Received this today . Is this one of those instances where they say "oh how wonderful are our volunteers" and then the society collects the insurance cheque?
Dear friends:
Each of us has been thinking of our brothers and sisters on the east coast of the US (but also far inland) where the major storm called ‘Sandy’ devastated a great area. We have thought about and we have prayed to Jehovah to give each one affected the love and affection we feel for them—through those who can go to their homes and shops and talk to them face to face. Not just talk but offer assistance. From these reports that many of you have already seen you will know this has been done and is being done at this very moment.
These reports are just a moment in time to what has been done and what will be done in the months ahead. It will be a huge project. One circuit overseer recently in visiting a congregation told them that we are the greatest building organization on earth. Think about that—from the Kingdom Halls that are being built all over the earth, Assembly Halls, branch facilities, and then relief for those whose homes are devastated by the disasters that are more and more in daily news reports. Here are some of the reports that you may or may not have read:
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
You have no doubt seen on the news the terrible disasters that have hit our brothers and sisters near here. First the hurricane, then the snowstorm. There is truly devastation everywhere.
Of course, Jehovah’s organization, in a motherly fashion, is quick to respond to the needs of our brothers and sisters, and this disaster is no exception.
I had the opportunity to attend a meeting of the Disaster Relief Committee last evening, and the brother said that this disaster is second only to Hurricane Katrina. I asked him if we could share the following information with other brothers and sisters and he said, “by all means”. So, here is a brief summary of what we heard about.
Another brother, in his introductory comments, shared Psalm 34:19 with us:
Many are the calamities of the righteous one,
But out of them all Jehovah delivers him.
How true! He also shared James 2:15-17 with us:
If a brother or a sister is in a naked state and lacking the food sufficient for the day, 16 yet a certain one of YOU says to them: “Go in peace, keep warm and well fed,” but YOU do not give them the necessities for [their] body, of what benefit is it?17Thus, too, faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself.
They explained that the US Branch has initiated the involvement of the Circuit Overseers accompanying local elders to physically find and shepherd every single publisher, even inactive ones, to see if they are all right and what they need.
Along with this, there is the support of 26 Regional Building Committees, which the brother said translates into a potential pool of 26,000 volunteers, just waiting to be asked to help.
And, many of them will be on the job this weekend. The branch has directed that every single situation be addressed at some level and to the degree possible this weekend. This is a HUGE undertaking, beginning today.
Brothers and sisters have been asked to be “handlers”, that is coordinating captains and teams assigned to them and to act as a liaison to the Disaster Relief Committee. It will mean round the clock work for everyone involved.
Our DRC hub is at the Monroe, New York Kingdom Hall, and it truly looks like Command Central with all the computers and phones and support systems. What an amazing and moving sight.
The brother who was leading the meeting said he has never seen so many grown men in tears over what they have seen. And then, he emphasized a point which I thought was very poignant:
We are not handling “cases”. We are handling “people”. Our first concern should be the spiritual, mental and emotional welfare of our brothers and sisters, and then their physical needs.
One other point the brother made was that we are training for the aftermath of Armageddon. Wow! What an exciting thought!
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Subject: Quick Overview of storm damage
Within the storm(s) area:
14 – States
125 Circuits
9 – Assembly Halls
970 – Kingdom Halls
2,332 – Congregations
25 RBCs
200,000+ Publishers
Damaged (known to date)
· KHs: 99 light damage; 8 moderate damage; 3 heavy damage
· 710 reported some level of damage to their homes
This past weekend:
· 4 comfort hubs were established in NY and NJ – providing warmth, food, and temp. shelter
· 516 volunteers formed 40 crews from 17 RBCs and worked each day
· 190 of the most serious homes were ‘made safe’ (this generally involved crews pumping out water from basements. Next - removing wet and damaged furnishings, ripping out sheetrock, insulation, removing trees, tarping damaged roofs, etc.. Finally cleaning, and sanitizing all affected areas. These projects are now waiting on decisions from Fema, insurance, etc. and itemized reconstruction plans. In some cases the brothers can continue to occupy but in many cases the homes are not livable.
Experiences:
In one densely populated area, the work crews showed up to assist the brothers and this drew crowds of onlookers from the neighborhood asking what was going on so the local pioneers began to follow the work crews and stand on the sidewalks outside the homes to witness to the neighbors as the work progressed.
In some cases, we dispatched more than one crew to a home by mistake but this also resulted in a good witness when the neighbors saw all the trucks with out of state license plates and volunteers with yellow badges reading “Jehovah’s Witnesses – Disaster Relief”. Many commented that ‘no one else is doing this’.
