9/12/01
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
It's 2:30 AM and the phone lines are now open around here. Hopefully, you'll be able to get this message. Pardon the "generic look" but I wanted to pass this one as soon as possible.
I have a Manhattan view from my office here in Brooklyn. I got to see everything first hand. It was not pleasant. Bethel is located across the East River from Manhattan so any explosions and buildings collapsing did not affect us but the smoke did. They evacuated the 360 Furman building after lunch because the wind was blowing the smoke from the explosion toward it.
Here in the Factory, we shut off all ventilation, presses, bindery, windows, etc. We all went to the main lobby where the Bindery Overseer said a prayer. We were then sent to the 90 Sands Dining room. I ended up with the security detail in one of the lobbies.
At lunch, Brother Losch, from the Governing Body, reflecting that this disaster might be able to help others be more receptive to the truth, read an announcement from the Branch Committee. It basically told us to be more conscious of security since the police would be busy with the disaster. (We posted extra watchman all over the place.) We were "encouraged" to stay within the Bethel compound and not venture to the meetings or territory.
The colloquial term the younger ones around here is lockdown. Each body of elders then started contacting the different ones in their book study groups, who in turn contacted the presiding overseer who in then passed it on to the assembly overseers, then the circuit overseer and then to Bethel. By 10:30 pm tonight, everyone from my circuit (1 of several here in the city) was accounted for. It took a long time because all subways were shut down and everyone had to walk over the bridges. Cell phones, pay phones and any radio equipment were useless because the main antenna system was on one of the twin towers. Kids were not able to get home since the school would not release them until the parents picked them up. Meanwhile, the parents couldn't pick them up because they too were stuck in the city. So, it was a rather long day.
One family visiting Bethel was taking a tour. They were staying at the World Trade Center Marriott and had just gotten in early to tour when they saw the explosion. They lost all their belongings in the explosion but were alive. They were shaken up but glad to be alive. Bethel fed them and I was later told, housed until further notice. They told me that all the guests visiting were invited to have a meal with the Bethel family.
Meanwhile, the MASSIVE exodus from Manhattan over the Brooklyn Bridge was orderly and calm.
Tomorrow morning, no doubt we'll have a more accurate report at Morning worship. I'll let you know of any updates then.
The best thing we can all do is pray to Jehovah and help others appreciate in the field that the answer to these problems is the kingdom and that it is NOT as far away as some think.
Love,
Luis