident when he threw a night stand at her and hit the back of her head. When she decided to leave him, she was eight weeks pregnant.

"I flew as far away as I could with the money I had. That got me to Oklahoma City," Ana recalls. "I knew one person here--a man I used to date. He let me stay with him, but he wanted me to have an abortion. He said, 'if you have an abortion, I'll marry you.' Chances are, he still wouldn't have married me." Yet Ana felt caught in a situation with no alternatives. If she carried the baby, her friend would not let her stay with him. Her parents, who were now divorced, "were in no position to help me."

That's when Ana scheduled the abortion, but called the Crisis Pregnancy Center at the last minute. Counselors at the center helped her see that it would be possible for her to keep the baby--that caring people would help meet her needs. Volunteers at the Crisis Pregnancy Center matched Ana with resources. They referred her to a doctor who provided prenatal care and delivered Gabriel at minimum expenses. Maternity clothes were made available as she needed them.

However, Ana's immediate need was for housing. With no Baptist-operated homes for pregnant women in the Oklahoma City area, Ana was referred to MetroChurch, an inter-denominational church in Edmond. Ana stayed with a houseparent in a mobile home provided by the church throughout her pregnancy. When Gabriel was three weeks old, the church helped Ana move by paying the deposit on an apartment and utilities. People saw that all of Ana's and Gabriel's needs were met--from furniture for the apartment to haircuts for Ana.

Now Ana's main financial support is from government programs. She said she receives $236 a month from Aid to Families with Dependent Children and $150 a month in food stamps. Ana cleans houses and baby-sits to earn extra income. She has saved enough money to pay her hospital bills.

This week Ana was scheduled to begin working at a supermarket in Edmond. A neighbor who has "taken Gabriel under her wing" will take care of the baby while Ana works. Ana's immediate goal is to make enough money that she no longer needs government assistance. "I'm going to start in a low position, but I plan to work hard and move up," Ana said. "I could be district manager by the time you're in seventh grade and old enough to be in Boy Scouts and to care about clothes," Ana tells Gabriel, as if he understands.

Throughout her pregnancy, Ana said people at the Crisis Pregnancy Center and MetroChurch have been her friends. "They have really cared for me more than my family," she said. "I made it just fine."

As a result of others' concern for her, Ana began to realize another need in her life. She was saved and baptized when she was five months pregnant. Ana said she has no regrets about not aborting Gabriel. "He is a total joy. He has brought me so much love. If I had aborted him I would have been really sad because he's such a happy baby."

In addition, Ana said being a mother "keeps me on the good side" because she is aware of her responsibility to Gabriel. "If I had gotten rid of him I would probably be living on the streets now as a drug addict because I would have sunk into even heavier depression."

Gabriel can't yet explain in words how he feels about being alive. But he doesn't really need words. When he laughs and shows off his six new teeth, his smile and his deep brown eyes say it all.

January 19, 1989. Used by permission. Baptist Messenger. Product number 601-04F.