At one of the main comfort stations in Queens NY an on-duty policemen who has worked in the neighborhood for 30 years came in to see what was going on. They gave him a tour of the facility and showed him how they were organized to help the friends. The report stated that as he saw the detail that was being put into caring for the friends he literally began to cry, saying he had never seen such a thing.
We want to thank Jehovah for having such a organization here to care for us all!!! (End of another report)
Yet another report has come with pictures of practical help being delivered:
Jehovah never leaves His people without help.
This is an eye witness report from a brother with the RBC
Subject: Disaster Relief Update
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We have had a busy couple of months. We want to thank all of you who were able to assist with the Wethersfieldproject and now the disaster relief efforts in the New York / New Jersey areas. Hurricane Sandy has devastated the areas along the New York and New Jersey coast. I have attached the most recent update which is posted on the Builders Assistant website. We encourage you all to monitor these updates as situations and needs are developing.
The response thus far is a testimony to the love and support Jehovah's people show.
When our brothers arrived in Fair Lawn, NJ Saturday evening, the hub was running full tilt. Equipment had been arriving throughout the day. Brothers and sisters were busy documenting and arranging the growing inventory. Once we off loaded the equipment from CT RBC 2, we enjoyed some refreshments and encouraging association with the friends. We learned that 26 RBC's had been called on to assist in the disaster relief. Within hours of the call, an army of volunteers were on the move into the area.
Driving down we passed hundreds and hundreds of cars lined up at every open gas station. The lines stretched down the off ramps and along the freeway's. Police were at every entrance controlling the situation. People were in a panic mode. We learned of a gas truck hi-jacking, guns being pulled. stabbings and so forth. Yet, without any fanfare, Jehovah's Witnesses were driving through with full loads of gas and equipment for the relief work.
Before we finished our coffee, another 7 or so trucks with trailers pulled in. Brothers from Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont had collected some 100 generators plus hundreds of cans gasoline and requested support equipment and caravaned down to the hub. Another brother was en-route with a full 3000-gallon gasoline tanker truck.
The air was getting very cold. The night sky was incredibly clear. A Nor'Easter is set to strike by mid-week. We thought again of our brothers and sisters whose homes and Kingdom Halls were damaged. Many still flooded and without power.
The world around them can only wait in anxious desperation.
We refueled and headed back toward home reflecting on the blessing's that come to those who have made Jehovah as their refuge.
(Psalm 46:1) God is for us a refuge and strength, A help that is readily to be found during distresses.
Additional news
Circuit Overseers made recommendations and directed placing of publishers in private homes of brothers, rather than going to public shelters. – Prayers for ones greatly inconvenienced are appreciated.
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PERSONNEL COMMITTEE –
The governing body, through the Personnel Committee, wishes to express thanks and appreciation to all the Bethel family and others, for the various help and support they have given. --
One brother took his day off to visit or contact each congregation member. Others have removed trees from roadways.
Hospitality has been shown to visitors who were stranded. A real spirit of sacrifice has been shown and we are confident that Jehovah will guide in this recovery, and the help being extended.
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ANNOUNCEMENT :
We are sorry to announce that Brother Thomas Jones, Canada branch committee member, has died at age 94. He is survived by his wife, Estelle. Brother Jones became a pioneer in 1948 and went to Gilead in 1964. He is mentioned in Proclaimers book (page 451) with regard to his refusal to stop witnessing when authorities threatened. In 1975 Brother Jones returned to Canada. He served nearly 70 years in full-time service. ---
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From a brother who is on the RBC in NJ… US branch facilities – all ok, Bldg. 5 in Brooklyn the wind caused part of the façade to fall. Patterson and Warwick still running on generator power. Pre-storm: Disaster committee set up, 127 C.O.s contacted, plus regional building committees for over 2,330 congregations in the path of the storm. No reported deaths. 2 minor injuries, 1 serious – a young child from a tree limb falling. KHs – 12 with serious damage Friends’ homes - 319 with minor damage, 79 with moderate damage, 61 with major damage. 12 RBC crews have already mobilized as first responders, 1100 publishers were evacuated in advance of the storms and are not in shelters, but the homes of the friends. Subject: Pictures from NJ Hub BRIEF TIMELINE OF NJ HUB RECEIVING AND SHIPPING GENERATORS WEEKEND OF NOV 3/4 (NOT SHOWN: PA RBC DELIVER GENERATORS, EMPTY FUEL STORAGE TANKS - EVENTUALLY TOTAL 3,800 GALLONS TOTAL CAPACITY ONSITE)
11/3 SATURDAY 8PM: NY RBC 2/5 DELIVER FANS AND GENERATORS 11/3 SATURDAY 8PM CT RBC 2 DELIVERS OFFICE TRAILER AND MORE GENERATORS (NOT SHOWN: 11PM MA RBC 3 AND NH/VT RBC DELIVER 200 MORE GENERATORS!) TOO MANY GENERATORS AND GAS CANS TO FIT INSIDE BUILDING DUE TO FUME DANGER. ABOUT 250 PLACED IN LOT AND SECURITY SET UP TO PREVENT THEFT. 283 TOTAL RECEIVED, TAGGED, INVENTORIED FOR TRACKING.
