September 18, 2001

Dear Friends in the States,

The alarming news of the tragic terrorist devastation in New York and Washington moved us. We never thought this kind of tragedy could happen in America, the land of the free. We saw on TV that hundreds of firefighters and police died, the passengers and crew aboard all the aircraft died, and people in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon died. The losses are more than we can bear.

Yesterday six missionaries in Hualien got together and prayed for those who lost family, for loved ones, and for our president and leaders. During the prayer meeting we found peace in reading the Bible, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). We ask God for mercy on those suffering, hurting, and in fear, and we ask that God give wisdom and strength to those who are helping. We again ask God to help those who have been affected by the tragedy.

Peace be with you,

Yen Hee and Choon Lim from Hualien

The 2001 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 187