Never has New York City looked like I saw it last month, before Christmas 2001.  From the airplane I looked for the Twin Towers, but I only witnessed a cavity lighting the night in the southern tip of Manhattan.   After arrival there were countless streets with people usually trying to cross the intersections before "go" — these people are headed somewhere.

The next night I heard a fireman say they found an arm of a body.    He said the shift was "rough."    It was then I recognized the personal side of Ground Zero, known through the stories at the excavation of the "pit". Scores of fireman, policeman, reserve military, and other support men and women came for food and a recoup time at the St. Joseph Church Respite Center.

Quietly they ate and shared their pain, their heavy feelings over the loss of their own, plus so many in the 9-11-01 Twin Tower terrorist attack. I appreciated up close the destructive result of the evil bombing on the New York people, who lived just north of the Statue of Liberty.

That Statue was also named named the Mother of Exiles by Emma Lazarus (1849-1887).  She recounted "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breath free," God has blessed the exiled over the century past, but now many descendants were wickedly maimed or destroyed.

All of our Scottsdale Bible Church team felt the Yorker's pain, their desire to share their stories and recouping strength. There was always quick appreciation returned to us during our meager gift of a week's visit to NYC. New Yorker's were impressed that we came to value and affirm their people.

My second assignment was at the Lamb's Bookstore just a minute walk from Times Square. At this place, Christmas gifts were displayed so that families of the disaster victims could come for free shopping. I was a personal shopper for three evenings.

A man in his mid thirties, a father of four, eagerly shopped with me for each child's Christmas gifts. He was also interested in receiving some educational material. As he spoke with Sandy Wilson, our counselor, he gave his heart to Jesus Christ. He was encouraged to deepen his role as a father and as a husband.

The greatest joy of the trip was to see men and women come to accept Jesus, the real gift of Christmas. It was a privilege to be among the New York people at this time of joy in the middle of severe pain. To serve next to my wife Patti was an additional blessing.

So to our team and New York, I offer the words in Psalm 37:1, 7-9: "Do not fret because of evildoers, ...because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.  Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; for evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land."

Richard Matthews  01 / 21 / 02

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New York 2001

We saw, we cared, we cried, and we shared.

A lifetime will never erase the memories: The determination on the NYFD'S faces - the exhaustion - the sadness - their thank you's. They seemed amazed we came all that way to help THEM.   WE were blessed!

At the Lamb's Store families came to get Christmas toys for their children.

Many of them came upstairs to talk with one of us after they did their shopping. I sat at a table and talked with a young black woman. She shared with me how the events of 9/11 affected her. She was employed at the WTC.

She said her faith in God had been shaken and strengthened. She rode the subway every day to her job in the towers. She went in a little later than usual that particular day. A few stops before her exit she "heard" a voice telling her to get off at the next stop. Silently she argued it's NOT my stop. As the train slowed and then stopped she felt lifted out of her seat, and found herself exiting the train! Her obedience to God's voice saved her life! You see, moments later the first tower crumbled! We hugged, we cried, we rejoiced at God's grace . Then we bowed our heads and thanked Him for His goodness.

Don't we too often fail to heed the voice of God? It is a powerful reminder that He knows what lies ahead. He always knows what is best for us.

Thank you Scottsdale Bible Church for letting us have the privilege of touching New York with Jesus' love.

Patti Matthews - 01 / 21 / 02