Hello everyone!
Hope you are well, and fighting the fine fight successfully :-)
We have been intercontinental for three weeks and have spent the last couple of days doing all the fun stuff like unpacking, washing etc etc.
Due to the country we were in, we had no idea that Hurricane Sandy hit New York. I trust all our friends from here who are there weathered it out and did not suffer too much loss or damage.
We are looking forward to catching up on what's been going on here on the board. In the meantime, I think you will enjoy reading the 'letter' below that my brother forwarded to me from a 'friend' regarding NY Bethel. I don't know how original it as it is the usual JW forward of a forwarded email, but that said, it sure sounds like exactly like how I would expect the Head Office to react - not to start cooking meals in its massive kitchens to help feed those that may be without food, not to open its doors to provide shelter for those who need it, not to use its fleet of trucks to assist the local government and police move around supplies and aid. No, no, no. Their frist priority? Making sure everyone was able to have a phone hook up to the Monday night WT study as they weren't able to attend in person.......
See if you can read it with a straight face, I couldn't:
Dear Friends :
Thank you very much for your e-mails and text messages asking how we are doing. We are doing fine and the Bethel Family in all three complexes are fine. There were no injuries and in Brooklyn they are dealing with a few issues due to the flooding.
We received an unprecedented display of loving kindness by the U.S. Branch Committee when they announced on Monday morning that the Bethel Family in Brooklyn did not have to come in to work on Tuesday due to the expected high winds, flooding, and flying debris. This is a first. However, it underscores the loving concern of our brothers. Later that day at lunch, the U.S. Branch Committee made another announcement advising those at Patterson and Wallkill that lived in the Patterson Inn and off-site housing could leave at 4:00 p.m. on Monday to avoid the storm. They also made provisions for the Bethelites to pick up food for the evening and for the next morning . Finally, they advised those at home that they would be tied in to the Monday night Watchtower Study t and Morning Worship on Tuesday by video to their televisions in the room. Again, this left all of us feeling the love and concern of the brothers for our welfare.
As far as the friends in our congregation, there are no injuries. A couple of the friends homes had trees fall on them and one family had to evacuate. The biggest problem they are facing is power outages due to falling trees. One brother said it looks like a “war zone” with all the fallen trees and limbs around our congregation territory. The elders and circuit overseers are cooperating with the Regional Building Committees and Disaster Relief Committees to assess damage and to provide help where needed. Thus far, none of the friends in our congregation have needed assistance, but some have moved in with others who had better conditions. The elders are working this morning to check on everyone and see what assistance they need. What a loving organization we are a part of that has in place arrangements to assist the friends. Many unbelieving husbands and other relatives have been impressed by the calls of the elders and offer to help where needed.
You have no doubt seen scenes of New York City with water gushing down the subway, into buildings, and flooding roadways. The picture of the crane dangling ominously from the top of a skyscraper near Central Park and 57 th Street will forever be an image of the devastation of this storm. Who could have ever imagined that Wall Street would be closed for two days and the subways closed for several days due to a late Hurricane in October. It will be several weeks before things are back to “normal.” However, in the midst of all the devastation, the brothers in Bethel are back to work and really the operations never came to a halt. Due to technology, many of the brothers who stayed home were able to work remotely from home and even took phone calls from their rooms as if they were still at work. Since Patterson and Wallkill were not affected as much by the storm, it was work as usual although our thoughts and prayers have been with our brothers on the East Coast.
For us, this is a prelude to what lies ahead during the great tribulation when we will all need to help one another. One thing we can be assured of, is that Jehovah is preparing us through his organization to be prepared and ready to assist each other. We are also reminded that we need to be prepared with our “go bags” since we never thought that we would need that emergency kit in New York. But, it just shows that no place is immune.
More importantly, this storm reminded us of the need to stay spiritual strong. It is only with trust in Jehovah that we will be able to know that he is our support and help in time of need. It reminds us of the words of Psalms 91:1, 2: “Anyone dwelling in the secret place of the Most High Will procure himself lodging under the very shadow of the Almighty One. I will say to Jehovah: “[You are] my refuge and my stronghold, My God, in whom I will trust.”
Thanks again for your prayers and concern for us and the friends on the East Coast. May Jehovah continue to bless and protect all of you.