3,000 GALLONS OF GASOLINE ARRIVE SUNDAY 9AM FROM WESTERN PA. NJ RBC 1 OFFICE - NOW NJ DISASTER HUB SUNDAY 5PM - GENERATORS START TO GO OUT
BY SUNDAY 10PM 250 GENERATORS HAD EITHER BEEN RELOCATED TO RELIEF CENTERS , HOMES, OR OTHER STORAGE YARDS |
This report was sent from a brother serving in Bethel in Brooklyn for many years:
Bethel, November 9, 2012
Dear Ones,
We received an update today at morning worship regarding Hurricane Sandy. We were told that the Society's DRC (Disaster Relief Committee) and a number of our RBC's have been fully engaged in assessing the damage and bringing relief to the brothers in the areas affected. Relief Centers have been established in several Kingdom Halls where water, food, and other provisions are available for those who need them - even accommodations are there or in the homes of other brothers.
They have received reports from 2004 congregations and 103 circuit overseers. The latest figures are: 710 homes of brothers with minor damage, 169 with moderate damage, and 219 with major damage or destroyed. Also, 96 Kingdom Halls sustained minor damage, 10 has moderate damage, and 2 had major damage. Our three Bethel complexes had only minor damage, and one Bethelite had minor injury, although both Paterson and Wallkill had to resort to being powered by generators right after the storm.
I have lived in New York City all my life and have never seen anything this bad before. "Adding insult to injury," as the paper put it, was the blizzard that followed three days later with high winds and heavy snow, toppling more trees and causing more power outages. While power had been restored to most of the over 3 million who lost it, there are still hundreds of thousands of homes without it as of this writing. A number of project buildings in our territory where brothers live do not have power yet either, and many of those living in the lower areas of the city boroughs and in New Jersey were evacuated. My sister lives in the NYC borough of Staten Island, and she says that many parts there were completely devasted. She is helping with the relief work, as are many other brothers and sisters. We also now have gas rationing, as it is scarce here, with very long lines of cars waiting for hours at the few stations that have gas and electricity to pump it. One nice thing, though, is that the traffic congestion we normally face has eased a lot and it is easier to get places (if you can). Most flooded tunnels are back in operation, as is most of the subway system.
Now for some good news - our yearly report from 239 lands: The refinements the Society made to the theocratic schools is having great success. Sending brothers back to their own countries upon graduation is working very well. Besides not having to adjust and learn a new language, they are more readily accepted by the local populace. Many temporary special pioneers have been assigned. Missionaries are being sent to the more populated areas, and more are coming into the truth. Instead of many in a missionary home that may be far from their territory, couples are being housed by themselved in a modest apartment or home in the area where they preach.
As to the year's statistics, the worldwide total of publishers (average) is 7,538,994 (a 1.9 percent increase over last year) and the Publisher Peak was 7,782,346 (+1.6%). There was a 2.4 percent increase in hours to 1,748,697,447. The average of regular pioneers increased 6.2 percent to 921,292. Average Bible studies went up 3.2 percent to 8,759,988. There are 111,719 congregations worldwide, an increase of 2.1 percent. However, the number of branches has decreased to 96. Other statistics will be printed in the new yearbook.
We are happy to say that we have both been well this year. And, the Lord willing, I'm looking forward to achieving 60 years at Bethel next year.
We hope this finds you all well and rejoicing in your service to Jehovah.
We send our love and best wishes. (End of letter)
Finally, just to let you see what devastation and what the brothers have to deal with in trying to help – here are pictures from the Rockaways, in Queens. You will have to click on the link provided.
Subject: New York Storm Photos (see our brothers in this situation)
Hi. Some pics of our dear Brothers and Sisters in NY.So heartbreaking. Hope the pics come up for you.We are so fortunate here, so keep them in our prayers.Click here for a small photo journal of the work going on in The Rockaway's. It may take a second for photos to load, but you can then click on any photo to enlarge it to it's full viewing size.
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So, dear friends, I’ll send this to you without further ado. Separately I will send another letter with other news that you will find encouraging, I feel. If you have seen all these reports I apologize for taking your time.
May Jehovah bless and keep you and all there in your local congregation and in your family.
Your Christian brother,
Weldon